“Et cum produxerit fructus, statim mittit falcem, quoniam adest messis.”
“But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. brought: or, ripe”
“And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.””
“But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.””
“But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
When the fruit is brought forth: literally, when the fruit[1] hath produced. By the fruit is here meant the seed; i.e. when the seed by degrees hath produced the blade, then the ear, and lastly the corn, which is become ripe. (Witham) — This is a secondary sense of the text, when the fruit hath come to maturity, and by no means a forced interpretation.
5. It comes to perfection at last (v. 29); When the fruit is brought forth, that is, when it is ripe, and ready to be delivered into the owner's hand; then he puts in the sickle. This intimates, (1.) That Christ now accepts the services which are done to him by an honest heart from a good principle; from the fruit of the gospel taking place and working in the soul, Christ gathers in a harvest of honour to himself. See John 4 35. (2.) That he will reward them in eternal life. When those that receive the gospel aright, have finished their course, the harvest comes, when they shall be gathered as wheat into God's barn (Matt 13 30), as a shock of corn in his season.
Verses 21-34 These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!