All signs point to Jesus: A journey through the book of Matthew, chapter 13.

 

READ MATTHEW CHAPTER 13

Questions

What is the point of this agricultural parable?

Why did Jesus speak in parables instead of speaking plainly?

How did the people hearing Jesus reflect these four different types of ground?

What question does the parable of the weeds answer?

What is the point of the mustard and leaven parables?

What was Jesus speaking about in these parables? (v.34-35) 

What was the parable of the weeds speaking about?

What is the hidden treasure or the pearl of great value?

What is Jesus speaking about in the parable of the net?

What is Jesus talking about in the parable of old and new treasures?

Why did the neighbors among whom Jesus grew up reject Him?

This is the chapter of the parables!  The first and most obvious question to me is what is a parable and why did Jesus use them?  Ok that’s two questions.  But seriously, why didn’t Jesus just give us the answer?  Well he actually explains this in the first few verses of the chapter.  Sometimes as I read through the gospels, it seems to that Jesus does seem to speak in riddles.  Lord, just tell it to me straight, just give me the answer. But isn’t that how reading scripture is anyway?  Its not always clear at first. It takes time and process to learn and even if we spend our whole lives studying the Bible which is in my plan anyway, we can not understand everything there is to know.  There’s always something new revealed. So I guess we can start first by discussing, what is a parable? 

A parable is a practical story.  Jesus often used situations that were familiar to his audience of that time, like farming and fishing and cooking, activities of daily living. It was in a simile form to illustrate a spiritual truth.  The principles to understand the parables are the same as understanding scripture. First, one must listen from a hearer’s perspective. Second, look for the main point and third, let the truth change your perspective.  In this chapter, Jesus uses the parables to explain how the kingdom of heaven/God works.  And what is the kingdom of Heaven? The Disney fairy tale books I read as a little girl had these magical kingdoms with a king and its royal subjects.  God and Jesus is our king and we are his royal subjects.  The kingdom of heaven is the redemptive rule or reign of God in Christ.  It is both a present reality AND a future realization.  And that is exactly what the parables describe.  It is a present reality because the kingdom is here and advancing.  It is a future realization because the King is coming back, and his kingdom will one day be complete. 

So going back to the second part of my first question, why did Jesus use them parables?  Jesus was both revealing truth to those were ready to believe, but also concealing the truth from those who were denying the obvious.   Those who were ready to believe, would eventually come to know the truth and meaning of the parables.  Those who were not , would hopefully come to be changed by the Holy Spirit.  To understand, one must come with a humble heart.  I think this is best explained int the parable of the sower. Jesus first tells the parable in verses 1-9, then he goes on to explain the meaning in verses 18-23. 

You can refer to my bible journaling entry in this  picture.

The sower is the Son of Man. The seed is the message of salvation and the soil is the human heart. We are given four examples of the human heart: the hard heart, the superficial heart, the divided heart, and the fruitful heart.  Then we see the three great antagonists of the Bible: 1) the devil symbolized by the birds, 2) the flesh or the scorching sun and 3) the world illustrated as the thorns.  The bottom line: Understanding the message doesn’t depend on who you are or what you do but how you receive it, this is the soil or where the seed falls. One must understand that the the fruit that the good soil produces in v.23 is a manifestation of Christian character or fruits of the Spirit rather than souls saved.  And what is the fruit? In Galations 5:22, we see that it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.   Whenever, this passage comes up in a group bible study, the question always arises, ‘Which soil are you?’    Well I can think of times in my life, when I was certainly one of the other.   For years growing up in the church, I heard the Bible during the Sunday service, but otherwise, never taught how to read it, let alone understand it. The devil flew by and snatched that right away as soon as I turned 18 and left the church.  Even after I made the conscious decision to accept Jesus into my heart, I was still spiritually  immature as the seed fell on rocky soil. It sounded great and I was moved emotionally but I still wanted to follow up own way and continue my self gratification in my addiction to alcohol. Even today, if I don’t give God the thorns, I’ll forget his message and get choked by the worries of this life.   So I pray and work on tilling the soil of my heart so that it stays good and fertile, ready to receive his good message.  That way I can understand it and produce good fruit that will even benefit others. 

I won’t go on to talk about the other parables, but each one is rich in its own message. I invite you to take time in reading them as it explains the kingdom of heaven.  Reflect on what its teaching about God and therefore, any revelations it gives about yourself. 

God’s redemptive rule is in Christ, here and now and advancing.  I view God as a generous sower ready to give. Will I be ready to work the soil and receive this message? I will respond by sharing the good news. 

THIRD DISCOURSE: THE PARABLE DISCOURSE

Having faced rejection from the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus begins His third discourse, a series of parables that describe how the kingdom of God works in the world.

Read 13:1–9.

Q 66:

A 66:

What is the point of this agricultural parable?

In the face of the persistent rejection and growing hostility of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus uses this to explain to His disciples why the Gospel is effective in some people, but not in others. This way they won’t get discouraged and give up when it seems like they’re  preaching the Gospel is having no effect.

Jesus explains His use of parables to His disciples.

Read 13:10–17.

Q 67:

A 67:

Why did Jesus speak in parables instead of speaking plainly?

Those who rejected Jesus and made themselves His enemies refused to believe His clear, straightforward words and miracles. Knowing they would not listen to more clear teaching, He used parables so they would try to figure out the meaning He was concealing. Hopefully, in the process, they would be brought to repentance and faith by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus explains the parable of the sower to His disciples.

Read 13:18–23.

Q 68: How did the people hearing Jesus reflect these four different types of ground?

A 68: The scribes and Pharisees were like the paths—they heard Jesus’ words and immediately rejected Him. Many in the crowd were like

the rocky ground—they were happy to hear Jesus’ words, but when they learned He was not the kind of Messiah they were waiting

for, they left Him. Others were like the thorns—they were hoping Jesus would make their earthly lives prosperous and glorious, so they rejected Him because that was not the reason He came. Other disciples, whom Jesus previously called “little children” (Matthew 11:25), were given repentance and faith by the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus as He was and treasured His Word.

Jesus gives the parable of the weeds.

Read 13:24–30.

Q 69:

A 69:

What question does this parable answer?

Why does God allow evildoers to live alongside and among His people? Since faith is a matter in the heart, we cannot recognize those who believe from those who don’t. Also, a person can resist the Spirit for years, then finally come to repentance and faith. God is patient to permit that time.

Jesus teaches parables about mustard seeds and leaven.

Read 13:31–33.

Q 70: What is the point of the mustard and leaven parables?

A 70: The kingdom of God starts with humble beginnings, but invisibly grows large and powerful.

Matthew explains why Jesus spoke in parables.

Read 13:34–35.

Q 71: What was Jesus speaking about in these parables?

A 71: Jesus was speaking about important things—the nature of God’s kingdom and His acts to save sinners, but concealing them in parables so that only those to whom He explained them would understand.

Jesus explains the parable of the weeds.

Read 13:36–43.

Q 72:

A 72:

What was the parable of the weeds speaking about?

Since all of us are born with a sinful nature, we are all “weeds” planted by Satan. God permits evildoers to remain on earth so that by His Gospel He can transform some of those weeds into believers. Then at Judgment Day, Jesus will send His angels to separate the unbelievers from the believers. Unbelievers will suffer eternally in hell; believers will shine in glory with Jesus and the Father.

Jesus gives the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value.

Read 13:44–46.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.

Q 73:

A 73:

What is the hidden treasure or the pearl of great value?

People have interpreted these parables differently. It could refer

to the hidden treasure or pearl being the Gospel. Believers find

its true value and are willing to lose everything for the sake of having eternal life. It could also be speaking of Christ on His saving mission. In this case, the lost sinner is the hidden treasure or pearl, and Christ Jesus is the man who left heaven to come down and save us.

Jesus teaches His disciples the parable of the net.

Read 13:47–50.

Q74: What is Jesus speaking about in the parable of the net?

A 74: Similar to the parable of the weeds, Jesus is teaching about the separation of believers and unbelievers on Judgment Day. But in this parable, Jesus focuses on the suddenness of the judgment rather than the patience of God.

Jesus gives a parable about new and old treasures.

Read 13:51–52.

Q 75:

A 75:

What is Jesus talking about in the parable of old and new treasures?

Jesus compares His disciples to homeowners who bring food and drink out to feed their families and guests. Christians who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit can make disciples by sharing the Law and Gospel from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

CONTINUING OPPOSITION AND JESUS’ IDENTITY

Jesus returns to preach in His hometown of Nazareth.

Read 13:53–58.

Q 76:

A 76:

Why did the neighbors among whom Jesus grew up reject Him?

At first, they marveled at His words and felt He spoke well, but then their familiarity with Him and His family caused them to dismiss Him, grow bitter, reject Him, and finally try to kill Him. Pray that the Holy Spirit will keep your Lord’s Word fresh to your ears so you never treat it with contempt.

Matthew flashes back to events that led Herod to execute John the Baptist.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.