Matthew 13 - Small Things When Given To God Can Yield Huge Results
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Jesus now begins his public ministry, as we see "large crowds" gathered around him. Since there were no auditoriums or classrooms, the lake was his classroom. On the lake he could address many people at the same time. His teaching method, as we will see over the next several chapters, was to use "parables". Parables were short stories which used earthly analogies to illustrate spiritual principles.
In the first parable a farmer went out to sow seeds, and the seeds landed in four different places. In three of the scenarios (the path, the rocky places, among the thorns) the soil condition prevented the seed from multiplying. I.e. It never bore fruit. But when the seed fell on the good soil, it multiplied a hundred, sixty, or thirty times. This seed not only bore fruit but bore it exponentially.
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
The disciples wondered why he spoke in parables rather than plainly. Jesus says something very curious. He says, "the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you, but not to them." We see the phrase Matthew loves, "the kingdom of heaven". So why does he speak in parables?
Jesus says even if he were to speak to them directly, they would still not understand. He quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 where it says they don't understand because they have hardened hearts. Though they are listen, it is only barely. There eyes are closed, as they aren't open to looking at the evidence showing that Jesus is the Messiah. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with ears, and understand with their hearts, they would be saved by Jesus.
We will never know why some people come to faith and others don't. Assuming God desires all people to be saved and loves all people equally, one would have to conclude that some people just reject the gift of eternal life. That makes me sad, but is why I try to teach and preach the gospel to as many who will listen.
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
In the case of the disciples, Jesus calls them blessed because their eyes see and their ears hear. Many people before them longed to see the Messiah, Jesus, who was now in their midst and had personally called them to follow him.
But then ironically he explains to them the meaning of the parable.
1. The seed sown on path is like the one the which never sunk in to the person's heart, because the devil snatched it away. Many people hear the gospel but never really take it to heart. They don't investigate whether it is true. Note the evil one is constantly at work making God's Word seem irrelevant or fanciful.
2. The seed on the rocky ground initially took some root but then because it had no roots, when trouble comes it doesn't last. This is the Christian who maybe initially committed to follow Jesus, but then when they realized being a Christian involves sacrifice, they quickly fall away.
3. The third seed falls among the thorns, which represents the worries of this life including for instance money. This focus on worldly things causes God's word to be choked out. This is like the lukewarm Christian who has one foot in and one foot out.
4, Finally (thank God) we have the seed that falls on the good soil. It is receptive to the seed, which takes root and bears fruit 100, 60 or 30 times over!
Some have also called this the "parable of the soils". So the question is what does it mean to be the "good soil"?
Since the seed is the Word of God, the receptivity relates to those who receive God's teaching from God's Word. We also know Jesus is the Word of God, so we need to accept Jesus and listen to His Word. Jesus says something similar in John 15, when he says, "If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit."
In conclusion, the purpose of the seed is to bear fruit and multiply exponentially. For a Christian this means making other disciples. We bear fruit through our lives by our character, our deeds, and then discipling others.
The Parable of the Weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
While the first parable was about how the kingdom grows, this one is about judgment. The analogy is still a farming analogy, but in this case the wheat is the fruit of the good soil, and the weeds are what was sown by the enemy. The owner's servants (Jesus' disciples) came in and asked how they should handle it. They wondered if they should pull them and get rid of them.
One would think that would be the right answer, but Jesus tells them to let them grow together with the wheat until the harvest time. The harvesters will then bundle them up respectively and the wheat will be gathered into the barn and the weeds will be burned.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[c]
Jesus tells another parable relating to how the kingdom of heaven (remember he uses this phrase 32 times) grows. This time he likens the kingdom to a tiny seed, who though the smallest seed, becomes a huge tree providing shade to many birds in its branches.
Similarly the kingdom of heaven is like a little yeast which is worked through the whole dough. A little goes a long way.
In both cases the parables represent that though something may big by worldly standards it is not necessarily better. Small things whenn given to God can yield huge results. Though our faith may seem like the size of a mustard seed, when we exercise it the the kingdom can grow exponentially.
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Once again Jesus pulled his disciples aside to explain the meaning of the parable of the weeds. Once again the good seed are the children of God and the "people of the kingdom". The weeds are the "people of the evil one". Once again we see the stark contrast of the children of God and the children of the devil. There is no middle ground. As Jesus said, "You are either for me or against me!"
The Son of Man (Jesus) sends his angels, who will come at the end of the age to "weed out" everything in HIS KINGDOM that causes sin and those who do evil. They will not only be thrown into a blazing furance, but there will also be "weeping and gnashing of teeth". We often here hell compared with fire, but we are not often given an explanation of how people will experience it. It doesn't seem like they will be completely burnt up, or incinerated. Weeping and gnashing of teeth to me represent that greatest regret anyone could ever experience. An eternal regret. An eternal wishing they had accepted Jesus and become part of his kingdom. This to me seems to be the most realistic explanation of hell. Weeping and gnashing of teeth and eternal regret.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The kingdom of heaven (once again) is a like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he realized it was of inestimable value. There was nothing more valuable in his mind so he sold everything he had to purxhase it. The man who found the pearl of great price did the same thing. The main point is God's kingdom and our being a part of it is more valuable than anything in the world.
All the material possessions we have on this earth will be worthless on the day we die and meet our maker. But the things we have done in participating and growing the kingdom of heaven will last forever.
So the question for you today is, "What are you doing with your life that will make a difference for all of eternity!'
The Parable of the Net
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.“Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
You can see all of these parables are very similar in nature. This parable about the net full of fish is very similar to the wheat and the weeds. At the end of time the fish will be separated respectively as "wicked" and "righteous". Again the wicked will be thrown into a fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 13 closes with Jesus coming to his hometown in Nazareth where he grew up. He taught and did miracles there like every other town he visited. We learn a lot more about his family. His mother, brothers and sisters. But somehow Jesus' family, and his father's trade caused them to doubt both his teaching and deeds of power. They were actually offended by him. Go figure!
Jesus concluded that a prophet is not accepted in his own town.
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