Kingdom parables in Matthew 13

pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

Contents

I.	"The Different Soils" (Matt 13:1-23)
II.	"The Meddlesome Weeds" (Matt 13:24-30, 34-43)
III.	"The Mustard Seed" (Matt 13:31-32
IV.	"The Leavened Loaf" (Matt 13:33)
V.	"The Hidden Treasure" (Matt 13:44)
VI.	"The Precious Pearl" (Matt 13:45-46)
VII.	"The Fisherman's Net" (Matt 13:47-50)
VIII.	"The Productive Scribe" (Matt 13:51-52)

Jesus introduces several of his parables by noting that they are descriptive in some way of the divine program: "The kingdom of God is like..." Of the parables Matthew includes in his gospel (26), he concentrates the greatest number (8) in chapter thirteen, and they are all in some way about the kingdom. Because these parables appear together, the initial step in understanding them—determine the setting—is the same.

Matt 13:1 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. 3a Then he told them many things in parables.

The variety of parables in this chapter accords with the diversity of occupations in first century Judaism. Five of these eight parables relate in some way to food, growing it, preparing it, or catching it. Two parables are mercantile, and one parable is scribal. As such they are akin to the lifestyles of most people in Jesus' audience.

The first parable is the longest and Jesus tells it in two sessions, addressing different audiences each time. The initial session is outside to a crowd of people that follows him from place to place. The individuals may change but the general make-up of the group probably remains the same. Along with his disciples there are people from various walks of life, religious and secular, poor and affluent. Speaking to such a broad representation of society Jesus phrases his remarks accordingly to include as many as possible because his parables are often about people in his audience.

I. "The Different Soils" (Matt 13:1-23)

Matt 13:3b "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 He who has ears, let him hear."

Jesus' disciples approach him for the reason he is using this indirect teaching method:

Matt 13:11 He replied, "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 he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 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. 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

The disciples ask, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" (v. 10). To this point in Jesus' ministry he has used parables occasionally but not extensively. After a lengthy explanation (vv. 11-17), which includes some Old Testament anticipation (vv. 14-15) as well as further explication of this first parable, he issues four more parables.

Jesus notes that of all people, they, his disciples have the unique opportunity to learn about God's program, an agenda that is hidden to others." Imagine being privy to what God is doing, to how He is operating behind the scenes. Jesus also says this knowledge is either increasing or diminishing. The more you know, the more you obtain—the more you get to know. By the same token, the less you know, the less you retain—the less you come to know. In other words, life for Jesus' disciples is not static: You are either gaining ground or losing ground. There is no standing still. This is why Jesus uses parables in his teaching. Furthermore, the transfer of information is not only one way. Along with the opportunity Jesus' disciples have to learn, they are responsible to implement what they hear. They are not passive bystanders receiving information about the kingdom. They are to be active participants promoting and advancing the kingdom.

For the the rest of this Study with its Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.