Matthew 13:1-23
Q.1. How large was the audience who heard Jesus give these life-stories? What is the gist of the first parable? Is it a parable about the sower, the seed, or the soils? – (Mt.13:1-8)
Jesus was now addressing a large crowd who were pressing in on Him. He got into a boat offshore and taught the people from there (Mt.13:1-2). Parables were real life stories which illustrated spiritual principles. The parable that is generally referred to as the “Parable of the Sower” was not so much about God, the Sower, or the seed of the Gospel, which are all constant. When Jesus described the various responses to the Gospel, it was the different soils or habitats that determined the outcome. The seed was sown – 4 … beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 … on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil … 7 … among the thorns … and choked them out. 8 … on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty (Mt.13:4-5,7-8). Only the seed sown in good soil produced a bountiful harvest.
Q.2. In what way did Jesus challenge His hearers? How did He explain His use of parables? What is the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven? What advantage did the hearers of these parables have? – (Mt.13:9-17)
Everyone has ears to hear, but not all let the Truth down into their hearts, where it will bring understanding and change (Mt.13:9 c.f. Mt.13:13). When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables, He replied – … To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted (Mt.13:11). Parables reveal as well as conceal the Truth of the Kingdom. Faith is required if we are to grasp their Truth (c.f. Rom.10:17). The use of the word ‘mysteries’ in the Bible, denotes an unveiling of Truth (not unknowable truth). The Kingdom of Heaven was ushered in by Christ and will be culminated in eternity. It is a hidden realm to which all who have received the King belong. It will be finally completed at the climax of the ages, when His children enter Heaven, and are revealed (c.f. Rom.8:19 &23; Rev.chpts.21-22). For those who refuse to let Jesus reign over them, the Truth further places them in blindness and darkness (Mt.13:12-15 c.f. Lk.19:14). Jesus commended His disciples for embracing the Truth that He had revealed (Mt.13:16). As blessed as the prophets were, the followers of Christ today are in a wonderful and privileged position, where we can know the Truth of the Gospel in a way beyond our wildest dreams (Mt.13:17 c.f. 1 Pet.1:10-12).
Q.3. What does the seed represent? Why is the Truth hidden from some? Why is the response of some to the Gospel only temporary? How important is a sound understanding of the Gospel? – (Mt.13:18-23)
The seed is the Word of the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt.13:19). This message of the Kingdom is not so much about being in a realm, but about being under the reign of the King of that Kingdom. We gain entrance into Christ’s kingdom by receiving the Gospel. Much of the seed that has been sown is wasted because it’s relevance to life is not understood (Mt.13:19). Though many respond with joy, this response may not last. Jesus explained that this happens because some cannot accept that a child of God will still experience suffering and trials. – … and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away (Mt.13:21). Others soon give up when – … the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mt.13:22). When can the seed germinate and produce? When a person – … hears the word and understands it … (Mt.13:23). In fact – when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Mt.13:19). We need to receive the Gospel in faith. Then, the more we hear, believe, and know, the more we appreciate the truth, love and wisdom of God (Rom.11:33-36).