SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 13
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (vs. 1-23)
A farmer went out to sow his seed. He sowed on 4 grounds:
- Along the path – the birds came and ate it up. (v. 4)
- Rocky place – it sprang up quickly but when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (vs. 5-6)
- Among thorns – it grew up and choked the plants. (v. 7)
- Good soil – it produced much crop. (vs. 8-9)
Jesus spoke to them in parable because people though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. (v. 13). This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving . For this people’s heart has became 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” (vs. 14-15)
MEANING OF THE PARABLE: (vs. 18-23)
- Along the path – The devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. (v. 19)
- Rocky place – The man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. (v. 20-21)
- Among thorns – The man hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. (v. 22)
- Good soil – The man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (v.23)
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS (vs. 24-30)
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, the the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants were surprised where the weeds came from. They asked their master and he said :”an enemy did this”. Then the servants asked if they would pull them up but the master said no because while pulling the weeds, the wheat might also be rooted up. So better let both grow together until the harvest. During harvest time, he will instruct the harvesters to collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn it. Then, gather the wheat and bring it into his barn.
THE PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE YEAST (vs. 31-35)
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED (vs. 36-43)
The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and they enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out the angels, and they will weed out of this kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
THE PARABLES OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE PEARL. (vs. 44-46)
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.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET (vs. 47-52)
The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 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. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked form the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Therefore, every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (v. 52)
A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR (vs. 53-58)
Jesus came to his hometown and began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed of his wisdom and miraculous powers. They only knew him as the son of Mary with his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. When they took offense at Jesus, Jesus said to them: “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” (v. 57)
THOUGHTS:
“Parable” comes from a Greek word that means “to throw alongside”. Jesus used parables to teach the truth and arose interest in the truth. He used stories by comparing something familiar to something unfamiliar. It helps us understand spiritual truth by naming everyday objects and relationships. Parables can compel listeners to discover the truth by those who are honestly searching it. It also conceals the truth for those who are stubborn to see the truth.
There are many kinds of listeners and their response to the Word of God.
- On the path – hardened heart
- Rocky places – shallow heart
- Among the thorns – affected by environment and circumstances
- Good soil – receptive to God’s Word.
Answer these questions yourself:
- Are you an authentic Christian or will you be seen as a counterfeit at the end the age?
- Do you truly receive the Word of God and do it in action?
- Will you allow God to ‘plant you’ where he wants you?
- Have you shared the gospel to others?
The wheat and the weeds grow together. The farmer allows them to remain in its field until they can grow and ready for harvest. At the harvest time, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. Weeds are unbelievers while wheats are believers. They live side by side in this world. God allows unbelievers to remain for a while until God’s harvest time – the judgment of all people. Make sure to prepare yourself that your faith is genuine and sincere.
Jesus compare the mustard seed with the Kingdom of God. It has small beginning but it will grow and produce great results.
Yeast symbolizes growth. It is a minor ingredient for baking bread but it permeates the whole loaf. The kingdom of God also began small and invisible but it would soon grow and have a great input in the world. At the end of the world, Christ will make the final separation of true and false believers in the church.
Those who do evil will be thrown into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The weeping indicates sorrow and remorse and gnashing of teeth shows extreme anxiety or pain. Those living in selfishness and indifference to God will be punished while the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is compared to hidden treasures and pearl which is more valuable than anything else we can have. But one must be willing to give up everything to obtain it. The man who discovered the treasure and the man who saw the pearl sold everything to purchase it.
Jesus was being rejected in his own country They could not believe in his message. That was why Jesus performed few miracles in his home town. Unbelief blinds people to the truth and robs them of hope.