Matthew 13

      The Parables:  Parables are short stories that have both a surface meaning and an underlying meaning.  They possess both social and spiritual lessons that are timeless.  Jesus exemplifies the master teacher, presenting deep, spiritual truths in simple, contextual anecdotes. 

     As Chapter 13 starts at the point that Jesus had apparantley been in the house teaching, but the crowds were so great that He moved outside.  We gather how crowded it had become because in the last chapter, Jesus' family had not even been able to get close to him.  Here the people still crowded so close to him that he sat in a boat out on the water while the people gathered on the shore to listen.  And he told the parable of the sower.

The Parable of the Sower

     1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

     This is one of Jesus's best known parables.  Just what is a parable?  A parable is a short narrative or story that makes a moral or religious point using everyday objects as comparisons.  The farmer sowing seed was an everyday sight to the people of Jesus' day.  He talked of the seed falling on 4 different types of soil' the path, which was beaten hard so that  it couldn't grow and the birds ate the seed.  rocky places, obviously rock with a thin layer of soil over it,  where thorns are already growing; and good soil such as the soil of Galilee that grew good crops. 
     He finishes with the statement tat we heard in 11:15.  "He who has ears to hear let him hear"  He is letting listeners know that this simple little story has a deeper meaning.

          10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' 16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 

     People often say that Jesus taught the parables to make his point easier to understand.  That's not what He says!!  He says He taught in parables so that only those who were serious about learning from Him would understand.  "Whoever has........"  a desire for spiritual understanding, God will open their hearts to more knowledge; but those who don't want o understand, God will take what little they have from them.  Why?  That doesn't seem right! Because, He says, they have rejected it--they chose not to see or hear.  
     Again He mentions 2 groups' those who are eager to learn from Jesus and those whose minds are closed to His truths.  The second group fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah.   These people have closed their hearts to His message, because if they hadn't they might hear Him, understand and be spiritually healed.  They don't want that==they prefer their own ideas.  
     But Jesus tells his disciples that they are blessed, because they want to learn from Him.  Many had looked forward to the time the Messiah would walk the earth==Noah, Abraham, Moses, David--but they didn't life to see it.  Those gathered around Jesus to learn were privileged to see Him.  

     The question for each of us is, do you study the bible with learning in mind, or just getting the answers to random questions?  Do you show up to church just for fun and to see people, or do you enjoy learning the Word?  You do need to make and effort to understand' Jesus told stories to hid the truth.  But he's ready to help each of us understand.  When His disciples came and asked him questions, he was glad to share the answers.  And in John 14:26 He said the Holy Spirit 'will teach you all things' Just ask him and then; "blessed are your eyes because they see. "

      18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."    

     Now Jesus explains the parable of the sower to His disciples.  He doesn't identify the 'sower,' but this is anyone representing Christ, 'sowing" the seed, which is the message of His kingdom.  There are 4 types of soil, representing the hearts of those who hear the message.  The soil that has been beaten down so that the seed is eaten by the birds represents those who hear and don't understand, so that Satan easily snatches it.  The rocky sol is those who hear with joy, but have no depth of commitment and lose interest when problems arise.  The seed among the thorns show those who allow their worries and/or their interest in material things to take priority.  Last is the 'good soil, 'those who hear and understand and bear fruit. 
     Jesus says that the result of our witnessing depends largely on the state of the people's hearts.  Some hearts will be hardened so they can't understand; others will be so shallow they will quickly lose interest when problems show up.  Some will have hearts so full of care and worldly pleasures the Word will be choked out.  But there will always be some whose hearts will turn to God joyfully and bear much spiritual fruit!

     Remember John 15:5?  " I am the vine' you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  Examine your heart carefully-which category do you fit?  You'll only fit in the last group if Jesus is the most important thing in your life.  Remember, the test of the 4th soil was producing a crop.  And Jesus says you cant 'bear fruit' with out him
     And remember that the seed is God's Word.  We have to hear it and make an effort to understand it, or it can't take root and grow to produce a crop. 

 The Parable of the Weeds:

         24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."   

     Another parable from  Jesus, remember, He gave as the reason his parables that some truly wanted to learn from Him while others had already closed their hearts to Him 
Now he likens the kingdom of heaven to a man sowing wheat' at night an enemy comes and spreads weeds among the wheat.  When these weeds begin to sprout everyone realizes what has happened.  Some translations use the word 'tares' for the weeds, a plant also called darnel, which is difficult to tell from wheat until the heads of grain form.  
     The owner of the field tells his workers not to pull up the tares, or darnel, because it might uproot and damage the wheat plants.  They're left to grow until harvest time-the time when it's the easiest to tell the difference between the tow types of plants.  Then, says the owner, he'll tell the harvesters to harvest the weeds first, bundle them up, and burn them.  After that it will be easy to harvest the wheat and store it in the barn.  Remember, all the work  was done by hand at that time-no motorized equipment that just cut and gathered, unable to tell the difference between the plants as it harvests. 

So what does this tell us?
     The explanation to this parable is given in verses 36-43, when the disciples ask Jesus to explain it.  Remembering that He said He told parables to hide the truth from those who could not understand it, why don't you see how you do.  Study the parable and see what it says to you.  You may already know the answers, but read it as if you were hearing it for the first time.  Ask yourself, as you read if you're really following Jesus.  If you really want to understand what He's saying and are willing let Him be the top priority in your life.  Can you give up what you know is getting in the way of a Christian life?
    

Read the following parables during this week and we will get back together next week and discuss them. 

 The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

     31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." 33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

             34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."             

 The Parable of the Weeds Explained.  Remember back to the parable in verse 24.

      36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!    

 The parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

         44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The parable of the Net

             47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 51 Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."    

A Prophet Without Honor

         53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 

     If you are not feeling like these are clear to you, don't worry.  We will discus them next week in class and here both.  But if you have any ideas please feel free to post comments. 

Have a very blessed week!!! 

Whats up with the Sabbath?

Information for Matthew Chapter 12

Why is the Sabbath so important to the Jews?  Why was Jesus constantly being criticized for what he did on the Sabbath?

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

 

The day of the week for rest and worship for the Jews, observed on the seventh and final day of the week, is our Saturday.  This passage in Matthew is one of the many thought out the New Testament that illustrate the importance of the Jewish religious leaders had placed on the Sabbath, to the point of initiating of rules and regulations regarding its observation.  Two entire sections of the Talmud are devoted solely tot he details of observing the Sabbath.  In one area, the Shabbath, list 39 area of "labor" from which Jews were restricted during the Sabbath.  sowing, plowing, reaping, gathering into sheaves, threshing, winnowing, cleansing, grinding, sifting, kneading, baking, shearing wool, washing it, beating it, dying it, spinning it, making a warp of it, making tow cords, weaving two threads, separating two threads, making a knot, untying a knot, sewing two stitches, tearing to sew two stitches, catching deer, killing ,skinning, salting it, preparing its hide, scraping off its hair, cutting it up, writing two letters, blotting out for the purpose of writing two letters, building, pulling down, extinguishing, lighting a fire, beating with a hammer and carrying from one property to another. 

Jesus" teaching that the Sabbath was not an end in itself- that the Sabbath was created FOR MAN, not man for the Sabbath- came in direct conflict with these views. 

Most early Christians retained the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath.  However because the resurrection of their Lord was the most joyous event in their lives, they began to gather for worship on the first day of the week as well ( Our Sunday)  and designated it as the Lord's Day.  later as the division between Christianity and Judaism increased, the Christians eventually abandoned meeting together on the seventh day and adopted the Lord's Day as their official day of worship and celebration. 

EXTRA Look back through the Old Testament at some of the instructions and guidelines the Jewish society had regarding the Sabbath.  Here are some references to get you started.  Exodus 16: 21-30 20:8 34:21, 35: 1-3 Leviticus 23: 1-3 Deuteronomy 5:12-15 I Isaiah 38 13-14, Jeremiah 17: 19-27.