The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 13 Part 1 Jesus' Purpose For Teaching In Parables.

Matthew 13 is one of my favorite places to study what Jesus taught about preaching the Word of God and the expected results of ministry.

Jesus is our Living Lord and Savior and He used word pictures to teach truth to those who heard Him speak.

These truths are so simple that a child can understand them. 

Thus, Jesus' words are a powerful tool to point our children or grandchildren to God and His Word.

Jesus tirelessly preached the Word of God with all people whom He interacted with.

Matthew 13:1-2  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2)  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 

Remember Jesus' Sermon on the Mount?  This sermon begins in a similar manner. 

In both cases Jesus was surrounded by a large multitude of people.

In Matthew 5 Jesus got to an elevated position on a hill so that the vast throng could hear Him preach.

Here, in chapter 13 Jesus went out on a small boat near the shore so that the vast throng could hear Him speak.

The Sermon on the Mount was a consequential sermon about the kingdom of God preached by Israel's Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The word pictures or parables that Jesus taught in Matthew thirteen are also a powerful exposition of preaching God's Word and how men receive it.

The word “parable” comes from a Greek word meaning to compare two things together where the similarity of a natural object is used to illustrate a spiritual truth. 

A parable is a military term where two ships draw near to each other in battle.

Figuratively, it is a comparison of one thing with another to illustrate a principle or a spiritual truth.

A parable's effectiveness is that spiritual things are better understood when compared to natural things to make a deeper impression on an attentive mind. 

When Christ preached this sermon it was on the same day that he preached the sermon in Matthew chapter twelve.

The example of Christ is that He preached the gospel throughout the day, and this must be how each Christian should approach life.

Ecclesiastes 11:6  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 

We must look for opportunities to share the Word of God with other people throughout the day as Jesus did.

We must remember that the gospel of Christ contains the words of eternal life and that we must always be ready to speak God's truth, for this is how God saves sinners from eternal damnation.

"He spake many things unto them." 

Jesus preached many more things to the people than what is recorded for us by Matthew, under the guidance of God's Spirit.

Though we do not know what those things were, we do know that they were excellent and necessary things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. 

Thus, we must give a more earnest heed, when Christ has so many things to say to us, that we do not miss  any of them.

The parable of the seed and the sower given by Jesus to the multitude.

Matthew 13:3-9  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4)  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5)  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 ) And 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 sprung up, and choked them: 8)  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9)  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

This is a vivid word picture about farming that every Jew understood and could relate to.

We have a man who went out into a field to sow seed in order to produce a crop for food.

The field has been properly plowed and prepared for sowing seed. 

Sowing seed was usually done by carrying a cloth bag containing seed, then reaching in and scattering it on the field with your hands.

It took time and patience to sow seed on a larger field.

Next, Jesus described four different types of soil where the seed cast by the sower fell.

Some seed fell by the way side and birds came to hungrily devour the seed.

Some seed fell upon rocky ground where there was no depth of good soil for the seed. The seed germinated too soon and was scorched by the sun and withered up.

Some seed fell where thorns grew and the thorns quickly crowded out the seed cast by the sower.

Finally, some seed landed on good soil and germinated properly, producing a bountiful harvest of grain.

Before explaining the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus spoke about His use of parables.

Jesus used parables to reveal truths about the kingdom of God that were not yet disclosed.

Matthew 13:10-11  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11)  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

The word “mystery" properly means something that is concealed or has been concealed.

It does not mean that the thing concealed was incomprehensible or difficult to understand.

Rather, mysteries of the kingdom bring into the light truths about doctrines and gospel preaching.

Mysteries include truths about the kingdom of God which had not been rightly understood and were concealed from most of the Jews (See Romans 16:25; 11:25; Ephesians 3:3-4; 3:9). 

Israel had been given many unique blessings and promises from God but they ignored them.

Matthew 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

Whoever has the true grace of God implanted in him, has a saving knowledge of Christ, and exposure to the doctrines of the Gospel.

This man shall have more grace given him and he shall grow in the knowledge of Christ as the Spirit of truth leads him into all truth.

This man shall have more abundance of grace, light, knowledge, and experience. 

God's grace shall abound towards him and he shall be filled with all the fulness of God.

He shall grow into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; which allows his light to shine brightly as Christ commanded.

The Jews had many opportunities of learning the truth, and some light still lingered among them, but they were gross and sensual.

Romans 9:4-5  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5)  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Paul listed the many blessings and benefits that God bestowed upon the Jewish people.

Israel was given adoption as children of God and received a covenant relationship with God.

They received the holy law of God to guide their steps and were given the right worship of God.

Yet, for all these wonderful benefits, the people were blinded by sensuality and carnality.

Therefore, they did not yield to the light they had from scripture and their hearts were blinded to the point that they crucified their own Messiah. 

Instead, true knowledge was given to Christ's disciples and they began to grow and be shaped into usable servants for gospel ministry.

As the religious leaders refused to hear and heed Jesus' words they fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy.

Matthew 13:13-15  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14)  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15)  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Though the common people heard Jesus with glad hearts, the scribes and Pharisees rejected the truths that Jesus preached (See Mark 12:37).

Jesus linked their rejection of Him to the prophecy of Isaiah.

This quote is from Isaiah 6:9-10. 

In the time of Christ the people had the same character spoken of by the prophet.

They closed their eyes to God's truth, and rejected divine teaching. 

The words of Isaiah were therefore well suited to express the character of the people in the time of Christ.

Their eyes were blinded to the truth, having inattentive ears like a man half asleep while the salvation of God was preached unto them.

The spiritual condition of the people was that their hearts were gross, sensual, and prejudiced, so that they would not see the truth because they pursued sensual desires.

They would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears so the gospel could penetrate their heart and convert them to Christ.

Matthew simply states the fact that though the Jews saw the natural meaning of the story and literally understood the parable, yet they did not grasp its spiritual significance. 

Each Christian is blessed by having ears eager to hear from God and eyes ready to see His truth.

Matthew 13:16-17  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17)  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

There is a blessing for the disciples of Christ who hear and heed His words in this parable.

Eyes that see God's truth and ears that hear it are blessed and full of joy.

God promised that in the days of His Messiah the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, (See Isaiah 32:3). 

Proverbs 20:12  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 

The eyes of the lowliest believer who knows the grace of Christ, are more blessed than the greatest scholars who do not know God.

The apostles were to teach others, and therefore were blessed with clear discoveries of divine truth.

Isaiah 52:7-8  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8)  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. 

Paul cites this text in Romans chapter ten where he teaches us that faith comes by hearing the word of God and that preachers must be sent by God to proclaim the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world.

The twelve disciples were called to be follower learners of Christ, and were desired to be taught by Him.

Jesus instructed those men and their understanding and knowledge grew.

When Jesus expounded His parables to them the things of God were made more plain and intelligible and apt to be remembered.

They saw the glory of God in Christ's person. 

They heard the mind of God in Christ's doctrine.

Thus, they were prepared for gospel ministry when Christ returned to His Father(See Acts 1:6-11).

We will look at Jesus' explanation of the parable of the seed and the sower in our next post.

What are the takeaways for us, with regard to these texts.

Proverbs 2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

First we note that the Father graciously gives to Jesus' disciples an understanding of these mysteries. 

Knowledge is the first gift of God, and it is a distinguishing gift given to the apostles, because they were Christ's companions and ministers. 

The nearer we draw to Christ by studying His Word, the better acquainted we shall be with gospel mysteries. 

All Christians have been given experiential knowledge of gospel mysteries, and a principle of grace in the heart which makes men of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, and in the faith of Christ.

The right fear of the LORD is the beginning of true wisdom.

Second, we must at all times take heed how we hear the Word preached and how we read and study the pages of scripture.

Reading and studying the Word of God is both a great blessing and a great responsibility for each believer in Christ.

I need to hear from God with hearing ears, attentive ears and a mind open and willing to learn.

I need to ask the Spirit of God to open my eyes that I might behold wondrous things from the scriptures (See Psalm 119:18).

Acts 26:17-18  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18)  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

Seeing, hearing, and understanding are necessary to conversion to Christ for God, in working grace, into men, as rational beings.

The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ through gospel preaching and changes our heart by opening our eyes. 

He turns us from the power of Satan unto God, by turning us first from darkness to light.

Third, we must share the gospel, pictured by a sower casting seed onto a field, for God will save people when they hear His Word.

Last, we must live our lives according to the gospel or else we will be no better than the religious hypocrites like the Pharisees.

Our walk with Christ must reflect obedience to our Savior's words. 

If our walk with Christ does not match what we profess to believe, then our witness for Christ is undermined.

Let us therefore, resolve to follow hard after Christ and obey His Word and be His faithful witnesses.

Bob