Matthew 13:31-35; 44-58 – Lesson 14

 

Matthew 13:31-35 – The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

Jesus continued His teaching in parables.  In these parables He didn’t explain to the disciples what they meant as He did with the previous parables. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and plants in his fields.  Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of the 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.” – Matt.  13:31-33.

Jesus compared the mustard seed as the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus planted the seed of the gospel and some people believed.  The seed is so powerful that as time passes it influences more and more people to believe and spreads over the whole earth.  The mustard seed becomes the largest tree in the garden.  The birds who come to perch in the tree represent evil.  These are those who are counterfeit Christians, take advantage of true Christians, and hinder the gospel.

The yeast is like the Kingdom of Heaven which influences the world.  The flour represents the world.  Yeast is powerful and a little bit goes a long way and influences the whole batch of flour.  It grows slowly, but we cannot see it happening.  In the same way when people become Christians, they slowly affect society in a good way.  These two parables seem to have the same meaning.  Both parables prophesy the tremendous expansion of the Kingdom of Heaven to come. 

Principle:  Counterfeit Christians hinder the gospel, but God’s Word gives real Christians the power to spread the gospel over the whole earth.

Matthew 13:44-46 – T he Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl 

Here Jesus tells two more parables about the kingdom of heaven, but does not explain them.  There are two ways to look at these: 

“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.” – Matt. 13:44.  “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.” – Matt. 13:45.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant finding a hidden treasure or a merchant seeking beautiful pearls.  We can look at it as the believer is the merchant and Jesus is the believer’s treasure or a pearl.  To have Him we must give up everything to follow Him.  Another way to look at it is:  Jesus as the merchant and He sees the believer as a treasure, the pearl so valuable that He happily gives everything even His life to have us forever.    What a great feeling to know we are His treasure just as He is ours.  He loves us and gave up everything for us.  Thank you, Jesus!  

Principle:  Believers are treasures to Jesus just as He is ours.

Are you His treasure?
What specific treasure has God given you?
How faithful are you in sharing your treasure of Jesus with others?
How does your life show He died for you?

Matthew 13:47-52 – The Parable of the Net 

This parable prophesies the judgment to come.  "Once again the Kingdom of God is like a net ..." - Matt. 13:47.  The net is the Word of God.  The good fish are true believers.  The bad fish are unbelievers and counterfeit Christians.  The fishermen are angels.  At the end of the age there are two outcomes for the two types.  These are similar to the Parable of the Weeds.  When Jesus returns the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous.  The righteous will be with Jesus in heaven and the wicked will be thrown into the fiery furnace.   

Principle:  At judgment the wicked be separated from the righteous.

What is your responsibility to Jesus' repeated warning? 

Will you share the gospel with someone before it's too late? 

Matthew 13:53-58 – The Rejection 

After Jesus finished the parables, He went to His home town.  There He preached in the synagogue and the people were amazed at His wisdom, but instead of accepting Him as the Son of God they took offense and rejected Him.  "Isn't this the carpenter's son?  Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" - Matt. 13:55.  Rejection of Him continues even today.  Jesus didn’t do any miracles in His hometown, because the people had no faith in Him and would not have listened or believed anyway.  He did not waste His time.  

Have you ever tried to be a witness to someone and they wouldn’t listen?
How do you respond to God's Word?  Every time you read the Word you are responding to Him in some way.  If you resist His Word, you are resisting Him.  If you received His Word, you are receiving Him. 

All these parables in chapter 13 are prophetic and relate to the God's kingdom, which is the church all through the ages.  They show the different reactions to the preaching of the gospel; they tell of the expansion of the kingdom of God to come; they reveal there are counterfeit Christians in the church; they tell us that we are the Lord's treasure and how important we are to Him; they tell of the judgment to come with the separation of the wicked from the righteous. 

Principle:  One who believes and serves God is often rejected by family and others.

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

______________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Enduringword.com

Easyenglish.bible

My research and my insights are from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.

 

Matthew 13:1-30, 36-43 - Lesson 13

 

Up until this chapter Jesus had preached in the synagogues, which became more and more difficult.  The Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees watched with critical eyes just waiting to accuse Him and tear apart His message.  Now, we see Jesus teaching outside the synagogues in homes, on the seashore, in the desert, on the roads, and anywhere people gathered to hear Him.  Many people gathered around Him, but most were confused and indifferent to His message.  They heard with their ears, but chose not to respond with their hearts.

He began to speak to the people in parables.  A parable is a story that illustrates lessons and truths.  They are stories about things in ordinary people’s lives.  You didn’t need to be very intelligent to understand them.  These stories made people think about their meanings.  People who wanted to obey God would understand these stories, but those who didn’t want to obey God wouldn’t understand them.

Matthew 13:1-23 – The Parable of the Sower

"A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matt. 13:3-8. 

The disciples asked Jesus why He spoke to the people in parables.  Jesus responded by saying that the secret of the kingdom of heaven has been given to the disciples, but not to the people.  He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  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." - Matt. 13:11-12.  

In other words, the disciples have been given the privilege to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it has not been given to those in the crowd of Israelites.  The people of Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah and didn’t want to learn or understand.  In Matt. 13:14-15 He explained that Isaiah 6:9-10 was being fulfilled.  Those who are willingly ignorant to hear the Word will never understand, because they don’t believe.  But for those who believe, seek and desire Him, their understanding will increase.    

The farmer or the sower is the believer, follower, or disciple of Jesus.  The seed is the Word of God.  The soil is a person's soul or heart.  Jesus explained the parable in Matt. 13:18-23; Luke 8:11-15.  There are 4 different places or soils the seed is sown:  1. along the path without much soil - someone who hears the message, but forgets it immediately.  2.  Rocky places - one who hears and receives joy, but that joy lasts only for a short time.  3.  Thorns - those who hear, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth make them unfruitful.  4.  Good soil - those who hear the word, understand it, accept its authority, change the way they live, and produce good crops or fruits.

The reasons the good soil produces crops are in these scriptures:

John 14:15 - those who obey God's commands will yield good crops
John 15:5 - those who remain in God bear much fruit
Acts 5:29 - those who obey God rather than men
Phil. 2:12-13 - those who continue to work and act according to God's purposes

Through the Holy Spirit Christians sow the same seed when we preach, teach, or speak about the truths of the Bible.  God calls us to sow His seeds and to trust Him to give life where He will.  Each time you read the Bible or hear it spoken, the seed falls on the soil of your heart.

What kind of soil is your heart?

What change will you ask God to make in the soil of your heart?

Jesus said the evil one, Satan snatches away the message of the kingdom. Satan snatches the message away today in many ways.  People hear God's Word and don't understand it.  They don’t even try to understand it by reading and studying the Bible.  They aren’t regular church goers.  They only go when it's convenient.  Satan makes them busy with life like soccer or golf games on Sunday mornings, their jobs, etc.  It's all about them, when it should be all about Jesus.  They simple do not seek or desire Him.

Principle:  God increases understanding of His Word to those who believe, seek and desire Him.    

How are you actively seeking Him?

Do you take time for Bible study and prayer daily?

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – The Parables of the Weeds

"Jesus told them another parable: 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, then the weeds also appeared.  The owner's servants came to him and said, Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field?  Where then did the weeds come from?  An enemy did this, he replied.  The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up?  No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" – Matt. 13:24-30.

This parable is explained in Matt. 13:36-43.  The two sowers are Jesus and Satan.  The good seed is Jesus.  The field is the world.  The weeds are the unbelievers (those who have never received eternal life from God).  The wheat is the believer.  The enemy is the devil.  The harvesters are the angels.  The harvest is the end of the age when Jesus returns for judgment.  "While everyone was sleeping" means that while we are least expecting Satan, he slips in.  We need to be alert at all times.

Satan plants weeds (unbelievers) in churches among the Christians (wheat) and sometime it's hard to tell which ones are true Christians.  Only when Jesus returns and the harvest (judgment) begins will we be able to tell the weeds from the wheat.  That doesn't mean we should stop planting and sharing God's message.

At the end of the age the weeds will be burned up.  "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his 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." - Matt. 13:41-43.

There will be judgment when Jesus returns and judgment is forever.  God will punish.  "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." - Rom. 1:18.  "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.  He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." - Acts 17:31.  "God is just.  He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubles..."- 2 Thess. 1:6-7.  This world is not all there is. 

Principle:  At judgment counterfeit Christians will be recognized and removed from Christ's church.

Which are you, weed or wheat?

Do you know where you will be going, heaven or hell?

Do you resist God's Word?   When you do, you resist Him.  When you receive God's Word, you receive Him.

Have you come to Christ in faith and repentance?  Make sure you are not a counterfeit Christian.  Ask God to show you the condition of our heart.

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

______________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Enduringword.com

Easyenglish.bible

My research and my insights are from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.

Matthew 11-12 – Lesson 12

 Matthew 11:1-19 – Rest From Doubts

Jesus continued to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee, but His ministry had increasing opposition.  While John the Baptist was in prison, he heard what Christ was doing.  He had preached that Jesus was the Messiah, but now he wasn’t so sure so He send word by his disciples to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" - Matt. 11:3.  Why would John ask this?  Perhaps he thought God had forgotten him or that Jesus would come and rescue him.  Maybe he thought Jesus would rise up as a political king.  He was probably depressed and kept in a dungeon and even tortured.  Doubts may have set in.  He probably didn't realize this would be so hard. 

John the Baptist is like people today with confusion and doubts when times get hard.  When we doubt, we should bring it to Jesus just as John did.  He understands and will be there to assure us.  Jesus answered by pointing John to the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament telling him Isaiah's words were being fulfilled and that Jesus was the one.

Are there times when you doubt?

Did you take your questions directly to Jesus?

Isaiah's prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus' ministry:

Isaiah 29:18-19 - The deaf will hear, the blind will see and they will rejoice.

Isaiah 35:5-6 - Again the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, the lame will leap, the mute will shout for joy.

Isaiah 61:1-3 - He preached the good news, bound the broken hearted, comforted the mourners.

Isaiah 35:5-6 - Again the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, the lame will leap, the mute will shout for joy.

Isaiah 61:1-3 - He preached the good news, bound the broken hearted, comforted the mourners.

Jesus reminded the crowd that John was God’s chosen massager and was more than a prophet.  He was a special servant sent by God.  He told them that no one was greater than John.  "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." - Matt. 11:11.  John was the greatest because he was chosen to testify to the world about the coming of Jesus, but in heaven the lowest ranked person is greater than John because Jesus saved them from their sins.

Principle:  God reveals Himself and removes doubt as we sincerely seek Him in His Word.

Matthew 11:20-30 – Rest From Rules

The people in the cities of Galilee heard Jesus' teaching and saw His miracles, but they did not repent.  Jesus compared them to Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom.  These were sinful cities God brought great judgment on in the Old Testament.  The Galilee cities would experience greater judgment, because they had witnessed Jesus and His miracles but still did not believe.  Their accountability was greater.  They needed to confess and believe if they wanted eternal life. 

We today have the whole story of Jesus and how He forgives, yet people today still do not repent.  The world today has greater a responsibility and a greater accountability before God.  If we do not repent, our judgment will be much more severe than the Galilee cities.

The Bible has warnings and rules, but rules are not where salvation come from.  It's all about the heart.  We worship God because He has given us grace.  He reveals Himself to us not because we deserve Him, but because He loves us.  We are to worship Him and Him alone.

Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation in Matt. 11:28-30 - "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  He promises to  give us rest, if we lean on Him He is always there to help, comfort and guide us when we are down or stressed or overworked.  When we let go of our control and lean on Him, that's when we get rest.  A yoke is used to direct oxen.  His yoke directs us.  Follow Him and He will direct you.

Principle:  True rest is found only in Jesus Christ.

Are you tired of trying to fit into a mold that God never meant you to be in?

Do you let Him guide you and give you rest?

Jesus understands perfectly the burdens of this world.  He understands perfectly the burden of sin.  Sin can destroy what God is creating, but Christ has defeated sin and we don’t have to carry that burden.  To be yoked to Christ is turning of our heart towards His heart and aligning our mind with His mind.  He comes alongside to help, heal, encourage and provide the grace we need.  It’s letting Him carry your burden of worry and letting Him take away the pressure and stress of the day.  He will give you peace and rest for your soul. 

Matthew 12 – Eternal Rest

The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by attacking His disciples.  They accused them of breaking the Sabbath when they picked grain to eat.  It wasn’t wrong to eat from a field as they passed (Deut. 23:25).  The problem the Pharisees had was the disciples did it on the Sabbath.  Jesus points out examples of David and his men when they ate the consecrated bread on the Sabbath when they were hungry.  He also pointed out the priest did sacrifices on the Sabbath yet were innocent.

Jesus also healed a man on the Sabbath which the Pharisees questioned.  Jesus said it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (Matt. 12:12).  Jesus saw human suffering and did not worry about people pleasing.

The Sabbath is all about being with Jesus.  It was not about rules, but about spending time with Jesus.  They lost sight of the dos and don'ts and forgot about mercy.  The Pharisees then went out and plotted how to kill Jesus.

Jesus then healed a demon-possessed man.  The people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" - Matt. 12:23.  When the Pharisees saw this, they were jealous of His power so the suggested that He was working with Beelzebub, the prince of demons.  Jesus knew their thoughts and said, "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself." - Matt. 12:26.  Jesus said Satan was like "the strong man” and had made people his slaves and were his property.  But Jesus had gone into Satan’s kingdom and removed people from it and Satan could not stop Jesus because Jesus was more powerful. 

Notice that Jesus knew their thoughts.  Jesus knows all.  He even knows our thoughts.

“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” – Matt. 12:30.  People either belong to God or they belong to Satan.  There is no neutral ground.  If you are not on Jesus’ side, you are His enemy.

Jesus talked about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that it is a sin that will not be forgiven.  What is a sin against the Spirit?  It is the sin that continues to reject the Spirit.  He always forgives when we repent, but if you do not repent and believe then that is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” – Matt. 12:36.  Words are so easy, but so powerful.  Words are what is in your heart.  Often we don’t think carefully about what we say.  Words can acquit or condemn.  Ask God to show you where your words need to change so they will not come out again.

The Pharisees ask for Jesus to show them a sign that He was from God.  Jesus said they were wicked and adulterous for asking.  He used the sign of Jonah being in the fish for 3 days and the future sign would be Jesus' resurrection in 3 days after His death.

Jesus said if we get rid of evil or sin in our hearts and replace it with nothing, then it comes back even stronger.  We need to replace it with God (Matt. 12:43-45).  You can't take a neutral position.  To be indifferent is to be against Jesus.

Matt. 12:45-50 can be hard for us to understand why Jesus said what He said.  But this is a lesson for us.  He was saying that natural relationships are important, but not as important as the spiritual relationship we have in Christ.  He wasn’t turning His back on His family.  Later on we see that Jesus still cared for them.  At the cross, He entrusting care of His mother to John (John 19:26).  Jesus was promising His family would be determined by obedience – not blood, not genealogy, not politics, not power, and not money.  Jesus invites you to be part of His family.

Principle:  Those who follow Jesus are part of His family; those who reject Him are excluded.

Do you have the privilege of being in God's family?

How do your words show you are a part of His family?

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

_________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Resources

My research and my insights are from:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Enduringword.com

Bibletools.org

Easyenglish.bible

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) - Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.