Matt4-2

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

2. Who did he start telling about? v.3

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed

3. What happened to the first seed? v.4

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

4. What happened to the second seed? v.5,6

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.

5. What happened to the third seed? v.7

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants

6. What happened to the fourth seed? v.8

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

B. Think:

1. What is the overall message coming in this parable?

2. Did Jesus explain it to the crowds?

3. Why do you think he told stories like this?

C. Comment:

The reason for telling parables is coming, as is the interpretation of this parable, but they weren't spoken to the crowds, just the disciples, so let's look at what Jesus said from the perspective of the crowd, without any explanation.

First of all let's note that Jesus uses an illustration with which they would all be familiar. Second, note the simplicity of what he says: there are four situations where the seed falls and according to the nature of the ground, came the growth or otherwise of the seed. He was obviously trying to make a point for those who were truly seeking; any others would have just dismissed it as a pointless story.

Some seed fell on hard ground where it was immediately snatched away by birds. Some fell on rocky ground with only patchy soil and although it grew it soon withered in the heat of the day. Some seed fell on ground covered by weeds and although it grew it was soon choked by the weeds. It was only the seed that fell on good soil that grew and produced fruit. The obvious inference is that it is the state of the ground that is all important, not the seed, so what is the ground? At the very least it must refer to our lives. Are they hard, shallow, weed (self) filled, or open and clean.

D. Application:

1. The state of our hearts determines how we respond to God's word.

2. Will we allow God to deal with our hearts to become more receptive?

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:10-17

A. Find Out:

1. What had been to who, according to Jesus? v.10,11

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

2. What principle did Jesus then state? v.12

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.

3. What reason did he give for speaking in parables? v.13

This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

4. What had Isaiah prophesied about the people? v.15

For this people's heart has become 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.'

5. But what did Jesus say about his disciples? v.16

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear

6. Who had longed for what? v.17

For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

B. Think:

1. What did the Isaiah prophecy indicate about the people?

2. So in response, why was Jesus using parables?

3. Why were the disciples able to understand?

C. Comment:

We have come to a very significant and possibly surprising teaching from Jesus. Basically it says that he will not put himself out to try to teach every person, and that is very different from what we often do. Jesus knows that many people simply will not respond to him, so he doesn't waste time trying to get to them. Let's look at this.

Jesus' parables were for disciples, for those who were already following him or who were seeking after him. Such people would have an open seeking heart, who would perhaps come and ask him to explain what they did not understand.

For the bulk of the crowd, parables were just stories. People heard the words but had no understanding. It is all a matter of the state of heart. If your heart is seeking after God you will find understanding in the words of Jesus. If you are not really seeking after him, then his words will appear to have little meaning. In the prophecy when it says “Otherwise they might see”, a better wording might be, “The alternative would be that they see, hear, understand and respond and then receive a superficial salvation”. The prophecy doesn't reject people, it shows their alternative heart conditions.

D. Application:

1. Jesus words are understood by those who are seeking him. The rest

cannot understand them.

2. Whether I understand or not depends on my heart condition.

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:18-23

A. Find Out:

1. What does Jesus now do? v.18

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means

2. What was the seed on the path? v.19

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

3. What was it that kills off the seed on rocky ground? v.20,21

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 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.

4. What were the thistles? v.22

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

5. What was the seed on good soil? v.23

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

B. Think:

1. How do you think Satan can snatch away Jesus' words?

2. How can trouble or persecution get to a person?

3. How do you think worry can squash the word of God?

C. Comment:

There are three things here that stop the word of God being fruitful in us. We need to take careful note of them.

First there is SURFACE ACCEPTANCE. Someone hears with their ears but they have a hard heart and so it is easy for Satan to bring distraction or derision to snatch the truth away.

Second there is SHALLOW ACCEPTANCE. Someone gladly receives the word but do not allow it to have deep effect in their lives. They hold it in their head but not their heart and so it doesn't anchor them. Thus when opposition comes they have nothing to hold them.

Third there is SHARED ACCEPTANCE. Someone accepts the word but allows it to share space in the heart with old ways of thinking and unbelief, so when difficulties occur they don't rely on the word, they use their human resources and worry, and eventually the worries overcome the word and they fall away.

The final seed illustration shows SURE ACCEPTANCE, where the word of God comes to an open heart that receives it gladly, understands it and takes it deep in the life and is changed by it and therefore goes on to bear the fruit of faith and by that become the person of God's desire and do the works of God's desire.

D. Application:

1. We can take steps to ensure that we fully receive the word of God

deep into us, but just how important is it to us?

2. God's desire is that His word changes us!

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:24-30

A. Find Out:

1. What is Jesus teaching about again with what illustration? v.24

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

2. What happened in the story and with what result? v.25,26

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.

3. What did the servants ask and what answer did they get? v.27,28a

"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.

4. What did they then ask? 28b

"The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

5. Why did the master say to leave them? v.29

" `No,' he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.

6. What did he say would eventually happen? v.30

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.' "

B. Think:

1. What again, is Jesus teaching about?

2. What is he saying about the quality of it?

3. When does he say that will be dealt with?

C. Comment:

We'll have to wait a bit for Jesus to give an interpretation of this parable but we can ourselves look at the overall principles that he is stating here.

Again he is speaking about God's kingdom or rule and again he uses the illustration of seed being sown. In this story though he speaks about wheat and weeds growing in the same field, growing along side each other. The servants of the master want to pull out the weeds as soon as they see them, but the master warns against doing that, for in the process the wheat may be disturbed as well. Just hold on, he says, there will come a time to separate the weeds from the wheat but it will be at harvest time.

So what can we glean (!!) from this? Very simply that good and evil will exist side by side and, although we may sometimes wish that God would deal with the evil now, He waits until the final harvest to deal with it. Elsewhere in Matthew it says that the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous ( 5:45 ) meaning that both share this world - but they won't share the next! Be patient God will deal with it eventually.

D. Application:

1. God promises that He will deal with all evil eventually at the time of the

final harvest.

2. In the meantime we are to rest in His love and provision.

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:31-35

A. Find Out:

1. What was the first parable about? v.31

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

2. What happened to this smallest of the seeds? v.32

Though it is the smallest of all your 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."

3. What were the key elements of the second parable? v.33a,b

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour

4. What happened to the yeast? v.33c

it worked all through the dough

5. What was the sole means of teaching that Jesus used? v.34

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable

6. How did Matthew view all this? v.35

So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

B. Think:

1. What was the main point of the first parable?

2. What was the main point of the second parable?

3. From these stories, what do you see that a parable does?

C. Comment:

It is usually agreed that a parable has one main point to it. It is a short story that relates to everyday life that illustrates one main thing. That is important to remember sometimes when we hear people try to apply every detail of one of these stories.

The first parable is quite simple and obvious in its meaning: the kingdom of God will start off from small beginnings but will grow to surpass any other rule on earth and will eventually become THE main place of refuge for all-comers. Perhaps within this description we should emphasise that it will GROW ; it is a steadily increasing phenomena, this rule of God.

The second parable is equally obvious: the rule of God will gradually permeate the entire world; there will be nowhere that it doesn't reach. Perhaps we should note here that this rule of God isn't automatically everywhere, it comes to places through the servants of God, it spreads, it is what is seen as God moves through them.

Finally we should note in respect of these verses that Jesus used parables all the time in his teaching. Why? A picture is memorable, a picture remains in the mind. Jesus wanted us to remember what he had said. Here is the best teacher in the world!

D. Application:

1. God's kingdom or rule IS growing. Are we part of spreading it?

2. It WILL spread everywhere. Are we taking it?

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:36-43

A. Find Out:

1. What did who ask when? v.36

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.".

2. Who was the Sower? v.37

He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

3. What were the two different “seeds”? v.38

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

4. Who sowed weeds and when is the harvest? v.39

the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

5. What will happen to the weeds? v.40-42

"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 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.

6. What will happen to the “wheat”? v.43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

B. Think:

1. What can be learnt by who asked for the interpretation and when?

2. What is clear about the two activities going on in the world?

3. What is clear about the end result?

C. Comment:

When they are alone again, the disciples ask Jesus to tell them the meaning of the parable of the weeds in the field. It is easy for us in retrospect to see its meaning but in the hustle and bustle of all that was going on they really hadn't had much time to ponder it. Those who are close to Jesus have the opportunity to ask him personally to teach them the meaning of his word. Do we hear that lesson?

Jesus explains succinctly the meaning of the parable. Two powers are at work in the world: Jesus and Satan, and each bring forth fruit. Jesus brings righteous individuals into being and Satan ensures evil doers continue in the world. The Bible is quite clear about these (and only these) two possibilities. People are either under the rule of Jesus or under the rule of Satan ( Col 1:13 & 1 Jn 5:19 ).

The real purpose of the parable is not only to highlight the growth of the two different plants, but especially to proclaim what will happen to the two sorts of plant. The emphasis is first on the weeds, for they will be pulled up and destroyed at the time of harvest, so that the wheat will remain for the harvester to take to himself. The picture is clear: all evil-doers will be destroyed at the end of time when God has decreed an end and a separating out.

D. Application:

1. There are two rulers - and ONLY two rulers in this world!!!!

2. Those who follow Satan's rule WILL be destroyed.

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:44-46

A. Find Out:

1. To what next does Jesus liken the kingdom of heaven? v.44a

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.

2. What did the man do when he found it? v.44b

When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

3. What next does he then liken the kingdom? v.45

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

4. What did he do when he found it? v.46

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

5. Read Matt 19:21,22 What was the young man not willing to do?

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

6. Read Matt 4:20 ,22 What had the disciples done?

At once they left their nets and followed him.

B. Think:

1. What did the man in each parable do that was the same?

2. What is Jesus obviously teaching therefore?

3. Why do we find this so difficult?

C. Comment:

At first sight these are easy parables to understand, yet difficult to hold on to. In both cases a man comes across something that is very precious and sells everything that he has to possess it. The conclusion is obvious: Jesus is saying that to possess the kingdom, it is essential that we give up all else that we have. Let's think on that!

To be born again and to receive a new life meant that we came to a point where we surrendered to God and put ourselves in a place where we relied entirely on Him to save us through the Cross of Christ. But did we then go on living as if relying upon ourselves? Have we things that we rely upon but which Jesus says we have to let go? Pride and concern about what people think about us? Our own abilities, our own cleverness? Our reliance upon possessions or money to give us self esteem? Our religious goodness, how often we pray or read the Bible or do good deeds? Reliance upon all of these things in fact stops us receiving from God our sonship, because they are all self-centred.

No, both of the men in these parable sold everything, which means that they were eventually left with NOTHING except the treasure or the pearl. Jesus is clearly saying that knowing the rule of God over your life costs everything you have.

D. Application:

1. Jesus wants claim to your finances.

2. Jesus wants claim to your prestige.

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:47-52

A. Find Out:

1. Now to what is the kingdom compared? v.47

"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

2. What did the fishermen do with the catch? v.48

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

3. What did Jesus say this will be like? v.49,50

This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

4. What did he then ask the disciples and what did they reply? v.51

"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.

5. Who then did he talk about? v.52a

He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven

6. What did he say a teacher should be like? v.52b

like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

B. Think:

1. What is the point Jesus is making in the parable?

2. What is the point he is making about teachers?

C. Comment:

Continuing on with a further parable, Jesus uses another illustration that would be very familiar to his listeners, that of a fisherman catching a haul of fish using a net. When they bring the haul in they separate the fish they don't want, that are perhaps too small or which have something wrong with them, from the fish they want to hold onto and use.

Very well, says Jesus, you see it happening and that's how it will be at the end of time. God will send his angels to separate good from bad and the bad will be destroyed. The picture is quite clear: God WILL distinguish between good and bad people and the bad will be destroyed and the good kept to remain with Him. For reasons why we have said “destroyed” here and in previous parables, see the additional note that follows.

Finally Jesus refers to those who had taught the Law of Moses but who were now instructed in the ways of the kingdom of God . Such a teacher, says Jesus, is like someone who brings out new as well as old treasures. They have the knowledge of the old which was precious, but they now also have new treasures that they can display. Understanding the kingdom means a whole new area of understanding which is equally precious.

D. Application:

1. God WILL separate the good from the bad.

2. We now have treasure in both Old and New Testament teaching.

Chapter: Matthew 13

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Destruction v Anguish

A. The Problem

The question of what happens to an unbeliever after they die has always been a matter of controversy. The traditional view is that they go to hell and there suffer torment for eternity. The alternative view, hated by many, is that they go there to be destroyed i.e. the annihilation theory. The picture is not fully clear.

B. Hell?

Gehenna, often translated hell, refers to the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem , a terrible, desolate, burning rubbish tip. Hades, translated hell in older versions, is simply the place of death.

C. Characteristics

- a place of destruction (Matt 10:28 )

- a place of eternal fire (Mk 9:43 ), always available to destroy?

- a place of torment & separation (Lk 16:23 )

- a place of anguish (Mt 13:42 )

Matt 25:45 speaks of “eternal punishment” but 2 Thess 1:8 of “everlasting destruction”. In Rev 20:10 , the devil, beast and false prophet are thrown into the fire to be “tormented day and night for ever and ever”, but those words are not repeated about people.

D. What about....?

The story of Lazarus is first clearly fiction for a purpose and not fact told by Jesus and the point was of the impossibility of crossing or escaping from the destiny of destruction. So what about references to anguish and gnashing of teeth? Yes it is a place of anguish, not if instant annihilation, but that is not to say eternal anguish.

The question has to be asked, what is the point of a God of love keeping alive for torment human beings. There are two answers that accord with all else we know of Him: a) He doesn't; they are destroyed b) He has to because you can't destroy “spirit”.

Whichever the truth (and you will choose), the warning is quite clear: avoid at all cost a destiny which means being separated from the wonder of God's love.

Chapter: Matthew 13

Passage: Matthew 13:53-58

A. Find Out:

1. Where did Jesus go to next and what did he do? v.53,54a

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,

2. What was the response of the people and what did they ask? v.54b

they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.

3. Who did they know? v.55,56

"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

4. What was their response to Jesus? v.57a

And they took offense at him.

5. What principle did Jesus state? v.57b

Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

6. How was he limited there and why? v.58

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith

B. Think:

1. What was Jesus doing in his home town?

2. Yet what limited him?

3. What was the reason for that?

C. Comment:

Having been living in Capernaum , Jesus now returns to his home town, Nazareth . As he often did, he went into the synagogue and, as the customary opportunity was given, he taught and backed up his teaching with a few miracles. It is the response of the people there that is remarkable, not what Jesus is doing.

The people were amazed and questioned where he could have got his teaching from and where the power came from to do what he was doing.. This was not what they expected because, after all, they knew this young man, they knew his family, his mother, his brothers and his sisters (obviously a large well-known family).

Because of what they thought they knew, they had a problem accepting what was happening, and that in its turn limited the amount of what Jesus could do there. Our faith is so often limited because of the knowledge we have. When we know things we start reasoning on the basis of that knowledge instead of simply taking God at his word and believing. Rationalising intellectualism is probably one of the greatest stumbling blocks to faith. Because we are tainted by sin our rationalising always tends to be away from faith not towards it. That is why we so often see so little happen in our lives.

D. Application:

1. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

2. Jesus calls for faith not negative thinking.

RECAP: Kingdom Parables - Matthew 13

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 9 studies we have seen Jesus:

- telling the parable of the Sower

- explaining why he used parables

- interpreting the parable of the Sower

- telling the parable of the Weeds

- telling the parables of the Mustard Seed & the Yeast

- interpreting the parable of the Weeds

- telling the parables of the Treasure & the Pearl

- telling the parable of the Catch of Fish

- being unable to do many miracles in his home town

COMMENT :

In story form Jesus has communicated that his kingdom comes to a person when their heart fully receives his word, that righteous and unrighteous people will live alongside each other until the end when there will be a separating out, and that coming into this kingdom means giving up all else. Powerful stories with powerful lessons!

LESSONS?

1. A person's heart condition is all-important.

2. Jesus speaks to seekers. God's word comes to change us.

3. God's judgement will come at the end.

4. God's rule is growing and will continue to grow through Jesus.

5. There are only 2 rulers in the world, everyone follows only one.

6. Following Jesus costs everything, he owns every bit of us.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that He is your ruler and ask that you may be part of His means of extending His rule in the world.

PART 3 : "The God who is in control"

In the next chapter is the death of John the Baptist, the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water. Watch for the various way all the different people react in these very varied situations, as you read through it. Remember that God IS in control even when the circumstances seem to challenge it. Jesus shows that in this chapter.