Matthew 13:1-30, 36-43

Notes for BSF

JESUS SPEAKS PUBLICLY IN PARABLES (Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35)

A parable is a story that contains lessons and truths to be learned.

To His disciples, Jesus spoke plainly. However, when speaking publicly, Jesus spoke in parables.

Matthew 13:11
Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

To those who are not in God, Jesus speaks to them in parables, "because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."

This fulfills the prophesy proclaimed by Isaiah in Isaiah 6:9-10.

The majority of people remained blind to Jesus, especially the religious leaders. And because they remained blind, they could not understand the parables, which confirmed them to be hearts of unbelievers, as prophesied by Isaiah.

Matthew 13:12 (Cf. Luke 8:18; Mark 4:24-25)
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.

To those who accept Jesus, Jesus will reveal to us the mysteries and the plans of His heaven. We will be given much, but Jesus will also expect much from us. To those who reject Jesus, they will be blind to the mysteries and plans of His heaven. The things they have in this world will all be lost when Jesus’ kingdom comes.

They hear, but they don’t understand.
They see, but they don’t understand.
Their hearts are dull, ignorant of the love of God, ignorant of His teaching.

People who are blind: They only see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear. They have no interest in learning and exploring the Truth. They just want to go on living the way they want to, and so it is easier for them to ignore the Truth. They ignore the truth, and they shut their eyes from seeing the truth. If they would only open their eyes, open their ears to God’s Truth, Jesus would be able to give them salvation!

Truth-seekers: They are after the Truth. Even if the truth is not pretty to see or nice to hear, they will be open to it, because they know that it is better to face the truth than to live in a lie.


PARABLE OF THE SOWER (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

The seed in the parable is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). The farmer spreads the seed, just as we, the disciples should spread the Word of God.

The hearts of the people who hear the Word are represented by the 4 different types of soil in this parable:

By the wayside (Matthew 13:19)
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.

Key: Satan and his demons prevent us from receiving God's Word. For example, people who hear the Message are first intrigued, but they then encounter news reports or society norms, and these views confuse them, pulling them away from God’s Word.

Stony places (Matthew 13:20-21)
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 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.

Among thorn (Matthew 13:22)
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.

Good ground (Matthew 12:23)
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.

John 14:15
Those who follow God’s commands will yield good crops.

John 15:5
Those who remain in God will yield good crops.

Acts 5:29
Those who obey God -- not man -- will yield good crops.

Philippians 2:12-13
Allow God to continue to work in us will yield good crops.

Hearts of thorny soil turn away from God when difficulties overcome our faith. Hearts of good soil keep us solid in God when we face difficulties.


THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

Matthew 13:37-39
He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Satan attacks us when we are vulnerable, when we are weak, when we are not awake. God will not Satan continue his attacks without judgment. However, that day has not yet come because of God's grace for His children. It is not yet time to be rid of the tares, lest the process harms the good crop in the process. In order to give His children the most amount of time and opportunities to return to Him, He will withhold judgment until the time is ripe.

Acts 20:30
2 Timothy 4:3-4
People distort the truth. The media, pop culture, all take the Truth of Christianity and distort it to fit their needs. They take comments out of context so that they can mock it to elevate their status. However, anyone who takes the time and patience to truly study the Word -- in its entirety -- will discover that God’s truth is eternal.

God's grace period cannot last forever, because He is just -- and thus cannot allow sin to run amok without judgement. On that Day, the wheat is harvested and taken into God’s presence, while the tare is burned. Be under God's love!