Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

13:1-53 In the third major discourse recorded by Matthew (see study note on Matt 5:1–7:29), Jesus here recognized the separation of his followers from others (13:14, 16) and began to reveal the secrets of the Kingdom privately to them through parables.

Verse 3

13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.

Verse 10

13:10 From this point on, Jesus rarely taught the general public. Instead, he focused on teaching those who had committed themselves to him (13:1–20:34), though he would once again confront Israel (21:1–23:39). • The people were the unbelieving opponents mentioned again in 13:11 (“others”) and 13:12 (“those who are not listening”).

Verse 11

13:11-15 Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question (13:10) was essentially that the people’s stubborn unbelief and rejection of Jesus had brought God’s condemnation.

13:11 You are permitted to understand: God had enabled the disciples to comprehend Jesus’ significance and to respond to his message of the Kingdom in faith and obedience (see 13:19, 23). • the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven: Namely, that salvation is available to them in Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.

Verse 13

13:13 Jesus told parables, and those who believed understood while those who had rejected Jesus found that his parables intensified their unbelief. • they don’t really see . . . listen or understand: They lacked the faith that perceives the truth (13:19, 23) and acts upon it (Mark 8:18; John 12:40; see also Jer 5:21).

Verse 14

13:14-15 Like that of Isaiah, Jesus’ message has a dual effect: It judges people for unbelief and disobedience, and it creates a remnant of faithful ones who accomplish the Lord’s will (21:43).

Verse 16

13:16-17 Jesus brought into reality what the prophets and Old Testament saints desired to see and hear, that is, the fulfillment of Old Testament promises (see Isa 52:15; John 8:56; 1 Pet 1:10).

Verse 19

13:19 don’t understand it: Responding to the message of the Kingdom is directly related to discerning its significance.

Verse 20

13:20-21 don’t have deep roots . . . don’t last long: The problem is a lack of persevering faith and obedience (see 7:13-27; 10:22), particularly when persecution arises.

Verse 22

13:22 Jesus spoke of competing demands in life, (see also 8:18-22). The worries of this life can become so great that they divert one from the path of faithful obedience (see 6:19-34). The lure of wealth, particularly in its ability to deceive, appears often in Matthew (e.g., 4:8-10; 6:24; 13:44-45). God does not desire that his people have wealth as much as that they have faith, obey him, and willingly help those in need (e.g., 19:21; 25:31-46).

Verse 23

13:23 produce a harvest: Probably a general reference to faithful obedience to Jesus’ commands (e.g., 5:1–7:27; 28:20).

Verse 24

13:24-30 This story is explained in 13:36-43.

Verse 25

13:25 Weeds (or tares, bearded darnel) are almost indistinguishable from wheat and so were left until growth revealed their true nature. Malevolent contamination of crops in this manner was punishable by law.

Verse 28

13:28-30 Just as Jesus rebuked the sons of Zebedee for wanting to destroy unbelieving villages (Luke 9:54-55), he prohibited his followers from retaliating against enemies. Judgment is God’s work (see Matt 7:1-5). Jesus urges his followers to wait patiently for God’s righteous judgment (the harvest; see Luke 13:6-9).

Verse 31

13:31-33 Jesus used surprising, evocative imagery in these parables, either to emphasize the inevitable growth of the Kingdom through proclamation of the gospel or, more probably, to emphasize the contrast between insignificant beginnings and glorious consummation, and to exhort the disciples to patience (see also 16:24–17:13).

Verse 33

13:33 Normally yeast refers to the influence of evil (e.g., 16:6; 1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9); here, however, it is positive, speaking of the all-pervasive influence of the Kingdom.

Verse 34

13:34-35 Even Jesus’ manner of teaching fulfilled Old Testament predictions. Psalm 78:2-3 speaks of passing down the history of God’s revelation to children of the next generation. Jesus’ revelation is the climax of that history (Matt 13:10-17; 1 Cor 2:7).

Verse 36

13:36-43 These verses are the interpretation of the parable told in 13:24-30. The people of the Kingdom (wheat) coexist with nonmembers (weeds) in the world (field) until the end of history. The mystery of the Kingdom is that it is present in the world without weeding out the wicked in judgment; Jesus’ disciples must learn patience.

13:36 They went into the house (see 13:1). Jesus taught in parables publicly, but the interpretations were reserved for his disciples in private. • Please explain: Though the disciples were privileged to know the mysteries of the Kingdom (13:11-17), they did not understand the parables until Jesus explained them.

Verse 38

13:38 The field is the world: The Kingdom includes all nations (28:16-20). • The people of the Kingdom are those who follow Jesus (13:11-17, 23; 21:43).

Verse 40

13:40-42 The harvest of judgment, which began with the first coming of the Son of Man (3:12), will be completed when he returns (Rev 14:14-16).

Verse 41

13:41 his Kingdom: Not until the “end of the world” (13:40) will the rule of the Son of Man be visible over all things.

Verse 43

13:43 The righteous do the will of God as revealed by Jesus, in contrast to those “who do evil” (13:41).

Verse 44

13:44-46 Another mystery of the Kingdom (13:11) is that its value exceeds all other treasures, and so everything should be forfeited to acquire it (see 19:21, 29; Phil 3:7).

13:44 treasure . . . hidden in a field: Treasures were buried for protection against thieves and military enemies (25:25). • In his excitement: Those who discover the Kingdom find greater joy in it than can be found in any temporal pleasure (see 1 Pet 1:8).

Verse 47

13:47-50 This parable refers to God’s judgment at the last day (25:31-46), which will eternally separate the wicked from the righteous. This note of warning reinforces the urgency of the previous two calls to decision.

Verse 49

13:49 The wicked are those who do not do the will of God as revealed in Jesus, and the righteous are those who do (see 5:21-48; 6:1, 33; 7:13-27; 12:33-37; 16:27).

Verse 51

13:51 The ability to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom is a gift from God (13:10-17, 23).

Verse 52

13:52 A teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom has had his allegiance radically altered toward Jesus as the way of salvation. • new gems of truth as well as old: The sequence reflects the preeminence of the new covenant inaugurated in Jesus (5:17-20; 19:16-22) over the old covenant administered under Abraham and Moses.

Verse 54

13:54-58 That Jesus was rejected at home is part of the ongoing theme of the Messiah’s rejection by his own people (see ch 12; 15:1-20; 16:1-12).

Verse 55

13:55-56 carpenter’s son: A carpenter (literally craftsman) worked with his hands, whether in wood, metal, or stone.

Verse 57

13:57 They were deeply offended. Dwelling on Jesus’ all-too-common heritage (John 6:42), they could not see his uncommon significance.

Verse 58

13:58 Faith is required both to understand Jesus’ message (13:10-17) and to experience his miracles.