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Matthew 11-13
Unpardonable Sin
and Unfathomable Parables
Psalm 119:17-24 Delightful Counsel
17.GIMEL “Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.18.Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.19.I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me.20.My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.21.You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.22.Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.23.Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.24.Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors."Observations
119:17-20. The psalmist asks God to do good (bless) to him, so he will live in obedience to God's word. Because he recognizes that obedience is the key to blessing, he asks God to help him see all that God has for him in His word. God is anxious to reveal His gems to those who seek them.119:21-22.
On the flip side, the psalmist asks God to keep him from the consequences of those who don't seek and do His word.
119:23-24.
God's statutes are the psalmists delight and counselors. They tell him what to do. When evil leaders slander him, he meditates (thinking through implications for applications) on God's word to find what response God wants him to make. Meditation gives him the perspective that God is aware of what's going on, and will judge/deliver, therefore he delights in God's revelation.
Application
In your decisions and responses to difficulties, seek the counsel of God's word, and put it into practice.
Prayer
God, may my great delight be seeing the truth of Your word become a reality in my life, as You lead and guide me in doing Your will. Amen.
Proverbs 27:1-4 Avoid Fools to Avoid Grief
1.“Don't boast about tomorrow; for you don't know what a day may bring forth.2.Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.3.A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool's grief/provocation is heavier than both.4.Wrath is cruel, and anger is an overwhelming flood; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Observation
27:1-4. Fools get angry and jealous when their fragile self-worth is threatened by another's accomplishments. So avoid provoking them by avoiding their company and keeping a low profile. They can do damage. You've been warned.Application
It's OK if no one notices how wonderful you are. God does.
Prayer
God whom I praise and who praises His servants, thank you for freeing me from the tyranny of living for the praise of men. Help me live to hear “Well done, good, and faithful servant.” Amen.
Matthew 11-13 Unpardonable Sin and Unfathomable Parables
The opponents of Jesus commit the "unpardonable sin" of rejecting the authenticating work of the Holy Spirit, and thus the King, and the Kingdom. Up until this point the Kingdom has been announced as “near” (3:2; 4:17; 10:7). From now on, there is no longer an imminent kingdom. Jesus then gives a series of parables stemming from Israel's unbelief and rejection of the Kingdom.
Matthew 11 The Yoke's on You
1.It happened that when Jesus had finished appointing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities2.Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples3.and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?4.Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:5.the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.6.Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."7.As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8.But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s houses.9.But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.10.For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’11.Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he (is now).12.From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it (away) by force13.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14.If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.15.He who has ears to hear, let him hear.16."But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions17.and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’18.For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’19.The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children."20.Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.21."Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22.But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.23.You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.24.But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."25.At that time, Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.26.Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.27.All things have been delivered/committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills/chooses to reveal him.28."Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.29.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.30.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."Observations
11:1-6.John, imprisoned (for confronting Herod's sin) is wondering why the Messiah would leave him there, rather than freeing him. After all, if you're going to rule over the kingdom, you should start by executing justice (and Herod, while you're at it). Jesus wasn't setting up the political kingdom yet (wait at least a few thousand years), but instead of telling John that, He gives him something to think about to pass the time. The miracles and message authenticated the Messiah, but not the program John anticipated. There is a paradigm of basing one's understanding on the truth (that which best explains all the facts, found at the convergence of Revelation, Reason, and Reality -see “What is Truth”). John knew Revelation; Jesus highlighted Reality (blind see...dead raised); all John had to do is apply a little Reason to get the truth. Then he had to figure out why Jesus would leave him languishing in prison (a question asked by many of God's choicest saints throughout history). He had completed his work as the forerunner, maybe now he needed to serve as the first example of a disciple dying for the Messiah and His message.
11:7-15.
Jesus identifies John as the messenger of Isaiah 40, and if the people are willing (to accept/receive the Messiah) the Elijah of Malachi 4. Jesus honors John in calling him the greatest prophet on earth, ever (Sorry Moses). But in keeping with the theme of reward, the one who is least in the kingdom is greater than John (is now). This indicates that John isn't in the kingdom (yet) because it is near, but not here. The reward John will experience in the kingdom is far greater than what he has now (Lk 13:28). In contrast to those who are willing to hear and accept the Messiah and His kingdom, the strong-forceful-violent political and religious establishment reject Him and it (and imprison John). Thus the kingdom can be said to suffer violence/harm, and the strong/violent seek to take the kingdom away from the people (for if God's promised kingdom came, then they would lose their power; cf Herod seeking to kill the Bethlehem Babe). The verb “take away” (harpazo Strongs #726) is usually translated to “catch up” as in “snatch out of the way” (see Thayer's Lexicon). The bad idea of interpreting this passage as “entering” the kingdom forcefully, does as much violence to the Biblical text as the religious leaders sought to do to the King and His kingdom, a theme Matthew will be developing in the next chapters.
11:16-24.
Jesus compares the generation to arbitrary kids who find fault with whatever doesn't fit their preconceptions at the moment. They called John demonic for being an ascetic, and Jesus a drunkard for being a friend of sinners. You can't please people, but you can please God, and let the naysayers continue on their broad path to Gehenna. Jesus denounces the cities who did not repent in light of the revelation given them. Justice requires that God judge and reward or punish according to one's responsibility. Having seen the miracles put a greater burden upon those who saw them. This theme will be explored in Mt 13 in reference to parables. Tyre and Sodom would have repented if they had such a great witness to God's power. Hades (OT sheol/grave) is the temporary abode of the (wicked) dead (Lk 16:23; Rev 20:13-14).
11:25-30.
Jesus closes with a prayer, a process, and a promise. He thanks the Father that He has made the truth accessible to the humble common person, and obscured it from the proud arrogant intellectuals (a reference to the Scribes and Pharisees; the humble and wise get the best of both worlds). This was pleasing in the Father's sight (1Cor 1:27; Jer 9:23-24). Jesus claims to be the sole revealer of the Father (cf Jn 17:9). The only way a finite being (like you and me) can know infinite truth (like what happens when we die), is if an infinite Being (like Jesus, or the Father) reveals it (like Jesus was doing, and the Father did through the prophets, and the Holy Spirit would do through the apostles). The Son will choose to give no more revelation to those who reject Him, but will explain things to His disciples privately (13:10-17). Note that this has nothing to do with forgiveness of sins.
Jesus then invites the common people, who are burdened by the religious and political oppression, to come to Him, and offers to give them rest for their souls. The prerequisite is to take His yoke upon them (deny self and submit to His service). Those who accept this invitation will find that serving the meek and humble Messiah is a joy and delight, because it is easy and light (in part because we were created for it, and in part because He gives the grace to do it; more on this later). Again note that Jesus is not talking about forgiveness of sins, but service to Him.
Application
Those who keep their eyes fixed on the facts and the Savior, have no occasion for stumbling.
Prayer
Lord, may I have ears to hear Your word, eyes to perceive Your truth, and a heart to bear Your yoke, in Your service, for Your glory. Amen.
Matthew 12 The Unpardonable Sin
1.At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.2.But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, "Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."3.But he said to them, "Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;4.how he entered into the house of God, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?5.Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?6.But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.7.But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless8.For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."9.He departed there, and went into their synagogue.10.And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" that they might accuse him.11.He said to them, "What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out?12.Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day."13.Then he told the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.14.But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.15.Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,16.and commanded them that they should not make him known:17.that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,18."Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations.19.He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets20.He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he brings forth justice to victory.21.In his name, the nations will hope."22.Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.23.All the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"24.But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."25.Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.26.If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?27.If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.28.But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.29.Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.30."He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.31.Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men32.Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.33."Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.34.You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks35.The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things36.I tell you that every idle/unprofitable word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.37.For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."38.Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."39.But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.40.For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41.The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.42.The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.43.But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.44.Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out,’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.45.Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation."46.While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him47.One said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you."48.But he answered him who spoke to him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"49.He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!50.For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother."Observations
12:1-7.Jesus makes two astonishing claims, to be greater than the Temple, and Lord of the Sabbath. As the embodiment of the glory of God, He trumps the temple. As the fulfillment of the law, and the one who gives eternal rest (end of last chapter), He supersedes the Sabbath. He will go on to validate these claims, but first He refutes the charge by appealing to David (on whose throne He will sit) in 1Samuel 21:6 and the priests service in Numbers 28:9.
12:9-14.
The proud preconceptions and hardened heart (they might be related) of the Pharisees blinds them to obvious truth that Jesus is the Messiah. They know He heals, and think they can condemn Him by tricking Him into healing someone on the Sabbath day. Their response to the display of God's authenticating power is to plot to destroy the Messiah. Luke 6:11 says they were filled/controlled with madness (in both senses of the word).
12:15-21.
Rather than turning the truth-rejecters into toads, Jesus withdraws and heals the multitudes. He promulgates the Messianic Secret, to diminish opposition and give Matthew an opportunity to attribute a rather free adaptation of Isaiah 42:1-4 to Him. The original passage is in the context of 41:25 to 42:9, of judgment coming, people rejecting God's words, good news being given, worthless religion, and no one to do God's will, except His Select/Choice Spirit-empowered Servant, who will bring light (to the Gentiles), establish justice on the earth, open the eyes of the blind, and bring in the New Covenant, etc. Most commentators rhapsodize about the meek and mild Jesus when considering this verse, but the OT and NT contexts beg for another interpretation that incorporates the rejection of the Jewish leaders, the poor condition of the nation, and the brackets of justice and light being given to the nations/Gentiles, who will trust in Him. Perhaps the bruised reed and barely burning flax wick represent the people of Israel whom the Messiah won't reject, nor destroy by having a shouting match with the religious establishment, or cause a riot, which would bring in the Roman government to calm things down. That won't happen until He brings forth justice for the purpose of victory (OT has “faithfulness”) as in causing justice to triumph, so the nations will hope and trust in Him. It is through Israel that the nations will be blessed, so the Messiah won't extinguish the witness (wick) of Israel but rather will cause what is right and just to triumph so they can be a light to the nations. In order for that plan to be accomplished, people need to keep quiet about things that would cause religious riots.
12:22-32.
The Pharisees commit “the unpardonable sin,” after Jesus healed a blind and mute demoniac. The Pharisees said He was using the power of Satan, not God, to cast out demons, attributing the authenticating work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Actually any rejection of God's Spirit convicting of sin or authenticating the source of forgiveness winds up being unpardonable. The common people began to grasp the true identity of Jesus, as the Son of David, at which point the sons of the devil do the dirty work of disseminating the deception that he is casting out demons with demonic power, and thus can't be from God. Jesus refutes their lie with reason, then reality (a double bind for you debate fans), and finally appeals to Revelation. Reason indicates that divided houses and kingdoms fall. If their sons cast out demons (Acts 19:13 - not a very successful exorcism) then they must be in league with the devil? Or if they didn't cast them out, then they were ineffectual and powerless to do God's work, and must acknowledge that Jesus had God's Spirit. The conclusion is the revelation that the Spirit-empowered Messiah of the Kingdom of God has indeed come upon them, and is in their presence. Jesus reveals what has happened: in order to take the spoil (demon possessed individual) of the strong man (Satan), He (Messiah) must first bind (with supernatural power) the strong man. He will return to the topic in verse 43, but first deals with the implications of their unpardonable sin. Since He is doing God's work of gathering God's people from sin, those who are not with Him, are against Him, and God's purposes and thus sinning in scattering the harvest.
Jesus says that every sin and blasphemy (“speaking against”) will be forgiven (with proper acknowledgment or confession and seeking God's grace), except for the one they were currently committing. The Holy Spirit authenticates God's spokesmen through signs and wonders (miracles), so people can come to God, be forgiven, and have a relationship with Him. If people speak against the Holy Spirit (by attributing His authentication of Christ's message to Satan), they can't possibly come to Christ, where God's forgiveness is found. They will remain in the sphere of their sins, rather than stepping into the sphere of Christ's forgiveness. This is the same argument the author of Hebrews will use in 6:6 of those who abandon Christianity to go back to Judaism.
12:33-37.
Jesus echos a section of His sermon on the mountain (7:14-21) about the necessity of teachers speaking truth (which they weren't doing). Because their hearts were evil, so were their words, which were evil fruit, poisoning (as would a brood of vipers) their hearers. They will have to give an account of every unprofitable word they speak (a great verse to carve on every pulpit in the land, facing the preacher). Jesus applies it to all people, giving the reason for it: our words, the reflection of our hearts will either justify or condemn us in the day of judgment.
12:38-45.
With all the healings and miracles He'd been performing, some of the scribes and Pharisees had the temerity to ask for another. Jesus meekly replies that an evil and adulterous generation seeks after signs and wonders, and that the only sign He will give them is the sign of Jonah, the resurrection of the Son of Man. But it probably wouldn't do any good (just like none of the ones they had seen and heard about did any good). Jesus spells out the greater condemnation that awaits those that have rejected Him, and His words. He describes them as having been cleansed from a demon, only to be occupied by seven (a number signifying fullness) more evil ones.
12:46-50.
The chapter ends with a visit from Jesus mother and brothers (cf 13:55). Jesus replies that those who do the will of His Father are His real family.
Application
Those who reject the light of truth go deeper into the dark deception of the demonic.
Prayer
God, may I always be receptive to the work of Your Spirit in convicting me of sin, empowering me for service, or guiding me in Your truth; keep me from the evil one and his deceptions. Thanks. Amen.
Matthew 13 The Sermon on the Seaside: Kingdom Parables
1.On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.2.Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach.3.He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow.4.As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.5.Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.6.When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.7.Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them8.Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.9.He who has ears to hear, let him hear."10.The disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"11.He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.12.For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.13.Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.14.In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive:15.for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and should repent; and I would heal them.’16."But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.17.For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.18."Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.19.When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.20.What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;21.yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.22.What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.23.What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and brings forth, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty."24.He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,25.but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.26.But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also.27.The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?’28."He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ "The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’29."But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.30.Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."’"31.He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;32.which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."33.He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened."34.Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,35.that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."36.Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field."37.He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,38.the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.39.The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.40.As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.41.The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity,42.and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.43.Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.44."Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.45."Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,46.who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.47."Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind,48.which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.49.So will it be in the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous,50.and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."51.Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They answered him, "Yes, Lord."52.He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things."53.It happened that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.54.Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?55.Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?56.Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?"57.They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house."58.He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.Observations
13:1-17.Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Seashore, from a boat, because of the multitude of people pressing in on Him. When the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, He explained that He was shielding His listeners from truth they were going to reject. The parables are mysteries about the Kingdom coming from the Heavens. A mystery is something that was hidden or not obvious in the OT. These are not parables about the “mystery form” of the kingdom. There is no such beast as a "mystery form". They are parables/mysteries about the “actual form” the kingdom would take in light of its rejection by the nation. Isaiah revealed that an inability to understand truth was a matter of the heart (the place the will resided in OT thought). A calloused, insensitive heart (13:15) wouldn't grasp truth, repent, and be healed. Those who have a heart sensitive to their Creator will receive the light/revelation so they can follow. Those who proudly reject the need to be dependent upon their Creator, will go deeper into the dark. Jesus says the disciples are blessed to hear the truth.
13:18-23.
Jesus then explains the parable of the sower, which is about the differing responses to the message about the "Kingdom that comes from the Heavens" (promised in the OT and announced by John, Jesus, and the disciples). Notice there is nothing about Christ dying on the cross for their sins, or about justification by faith. After Christ's death, the message of the "Kingdom from the Heavens" when related to Gentiles would contain the message of the Cross, but to try to force that meaning into the Sermon on the Seashore and its explanation is a contextual abomination. The farmer sows the message about the Kingdom, which up until now has stressed the need for repentance, and bringing forth fruit (righteousness and justice) consistent with that repentance (or face judgment).
13:19.
The first guy, Mr. Hard Heart (soil=heart) doesn't get it (neither physically nor spiritually). Satan (who has access to hearts/minds by the way – See outline on Satan on Truthbase.net to know your enemy) snatches the truth so there is no acceptance nor belief, and no corresponding life. The moral of the story is: cultivate before you sow.
13:20.
Mr. Rocky Heart, hears and receives the word (belief), and life is engendered, it just doesn't endure because there is no depth of soil, nor deep root. Persecution combined with lack of understanding causes a scorched and shriveled plant; and no fruit. The moral of the story is: develop depth.
13:22.
Mr. Thorny Heart, hears (and accepts); life occurs; but stunted growth, no fruit nor reproduction. The cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches (score one for the devil's side) and Luke adds that all-time favorite lust, ”desire for other things” choke the word and that is why it doesn't engender life in others through Mr. Thorny. Moral of the story: develop sanctification, and weed your heart every day.
13:23-43.
Jesus explains the parable as the hitherto unknown truth (mystery) about Kingdom that good and evil (sons of God and sons of Satan) would coexist until the end of the age, when the Messiah (Son of Man) will send His angels to remove the wicked, and they will be burned with fire (and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who do Satan's will, iniquity). But for those who do God's will, the righteous, there will be glory (shine like the sun) in the Kingdom of their Father. The parable ends with the admonition to hear and obey if you've got ears.
13:31-33.
A pair of parables aren't explained, but are pretty self-evident (the disciples appear to have gotten them). The mustard seed is the smallest seed that is sown, and becomes greater than all the other herbs, such that birds can nest in it. The Kingdom would be great, and provide shelter to others, despite the inauspicious start. The yeast illustration is parallel: the Kingdom would become all pervasive. Some see an evil corrupting force in the yeast and woman, but if "all" is leavened that interpretation breaks down.
13:44-46.
Another pair of parables, of a man (Messiah) giving all he has to obtain two valued, but different objects. The treasure is Israel (composed of the 12 distinct tribes), which is redeemed but hidden (not seen as God's people for the present). The pearl is the church (the only gem that is a total unity and cannot be divided), which is obtained in the same way as the treasure (Israel), and is not hidden away. Remember these are parables about the Kingdom program in light of Israel's rejection of the Messiah ("he's of the devil"). There is nothing about the cross, and one doesn't sell all they have to be justified by faith. It's true that a disciple gives all they have, but not to get and hide a treasure, and then go and get a pearl???
13:47-52.
The parable of the dragnet parallels the wheat and weeds, but perhaps for the Gentiles (sea is a usual metaphor for the Gentile kingdoms in the OT prophecies of the Messianic Millennial Kingdom). A separation at the end of the age will gather the righteous and toss-n-torch the wicked (who will do the weeping and gnashing thing). Note that the word for “age”, sometimes incorrectly translated as world or eternity, is “aion” and it is always used of a definite period of time by all classical authors (with the exception of Plato who sometimes used it to describe an indeterminate period). In the NT it can refer to the present age, or the Messianic Age (Kingdom). See Survey of Rewards on Truthbase.net for references and additional information. Jesus concludes the parable with asking if His disciples understood everything. They said “Yes!” He tells them that they now have old and new treasures of truth to share. The old is what was clearly seen in the OT, the new is this (and future NT) revelation about the Kingdom.
13:53-58.
Returning to Nazareth, He is rejected by His kinsmen, who can't believe that Mary's illegitimate kid could have such wisdom and do miracles. They name his blood brothers and mention His sisters, which are not generic “brethren” in Christ (since they are actually rejecting Him), but Mary and Joe's kids. Their unbelief causes Jesus to refrain from heaping more judgment upon them by doing more miracles, similar to how He shifted to communicating in parables to those who didn't want to accept Him.
Application
Seeking the truth with a tender heart results in an enduring and deeper relationship with God, which you can share with others.
Prayer
God, may I know You and Your word, and Your ways in a deeper way every day, so I will not fall away, but bear fruit in the lives of others. Thanks for Your Revelation. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God's plan to bless Israel is put slightly on hold as a result of the rejection by the nation (which starts with the religious leaders and reaches it's climax in the crucifixion). God can forgive any sin when people repent, but they can't repent if they reject the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting them of sin, righteousness, and judgment.Build-a-Jesus: Jesus boldly confronts the lies of those who do Satan's will (spread lies) rather than God's will (teach truth). He shields people from additional judgment for rejecting additional truth, by withdrawing from them (actually an act of grace).
Us in a nutshell: Our receptivity to truth determines our well-being, fruitfulness, and usefulness to the Master. We will give an account for every unprofitable word we speak.