Episode 240: The purpose of the parables

Matthew 13

The parable of the sower

13 ¹ The same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.

² A large crowd gathered to see him, so he sat in a boat, leaving the crowd on the shore.

³ He said many things to the crowd, such as this parable,

A sower sowed some seeds that fell on the wayside, and the birds ate them up.

⁵ Some seeds fell on rocky soil, were burnt by the sun, and withered away because they had no roots.

⁷ Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

⁸ But others fell onto good ground, producing 100, 60, or 30 times as much seed as was scattered. If you have ears, hear.

The purpose of the parables (to confuse people)

¹⁰ The disciples came to Jesus, and said to him, "Why do you speak in parables?"

¹¹ Jesus answered,

Because you have been given the power to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to them it isn't given.

¹² Whoever has, will be given even more; whoever has little, will have even that taken away.

¹³ I speak to them in parables, so they won't see, hear, or understand what I say.

¹⁴ This is to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, "You will hear, but not understand, and see but not perceive."

¹⁵ These people have had their hearts, ears, and eyes closed to make sure that they will never see, hear, or understand. So that they will not be converted, and I won't heal them.

Jesus explains the parable of the sower

¹⁸ So here's what the parable of the sower means:

^19-21 The one who received the seed in stony places hears the word and receives it with joy, but he didn't have roots. So when troubles and persecution comes, he is offended.

²² The one who received the seed in the thorns, is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the pursuit of wealth choke out the word. And he becomes unfruitful.

²³ But the one who received the seed in good ground, hears the word, understands it, and produces 100, 60, or 30 times as much seed as was scattered.

Weeds and wheat

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

²⁵ But while everyone slept, his enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away.

²⁶ So when the crop began to grow, weeds grew along with the crop.

²⁷ The servants said to him, "Didn't you sow good seed in the field? If so, why are there weeds?"

²⁸ The farmer said, "An enemy has done this." His servants said, "Should we remove the weeds?"

²⁹ He said, "No, you might destroy the wheat with the weeds.

³⁰ Let them grow together until harvest time. I'll tell the reapers to pull the weeds first and burn them. Then gather the wheat and put it in my barn."

A mustard seed

³¹ Jesus told another parable, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man sowed in his field.

³² The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes a tree large enough for birds to nest in.

Jesus explains the parable of the weeds

³⁶ Jesus sent the crowd away and when into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain the parable of the weeds to us."

^37-38 Jesus said,

The sower of the good seed is the Son of man, the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the kingdom, and the weeds are the children of the devil.

³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.

⁴⁰ Just as the weeds are burned in the fire, so shall be children of the devil be burned at the end of the world.

⁴¹ The Son of man will send his angels who will gather all the evil people and cast them into a furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father

Three little parables

⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field.

When someone finds it, he sells all that he owns and buys the field.

⁴⁵ The kingdom of heaven is like a man seeking pearls.

⁴⁶ When he finds the pearl of great price, he sells all that he has to buy it.

⁴⁷ The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and caught every kind of fish.

⁴⁸ When it was full, they brought it to shore and put the good fish in vessels but threw the bad fish away.

⁴⁹ That's how it will be at the end of the world. The angels will separate the wicked from the just.

⁵⁰ And cast the wicked into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is rejected in his hometown

^53-54 When Jesus was finished with his parables, he came to his hometown of Nazareth.

He taught in the synagogue, and they were astonished at his wisdom and said,

Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty works?

⁵⁵ Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

⁵⁶ And aren't his sisters with us?

⁵⁷ And they were offended by him.

Jesus said, "A prophet has honor except in his own country and house."

⁵⁸ And he didn't do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.