“Answers for a study in the Gospel of Matthew” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

2023 Fall – A Case for the Gospels: A study in Matthew

Matthew and Chapters 11 through 13

BASIC ANSWERS

Jesus’ Kingdom Teaching and Parables

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1.  Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing or reviewing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Answers will vary…

Read Matthew chapters 11 through 13, then answer the following questions:

2.  (Matthew 11:1-30) In this chapter Jesus moves on to teach and preach in other places.

John’s Questions

11 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

² Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” ⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

⁷ As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about 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 dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! ⁹But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

¹¹ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was 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 market places, who call out to the other children, ¹⁷ and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 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!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Unrepenting Cities

²⁰ Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

²⁸ “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:1-30 (NASB)

• John the Baptist, who was now in prison, sent word to Jesus through his disciples to ask if He was “the Expected One.” How did Jesus answer him and what Old Testament passage did He use as evidence (11:1-6)? Discuss: How can this passage help us when we have doubts or worries about who Jesus is and what He can do?
  • Jesus told John’s disciples to go and report to John what “they hear and see: the Blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense to me.” (The last sentence, from the NLT, can be said “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”)
  • Jesus was showing John evidence that He was the “Expected One” – the Messiah, because John knew the Old Testament prophecies that pointed to Messiah. He specifically pointed to Isaiah 35 and the language it contains about healing the blind, deaf, lame and mute.
  • It is important to note that Jesus did not shame or rebuke John for his questions and doubt, rather He simply answered him in a way that would reassure him, and that he would understand.
  • Discussion answer will vary, but could include… John had not necessarily witnesses Jesus’ miracles as he was imprisoned, and was not certain about how the Kingdom of God would present itself, and he probably had an idea in his own mind (militarily, spiritually, or some other way).
  • We, like John, have anxiety and fear over the future. We do not know God’s specific details for our lives, and we often worry and imagine things that ultimately don’t take place. We, like John, can take comfort in knowing that Jesus is who He said He was, did what He said He would do. We know He said He will never forsake us or leave us, and we can trust Him in that.
  • Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit so that we can know the truth, and take comfort in God’s presence with us in all things, and that in the end He will be trustworthy and true, providing us comfort and peace beyond all understanding.

• What else did Jesus have to say about John the Baptist, and are there any other Old Testament references He used concerning him (11:7-19)?
  • Jesus affirmed John’s noble character to the crowd. He referred to John as a man of strong convictions and
  • Jesus referred to John as not only a prophet, but more than a prophet – Jesus referenced John as being the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1 by saying: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.” Jesus went on to say, referencing Malachi 4:5 “If you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
  • Note here: Some commentators say that if only the people of Israel would have accepted John as Elijah the Kingdom would have come right then to Earth, because they would have also accepted Jesus as the Promised Messiah, but they didn’t (and God knew they wouldn’t).
• In the last part of this chapter, Jesus denounces some of the cities He had done miracles in. What did Jesus mean when He compared “the wise and intelligent” with the “infant,” and who does He invite to come to Him (11:20-30)?
  • From the LAB commentary: “Jesus mentioned two kinds of people in His prayer, the “wise” –arrogant in their own knowledge –and the “infants” –humbly open to receive the truth of God’s Word.” We must ask ourselves which one am I?
  • Jesus says: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. And learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This means we need to come to Him first in all things and not let the fears of this world be our guide. My times are in His hands.

3.  (Matthew 12:1-37) In this chapter, Jesus and the Disciples begin to have more serious run-ins with the Jewish religious leaders.

Sabbath Questions

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. ² But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” ³ But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, ⁴ how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? ⁵ Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? ⁶ But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

Lord of the Sabbath

⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

⁹ Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. ¹¹ And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

¹⁵ But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, ¹⁶ and warned them not to tell who He was. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

¹⁸ “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen;
My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased;
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ “He will not quarrel, nor cry out;
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
²⁰ “A battered reed He will not break off,
And a smoldering wick He will not put out,
Until He leads justice to victory.
²¹ “And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”

The Pharisees Rebuked

²² Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. ²³ All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

²⁵ And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any 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 sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

³⁰ He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

³¹ “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Words Reveal Character

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. ³⁵ The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. ³⁶ But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:1-37 (NASB)

• How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees when they questioned Him about His disciples picking the head of grains to eat on the Sabbath, and the healing of the man’s hand on the Sabbath (12:1-14)? Discuss: What had the Pharisees missed in this accusation, and what do you think Jesus was trying to teach them?
  • Jesus pointed them to the Scriptures (the Old Testament) and said, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”
  • Discussion answers will vary, but could include… Jesus was showing them that they had completely misunderstood, and misused, the intention of the Law, especially the Sabbath. To simply rest one day and not work, had been turned into a “gotcha” environment, instead of it being a day of rest, relaxation and freedom from worry. As Swindoll put it, “It became a day of anxiety as faithful Jews fretted over whether they had walked too far, carried too much, or exerted enough energy for it to count as “labor” and place them under the curse of the Law, not to mention to the watchful eyes of the religious leaders, ready to condemn them the moment they. Saw an infraction. Simply put, if we understand the Sabbath according to the general principles of the inspired Word of God, there was nothing wrong with what the disciples were doing.”
  • Jesus pointed out that the desire of God, according to Scripture (Hosea 6:6) was the desire for compassion, not a sacrifice, and the Pharisees were doing just the opposite of compassion for the people with their self-righteous condemnation of innocent people. Jesus was trying to teach them that “a man” was much more valuable than an animal that they would rescue on the Sabbath and that healing and other means of helping others was what God desired, and not the following of man-made rules.

• Jesus withdrew from there and went on to heal many people, and warned them not to tell who He was. Why, and what Old Testament passage does this fulfill (12:15-21)?
  • According to Swindoll’s commentary: “ There were a lot more followers of Jesus than credentialed scribes and committed Pharisees. Aware that many in the crowd had in their minds a false image of a battle-ready Messiah, Jesus knew that too much talk of His legitimate kingship in the wrong way or at the wrong time could have incited the crowd to bad together against the establishment and revolt.” It was not God’s timing yet for Jesus’ identity to be fully disclosed.
  • Matthew quotes from the Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah 42:1-4. This is the longest quote from the Old Testament in Matthew’s Gospel. He uses it to explain Jesus’ mission and to clarify His methods. According to Isaiah, the mission of the chosen Servant was to be (summarized by Charles Swindoll):
    • Well-pleasing to God (18)
    • Accomplished through proclamation (18)
    • Free from quarreling or crying out (19)
    • Without ruckus or riot (19)
    • Considerate of the weak and vulnerable (20)
    • Focused on the goal of justice (20)

• The religious leaders accuse Jesus of being under Satan’s power when He healed a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. How did Jesus respond to this accusation, and how did He contrast a good man versus an evil man (12:22-37)? Discuss: What do you think it means to “blaspheme the Holy Spirit”?
  • “Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”
  • The religious leaders could not deny the supernatural power of Jesus in all that He was doing, but Jesus showed their foolishness in their accusations of His power being from Satan. He showed that they would then have to admit that their own “exorcists” were getting their power from Satan as well. Jesus ability to drive out demons showed He was stronger than their forces and at a much greater level than the religious leaders and their exorcists could ever have had.
  • A good man versus an evil man: Jesus showed that a good man (a person of God) will show his true self by the fruit of the things he does; whereas an evil man, who may say they are a follower of God, shows their true self by the evil things that come from both their mouth and their actions. The point Jesus is making, is that a person’s heart will be truly shown by their actions. (Note: this is not to say that salvation is works based, but the changed heart will produce what it believes to be true, either good or evil, a true follower of Jesus will produce things that are pleasing to Him).

Discussion answer may vary, but should include…

• • To “blaspheme the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven” is clarified in the passage when Jesus says “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” We know this to be true because the Apostle Paul is a good example when he said “I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13).
  • Charles Swindoll explains it like this: “Jesus describes a different category of blasphemous sin – it was specific to the religious leaders’ continuous denial of the Holy Spirit in the miraculous acts of Jesus, and instead attributing them to Satan.” For us today, it would be on the same level with the continuous rejection of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit’s prompting and conviction in our lives, yet we still have until that final breath to truly believe, after that it is too late.
  • Swindoll also says, when someone is concerned about committing this sin, “the fact that you’re concerned about it, and care at all, is proof that you haven’t. Those Pharisees who were guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit delighted in their rejection of Jesus.”

4.  (Matthew 12:38-13:23) Beginning in this section, Jesus teaches about the Kingdom using Old Testament figures and parables. NOTE: Many of Jesus’ parables can be found and cross-referenced in the other Gospels for a more robust view (most study Bibles will give you those cross-references).

The Desire for Signs

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; ⁴⁰ for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, 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 with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Changed Relationships

⁴⁶ While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. ⁴⁷ Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” ⁴⁸ But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He 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.”

Jesus Teaches in Parables

13 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. ² And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

³ And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; ⁴ and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵ Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. ⁶ But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. ⁸ And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

An Explanation

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Sower Explained

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. ²⁰ The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Matthew 12:38-13:23 (NASB)

• What Old Testament figures did Jesus reference, and how do you think He was using them to point to Himself (12:38-42)? Discuss: What did He say about an unclean spirit leaving a man and then returning, and how should we understand and apply this teaching (12:43-45)?
  • Jesus referenced both Jonah and the Queen of the South who came to visit Solomon in his day.
    • The reference to Jonah pictures his three days in the belly of the fish foreshadowing Jesus’ three days in the ground after His crucifixion – and as Jonah was resurrected (in a way) out of the fish, Jesus physically resurrected to defeat death and Satan. The people of Nineveh repented, but not so with the religious leaders (Jesus knew their hearts in advance of the resurrection). Jesus was greater than Jonah!
    • The Queen of the South came to hear Solomon’s teachings/wisdom from afar, the same with Gentiles (and Jews) who will believe, but not so with the religious leaders. Jesus, as King of Kings, was greater than Solomon!
  • Discussions may vary, but can include the teaching that if we “clean up” our lives, but don’t fill them with the things of God, then we will have something else fill the space. We should never clear out minds without filling it with the things of God/the Word of God. Jesus was literally talking about demonic spirits that will occupy a mind and life devoid of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees had the appearance of “Clean” lives, but instead of teaching the true things of God, they filled themselves up, and taught others the same, with their own works-based self-help approach to life.
• What did Jesus say about His mother and brothers (12:46-50), and how do you think that applies to Christians today?
  • But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
  • We are not told why they were there to see Jesus; it was apparent they had traveled far (maybe for an intervention), but Jesus emphasized that those who were following Him were to be considered close family as well.
  • In application today, it is important for Christians to know that they have a spiritual family in each other and should embrace fellow Christians as brothers and sisters – accepting all , as Jesus did, into their own fold and family.
• What are the four soils Jesus talked about in this first parable, and how did He explain them to His disciples (13:1-23)? Reflect on where you might fall, or have fallen before in those four groups…
  • The hearers of Jesus’ parable would have clearly understood the idea of farming and sowing of seeds, Jesus explained the parable to His disciples as follows:
    • 1) Seed that fell beside the road and the birds ate them up = a person that hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what has been sown in their heart.
    • 2) Seed that fell on the rocky places did not have much soil and sprang up quickly, but then withered away = a person who hear the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in his heart, and when affliction, or persecution arises because of the word, they immediately fall away.
    • 3) Seed that was sown among the thorns was choked out by the thorns = a person who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.
    • 4) See that was sown on the good soil yielded a crop of a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty = a person who hears the word and understands it and bear fruit and brings forth an abundance (of believers) just like the crop!
  • Reflection answers will vary…

5.  (Matthew 13:24-58) In the last part of this chapter, Jesus continues to use parables to teach about the Kingdom and the importance of being a believer.

Tares among Wheat

²⁴ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. ²⁷ The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Mustard Seed

³¹ He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; ³² and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Leaven

³³ He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. ³⁵ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

The Tares Explained

³⁶ Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” ³⁷ And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, ⁴² and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Hidden Treasure

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

A Costly Pearl

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶ and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

A Dragnet

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, ⁵⁰ and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” ⁵² And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. ⁵⁴ He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? ⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” ⁵⁸ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:24-58 (NASB)

• Read through these other parables and pick one to describe and reflect on, then share your thoughts (13:24-52).

Reflection answers here will vary, but could include…

• According to Charles Swindoll: “ The problem of the ever-present wicked among the righteous is such a nagging issue that it dominates the landscape of many. Of these lessons by Jesus. This is an obstacle that can’t be overcome except by divine power.”
• The Parable of the Wheat and Tares picks up on the same imagery, a kind of sequel, to the previous parable. In this parable a farmer sowed good seed in his field, but at night the enemy sowed tares among the wheat seed. Again, according to Swindoll, “the problem is that the tares can host a fungus, poisonous to humans that could contaminate the good wheat and utterly ruin a farmer’s crop.” Jesus’ imagery shows that these tares can hurt the wheat if torn out, so they are allowed to grow together and then be harvested out separately. Jesus explains to His disciples as follows:
  • The one who sows = Jesus
  • The field = the world
  • The good seed = the sons of the Kingdom (saved believers)
  • The tares = the sons of the devil (unsaved wicked)
  • The enemy = the devil
  • The harvest = the end of the age
  • The reapers = angels
• Why did the people of Nazareth reject Jesus and what did He do when this happened (13:53-58)? Discuss: How might this apply to our world, and Christian testimony, today?
  • The people of this area (His hometown) showed rejection of Jesus by questioning His wisdom and miraculous powers; by saying they knew His family (mother, father, brothers and sisters); and by asking where He got all these things. Thus, they took offense at Him.
  • Jesus responded by saying “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” Therefore, He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief – it might be noted that later His brothers James and Jude became believers and Apostles, both writing books in the New Testament under their names and identity.
  • Discussion answers may vary, but could include…
    • We, like Jesus, can face rejection most strongly by those we love and know us the best. Because people that know us may also know our weakness or past behaviors, it then becomes harder for them to see the truth in our changed lives or Christian message. Even though Jesus led a sinless and perfect life, people that knew Him and His family would have more difficulty believing in Him based on perceived things about Him (including His conception) and His family in general.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Gospels!”

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15