Matthew — Chapter 13

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1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

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

40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

1On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

3And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;

4and as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them:

5and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:

8and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9He that hath ears, let him hear.

10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.

13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

15For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

17For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.

18Hear then ye the parable of the sower.

19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

20And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;

21yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.

22And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field:

25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.

26But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

28And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.

31Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

34All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:

35that 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.

36Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one];

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

40As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.

41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,

42and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.

44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:

46and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.

49So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous,

50and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

51Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea.

52And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55Is not this the carpenter`s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?

56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

1On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake.

2And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.

4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.

6But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.

7Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them.

8But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

9The one who has ears had better listen!”

10Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

12For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

13For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

14And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.

15For the heart of this people has become dull;they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

16“But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear.

17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18“So listen to the parable of the sower:

19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.

20The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

21But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

22The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.

23But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

24He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

25But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away.

26When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel also appeared.

27So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the darnel come from?’

28He said, ‘An enemy has done this!’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’

29But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it.

30Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

32It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”

33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable.

35This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”

36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The poisonous weeds are the people of the evil one,

39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

40As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age.

41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.

42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!

44“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.

45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

46When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.

47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.

48When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away.

49It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous

50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51“Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes.”

52Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.”

53Now when Jesus finished these parables, he moved on from there.

54Then he came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?

55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

56And aren’t all his sisters here with us? So where did he get all this?”

57And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.”

58And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

1On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.

2Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach.

3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.

4As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.

6When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.

7Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.

8Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

9He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

12For 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.

13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.

14In 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:

15for 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 would turn again; and I would heal them.’

16“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

17For 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.

19When 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.

20What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;

21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22What 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.

23What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,

25but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.

26But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also.

27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds 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.

30Let 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.”’”

31He 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;

32which 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.”

33He 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.”

34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,

35that 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.”

36Then 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.”

37He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

38the 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.

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

40As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.

41The 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,

42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

43Then the righteous will shine 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 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,

46who 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,

48which, 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.

49So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,

50and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

51Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”

52He 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.”

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.

54Coming 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?

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

56Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”

57They 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.”

58He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus teaches the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven through seven parables — the Sower, Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Price, and the Dragnet — revealing truth to disciples while concealing it from the hard-hearted.

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 13 is the third of Matthew's five major discourses — the Parables Discourse. After the rejection by the Pharisees in chapter 12, Jesus shifts His teaching method to parables — stories that reveal truth to those with ears to hear while concealing it from the hard-hearted. This chapter contains seven (or eight) parables about the kingdom of heaven.
Why Parables? (vv.10-17): The disciples asked why Jesus spoke in parables. His answer is sobering: parables simultaneously reveal and conceal. To those who are open, they illuminate truth. To those who have rejected Him, they confirm their blindness. Parables are an act of both grace and judgment.
The Seven Kingdom Parables: (1) The Sower (vv.3-9, 18-23) — Four responses to the Gospel (2) The Wheat and Tares (vv.24-30, 36-43) — True and false in the kingdom (3) The Mustard Seed (vv.31-32) — The kingdom's growth from small beginnings (4) The Leaven (v.33) — The kingdom's pervasive, transforming influence (5) The Hidden Treasure (v.44) — The kingdom's surpassing value (6) The Pearl of Great Price (vv.45-46) — The kingdom worth everything (7) The Dragnet (vv.47-50) — Final separation at judgment

Map & Geography

  • The seaside (v.1): Jesus taught from a boat on the Sea of Galilee while the crowd stood on shore — the natural amphitheater of the shoreline near Capernaum.
  • Nazareth ("His own country," vv.54-58): Jesus returned to His hometown in the hills of lower Galilee, about 20 miles southwest of Capernaum, where He was rejected.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines each of the seven parables, the four soils, the meaning of the tares, the mustard seed's growth, and the treasure/pearl parables as pictures of the kingdom's value.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Parable of the Sower" on vv.3-9 (MTP Vol. 14, No. 793) "Four soils — one seed. The seed is the same in every case. The difference is the soil. The question is not 'Is the Gospel powerful enough?' — it is 'What kind of soil is your heart?' Hard? Shallow? Thorny? Or good ground?" Sermon: "The Pearl of Great Price" on vv.45-46 (MTP Vol. 17, No. 1000) "He sold all that he had and bought it. The kingdom costs everything — and it is worth everything. The man who finds it does not grieve what he gave up; he rejoices at what he found. That is the mark of genuine conversion — joy, not reluctance."

Reflection

  • 1. The Parable of the Sower — which soil are you? Hard ground (hearing but not receiving)? Shallow (enthusiastic but rootless)? Thorny (choked by worry and wealth)? Or good ground (hearing, understanding, bearing fruit)? Be honest with yourself.
  • 2. "The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word" (v.22). These are the thorns for most men — anxiety about provision and the seduction of wealth. Which one has more power over you right now? What would it take to uproot it?
  • 3. The treasure and the pearl (vv.44-46) — the men sold everything with joy. Is your relationship with Christ something you pursue with joy, or something you maintain out of obligation? If it feels like obligation, what has changed since you first found the treasure?
  • 4. Jesus "did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (v.58). Unbelief limits what God does. Is there an area of your life where unbelief is limiting what God wants to do? What would it look like to believe Him for more?
  • 5. Jesus said parables reveal truth to the open-hearted and conceal it from the hard-hearted (vv.11-15). What is the condition of your heart toward God's word right now? Are you hearing with understanding, or has familiarity dulled your receptivity?
  • 6. The tares grow alongside the wheat until harvest (vv.24-30). Jesus says don't try to separate them prematurely — that's God's job at the end. How does this parable shape your attitude toward imperfect churches and hypocrites in the faith?
  • 7. The mustard seed starts tiny and grows enormous (vv.31-32). The kingdom often starts small — a small act of faith, a small step of obedience, a small seed planted. What small seed is God asking you to plant right now that could grow into something significant?
  • 8. Jesus was rejected in His hometown (vv.54-58). The people who knew Him best couldn't see past His ordinary background. Is there someone in your life whose message you're dismissing because of their background or familiarity? Could God be speaking through someone you've written off?
  • 9. The dragnet parable (vv.47-50) teaches that final separation is coming — the good and bad will be sorted at the end. How does the reality of final judgment affect how you live today? Does it create urgency in your witness?