Matthew 13:1 Parables - For The Glory of Jesus

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Parables

Jesus used parables. Here is a parable about the different types of soil used to plant seed.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

Jesus “had used some parables in His teaching already, but on that day He gave a series of seven interrelated parables, then added an eighth. The word parable means ‘to cast alongside.’” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 44)

Jesus “will give extended explanations of his more cryptic teaching only to those who are prepared to accept his message and claims.” (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. [Nashville: Broadman Press], 211)

“The parables appear here as an important explanation of why the response to Jesus is becoming increasingly polarized and as a prediction of how that polarization will continue to grow.” (Blomberg, 212)

1. Jesus is sitting near the sea.

2. “The crowded Galilean lakeside forces Jesus into a boat just offshore, which also serves as his pulpit.” (Blomberg, 213)

Think about that; any place can be a pulpit to teach about Jesus!

Soil

3a. Jesus “begins teaching via a series of ‘parables.’” (Blomberg, 213)

3b. “The four kinds of soil on which the seed fell reflected the common experience of ancient farmers, who employed broadcast sowing—scattering seeds in all directions by hand as they walked up and down the stony paths that divided their fields.” (Blomberg, 214)

4. The seeds that were cast along the road were eaten by birds.

5. Those seeds that fell on rocky soil sprang up soon because there was no dept in the soil.

6. These plants were scorched because they had no roots. They died.

7. The thorns choked the plants.

Notice that the seeds fell on “four types of soil, three-fourths of the seeds do not grow—they die.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 72)

8. Notice what the good soil produced!

“There was nothing wrong with the seed, but the soil was the problem. You can argue election all you want to, but in this parable there is a lot of free will exhibited.” (McGee, 79)

9. “Those who had ears to hear would not only find understanding about the parable, but would realize that the parable was talking about their willingness to hear. Those who did not have ‘ears to hear’ would go on in denial about the parable’s implications about their own unwillingness to hear. [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Why Parables?

10. “Someone has said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” (McGee, 74)

11. “Certain privileges are reserved for Jesus’ followers that are not available to everyone else.” (Blomberg, 215)

“If a man wants to know the Word of God, he can know it. He who wants to know the truth can know it. But you can shut your ears to it.” (McGee, 74)

12. “If you know a little truth and you want to know more, the Lord will add to it. If you don’t want to know the truth, the Lord will see to it that you won’t get it.” (McGee, 74)

13. “The hidden aspect of the parables’ message is thus both a cause of and a response to people’s unwillingness to follow Jesus.” (Blomberg, 216)

14. Are you listening and not understanding? Are you looking and not seeing? (Isaiah 6:9-10)

15. “The figurative closing of Israel’s ears and eyes is voluntary; they are not victims of some ‘disease’ or ‘injury.’ Note especially that they have closed their eyes.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

“At any time Israel could have ‘turned’ (epistrepho) for healing (i.e., forgiveness and spiritual restoration), by seeing, hearing, and believing God’s message.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Have you turned to Jesus for healing?

16. “For those whose hearts are open to God’s word, the parables provide much illumination.” (Blomberg, 217)

17. Other religious and righteous people want to know Jesus, but they would not hear.

Explanation

18. Jesus tells us to Listen!

19. “The birds represent the evil one—the Devil takes away the seed sown by the wayside.” (McGee, 73)

“The wayside soil apparently represents church members, professing Christians. They heard the Word of God, but it was not the hearing of faith.” (McGee, 73)

“The person who refuses to accept the word of God will fall victim to the evil one (Satan, represented by the birds in 13:4), who comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

20. Rocky Soil: “The flesh is the culprit with this group. Instead of being in the deep freeze, they are in the oven—warm, emotional, shedding tears, greatly moved.” (McGee, 73)

21. “The cost of commitment to the Messiah comes in the form of trouble (thlipsis, “tribulation”) or persecution (diogmos) that come because of the word. As quickly as this individual had committed, just as quickly he defected, distancing himself from the word or message.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

22. “Rather than being driven from the truth by hardship, this person is lured away from the truth by promises of something better. Of course, these promises will never be fulfilled, because these competing gods or masters are deceitful.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

23. “All three of the preceding “soils” had heard the word. So also the fourth good soil hears the word, but this one also understands. This person chooses to understand and accept the truth, also accepting the One who is truth (John 14:6).” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Sign Weeds

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