Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 1

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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Matthew 13:1-231The 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. (Matthew 13:1‑23).AT 13:1-23{
Matt. 13:11The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. (Matthew 13:1). "The same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside." This action signifies His leaving Judaism, to teach whosoever would hear; the last verses of Matt. 12 show that relationship by birth is no longer acknowledged, but, "he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven"; so that whosoever received the word, would be brought into blessing in Christ. It is now sowing the seed, a new thing; not seeking fruit from a vine or fig tree, as in Israel, but sowing seed that will produce fruit in the soul, where it is mixed with faith in those who hear it. (Heb. 4:11Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1).)
Matt. 13:44And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: (Matthew 13:4). "And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
Matt. 13:5-65Some 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. (Matthew 13:5‑6). Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Matt. 13:77And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: (Matthew 13:7). And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them.
Matt. 13:88But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (Matthew 13:8). But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold.
Matt. 13:99Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:9). Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
This chapter has seven parables; the last six are similitudes of the kingdom of heaven, i. e., six pictures of those who are professedly under Christ's authority on earth. The first parable is not called a likeness, but is given to show how the kingdom of heaven is formed by the preaching of the Word; those who profess His name are therefore looked at as in it. The next parable will show us that both false and real are there.
Matt. 13:10-1110And 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. (Matthew 13:10‑11). The disciples ask, "Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?" He answered, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." This marks the difference between the believers-just a remnant-and the mass, or nation, that did not receive Him.
Matt. 13:16-1716But 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. (Matthew 13:16‑17). It was a blessed time for this remnant that received the Lord, and heard and understood His Word; their eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Sent One of God. Many Old Testament saints and prophets had desired to see and to hear, but had not seen nor heard them.
Matt. 13:20-2120But 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. (Matthew 13:20‑21). The stony ground hearer receives the Word without exercise. He has no felt need for it; he rejoices over it, but when it causes him tribulation, he does not want to have any more to do with it; there was no deepness of earth. It looked like conversion, but he had no root in himself; so he can give it up when it does not suit him. The flesh can never stand persecution because of the Word, so he is offended.
Matt. 13:2222He 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. (Matthew 13:22). The thorny ground hearer heard the Word, and owned the truth of the Word, but failed to put it into practice. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches engaged all his attention. In him also there is no fruit. Cares and riches do not look like sin, but if permitted in the mind, they shut out God, and all is barrenness.
Matt. 13:2323But 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. (Matthew 13:23). In the good ground we get reality. The Word is understood, the ground is plowed up, the Word penetrates and produces fruit; but in different degrees, according to the exercises of the soul: in some an hundred-fold, in some sixty-fold, in some thirty-fold. Leaving some of those thorns in the ground (Matt. 13:2222He 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. (Matthew 13:22)), and the lusts of other things, hinder believers from bringing forth fruit as they should. If the believer gets under the power and influence of the world and worldly things, he loses his communion with the Lord; his fruit bearing is hindered; he is sleeping. (Eph. 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14).) He cannot enjoy the company of those who enjoy and talk of spiritual things, and his conscience reproves him for want of faithfulness.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 4:2323Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23).