What I Noticed Today (Matthew 13; Luke 8)
Matthew 13
Matthew 13 is Jesus’ third discourse or teaching.
In verses 1-3, large crowds followed Jesus by the Sea of Galilee. He got into a boat and went out from shore to teach them.
Note: For the first time, Jesus used parables as a teaching method. Parable means “to throw alongside.” A parable compares a known truth with an unknown truth. There are seven parables in chapter 13.
In verses 3-9, the parable of the sower. A farmer casts his seed, and it falls on four different kinds of soil with different results.
In verses 10-17, the disciples asked Jesus why he was teaching with parables. Jesus said he was using parables to reveal the truth (the secrets of the kingdom of heaven) to those who were willing to listen and accept and to hide the truth from those who rejected His truth.
In verses 18-23, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the sower. The farmer casting his seed on the ground is like the condition of people’s hearts when they hear the Gospel: some have the Word snatched away as soon as they hear it, some hear and rejoice but have no foundation and fall away when persecution arises, one hears but cares more about the world and its riches, and the last person hears the word understands it and bears fruit.
In verses 24-30, the parable of the weeds in which a farmer sowed good seed, but an enemy came along at night and planted bad seed amongst the good. The good plants sprouted alongside the bad. The bad cannot be removed without disturbing the good so that they will be separated at harvest. The weeds will be gathered first and burned; the good will then be gathered and stored.
In verses 31-35, the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven teach the same principle. A small mustard seed sprouts and becomes the largest plant in the garden. A small amount of leaven will leaven a whole lump of dough.
In verses 36-43, the parable of the weeds is explained. The man who sows the good seed is the Son of Man (Jesus). The field is the world. The good seed represents the sons of the kingdom (believers). The weeds are the sons of the evil one (Satan). The harvest is the judgment that will occur in the end times. The Son of Man will send angels who will gather all the causes of sin and throw them into the fiery furnace. Then the righteous will shine like the sun.
In verse 44, the parable of the hidden treasure describes a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field, so he goes and sells everything he has in order to buy the field.
Note: Since Jesus did not explain this parable, there are multiple interpretations. One interpretation is that Israel is God’s treasured possession (Exodus 19:5), so Israel is the field that is redeemed (purchased) by Jesus’ death on the cross. Another interpretation is broader, suggesting that the Church is the treasured possession that was redeemed by Jesus’ death on the cross.
In verses 45-46, the parable of the pearl of great price is similar to the previous parable in that a merchant finds a pearl of great value and sells everything he has in order to purchase the pearl.
Note: Jesus did not explain this parable either. Its close proximity to the previous parable and similar emphasis suggest similar interpretations.
In verses 47-50, the parable of the net describes a fishing net thrown into the sea. As the net is pulled up, good fish were caught along with bad fish. The fisherman sorted the fish, keeping the good and throwing away the bad. In the end days, angels will come and separate the good from the bad. The bad will be thrown into a fiery furnace.
In verses 51-52, Jesus asked the disciples if they understood what He had been teaching, and they answered, yes. Jesus then said they were in a better position to teach about the Law than the scribes and Pharisees because they had been exposed not only to the old truths (the Old Testament) but to new ones (Jesus’ teachings).
In verses 53-58, Jesus left the Sea of Galilee and returned to his hometown of Nazareth, where he taught in the synagogue. While the people were amazed at His teaching, they still rejected him, saying He was only the son of a carpenter. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus performed only a few miracles there.
Note: Jesus’ three half-brothers mentioned (James, Simon, and Judas) are not to be confused with the disciples of the same names.
Luke 8
In verses 1-3, Jesus and the disciples were traveling from town to town, preaching the Good News. A number of women followed them, ministering to them, and providing for them out of their own possessions: Mary Magdalene (who had seven demons cast out), Joanna (the wife of Herod’s steward), Suzanna, and many others.
Note: In Jewish culture, it would have been very unseemly for a woman to be following a man around from town to town.
In verses 4-8, (See also Matthew 13:1-23, and Mark 4:11-20) the parable of the Sower. A large crowd came to Jesus from many nearby towns, and He taught the parable of the sower. A man went out to sow seed. Some of the seeds fell on the path, and birds ate it. Some of the seed fell on the rock, and when it grew it withered. Some seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns choked it out. Some seed fell on good ground. This seed grew and produced a crop 100 times what was sown.
Note: Jesus ended the parable saying, “He who has ears to hear, should listen.” He used this phrase several times when teaching parables. The point being the spiritually sensitive people would understand the spiritual meaning of the parable.
In verses 9-10, Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus what the parable meant. He told them those who were spiritually mature would understand and would know the secrets to the kingdom of Heaven.
In verses 11-15, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the Sower. There are four kinds of people who all receive the same message but respond differently
- The seed is the Word of God.
- The first group rejects the Word of God.
- The second group listens and believes for a while, but they have no root, and they fall away.
- The third group listens and is interested, but the cares of this world prevent them from accepting the Word of God.
- The fourth group is those who listen, believe, and produce a good crop of spiritual fruit.
Note: 1) The Pharisees, scribes, and elders rejected the Word of God, 2) some people were drawn to Jesus’ miracles but did not really accept His message, 3) some were interested in Jesus’ message but were consumed with worldly matters, and 4) some listen and follow Him despite the cost.
In verses 16-18, (See also Mark 4:21-25) the parable of the Lamp. Jesus said no one who lights a lamp puts it under a bed but puts it on a lampstand so that all may see it. Nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed. The point being the disciples were being given the keys to the kingdom of heaven and needed not to hide it like a lamp under a table!
In verses 19-21, (See also Matthew 12:46-50, and Mark 3:31-35), Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him but could not because of the crowd. Someone told Him His family was waiting outside, and Jesus said my brothers are those who hear and do the Word of God.
Note: Jesus is not making light of the family relationship. Rather, He is broadening the idea of family to those who are believers.
In verses 22-25, (See also Matthew 8:23-27, and Mark 4:35-41), one day Jesus and the disciples got into a boat to sail across the lake (Sea of Galilee). Along the way, Jesus fell asleep, and a large windstorm came up, threatening to swamp the boat. The disciples woke Jesus afraid for their lives. Jesus rebuked the wind, and it became calm. The disciples were afraid and amazed that even the wind obeyed Jesus.
Note: Jesus chided the disciples for their lack of faith. If they had fully trusted in Him, they would not have been afraid because He said we are going to cross the lake.
In verses 26-39, (See also Matthew 8:28-34, and Mark 5:1-20), Jesus demonstrates His power over demons. Jesus and the disciples had sailed to Gerasenes, where a demon-possessed man met Him. The demon cried out, recognizing Jesus calling Him Jesus, You Son of the Most High God. Jesus asked the demon’s name, and it answered, Legion for we are many. The demons asked to be banished to the abyss, but Jesus allowed them to enter a herd of pigs. The pigs then rushed over a cliff into the lake and drowned. The people asked Jesus to leave the region, but the man who Jesus had cleansed of the demon begged to be allowed to stay with Him. But Jesus ordered the man to go home and tell others what had happened to him.
Note: The area of Gerasenes was largely Gentile. Pigs were unclean to Jews.
In verses 40-56, (See also Matthew 9:18-26, and Mark 5:21-43), Jesus returned to Galilee and healed Jairus’ daughter and a woman with an issue of blood.
Jairus, a leader of the synagogue (perhaps an elder), came to Jesus begging Him to heal his daughter, who was near death.
While Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house, a woman with a persistent issue of blood came up behind Jesus, thinking if she could just touch His robe, she would be healed. Jesus felt power go out of Him and asked who had touched Him. The woman admitted to touching Him because she wanted to be healed. Jesus said your faith has made you well.
Continuing on to Jairus’ house, someone from the synagogue came and said Jairus’ daughter had died. Jesus comforted Jairus and took Peter, James, and John with Him to the house. Jesus took the girl by the hand and commanded her to get up, and her spirit returned to her, and she got up. Her parents were amazed, but Jesus told them not to tell what had happened.
Note: Interesting. The crowd outside Jairus’ house and all the mourners knew the girl had died, yet Jesus instructed the parents not to say anything about her healing.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
