Matthew 13-14
What I Noticed Today (Matthew 13-14)
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 for 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 goodwill 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 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 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.
Matthew 14
In verses 1-12, Herod Antipas ruled as tetrarch over the region that included Galilee and Perea. Herod had heard about the miracles and teaching of Jesus and thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead.
Note: From this point on, the majority of Jesus’ teaching was directed to His disciples.
Note: Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great, who killed the babies in Bethlehem.
Note: A tetrarch was two steps below the position of king.
Herod Antipas had previously arrested John the Baptist and put him in prison because John confronted Herod about sleeping with his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. John was executed (beheaded) because his step-daughter asked him (at the prompting of her mother Herodias) to bring the head of John on a platter.
In verses 13-21, when Jesus heard of John’s death, He withdrew to a quiet place, but the crowds followed Him, and having sympathy for them, He healed them. In the evening, His disciples came suggesting they send the crowd away. Jesus said there was no need to send them away to buy food. Jesus took fives loaves of bread and two fish, prayed over the bread and fish, and then gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. They all ate, and the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers (one basket for each of the twelve disciples!).
Note: From Luke 9:10, we know this took place in Bethsaida.
Note: Verse 21 says about five thousand men were fed. With wives and children, the number of total people fed was likely around 20,000.
In verses 22-33, After feeding the people, Jesus ordered the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side of the sea of Galilee while he went by himself to pray. As evening approached, a storm came up on the lake. Sometimes between 3 am and 6 am (the fourth watch), Jesus came to the disciples in the boat walking on water. At first, they did not recognize Him and were afraid, but Jesus comforted them.
Peter asked to walk on water with Jesus, and Jesus said, come. Peter got out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus, but he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. Peter cried out for the Lord to save him, and Jesus reached out His hand to Peter. Jesus rebuked Peter for his lack of faith.
Note: I wonder what the rest of the disciples thought when all this happened? After all, Peter was the first and only one at this point who had enough faith to believe that Jesus really was the Son of God.
As soon as they were back in the boat, the wind stopped; they worshiped Jesus, exclaiming surely He was the Son of God.
In verses 34-36, Jesus and the disciples reached Gennesaret. The people there recognized Jesus. Word spread, and people from all over the region came to be healed. Their faith was so strong that even touching Jesus’ cloak was enough to heal them.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.