Matthew chapter 13

In this chapter Jesus begins to speak in parables. This is to fulfill yet another prophesy from Isaiah, that His listeners would "Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." (Isaiah:6:9-10) The end of this passage suggests that since Jesus is just, then it follows that anyone who will see the Truth with their eyes, hear the Truth with their ears and Believe the Truth with their hearts they would be saved. Regardless of being one of the Elect or not. So Jesus avoids this by speaking in a way which cannot be understood except by an extra insight given only through His spirit. Jesus deliberately speaks in a way that only some will understand. The disciples asking Jesus for an explanation, and Him giving one to them should encourage us. If at times we do not understand the scriptures, asking Him to reveal their meaning will surly get a response from Him. This is not to ignore the literal significance of scripture but demonstrates that His Word is also spiritual in nature. Verses34-35 make note that the fulfillment of another messianic prophesy has occurred, this time from Psalm 78:2.

We have the advantage of having 2 of the Kingdom parables explained by Jesus to the disciples, so I will not address them, how could I explain anything better than Jesus?

Matthew 13:1-23 gives us the Parable of the Sower and its explanation.
Matthew 13:24-30 is that Parable of the Weeds which is explained in verses 36-43.

There are 6 other parables in this chapter, of which 5 are also Kingdom parables. We have Parables about a Mustard Seed, Yeast, Hidden Treasure, A Pearl, and a Net. The final parable in this chapter is in reference to the people who have understood Jesus' teachings through the parables.

1. The Mustard Seed:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
One of the most common interpretations of this parable is that the Word of God will start small, and grow until it spreads all over the earth. But there is more to this parable than that. The yellow mustard plant in Israel is only a small plant only about 60-80cm tall (about 2ft), but this one will become a tree, indicating that the Church will grow larger than expected. It should also be noted that the symbols in these parables are linked and consistant. The 'birds' which come and perch here also represent the 'evil one' Satan which appeared in the Parable of the Sower.

2. The Woman and the Yeast or Leaven:
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (NIV)
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (KJV)
The "Three Measures of Meal" is a symbol of fellowship and hospitality. It comes from the meal Sarah prepared for the Lord and 2 Angels who visited Abraham in Genesis 18. Yeast or Leaven in the Old and New Testaments is always a type for sin. "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) There are many times when the Lord commands the eating of Unleavened bread for a time. The Passover, (which celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt and was the mean celebrated at 'the last supper') is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Thus putting Yeast / Leaven into a sacred meal the 'three measures' of meal speaks of corruption enetring. So this parable could either speak of the corruption of false doctorine entering the church, or the church 'infiltrating' and changing the world as dramatically as yeast changes bread.

3. The Hidden Treasure:
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Probably the central character of this parable is a peasant working a wealthy landowner's field who when plowing turns up a chest full of precious gems or coins. Once he buys the field, the field's contents legally belongs to him, allowing him to later 'rediscover' the treasure. Most buried treasure stories emphasized the finder's extravagant lifestyle afterward or some compromise between the field's seller and buyer. Jesus however, emphasises the price the man is willing to pay to invest in this treasure far greater than any he already owns. Although this treasure, like the kingdom, is hidden to most of the world, not only does the man recognize that its value outweighs all he has, but he acts accordingly. He sacrifices everything he had in order to gain the treasure hidden in the field.

4. The Pearl of Great Price:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
This is very similar to the Parable of the Hidden Treasure with two major differences.
1. The Merchant was seeking the pearl.
2. Oysters are not Kosher! According to Deuteronomy 14:9-10, to be kosher (considered clean), a fish must have both fins and scales. The lack of either characteristic renders that species of fish unclean. Examples of unkosher fish include shark, catfish, eels and all shellfish. Since Oysters are considered unKosher, pearls are also unkosher. This is most likely a reference that the Church is not to be restricted to Jewish people and will / does include Gentiles.
The use of a Pearl is also significant because it is the only jewel that is a responce to an irritation, grows by accumilation, and is removed to become an object of adrnment. A great analogy of the Church. Christianity is a responce to Christ's death, grows by new souls being won, and will be removed in the rapture where we wil recieve our place of glory alongside Him.
(I'll get to 'rapture' stuff when I get into Revelation)

5. The Dragnet:
Of the different species of fish found in the Lake of Galilee, many were not kosher or inedible, and the net would not discriminate in its catch. Until the final day, Jesus will continue eating with sinners to seek and save the lost. This parable is probably in reference both to the world in general and to the church. The same line between righteous and wicked will ultimately divide all, including those who falsly call themselves Christians.

The final parable of this chapter is that "every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." True teachers of the kingdom display the kingdom's treasure for all to see. If Jesus' disciples have truly understood his teaching, then they are prepared to teach others the value of the kingdom. Jesus expects his disciples to build both on the biblical teachings that had come before him and on his gospel of the kingdom. Because these disciples understand, they prove that they are the good soil, those who pressed in close enough to Jesus to know him. This parable stresses that the Bible as a whole is important, not just the teachings of Jesus. Even though the teachings of Jesus are the new (and probably more valuable) treasures. Jesus is only our saviour because He is also the Messiah. In order to fully appriciate Him as the Messiah one has to also understand the Old Testament.

This chapter ends with Jesus saying that "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor", and refusing to do many miracles in his home town because the people had little faith in Him or His teaching. A warning that He will not act, to heal or teach or even offer salvation, in the absence of our Faith.