Matthew 13

the Parable of the Sower

the first parable in Matthews gospel

the first in a long string of several parables

the focus of this entire chapter

several different types of soil that lead to different fruit produced

you are that soil

a lesson on how you will receive the gift you’ve been given and how you will overcome your circumstance

the Parable of the Weeds

not only is there one who gives the gift of life freely to all

there is one trying to actively starve that life in our lives

that one is already considered defeated

what you produce is what you will be sorted as in the end

the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

the kingdom of heaven is like this

what does that good fruit look like?

it looks like something that is growing seemingly without end

the Parable of the Weeds Explained

the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

they both sold all that they had when they found something worth so much

the kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else

whatever we had before is more than worth giving up for the sake of it

the Parable of the Net

more illustration of the end of the age

the will be separated based on what they have produced in the end

bringing new understanding to old truths

A Prophet Without Honor

return to Nazareth

the people there know him and remember him as the son of the carpenter, not the divine son of God

they demand signs and are angry that he has kept his miracles to himself for all that time

in Luke’s account they try to chase him off of a cliff and he disappears among them

Application

Jesus uses many parables to illustrate an important truth about the kingdom of heaven and our relationship to it

God has given you the truth and extended to you salvation despite yourself

you have the choice to have faith in him and let that multiply and grow and spread beyond yourself or to be choked up, trampled on, and thrown out

difficulty will come but hope is a choice you are never without