Matthew 13:24-58 study

Verses 24-30 (study together with v. 36-43)

24 He placed before them another parable, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a man sowing good seed in his field. 25 But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel[1] in the midst of the wheat and then left. 26 And when the grass sprouted and produced fruit, then the darnel also appeared. 27 And the servants of the master of the house drew near and said to him, “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where, then, does it have darnel?” 28 And he said to them, “A hostile man did this.” So the servants said to him, “Then do you wish for us to go and pluck it?” 29 But he said, “No, lest as you pluck the darnel, you uproot together with it the wheat. 30 Leave them both to grow side by side until the harvest; and at the season of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘Pluck up first the darnel and bind it into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my storehouse.’”

[1] Darnel most commonly refers to Lolium temulentum, a poisonous weed in the grass family that looks almost identical to wheat in its early stages of growth. It can be toxic to humans and can severely reduce crop yields in wheat.

good seed connects back to the previous parable

the presence of darnel amidst the wheat threatens the health and growth of the wheat

just as we can’t always tell what kind of soil a person’s heart is, so the wheat and darnel appear indistinguishable now

Verses 31-35

31 He placed another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is indeed the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is greater than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and make their homes in its branches.” 33 He spoke another parable to them: “The Kingdom of Heaven is similar to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three seahs[2] of wheat flour until the whole thing was leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds, and without a parable He was saying nothing to them, 35 in order that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will proclaim things that have been hidden since creation.”[3]

[2] The Greek word here is a transliteration of the Hebrew term for “seah”, which was a dry measure holding about thirteen liters.

[3] Psalm 78:2

Matthew–Luke Comment

the detail of birds’ nesting in branches alludes to

both of these seem to demonstrate how the gospel permeates the world

Verses 36-43

36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples drew near to Him, saying, “Please clarify for us the parable of the darnel in the field.” 37 And He answered and said, “The one sowing the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 and the field is the world; and the good seed – these are the sons of the Kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; and the harvest is the completion of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the darnel is plucked up and is burned in fire, so it will be at the completion of the age. 41 the Son of Man will send His angels, and they will pluck up out of His Kingdom everything that causes people to sin and those who are practicing lawlessness, 42 and they will cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear.

Daniel 12:3

Verses 44-46

44 The Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a treasure box hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and from his joy he goes and sells everything he possesses and purchases that field. 45 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a businessman seeking good pearls. 46 And when he found one extremely valuable pearl, he left and sold everything that he possessed and purchased it.

one finds the treasure by accident; the other searches diligently for it; both give up everything they have to get it.

Verses 47-52

47 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a large dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind of fish. 48 When it was filled, they pulled it up on the shore and sat down and gathered the good ones into containers, but the worthless ones they cast out. 49 Thus it will be at the completion of the age. The angels will go out and remove the wicked from the midst of the righteous 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 51 Did you comprehend all these things?” They say to Him, “Yes.” 52 And He said to them, “For this reason every scribe who has become a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a man, a master of the household, who is bringing out from his treasure box new things and old things.”

the parable here in v. 47-50 parallels the parable of the weeds

v. 51, the disciples think they understand

Matthew–Luke Comment

With more enthusiasm than accuracy, they answer, “Yes” (v. 51). Their misguided notions will be all too obvious in coming chapters, but Jesus accepts their confidence. Instead of challenging them, he charges them to use their knowledge for others

new and old — value of both old and new covenants

Matthew–Luke Comment

The “new” will be the instruction from Jesus, especially the truths of the kingdom. The “old” will be the tested truths of the old covenant. “It is the temptation of both the radical and the conservative to value the one too highly and the other too lightly.” The good teacher loves great truths, whether old or new.

Verses 53-58

53 And it happened when Jesus completed these parables, He went away from there. 54 And He came to His homeland and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “From where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this man the son of the builder? Is not His mother called Mary and His brothers called James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And His sisters – are they not all[4] with us? From where, then, does He get all these things?” 57 And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his homeland and in his household.” 58 And He did not do many deeds of power in that place because of their unbelief.

[4] The use of “all” here rather than the Greek word for “both” would imply at least 3 sisters.