Matthew 13:36-52

Context

What is a parable?

How do we study a parable?

Parables shouldn’t be carelessly separated

Audience -

Read Matthew 13:24-30

Read Matthew 13:36

Jesus was with a crowd of people: disciples AND others. Then they go into a house. So only as many disciples as could fit in the house are around Him now.

“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Jesus is going to tell 4 parables to answer this question.

Read Matthew 13:37-43

!!This is different from the parable about the soils!!

There are 2 sowers… Christ and satan.

Christ sows the righteous, the people of the kingdom.

Satan sows the wicked men.

The harvesters are the angels. They will come and pull up the weeds and throw them into the fire.

The weeds bear a sick fruit “they cause sin” and “do evil”

“gnashing of teeth” not monsters trying to bite you, cursing

But the righteous, those Jesus planted, will shine

“Those who have ears let them hear”

Read Matthew 13:44

There is no transition, no “and then” or “later on” Either Jesus told these parables all together or Matthew put them near each other to help us understand. Either way we need to look at them together to understand.

“The kingdom of heaven is like” the same way Jesus started the parable of the weeds

** Like a gem Jesus is holding the kingdom of heaven up into the light and turning it to show all it’s faces **

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure; the disciples are the man - the kingdom is the treasure

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant; the disciples are the merchant - the kingdom is the pearl

Read Matthew 13:45

Again the kingdom of heaven is worth more than all a man has

Now I’m lost… how do these parables relate to the parable of the weeds, and furthermore, how do these parables address, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field?” Maybe Jesus is manic in His speech and is running off on random tangents that don’t have anything to do with one another, but I don’t think so

Read Matthew 13:46-50

Jesus tells another parable but this time instead of seed planted it is a net cast.

The angels again gather and separate the wicked from the righteous. They throw the “bad fish” into the fire and the good fish into baskets.

Read Matthew 13:51

YES!? I’m glad someone does… They don’t have more questions? Like why did you tell us a random story about men who see the kingdom of God as more worthy than all their possessions?

Here is the key: the audience

Jesus told the parable of the weeds to the whole crowd, but he only told the parable of the treasure and the pearl to His disciples.

His disciples, who had given up everything to follow Him.

Jesus split the whole world into 2 categories of people

the righteous; who he would plant, who would sell all of their possessions for the joy of the kingdom and it’s surpassing worth, who would shine like the sun at the end of the age

the wicked; who satan would plant, who the angels will gather and throw into an eternal fire

Read Matthew 13:52

Because you understand this, you will be as a man who hold new and old treasures in his home. The law and the kingdom are 2 different treasures.

You will have the knowledge of the old covenant and the riches accordingly, but also of this new thing I am revealing, v35 “I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world”

Read Matthew 19:27-30

Conclusion

There are good seed and bad seed, good fish and bad fish

Those who will recognize the value of the kingdom of heaven, because of it’s objective worth and the joy it brings, will be like a man who’s home is full of all kinds of treasures

It’s Easter, to some of you today is the greatest celebration of the year, you get it. You’ve seen the worth, you’ve felt the joy! Maybe you’ve given everything to follow Christ, maybe you’ll be called to one day. For you there is encouragement. You’re right it is worth it. One day the angels will gather you all together and you will shine like the sun.

It’s Easter, to some of you today is just another day. You don’t get it. You think it’s silly and boring but you’ve found yourself in church. To you these parables are a warning but also a call. One day the angels will gather you all together and throw you into an eternal fire. It doesn’t have to be that way. Christ calls to you this morning. He promises something worth more than all you hold dear and more joy than you can imagine.