Matthew 13

Jesus starts to use parables as a teaching tool. Parables are short stories that usually have a single point and often the point hinges on a surprise turning point in the story. Throughout the ages, please gravitate towards stories. The "crowds" probably had many people for whom stories may have been the only way to reach them. Parables are usually about the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, they are about how God wants to work in this world, if we will assist Him.

 

The Parable of the Sower shows how good soil (an open heart) yields a harvest far beyond our wildest imaginations. All other soils yield nothing. The disciples wonder about why Jesus teaches this way (with parables.) Jesus seems to say something like "open-minded, spiritually hungry people get it. Hard-heart know-it-all people miss the healing and renewing power of God. That power was present in Jesus and validated by his healing of others.

 

That Jesus is next shown explaining the sower parable probably means that Matthew's people didn't get Jesus and his parables, so Matthew put in an explanation (probably one Jesus had to use in his time as well. The necessary explanation probably has more to do with being spiritually immature than hard-hearted.

 

 The next parable about weeds seems to say that there will always be people who resist God and the life God offers but let God sort it out. We are not to sort it out.

 

 The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast show that it does not take much for God to work in our lives but we do have to let him in. Following Jesus is the way to let God in.

 

 The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl tells us that God's way is worth searching for and giving up everything for. The Net story tells us that God will sort out people by their faith/deeds.

 

The chapter ends with people figuring that Jesus can't be much since they know him and he seems ordinary (not Godly.) How often do we look at external things and judge people and never bother to look who they are on the inside?