Tag: Matthew 13
Jesus explains the Weeds!
Scripture reading for January 17: Matthew 13
“He answered, “The One Who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:37-42
Jesus taught in parables. His parables were illustrations taken from every-day life in Israel that helped His disciples understand the kingdom of God. In this parable of the weeds, which followed the parable of the sower, Jesus sought to relate God the Father’s declaration of how the kingdom of God would be finally established on the earth. He used a common farming illustration of seeds sown in a field and weeds growing in opposition. In this passage Jesus explained the parable of the weeds in the field.
Jesus, Himself, was the sower of ‘good seed’, the sons of the kingdom. Those who believed His Word would be adopted as sons of the kingdom. In opposition, the devil would sow ‘bad’ seed, men and women who would remain sons of the evil one. The sons of the evil one would cause others to sin and break God’s laws. At a set time, God will reap the harvest using His Holy angels. They will first gather the wicked who are residing in the kingdom and throw them into the fiery furnace. It will be a place of eternal torment, weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous will shine with the glory of the Father in His kingdom forever.
How does this story change your view of the world and the conflicts going on there? How does the parable of the weeds help you understand your spiritual state and destiny? What did Jesus reveal about the consequences of a life of law-breaking and causing others to sin?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking to me in stories that help me to see myself and others in light of Your declared truth about the present spiritual conflict and its conclusion. Through Jesus Christ, I can be assured of a place in Your eternal kingdom and share in His glory! Amen.
Precious knowledge of the Kingdom!
Scripture reading for January 19th: Matthew 13
Key Scriptures: Matthew 13:10-13 “The disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” “He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand.””
Jesus used parables, stories about common aspects of the time and culture in which he lived. Through these stories, He revealed the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to those with ears to hear and hearts that sought to learn truth. But to those who had harden hearts and a closed spirit, the stories brought nothing of interest or value.
Those that had teachable and humble hearts gained an abundance of knowledge and had an abundance overflowing into their lives and the lives of others. Those that failed to gain the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven would eventually loose everything! In this way, Christ’s teaching brought accountability and judgment to all. This is why Jesus came!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers must guard our hearts to keep them open to the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven and seek truth with eagerness and sincerity. “Surely You desire truth in the inward parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6
Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?
Scripture reading for January 19th: Matthew 13
The Jews of Jesus’ day had a hard time figuring Him out! He spoke to them with great wisdom and taught with authority. He confounded the religious scholars of His day and they ended up seeking to kill Him! He told parables that spoke plainly to those with ears to hear and seeking hearts but were meaningless to those who were proud and judgmental. (Matthew 13:11-15)
Parables are stories that relay information at different levels of understanding, depending on the desire of the person to understand truth. The disciples asked Him to explain why he used them. “He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” ” (Matthew 13:11) Parables reveal truth to seekers, but hide truth from the hard of heart. The parable of the sower was all about the sowing of the Word of God and the types of hearts that would not receive or would receive and produce fruit. Those who received the Word would be like the good soil and produce a harvest!
He told a number of other parables and then went to His hometown to teach in the synagogue. The people were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t His sisters with us? Were did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him.” (Matthew 13:54-56) Knowing Jesus as He really is requires more than a genealogy and answers to questions! We must be open to truth about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus could do no great miracles there because of their unbelief! Is your heart “good ground?”