Matthew - Week 38

Of Seeds and Soil 

READ 

Matthew 13:3-5 

3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.” 

A “parable” is a short story to illustrate a point. The word literally means “alongside,” so it accompanies a story. As with illustrations, not every point needs to have some special significance. This first parable is of a sower. As the crowd listened to Jesus many may have wondered what He meant by His statements. 

REFLECT 

If these few verses were all you had, what would think Jesus is leading up to? 

RESPOND 

In reading the Bible, it is important to continue reading in order to find clues to what is unclear at first glance. 

Tender Plants 

READ 

Matthew 13:6-7 

6 “But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.” 

Jesus continued with His parable about sowing seed. By now it must have seemed clear to the crowd that Jesus was comparing what happened to the seed after it was sown. What were the results? Some wilted; others were choked out by thorns growing up with them. 

REFLECT 

What do you think was going through the minds of those in the crowd at this time? 

RESPOND 

Read Mark 4:1-9 and Luke 8:4-8 to see that Mark and Luke also recorded this parable. This is an example of comparing other Gospels if they record similar incidents.  

Abundant Crops 

READ 

Matthew 13:8-9 

8 “Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 

The story built to a climax as Jesus told about the abundance the seed produced in this situation. Then He gave the alert for those listening to understand what was being said. What were they to understand? But first, His disciples have a question. 

REFLECT 

Without Jesus’ explanation, think about what you understand from His parable. 

RESPOND 

Discuss with a friend what you might have thought at this point in Jesus’ parable. See how close your thoughts come to matching His later explanation.  

A Question 

READ 

Matthew 13:10 

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 

If you wonder about what Jesus meant by His parable, so did the disciples. In fact, they asked why He spoke in parables. This can reassure us that often our questions are answered in the Bible if we keep on reading. 

REFLECT 

Have you found times in the past when further reading in the Bible answered your questions? What is your example? 

RESPOND 

Notice that even the disciples who were around Jesus daily were not reluctant to ask Him questions. Neither should believers today be embarrassed to ask questions and see answers in the Bible and from more knowledgeable believers. 

Secrets of the Kingdom 

READ 

Matthew 13:11-12 

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” 

The word “secrets” has the meaning of “mysteries.” In the Bible, mysteries in the New Testament relates to what is not revealed in the Old Testament but is now made known. Those who understood the basic teaching of Jesus would have a good idea of what He was referring to in the parable. Those rejecting Him would have no idea what He was talking about. 

REFLECT 

Think about how the more you understand from the Bible the more you will be able to understand things that you used to find difficult.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about passages of the Bible that have become more clear to you over time. How has reading the Bible more helped you understand formerly difficult passages?