Matthew - Week 41

A Mustard Seed 

READ 

Matthew 13:31-32 

31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” 

Some debate about whether modern science knows of a smaller seed. Jesus said it “is the smallest of all seeds.” It was, however, the smallest known in the East at that time. This parable seems to refer to the expansion of Christendom between the two advents of Jesus to earth. “Christendom” includes not only those born again but also counterfeit religious groups, of which there are many. The “birds” in this passage surely relate to the “birds” in the first parable that came and ate the seeds.  

REFLECT 

Be aware of those who pretend to be God-lovers but really are not. 

RESPOND 

With a Christ-follower, read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 to see the need to be aware of false teachers in the last days. 

A Little Yeast 

READ 

Matthew 13:33 

33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” 

Yeast, or “leaven,” was viewed in the Bible as something less than desirable. At the feast of Unleavened bread in the Old Testament there could be no yeast used. Here it is a symbol of something that goes through and affects everything. It is not a symbol of good. An example is seen in 1 Corinthians 5:5-7 where Paul wrote about church discipline.  

REFLECT 

Is it apparent to you how a “little” sin can permeate a situation and become a major problem? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 to see more about what Paul said about the immorality in the church in Corinth.  

Talk of Things Hidden 

READ 

Matthew 13:34-35 

34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” 

Jesus saw no reason for declaring truths to those who had set their wills against accepting them. That is the reason He commonly spoke in parables. The Old Testament reference Jesus made was to Psalm 78:2, “For I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past.” 

REFLECT 

Have you found it wise not to talk with other believers about Jesus when an outspoken and disrespectful unbeliever is present? 

RESPOND 

The New Testament speaks of “mysteries.” These were truths not mentioned in the Old Testament but were revealed in the New Testament. For an example, read Ephesians 3:1-7 to see the “mystery” or plan of God revealed by the apostle Paul.  

Explain the Weeds 

READ 

Matthew 13:36 

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 

The disciples were still puzzled about the parable Jesus told about the farmer sowing seeds and the weeds that grew up around them. Perhaps they had questions about some of the other parables Jesus told, but this first one stuck in their minds.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes gone on in your Bible reading but kept thinking about a statement you read earlier? That is similar to what the disciples experienced, and they needed answers. 

RESPOND 

Before reading Jesus’ explanation about the farmer sowing seeds, return to the parable itself in Matthew 13:24-30. Read this with a Christian friend so you will better understand the explanation Jesus gave.  

Good Seeds and Bad Weeds 

READ 

Matthew 13:37-38 

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.” 

Jesus explained who the farmer in the parable represented—it was Jesus Himself. He also explained that the field represented the world, and the good seed represented the people in the kingdom. The weeds represented those who belong to the evil one. This indicates that between the two advents of Jesus to earth the form of the kingdom will include both Christ-followers and those who reject Him. 

REFLECT 

Does the explanation of Jesus help you to better understand His parable? Surely it helped the disciples to understand it. 

RESPOND 

As you study the Bible with a friend, be thankful every time you find an explanation of something you are wondering about. In this case, it was from Jesus Himself.