day 1: the king teaches the parable of the...

Matthew 13: Parables Taught by the King

DAY 1: The King Teaches the Parable of the Sower

Matthew • Chapter 13 • Day 1

DELIGHTING in the LORD

B I B L E S T U D Y S E R I E S

“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s

perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs

As we open up Chapter 13 we find Jesus teaching through the use of parables. This chapter is considered by many as one of the most important chapters in this Gospel because it unfolds the mysteries of the Kingdom of the heavens. These mysteries can be misinterpreted if you don’t have a proper understanding of “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Kingdom of God.” We will try to help you differentiate between these two in Day 1. Many think that the Kingdom of Heaven refers to the “church.” Nowhere is scripture is the church ever referred to as such. We must remember that the Kingdom revealed in the Old Testament, promised to Israel and offered to them; they rejected. It was a Kingdom where Jesus ruled and reigned in Jerusalem and was their King. Remember this kingdom was preached in the beginning of Matthew, but the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, as King, as well as His message. Through these parables, Jesus becomes the revealer of the secrets of the kingdom, showing what will take place after the kingdom has been rejected by Israel, how it will be opened to the Gentiles with its ultimate fulfillment postponed. He will further explain what will happen in the Kingdom during His absence.

The word parable means “to place beside”. In this chapter, Jesus takes a spiritual lesson and places it beside an earthly example in order to illustrate a point (and there is usually just one point per parable). These parables were so simple, yet so profound. There are seven parables found in Chapter 13. The first four Jesus speaks to the multitudes and the last three He shares only with the disciples. The parables bring us through the progression of the Kingdom of the heavens from the beginning, the progress and then the end of this present Christian age. Insight into these parables could only be understood by divine revelation so that he who had ears could hear (Matt 13:9).

Writing the homework for this week has been challenging for me because of the content found in this chapter. However, I took great comfort when I read this quote by Chuck Smith:

“Now as we enter into the thirteenth chapter, we come into the area of the parables that deal with the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. And in these we have more or less a key to all parables.Years ago when I was in seminary I had a very smart professor who exhorted us young seminarians to not preach from the parables until we've been pastoring for at least thirty years. I now qualify. And I wish I had back a lot of those sermons that I preached from the parables when I thought my professor didn't know what he was talking about. But over the years there has been a definite change in my understanding of the parables.

I do not profess to have a perfect understanding even at this point. And as I look at these parables I cannot stand before you tonight and say, well now this is what Jesus meant, and have that kind of confidence. All I can share is what I have come to learn, and what I have come to believe, but as I continue to grow I cannot guarantee that in time I might even come to other understandings than what I presently possess. I will frankly confess to you, that I do not consider my understanding of the parables complete. I am certain that there is more to be gleaned then what I have yet been able to gather.” (Chuck Smith)

Having Chuck Smith admit that he himself does not feel completely adequate to teach the parables made me feel even less adequate!!! However, having said that, what I have given you these five days I believe is consistent with the whole counsel of God and is first and foremost substantiated through scripture. It is based on studying many different commentators and is in line with what Calvary Chapel Chester Springs teaches. As always, we encourage you to study this for yourself and allow God to speak to your heart His Truth.





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In verses 1-23 we see the first of the parables and it is about a farmer sowing seed. Jesus’ disciples struggled to comprehend the meaning behind this story and asked Jesus to clarify why he spoke using parables. Jesus answers them and then explains this classic account. Perhaps you too struggle to understand some of the parables found in this chapter, however it is my prayer that you will glean richly from today’s lesson and that your heart’s soil is such that it can receive the seed God plants in your heart.

RECEIVING God’s WordOpen in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 13:1-23

EXPERIENCING God’s Word

Helpful Background for Understanding Parables:Before we begin our study of the parables, I want to introduce a term that will help us as we dive into this chapter. It is called “Expositional Constancy”. This means, when explaining difficult material within the Bible, consistency to what the whole counsel of God (the Bible) teaches and how it is used is how the material and words should be interpreted. For example, Jesus tells us that the field is the world, therefore in all of the parables where you have a field, every field represents the world. Jesus is constant and doesn’t change. Another example would be that since the seed is the Word of God, wherever you have parables that involve the planting of seed, it is the planting of the Word of God. We must establish this expositional constancy or else you can start reading into parables things that were not intended.

One other thought that I believe will help you to understand these parables better isknowing the difference between the “Kingdom of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God”.Matthew’s Gospel is unique in that it is the only Gospel that uses this term in all of the Bible. Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven 32 times and Kingdom of God only 5 times. According to New Ungers Bible Dictionary, the Kingdom of Heaven is a term descriptiveof any type of rulership God may assert on the earth at a given period. It is the reign of the heavens over the earth and embraces authority. To simplify, Kingdom of God is the reign of God over the earthly Kingdom of Christians. It is rule and region. His rule over the earthly region. In one word, “the Kingdom of the Heavens” is equivalent with Christiandom. It includes the whole sphere of Christian profession. It is the saved and the unsaved, and all those who name the name of Christ. The church is not the Kingdom of the Heavens, butthe church is in the Kingdom of Heaven. To help you with this, think, Los Angeles is in California, but Los Angeles is NOT California.



Matthew • Chapter 13 • Day 1© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs

Who is represented and what is… Their spiritual condition?

“the path”

“the rocky places”

“the thorns”

“the good soil”

The Kingdom of God embraces fellowship and the relationship of the people to Jesus Christ. The “Kingdom of Heaven” is used in general terms describing anyone who proclaims to be a Christian. We all know that not everyone who claims they are a Christian are real deal, born again believers walking in a right relationship with Jesus Christ and are saved. Whereas, the “Kingdom of God” never includes the unsaved only those who are true believers in Jesus Christ. We pray this will help you as you dive into this chapter and as we continue through Matthew. May God open our eyes and our ears to His understanding.

1. Describe the setting (time/place/people) at the beginning of this chapter.

2. Who do you think the “farmer” represents in this parable?

3. Using verses 18-23, fill in the following chart

4. Which remains the same, the soil or the seed in this parable? How is this like Jesus and the message of salvation?

5. What do you think the phrase in verse 9 which says “He who has ears, let him hear” means?

6. Go to Revelation and read verses 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22. What phrase is repeated over and over again? Pick a church from these 7 references and tell what the trouble is with “their soil”. What are they unable to hear?

7. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables and what was Jesus’ answer to them?

8. Who has received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven and who has not, why? How does this fulfill the prophecy given in verse 14 (Isaiah 6:9)?








ACTING on God’s Word

Here are two possibilities, as to how we can apply this parable to our lives. The first:We can see ourselves like farmers as we share God’s word. We faithfully scatter seed among the soil God provides for us. As we scatter God’s seed, we encounter different soil conditions. Some of the seed falls on a path, some on rocks, some with thorns and some on good soil. What has your experience been with people who represent these kinds of “soil”? Give an example(s) of what your experience has been and how the good news was received. (REMEMBER: when you share the gospel, if you are rejected, it is not you they are rejecting but rather God.)

The second:We are each like soil. When we read or hear God’s word, how does the soil of our heart receive the seed sown? Do you reject the seed? Do the thorns of sin crowd out the develop-ment of the seed? Are there rocks in the way that hold heat and kill the roots that have begun to grow? Or is your heart’s soil tilled, fertilized and ready to receive the good seeds God wants to develop in you? Describe the condition of your heart’s soil. Is there anything that needs to change so that your soil can be “good” and ready to receive from God?

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D DELIGHTING in God’s WordMatthew 13:23 “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Praise God that you can allow the Holy Spirit to prepare your soil so that you can be good soil ready to grow a bumper crop for Him. And from that growth you can share the good news with others and be a farmer for the Lord. Pray for God to direct you to someone this week to sow seed into their life.

Close in prayer


DAY 2: The King Teaches the Parable of the Weeds







Like yesterday’s parable, today we find another farming analogy. This time it involves tares and wheat. From the pictures below you can see that although these two plants are almost impossible to tell apart when they are young grasses, by the time they produce fruit (heads) like they have in the pictures, they are most certainly different!! As we study today, we will take a look at what each of these plants represent and how Jesus uses them to help us understand what His Kingdom looks like now and in the future to come.

R RECEIVING God’s WordOpen in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 13:36-43

The bearded darnel plant (believed to be the “tares” referred to here in Matthew) is a species of rye grass of which the seeds are a strong soporific poison if eaten.

Wheat and Tares growing together

(Darnel “Tares”) (Wheat)

In verses 1-23 we see the first of the parables and it is about a farmer sowing seed. Jesus’ disciples struggled to comprehend the meaning behind this story and asked Jesus to clarify why he spoke using parables. Jesus answers them and then explains this classic account. Perhaps you too struggle to understand some of the parables found in this chapter, however it is my prayer that you will glean richly from today’s lesson and that your heart’s soil is such that it can receive the seed God plants in your heart.

RECEIVING God’s WordOpen in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 13:1-23


Helpful Background for Understanding Parables:Before we begin our study of the parables, I want to introduce a term that will help us as we dive into this chapter. It is called “Expositional Constancy”. This means, when explaining difficult material within the Bible, consistency to what the whole counsel of God (the Bible) teaches and how it is used is how the material and words should be interpreted. For example, Jesus tells us that the field is the world, therefore in all of the parables where you have a field, every field represents the world. Jesus is constant and doesn’t change. Another example would be that since the seed is the Word of God, wherever you have parables that involve the planting of seed, it is the planting of the Word of God. We must establish this expositional constancy or else you can start reading into parables things that were not intended.

One other thought that I believe will help you to understand these parables better isknowing the difference between the “Kingdom of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God”.Matthew’s Gospel is unique in that it is the only Gospel that uses this term in all of the Bible. Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven 32 times and Kingdom of God only 5 times. According to New Ungers Bible Dictionary, the Kingdom of Heaven is a term descriptiveof any type of rulership God may assert on the earth at a given period. It is the reign of the heavens over the earth and embraces authority. To simplify, Kingdom of God is the reign of God over the earthly Kingdom of Christians. It is rule and region. His rule over the earthly region. In one word, “the Kingdom of the Heavens” is equivalent with Christiandom. It includes the whole sphere of Christian profession. It is the saved and the unsaved, and all those who name the name of Christ. The church is not the Kingdom of the Heavens, butthe church is in the Kingdom of Heaven. To help you with this, think, Los Angeles is in California, but Los Angeles is NOT California.







E EXPERIENCING God’s Word

1. Using today’s scripture focus verses, fill in the following chart as to what each represents:

Person or Thing Represents:

“The Man who sowed good seed”

“His enemy”

“The Field”

“Good seed”

2. In verse 25, when were the weeds sown in the field? What does this suggest may be the time when the enemy strikes?

3. In verse 26, when can the grasses be distinguished from one another? Back in Matthew 7:20 we learned something very important about distinguishing fruit in the life of another person. What was it? How does this apply in this story?

4. Why does the owner not want the servants to pull up the weeds in the field? When will the weeds be removed?

5. Where will the wheat go and what happens to the weeds? Where is the “barn” for the believer and where is the fire for the “non-believer”?

6. Jesus again uses the phrase “He who has ears, let him hear.” This time he was talking to his disciples. What does this say about the people listening?

ACTING on God’s WordJesus gives us a very clear picture of what it looks like to live in the world. Right now you and I are growing in a field like Jesus described. Weeds and Wheat are growing together. How is your fruit (head of wheat) looking different from the tares (weeds) in the field growing right alongside you?





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DELIGHTING in God’s WordMatthew 13:43 “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”I look forward to the day that I am finally made perfect in heaven! I will truly shine like God’s Son, clothed in His righteousness. Praise God that you are not a tare. Praise Him that one day you will be made perfect, but in the mean time, pray that you will produce fruit borne out of holiness so that you will stand apart from the weeds all around you.

Close in Prayer

DELIGHTING in God’s WordMatthew 13:23 “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Praise God that you can allow the Holy Spirit to prepare your soil so that you can be good soil ready to grow a bumper crop for Him. And from that growth you can share the good news with others and be a farmer for the Lord. Pray for God to direct you to someone this week to sow seed into their life.

Close in prayer

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NOTES


DAY 3: The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast







RECEIVING God’s WordIn the two parables we will read about today, Jesus does not give direct explanation. However, using what you already know about the items in the parables (expositional constancy) pray that God will show you the meanings of these parables and what He wants you to learn from them.

Open in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus Matthew 13:31-35


1. In verse 31, what does Jesus compare the Kingdom of Heaven to?

2. Who is the man planting the seed (who was the sower in the past)? What does the field represent? What becomes huge in the garden?

3. Why do birds rest in the branches of this mustard seed? What might they represent based upon Matthew 13:19? What do they tell you about the mustard seed?

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4. What does this teach us about the outward growth of the “Kingdom of Heaven”?

5. Based on your answers to questions 1-6 tell in your own words what this parable means. (If this is hard, please don’t be discouraged!!! Just write what you think it is. It will be discussed in small group and also in the teaching :])

A mustard seed plant can grow to a height of 12-15 feet tall in one season!!

6. In Matthew 13:33-35 we find another parable. What does Jesus compare the Kingdom of Heaven to this time?

7. Normally yeast symbolizes something “evil” or “unclean”(Matthew 16:12, 1 Cor. 5:8). If you think about how dough “grows” because of yeast, how does this signify what inward growth took place for some in the Kingdom of Heaven?









8. Based on your answers to questions 6-7, tell in your own words what this parable means. (Again, please just do your best! We are all learning together!! :])

9. Read Psalm 78:1-2. What is being asked of the reader? How does this connect with the phrase “He who has ears, let him hear” that Jesus has so often used in this chapter? How must they listen, with their physical ears or the Spiritual ears and why?

ACTING on God’s WordJesus addresses two main points with these parables. The first is the outer appearance of the Kingdom of Heaven and the second is the inner appearance of the “Kingdom of Heaven”. Both should radiate Christ, but too often there are counterfeit Christians who are poor examples with ill intentions growing alongside the genuine things. If someone were to describe you based upon what they see, how would they describe you? How do your choices, language, behavior and attitude reflect Christ and His Kingdom?

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DELIGHTING in God’s Word

This may have been a hard lesson to complete as Jesus didn’t spell it all out in black and white for us this time. However, just as He said in Psalm 78:2 He “will utter hidden things, things from old”. As we seek Jesus He delights to tell us the hidden things! Praise Him today for showing you some hidden things you may not have understood until today and praise Him that He desires us to know what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like through the use of parables.

Close in Prayer

NOTES

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DAY 4: Jesus Teaches on the Hidden Treasure, The Pearl and The Net







Today we will look at a few final parables. These like the others, are describing the “Kingdom of Heaven”. Again we will not have direct, clear cut meanings given to us from Jesus on what each parable means, however as you read each one ask God to speak His truth to you and use what you have already gleaned from other parables to understand these last three in Chapter 13.

RECEIVING God’s WordOpen in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus Matthew 13:44-52

EXPERIENCING God’s Word1. How is the Kingdom of Heaven described in verse 44?

2. What does a field represent?

3. We did not have to sell anything, nor did we have to buy anything, to obtain salvation (it is a free gift!). Knowing this, who gave up everything in order to buy (redeem) the whole world? Who is the “man” then described in this field? Who is the treasure (Ex. 19:5)?

4. Will everyone in the “Kingdom of Heaven” actually receive this free gift?

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5. How is the Kingdom of Heaven described in verse 45 and who does this represent? What similarities do you see between this parable and the one on the hidden treasure? There is a key difference, what is it?

6. How is the Kingdom of Heaven described in verse 47?

7. What kinds of fish are caught in the net described? How will those fish be divided? Who will divide these fish?

8. When will the net be pulled up on shore? What does this represent?

9. Read Matthew 25:41, who was hell created for? Who is the king over hell? The fish were either good or bad (believers or non-believers) and they had to pick a kingdom to be part of. List the two kingdoms.

10. (TOTAL OPINION QUESTION) Based on the homework you have just completed, do you think the disciples REALLY understood all these things? :] (I have to say…I’m impressed if they did!!!)

ACTING on God’s WordJesus tells us we are like a pearl to Him! We are precious, valuable and it took a great amount of pain and anguish for Him on the cross to buy our salvation with His own blood just like a pearl causes an oyster great pain while it creates a pearl. Spend some time right now, asking God to show you how He sees you as a pearl of great price. (If you need help check out these verses that talk about who you are in Christ – John 1:12, 1 Cor. 3:16, Eph 2:10, Psalm 139, Matt 5:13-14). List the ways you are a “pearl” to Jesus.

DELIGHTING in God’s WordAs followers of Jesus Christ we are learning new things about the Kingdom of Heaven everyday (I certainly have learned a ton this week!). Verse 52 tells us that from thatknowledge we can bring out from our storeroom new treasures as well as old. Today we have taken old and new knowledge and blended them together. Take some time to close in prayer about what you have learned today.

Close in prayer





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DAY 5: The King is Without Honor in His Hometown







Today as we close out Chapter 13, I don’t know about you, but I have certainly grown in my knowledge this week of God’s Word! As we look at this final picture of Jesus being rejected, due to unbelief, in His hometown and He did very few miracles there. As you open in prayer, ask God to operate fully in your life because you truly believe He is the Son of God and He can do anything!

RECEIVING God’s Word

Open in PrayerRead Matthew 13:1-58Today’s Scripture Focus Matthew 13:53-58


1. Where is Jesus’ hometown?

2. Where did Jesus go when he taught and what was the response of the people? Why do you think they responded this way?

3. List one of the questions that was asked about Jesus in verses 54-56 and tell in your opinion the basis for their “amazement”.

4. Verse 57 says “And they took offense at him.” Circle the word “offense”. Define this word. Circle the words in the definition that are sinful.

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5. What does Jesus mean in verse 57 when He says “only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

6. What title does Jesus ascribe Himself in verse 57?

7. What was the result of Nazareth’s lack of belief in Him? What does this say about those who lack faith?

ACTING on God’s WordThe word offense, is a doozy! This can cause more havoc in a believer’s walk than we probably care to admit. Sometimes we can take offense so easily! This happened to the people of Nazareth. Jesus came to bless them and do miracles for them and they took offense at Him!! Can you give an example of something that was meant for your benefit and instead of embrac-ing it, you took offense at it? Do you become offended easily? Ask God to search your heart and reveal to you what lies beneath the offenses you have taken up.

What can you do in the future, when you feel offended, to stop the enemy from using some-thing that was meant for your good, against you? (Refer back to Matthew 4 if you need ideas)




D DELIGHTING in God’s WordThe people of Nazareth lacked faith (unbelief). It is truly remarkable to me that Jesus requires our faith in order to work in our lives! We must partner with Jesus so that His power isn’t limited because of us! Praise God today that truly nothing is impossible with God and in any area you are struggling with unbelief, cry out like the father in Mark 9:24 who said “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Close in prayer

NOTES

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