Matthew 13

---

Matthew 13:3

And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;

Parables. A parable is an earthly picture that conceals a heavenly reality.

---

Matthew 13:11

Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

(a) To you it has been granted because you believe and because you ask with faith. “By faith we understand” (Heb. 11:3). Because we believe, we see. Faith in God empowers us to understand God’s will.

The disciples did not ask Jesus questions in order to trap him. They really wanted to know the meaning of the parable (Luke 8:9). So Jesus explained it to them. When we humbly bring our questions to the Lord, he gives us insight and understanding. He does this because he loves us and because he wants us to grow in grace.

(b) The mysteries of the kingdom are insights into God’s kingdom that are revealed to us by his Spirit. They are the answers to questions such as, What is God like? Does he care about us? What is his will? When Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” he was revealing the mysteries of the kingdom.

The mysteries of the kingdom are not secret teachings hidden in scripture. They are kingdom realities that God wants to share with all of us. Mysteries that have been revealed are no longer mysteries. They are revelations.

---

Matthew 13:12

“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

(a) More shall be given. Jesus quotes this proverb five times in the Gospels. On three of those occasions, the more that is given is revelation knowledge (Matt. 13:12, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18). When we are faithful in heeding the revelation that God gives us, he gives us more revelation. But if we reject God’s revelation, we will walk in deception.

The same principle is applied more broadly in the parables of the talents and minas (Matt. 25:29, Luke 19:26). When we are faithful with the grace of God, whether it is revelation knowledge, spiritual gifts, or some other blessing, God gives us more so that others might experience his favor.

(b) Abundance. The original word (perisseuo) means super-abound. It is one of many adjectives that Paul uses when describing the super-abounding grace of Jesus Christ (see entry for Rom. 5:15).

(c) Taken away. Those who reject the good things of God, will lose what they have. The Jews had the law and the prophets to point them to the Messiah, but they rejected Jesus when they came. For this reason the “sons of the kingdom” lost their privileged position and found themselves outside of all that God was doing (Matt. 8:12). In the same way, those who reject the light of God’s truth will walk in darkness. Those who reject the Author of Life will find themselves without lasting life (John 5:39–40).

---

Matthew 13:17

“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

(a) Righteous men. Before the cross, no one could be made righteous. The gift of righteousness had not been given and the “one act of righteousness” had not be done (Rom. 5:18). Yet Old Testament saints such as Abraham were credited with righteousness on account of their faith in God (see entry for Rom. 4:3). In the old days, righteousness was credited to those who believed or longed for the Messiah.

(b) Desired to see what you see. The prophets and saints of old longed to see Jesus.

---

Matthew 13:19

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

(a) The word of the kingdom is synonymous with the the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17) or the gospel of King Jesus or the gospel of grace because Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s grace (John 1:14).

(b) What has been sown is the seed. The original word (speiro) is the same as the word used for sower in the previous verse. Jesus is both the sower and the seed that is sown (Matt. 13:37).

(c) Seed. The seed is the word of God or the good news of Jesus; see entry for Luke 8:11.

---

Matthew 13:20

“The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

The rocky places describe the mindset of someone who is trusting in the tablets of stone or the law. Since they are relying on the law, the word of grace is unable to take root in their life.

---

Matthew 13:21

yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

(a) He has no firm root. Jesus is the Root of Jesse, the Root of David, and the Righteous Root that sustains us (Rom. 11:18, 15:12, Rev. 5:5). Those who look to the law to establish their own righteousness have no firm root because their trust is in themselves.

(b) When affliction or persecution arises because of the word. Some hear the gospel of grace and rejoice only to wilt under the frowns of those preaching of law and dead works.

(c) He falls away. The one who relies on his own moral or law-keeping performance is unable to stand because he is not rooted in the Righteous root.

---

Matthew 13:24

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

(a) The man who sowed the good seed in this and all the sowing parables is Jesus himself (Matt. 13:37).

(b) Good seed. The good seed is the word of God or the good news of Jesus; see entry for Luke 8:11.

---

Matthew 13:35

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

(a) The prophet Asaph. The quote comes from Ps.78:2.

(b) Parables; see entry for Matt. 13:3.

(c) The foundation of the world. From the beginning of time. Jesus came to reveal things that were hidden.

---

Matthew 13:38

and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

(a) Good seed. Normally the good seed is the Living Word of God or Jesus himself (see entry for Luke 8:11). But on this occasion the seed represents the offspring of the kingdom – the sons and daughters of God. There is no inconsistency. Sometimes the good seed is Christ; other times it’s Christians. The life of Christ is the common element.

(b) The sons of the kingdom are the children of God or believers.

(c) The sons of the evil one are those who carry out the desires of the evil one (John 8:44). It is those who reject the King and want no part in his kingdom (1 John 3:8, 10).

---

Matthew 13:40

“So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.

(a) Tares. At the end of the age, it is not the righteous who are taken away but the wicked. The weeds are weeded out and the bad fish are discarded from the net (Matt. 13:48). When the ungodly are removed, the meek will inherit the earth.

(b) Fire is another Old Testament image associated with divine judgment (Is. 66:15–16, Oba. 1:18, Zeph. 3:8, Mal. 4:1). Jesus often spoke of fire in connection with Judgment Day (Matt. 5:22, 13:42, 50, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:43, Luke 17:29–30, John 15:6). He did not dread this fire but he looked forward to it knowing that it would spell the end of sin and usher in eternity (see entry for Luke 12:49).

(c) The end of the age. The original word for end (sunteleia) means completion or consummation of a plan. God has a plan, and it comes to completion at the end or consummation of the age when the Lord returns in glory.

When things are going bad in the world, it’s easy to get discouraged. It may seem like evil is triumphing. But it won’t always be like this. Jesus is coming.

---

Matthew 13:42

and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(a) The furnace of fire. On Judgment Day, when the Lord is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, the ungodly and all those things that are opposed to his goodwill will be destroyed by fire (2 Th. 1:7, 2 Pet. 2:6, 3:7).

On numerous occasions, the Lord spoke of fire in connection with Judgment Day (Matt. 5:22, 13:42, 50, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:43, Luke 17:29–30, John 15:6). He did not dread this fire but he looked forward to it knowing that it would spell the end of sin and usher in eternity (see entry for Luke 12:49).

(b) Weeping and gnashing of teeth; see entry for Matt. 8:12.

---

Matthew 13:43

“Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

The righteous are those who have been made right with God by receiving, through faith, the free gift of righteousness. See entry for Righteousness.

---

Matthew 13:44

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

A treasure. In God’s eyes, people are the treasure (Deu. 16:18).

A man. Jesus is the man who sold or gave up all he had to win you.

---

Matthew 13:45–46

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

A merchant. Jesus is the merchant who sold or gave up all he had to win you.

A pearl of great value. In his eyes you are highly valued. Jesus gave his life to redeem you.

---

Matthew 13:47

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;

Like a dragnet. The invitation to enter the kingdom goes out to all, whether good or bad, Jew or Gentile.

---

Matthew 13:48

and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.

The bad are known by their bad or evil deeds, specifically, their rejection of the king and his kingdom (see entry for John 5:29).

They threw away or rather they threw themselves away by judging themselves unworthy of eternal life (Acts 13:46). Those who refuse the gift of life shall not have it.

---

Matthew 13:49

“So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,

(a) The end of the age; see entry for Matt. 13:40.

(b) The righteous are those who have been made right with God by receiving, through faith, the free gift of righteousness. See entry for Righteousness.

---

Matthew 13:50

and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(a) Furnace. The imagery of a fiery furnace as a place of punishment comes from the Old Testament prophets (e.g., Eze. 22:20–22, Dan. 3:6, Mal. 4:1). It also appears in the New Testament and (Matt. 13:42, Rev. 9:2) other Jewish texts (e.g., Enoch 98, 4 Ezra 7:36).

(b) Fire. Jesus often spoke of fire in connection with Judgment Day (Matt. 5:22, 13:42, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:43, Luke 17:29–30, John 15:6). He did not dread this fire but he looked forward to it knowing that it would spell the end of sin and usher in eternity (see entry for Luke 12:49).

(c) Weeping and gnashing of teeth; see entry for Matt. 8:12.

.

---

Matthew 13:51

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.”

(a) These things? The parables of Matthew 13. Jesus wants us to understand or grasp the revelation of the kingdom that comes through his parables.

(b) Yes. We are not blessed by merely hearing the parables, but by understanding the truths that are hidden within them (Matt. 13:16).

---

Matthew 13:52

And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

(a) Scribe. The scribes were responsible for copying the scriptures (the Old Testament) and interpreting the Law of Moses; see entry for Matt. 5:20.

(b) A disciple of the kingdom is a disciple of the King Jesus. A disciple is literally a student. In context, it is a follower of Christ or a Christian.

(c) The kingdom of heaven; see entry for Matt. 3:2.

(d) Treasure. The mysteries of the kingdom; see entry for Matt. 13:11.

(e) New and old. The new revelations of the Holy Spirit confirm the old scriptures.

An old covenant scribe was concerned with the law and prophets, things that were shadows of new covenant realities (Col. 2:17, Heb. 10:1). A true scribe or disciple interprets the old through the lens of the new. They read the whole Bible in light of who Christ is and what he has done.

---

Matthew 13:54

He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?

Their synagogue. It was his hometown but it was not his synagogue. It was their synagogue and they did not receive him. This was the last time Matthew mentioned Jesus teaching in a synagogue.

---

Matthew 13:55

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

(a) His brothers. At first, the step-brothers of Jesus did not believe that he was the Son of God (Mark 3:21). But they and their mother Mary were among those praying in the Upper Room after the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:14). James became the influential leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). It’s possible the other brothers became ministers of the gospel and apostles, but we have no direct evidence for this (1 Cor. 9:5).

(b) Simon. There are nine men named Simon in the New Testament; see entry for Matt. 4:18.

(c) Judas may have been the author of the epistle we know as Jude; see entry for Jude 1:1.

---

The Grace Commentary is a work in progress with new content added regularly. Sign up for occasional updates below. Got a suggestion? Please use the Feedback page. To report typos or broken links on this page, please use the comment form below.