Matthew 13 - Introduction

Jesus Spoke In Parables

Matthew Thirteen

Much of the teaching of Jesus was embodied in His parables. He taught more than thirty parables and also used a number of parable-like statements. A parable is a very simple story that did happen or could happen. It contains only one moral or spiritual lesson.

Parables are attributed to Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The gospel of John, contain the lessons of the Good Shepherd and The Vine and the branches that are parables. Some of the parables are found in more than one gospel. Several are unique to one gospel only. One source said that the gospel of Matthew contains twenty-three parables and six of them are unique to Matthew. Luke contains twenty-four parables and ten of them are unique only to Luke. Mark contains eight parables and only one is unique to Mark, John contains the parable-like stories of the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-18) and the “Vine and the Branches.” (John 15:1-8)

In Matthew 13 we have record of several parables spoken by our Lord. We read, (1) the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23), (2) the Tares (Matt-hew 13:24-30, (3) the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32), (4) the Leaven (Matthew 13:33), (5) the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44), (6) the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46), and (7) The casting of the dragnet. (Matthew 13:47-50)