MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:1 The Messianic Kingdom Revealed in Parables. This is the third of Jesus’ five major teachings (see Introduction: Key Themes). It is a collection of parables. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:3 PARABLES are Jesus’ means of communicating through a story in order to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:10 SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Jesus’ parables hide the truth from the “crowd” (v. Matthew 13:2), who remained uncommitted to him, while they communicated truth to the disciples, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName(... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:12 SEEING THEY DO NOT SEE. God uses the parables either to harden a person’s heart so that he or she will be unable to respond (v. Matthew 13:15) or to bring about a positive response to Jesus (see v. Matthew 13:10). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByT [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:24 THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN MAY BE COMPARED TO. Compare “the kingdom of heaven is like” (vv. Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47; Matthew 20:1; see also... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:25 These WEEDS are probably darnel, a weedy rye grass with poisonous black seeds. Darnel resembles wheat in its early growth but is easily distinguished from it when full grown. LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER (v. Matthew 13:30). Believers and unbelievers live side by side in the w... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:31 The MUSTARD SEED was the SMALLEST OF ALL agricultural SEEDS in Palestine. BECOMES A TREE. The mustard “tree” grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m). Israel was not prepared for an insignificant beginning to the kingdom of God, so this image shocked the listene... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:33 LEAVEN usually has a negative meaning in Scripture (compare Matthew 16:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6). Here, however, it symbolizes the positive, hidden growth of the kingdom of heaven through an inner transformation of the heart. THREE MEASURES was probably about 50 pounds (39... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:39 HARVEST. The judgment that will follow the Son of Man’s return at the END OF THE AGE (see note on 24:3) to establish his kingdom in its fully realized form. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:41 FIERY FURNACE... WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH. Jesus’ typical description of eternal judgment in Matthew’s Gospel (see Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:50; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 24:51; Matthew 25:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:43 THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE LIKE THE SUN. Compare Daniel 12:3; Matthew 17:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:44 TREASURE was often HIDDEN in fields for protection. BUYS THAT FIELD does not suggest earning one’s salvation. Rather, it emphasizes the supreme value of the hidden treasure (THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN), which is worth far more than any sacrifice one could make to acquire it... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:45 Unlike the man who stumbled upon the hidden treasure (v. Matthew 13:44), this MERCHANT searched diligently for the FINE PEARLS but his reaction was the same. He sacrificed all that he had and BOUGHT IT. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:47 The NET, shaped like a long wall, was dragged toward shore by both ends, trapping fish of every kind. SORTED. Fish without scales and fins were considered BAD and unclean (see Leviticus 11:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:51 BRINGS OUT OF HIS TREASURE WHAT IS NEW AND WHAT IS OLD. This refers to those who understand both the “new” revelation from Jesus and how it fulfills the “old” promises in the OT. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:54 The Identity of the Messiah Revealed. This section marks a major new emphasis in Matthew’s Gospel as Jesus’ identity as the Messiah becomes increasingly clear. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 13:55 Since they know Jesus’ human roots, the people of Nazareth assume he cannot be anything special. HIS BROTHERS and HIS SISTERS refers to other children born to Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus. On Jesus’ family, see note on Mark 6:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.... [ Continue Reading ]