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Matthew Chapter
Thirteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
Teachings of the kingdom of heaven
I. The king spoke to all about the kingdom of
heaven outside of the house (v.1-3a).
II. The king stated the beginning of the kingdom of
heaven in the parable of the sower (v.3b-9).
III. The king explained the reason to use
parables------it has been given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven (v.10-16).
IV. The king explained the parable of the sower to
disciples (v.17-23).
V. The king showed the appearance of the kingdom of
heaven in the parable of tares (v.24-30).
VI. The king stated the deformation of the kingdom
of heaven in the parable of the mustard seed (v.31-32).
VII. The king stated the deterioration of the
kingdom of heaven in the parable of leaven (v.33).
VIII. The king uttered the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven in parables (v.34-35).
IX. The king explained the parable of tares to
disciples (v.36-43).
X. The king showed the preciousness of the kingdom
of heaven in the parable of treasure and pearls (v.44-46).
XI. The king showed the ending of the kingdom of
heaven in the parable of net (v.47-50).
XII. The key to understand the kingdom of heaven is
to receive and keep the Lord’s words (v.51-52).
XIII. The world rejected the king because they did
not know Him (v.53-58).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 13:1 “On the same day Jesus
went out of the house and sat by the sea.”
YLT: “And in that day
Jesus, having gone forth from the house, was sitting by the sea,”
Literal
Meaning: “on the same day” is
the day when He was slandered to cast out demons by the ruler of evil spirits
(See. Matt. 12:24).
Spiritual Meaning: “house” has its
boundary and it symbolizes the house of
Here it means that the Lord came out of
them and turned to the Gentiles because
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though the Lord is Jewish, He is the Savior of
all men (1Tim. 4:10).
2) There are hundreds of millions men who haven’t
received the salvation in the world (sea) and they spend their lives in an
aimless and self-indulgent way. We should “go out of the comfortable house” and
help them.
Matt. 13:2 “And great multitudes were
gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole
multitude stood on the shore.”
YLT: “and gathered
together unto him were many multitudes, so that he having gone into the boat
did sit down, and all the multitude on the beach did stand,”
Spiritual Meaning: “boat” is in the sea
and it is separated from the sea. It symbolizes the assembly. “The shore” is
the place near to the boat but it is not in the boat. “Great multitudes” are
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord is in the “boat”------assembly. If we
want to seek Him, we have to come to the assembly.
2) We should not learn from the “great multitudes”
to only follow and press on Him. We should learn from the women to stretch out
her hand to touch Him (Mark. 5:24-34) that is to draw grace of the Lord with
the hand of faith.
Matt. 13:3 “Then He spoke many things
to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.”
YLT: “and he spake to
them many things in similes, saying: `Lo, the sower went forth to sow,”
Meaning of Words: “parables”:
illustrations, and sample.
Literal
Meaning: “He spoke many
things to them in parables.” “Parables” are the way used to express profound
truth with things everyone is familiar with. Unless the parables have been
opened, men only have vague idea. It is not helpful to those who seek the Lord
with heart if they have vague idea of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
Spiritual Meaning: “a sower went out to
sow.” “A sower” is the Lord Himself. “Seed” is God’s words, especially the
words of the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We are born again, not of corruptible seed, but
of incorruptible, by living and abiding word of God (1Pet. 1:23).
2) There is life in the Lord’s word and it enables
us to grow. However the word of the Lord profits us only if it is mixed with
faith in those who heard (See Heb. 4:2).
Matt. 13:4 “And as he sowed, some
seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.”
YLT: “and in his sowing,
some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them,”
Spiritual Meaning: “way” is the place
of communication for men. “Wayside” symbolizes the hearts that communicate and
receive worldly things randomly. “The birds” symbolize the wicked one (See
v.19), i.e. Satan.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s “hearts” are the battlefield of God and
Satan. The reason why men do not receive the Lord is that the devil has blinded
the thoughts of the unbelieving (2Cor. 4:4).
2) The hearts of “wayside” have received various
kinds of concepts. The first impressions are so strong that the word of God
cannot take effect in their hearts.
3) If our hearts are busy communicating with
thousands of persons and things all the day, there will be no room for the word
of God in our hearts. Even if we hear the word of God, it is in vain.
Matt. 13:5 “Some fell on stony
places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up
because they had no depth of earth.”
YLT: “and others fell
upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and immediately they
sprang forth, through not having depth of earth,”
Literal
Meaning: “stony places” are
not the lands full of small stones but the land with a layer of soil on the
layer of hard rock.
Spiritual Meaning: “stony places” are
the land that has not been plow. They symbolize the hearts of men who live by
natural love and the depth of them has not been dealt with. Therefore they are
as hard as stony hearts (See Ezek. 36:26).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should take root downward and bear fruit
upward (Is. 37:31). If we want the word of God to take effect in us, we have to
let the word of the Lord be rooted and founded in our hearts.
2) We must let the Lord remove the hardness of our
hearts (“stony places”) and then the word of the Lord will root and develop in
our hearts.
3) If one does not deal with any hidden sin or lust
of the flesh, these will harden his heart like the “stony places” so that there
will be no room for the word of God in his heart.
4) “They immediately sprang up because they had no
depth of earth.” It is easy for words that have not been rooted in depth to go
out. Many people who love to show off because they haven’t obtained truly.
Matt. 13:6 “But when the sun was up
they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.”
YLT: “and the sun having
risen they were scorched, and through not having root, they withered,”
Literal
Meaning: “no root”: the root
is not sound and it is unable to absorb sufficient water.
Spiritual Meaning: “the sun” symbolizes
tribulations and persecutions (See v.21).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Only those who do not fear to pay price for the
word of God are able to partake in the kingdom of heaven.
2) Anyone who is afraid to take cross has not
rooted in depth (“no root”). Anyone who stands in the Lord has gone through
hardships (“was scorched by the sun”).
3) To those who have root, the scorch of the sun
(difficult circumstances) will help them to grow. To those who do not have
root, when the sun is up they are scorched and they will wither away.
4) Many people receive the Lord’s word with their
emotions. The moment they hear the word of the Lord, they receive it with joy
(See v.20) without any cautious thinking. This kind of people is not reliable.
5) Christians who are swayed by their emotions are
easy to be satisfied or get hungry. They are easy to be joyful or sad. They are
easy to be fervent or indifferent.
6) Christians’ life should not be “superficial”. We
should not only have open life before men, but also have hidden life before
God.
Matt. 13:7 “And some fell among
thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.”
YLT: “and others fell
upon the thorns, and the thorns did come up and choke them,”
Spiritual
Meaning: “thorns” The earth
yields thorns by God’s curse after men had fallen (Gen. 3:17-18). They
symbolize things of nature, including the cares of this world, the
deceitfulness of riches (See v.22) and lust of other things (Mark. 4:19).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If the devil is unable to tumble a believer with
persecution, it will utilize deceitfulness and delusions to choke him and make
him only to keep his life, without bearing any fruit.
2) Our hearts are unable to love both the world and
God. Believers who are of two minds are unable to achieve maturity.
3) The heart of thorns has never been dealt with.
On one hand it is not favorable for the growth of God’s words. On the other, it
is easy to be hurt by others.
4) Thorns are able to grow without men’s sowing.
Fondness of love, anxiety and desire of sins are inborn.
5) What matters is whether men have enough room for
the words of God in their hearts. Some are free outwardly but their hearts are
choked. Some are restrained outwardly but their hearts are broad.
Matt. 13:8 “But others fell on good
ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
YLT: “and others fell
upon the good ground, and were giving fruit, some indeed a hundredfold, and
some sixty, and some thirty.”
Literal
Meaning: “but others fell on
good ground and yielded a crop.” “On good ground” the three states mentioned
above are very few (even do not exist) (v.4-7). Good ground enables God’s words
to take root deeply in men’s hearts and there is enough room for God’s words to
up-grow and bear fruits.
“Some a hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty.” There are differences of measures with the perfectness of hearts (See
1Cor. 15:41). However, we should take our responsibilities on our sides. The
more “self” has been dealt with, the more natural part will be decreased and
the more folds of fruits will we bear.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Three of the four kinds of hearts are
unacceptable and only one fourth is able to bear full fruits by the Lord. The
way to achieve fullness is straitened, the gate is narrow and they are few who
find it (Matt. 7:13-14).
2) What is primary in the kingdom of heaven is
men’s hearts. It is impossible to achieve the fullness if hearts are wrong.
Therefore we should keep our hearts more than anything that is guarded (Prov.
4:23).
3) One’s heart belongs to him. What kind of men one
wants to be depends on him and even God does not force him.
4) The Lord values not only whether we have life
but also how we bear fruits.
5) Being purged and dealt with through cross by God
is the condition for us to bring forth more fruits (John. 15:2).
Matt. 13:9 “He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!’”
YLT: “He who is having
ears to hear let him hear.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord’s words are said to all, however
natural Christians are unable to receive the Lord’s words and only spiritual
Christians are able to discern (See 1Cor. 2:13-14).
2) The kingdom of heaven comes from the words of
God and the beginning of all the works of God comes from His words (Gen. 1:3,
Heb. 1:1-3). Since God has treated us with grace and gives us spiritual ears,
we should listen carefully (Matt. 11:15, Rev. 2:7 and etc).
Matt. 13:10 “And the disciples came
and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in
parables?’”
YLT: “And the disciples
having come near, said to him, `Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?’”
Literal
Meaning: “disciples” are a
group of men who were trained by the Lord to enter into the area the kingdom of
heaven and to become His people. “Came” means to draw near to the Lord (See
Matt. 5:1).
“Why do you speak to them in parables?”
There are two functions of “parables”:
A. To those who do not seek the Lord with their hearts. It is a
punishment for them to see but not perceive, hear but not hear or understand
(See v.13-14).
B. To those who seek the Lord with their hearts. It is encourage for
them to remember easily, listen carefully and ask at all moments (See v.36,
51).
Matt. 13:11 “He answered and said to
them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
YLT: “And he answering
said to them that `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign
of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,”
Literal
Meaning: the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven are manifested to those who are willing to live in it. Since
others have nothing with the kingdom of heaven, there is no need for them to
know.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) All spiritual and heavenly things are mysteries,
e.g. the Lord’s presence, guidance, and words. Only believers know that and
unbelievers never know that.
2) Only those who intentionally long to live in the
kingdom of heaven are able to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven
because knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is not profitable to
those who are unintentional.
3) Only those who have experience of life are able
to understand what the Lord has said because what they have talked about are
the things of the
Matt. 13:12 “For whoever has, to him
more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even
what he has will be taken away from him.”
YLT: “for whoever hath,
it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath
not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) This verse shows the principle of seeking all
spiritual things. The more you seek with heart, the more you will be given.
Otherwise, even which you have before shall be taken from you (See Matt.
25:29).
2) The more bases one has and he is able to
receive, the more will he seek. And the more one seeks, the more will he
understand and receive.
Matt. 13:13 “Therefore I speak to them
in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor
do they understand.”
YLT: “`Because of this,
in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they
do not hear, nor understand,”
Literal
Meaning: to unbelievers,
their eyes are blind, their ears are deaf, and their hearts are dull towards
spiritual things because their thoughts have been blinded by the god of this
world (2Cor. 4:4).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Without vision, one is unable to know spiritual
things and hear the Lord’s voice by natural comprehension.
2) Spiritual things seem to be nothing to those who
do not seek the Lord with their hearts. It is of no effect even if they have
heard.
Matt. 13:14 “And in them the prophecy
of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: "Hearing you will hear and shall not
understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;”
YLT: “and fulfilled on
them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye
shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,”
Literal
Meaning: “hearing you will
hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive”
because natural man does not receive or know the things of the Spirit of God
(2Cor. 2:14).
Matt. 13:15 “For the hearts of this
people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they
have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal
them.'”
YLT: “for made gross was
the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes
they did close, lest they might see with the eyes, and with the ears might
hear, and with the heart understand, and turn back, and I might heal them.”
Literal
Meaning: “their ears are hard
of hearing” so that they are unable to hear. “Their eyes they have closed” so
that they are unable to see. These conditions occur because “their hearts have
grown dull”------their hearts are wrong. “Oil” is the best part in men (See
Lev. 3:16). Once one’s heart is possessed by something, it is impossible for
him to hear the voice of God.
“Lest they should understand with their
hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” What God is afraid of is not that
men repent and turn to Him, but that men turn from one good thing to the better
or more spiritual thing and lay by God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should keep our hearts more than anything
that is guarded, for out of it are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23).
2) “Oil” is the best thing that men own. One won’t
be proud if he owns nothing. Once one owns something, he will be proud and
pride would make him not see what he does not own.
3) Men’s virtue, advantages, merits,
self-righteousness and self-infallibility contrarily become their trouble
because these block them to receive God’s grace.
Matt. 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes
for they see, and your ears for they hear;”
YLT: “`And happy are your
eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The reason why one is blessed is not that he is
better than others but that God is pleased to reveal the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven to him (See Gal. 1:16).
2) The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has
made even both of them (Prov. 20:12). Only those who look upon God’s mercy
humbly are able to hear and see.
Matt. 13:17 “for assuredly, 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.”
YLT: “for verily I say to
you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look
on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not
hear.”
Literal
Meaning: “prophets” are those
who speak for God. “Righteous men” are those who manifest God. Men in former
times hadn’t seen what they wanted to see and did not hear what they wanted to
hear because the mystery in other generations has not been made known to the
sons of men (Eph. 3:5). We were born in good hour in last time and are made
known the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed
in Himself (Eph. 1:9). How blessed we are!
Matt. 13:18 “‘Therefore
hear the parable of the sower:”
YLT: “`Ye, therefore,
hear ye the simile of the sower:”
Literal
Meaning: the reality of the
kingdom of heaven comes from sowing and therefore the parable of the sower is
very important to help men to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven.
Matt. 13:19 “When anyone hears the
word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and
snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the
wayside.”
YLT: “Every one hearing
the word of the reign, and not understanding the evil one doth come, and doth
catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.”
Literal
Meaning: if our hearts are
willing to receive so much worldly persons and things (See the notes in v.3),
we are unable to keep God’s words, pondering in our hearts (Luke. 2:19).
Therefore we do not understand and it is easy for the devil to snatch away the
words that we have heard.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “The hearts of the wayside” are the hearts of
evil communications (1Cor. 15:33). They get to have everything and love
everything. This kind of hearts are so mixed and disordered that God’s words
are unable to be kept in them.
2) “The hearts of the wayside” are unable to
receive God’s words at all. Though they have heard, they have not treated it
precious. Once the wicked one comes and pokes, they will pay no attention to
the Lord’s words.
Matt. 13:20 “But he who received the
seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it
with joy;”
YLT: “`And that sown on
the rocky places, this is he who is hearing the word, and immediately with joy
is receiving it,”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Natural men are very superficial and act
impetuously. As long as something takes his fancy, they “receive it with joy”
immediately. Their reactions towards the Lord’s words are quick but cannot last
long.
2) Those who act impetuously only love to hear good
word and do not love to pay price for the word. They are hearers of the word,
but not doers.
3) “The hearts of stony places” are easily to be
touched by the Lord’s words in Spiritual Revival Meetings. However they are
both easily to be fervent and to be apathetic.
Matt. 13:21 “yet he has no root in
himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises
because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
YLT: “and he hath not
root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having
happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Through many tribulations, we must enter into
the
2) To those who take root into depth, tribulations
will help their spiritual life to grow into maturation. However those who are
superficial without root would not take any beating.
3) “The hearts of stony places” want to gain
heavenly blessings and fear hardships in the world. They want to gain heavenly
things and fear to lose earthly things and consequently they hang in the air
like Judah (Matt. 27:5).
Matt. 13:22 “Now he who received seed
among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
YLT: “`And that sown
toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this
age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful.”
Literal
Meaning: to those whose
hearts are full of various kinds of cares and deceitfulness, though God’s words
will grow in their hearts, their flesh lusts are always against the Spirit
(Gal. 5:17, 1Pet. 2:11) and there isn’t enough room and position (“choke”) for
the word and they become “unfruitful”. “Unfruitful” means that the effect of
God’s words is unable to be manifested (See Heb. 4:12), i.e. it is unable to
bear fruits of life (See Matt. 7:16-20).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What the Lord cares is not whether you have
received the life of God, but whether the life you receive from God has borne
fruits. Though there are blades in the cornfield, if it does not bear fruits,
the lord of the cornfield will gain nothing.
2) What blocks the life of God to bear fruits
mostly is cares and deceitfulness in men’s hearts because they make us not to
abide in the Lord and be out of line with the Lord’s words and certainly we are
unable to bear fruits (See John. 15:4-8).
Matt. 13:23 “But he who received seed
on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed
bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’”
YLT: “`And that sown on
the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who
indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some
sixty, and some thirty.’”
Meaning of Words: “understands”:
comprehend, grasp; “indeed”: that is, truly, actually.
Literal
Meaning: “bears fruits” is to
do according what one had heard and understood (Matt. 7:24, James. 1:22-25),
i.e. letting the words of God be manifested in us.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The seeds are the same and the fruits are different.
The effect differs from a hundredfold, sixty and thirty though the word of the
Lord is the same because men receive the Lord’s words differently. The more
men’s hearts are open to God, the more easily the Lord’s word will take effect.
2) You are completely able to decide what kind of
land you are and nobody could force you. Whether you bear fruits and how much
you bear fruits depend on yourself. It is a trouble of one’s own making and one
should blame that God has not shown His grace.
3) Spiritual life is able to bear fruits only with
spiritual revelation and vision (“he who hears the word and understands it”).
In other words, we have to grow up fully first and have our senses exercised
for distinguishing both good and evil (Heb. 5:14) and then bear fruits of
righteousness (Pill. 1:10-11).
Matt. 13:24 “Another parable He put
forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good
seed in his field;”
YLT: “Another simile he
set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing
good seed in his field,”
Literal
Meaning: “the kingdom of
heaven is like.” We should note that in the former parable of the sower (v.3-8,
v.18-23), “the kingdom of heaven is like” had not been mentioned. Because that
parable is like “a prophesy”, showing that only good lands are able to partake
in the reality of the kingdom of heaven. God’s will is to gain a group of men
in the world through whom the kingdom of heaven would be manifested. But
because of the damage of the enemy, the kingdom of heaven developed abnormally
and therefore the Lord has to use “like” to describe the situation.
Spiritual Meaning: “a man” is the Son
of Man (See v. 37), i.e. the Lord Himself. “Good seed” are the sons of the
kingdom (See v. 38) i.e. believers; “field” is the world (See v. 38).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord’s life is “good” and men who the Lord
gains are “good seed”.
2) There are only true or false Christians rather
than good or bad Christians. Anyone who believes in the Lord with his heart is
a good Christian (“good seed”).
Matt. 13:25 “but while men slept, his
enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”
YLT: “and, while men are
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went
away,”
The
Background: “tares” are wild
plants which look like wheat. It is hard to tell the differences between them
until they produce a crop.
Literal
Meaning: “men” here is
different from “a man” in v.24.
Spiritual Meaning: “while men slept”
indicate that the time when the Lord’s workers are not watchful. “His enemy
came” is God’s enemy the evil (See v. 39); “Sowed tares among the wheat,”
“tares” are sons of the evil (See v.38), i.e. the false believers; “wheat” are
the true believers. Satan came and secretly put false believers among the true
believers.
Some Bible Exegetes explain tares as the
evil unbelievers in the world instead of false believers. However this
explanation conflicts with the parable of the kingdom of heaven because the
evil unbelievers are not able to interfuse into the area of the kingdom of
heaven and pretend to be a part of the kingdom of heaven.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The most dangerous thing in the assembly is the
“paradoxical” teachings and people who seem to be good but actually evil
because the obvious “wrong” and “evil” cannot kidnap true believers (See Rom.
16:17-19).
2) Every falseness is of the devil because it is
the father of liars (John. 8:44).
3) The devil likes to transform itself into an
angel of light and its ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness (2Cor. 11:13-15). Therefore we should not know men according to
flesh (2Cor. 5:16).
4) Today there are many people call themselves as
Christians. They stress on good behaviors, social welfare, theological
knowledge and etc but do not confess the divinity of Jesus Christ. These people
are “tares”.
Matt. 13:26 “But when the grain had
sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.”
YLT: “and when the herb
sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel.”
Spiritual Meaning: “when the grain had
sprouted” indicates that when their words and deeds show their nature of
poisoning others. “The tares also appeared” indicates by the words and deeds of
the false believers we shall know them (See Matt. 7:20).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The nature of those who save up appearance and
do not have reality of life (“tares”) will be manifested ultimately.
2) We should be hasty to judge how someone is and
should let them be first proved (See 1Tim. 3:10).
Matt. 13:27 “So the servants of the
owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good
seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'”
YLT: “`And the servants
of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou
not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?”
Literal
Meaning: “the servants of the
owner” are the servants of the Lord.
Matt. 13:28 “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him,
"Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'”
YLT: “And he saith to
them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then,
[that] having gone away we may gather it up?”
Literal
Meaning: “gather them up”:
disroot them by force.
Spiritual Meaning: “gather them up”
means to kill the false believers.
Matt. 13:29 “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot
the wheat with them.”
YLT: “`And he said, No,
lest gathering up the darnel ye root up with it the wheat,”
The Background:
not only
wheat and tares look almost the same in appearance but also their roots
twist together. It is very hard to separate them. Moreover the roots of tares
are deeper than that of wheat in the soil.
Spiritual Meaning: the Lord did not
allow Christians to kill false believers lest they may kill true believers. In
the past centuries, many so-called servants of the Lord had not kept the Lord’s
words and killed many people who were treated as heresies in their eyes.
However they killed many true Christians.
Controversial Clarification: note that “the field” in this parable indicates the
world (See v.38) instead of the assembly. The hypocritical are not allowed to
exist in the assembly and the evil one shall be put away (1Cor. 5:9-13).
However in the world, we are not allowed by the Lord to put away dissents with
any excuse.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord did not mean that Christian should put
up with evil things. The Lord asked us to be light of the world in the
circumstances of evil persons (See v.43, Matt. 5:14).
2) The Lord is patient of the existence of false
believers because He fears that it is difficult to discern the trueness and
falseness and the true believers may be hurt. It shows that the Lord considers
true believers. He prefers the loss of His kingdom rather than the hurt of the
true believers.
Matt. 13:30 “Let both grow together
until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles
to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
YLT: “suffer both to grow
together till the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the
reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind it in bundles, to burn it, and
the wheat gather up into my storehouse.’”
Spiritual Meaning: “the harvest” is the
end of the age (See v.39); “the reapers” are angels (See v.39); “gather the
tares” indicates to pick up the false believers (See v.41); “bind them in
bundles” is to separate them as a whole; “burn them” is to cast them into the
furnace of fire (See v.42), i.e. to cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15);
“gather the wheat into my barn” is to be in the kingdom of their Father (See
v.42).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In this world, the true mingles with the false
and it is orderless. Until the end of the age, the Lord will send His angels to
clear up this orderless situation.
2) The Lord did not ask us to gather tares
negatively but to sow wheat positively. We should have the tolerance of the
Lord------“let both grow”. However the Lord knows exactly about it and His eyes
are as a flame of fire. All the hypocrisy and disorder will be burnt up by the
heat of judgment.
3) There are mixed ones in the field and the corn
is pure. Today there is hypocrisy and everything will be clear in the days’ of
the Lord.
Matt. 13:31 “Another parable He put
forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and sowed in his field,”
YLT: “Another simile he
set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of
mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,”
Literal
Meaning: “the kingdom of
heaven is like a mustard seed.” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is
like the whole parable from v.31 to v.32.
Spiritual Meaning: the word of the Lord
here implies that:
1) The nature of the kingdom of heaven
is life and it is able to grow.
2) The nature of the kingdom of heaven
is like herbs and it is temporary. It will be harvested after is has grown up.
3) The teachings of the kingdom of
heaven are for men as bread instead of other uses.
4) The kingdom of heaven is as small as
the mustard seed and therefore the sons of the kingdom of heaven are little
flock (Luke. 12:32).
“A man took and sowed in his field.” The
beginning of the kingdom of heaven is the Lord Himself (“a man”) who sowed His
words as seed (“the mustard seed”) into the world (“his field”).
Matt. 13:32 “which indeed is the least
of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes
a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’”
YLT: “which less, indeed,
is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and
becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.’”
The
Background: there is a kind of
mustard tree in the
Spiritual Meaning: “but when it is
grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree.” “But” shows that a tree
is not the original will of the Lord but the result of the enemy’s destruction.
Here it shows the accidental development of the kingdom of heaven and its
features are as below:
1) The kingdom of heaven becomes tall and wide and
draws men’s attention and respect. It also gives men protection.
2) It takes root deeply into the land, unties with
the world closely and plans to stay on earth long.
3) It is no longer the food as herbs and has lost
its function as spiritual provision.
“The birds of the air come and nest in its
branches.” “The birds of the air” are Satan (See v.4, 19) and its angels (Eph.
6:12). “Branches” are organizations of Christianity. It shows that the
excessive development of the appearance of the kingdom of heaven draws the
devil to hide itself in it and many evil persons and things follow the devil
and nest in the organizations of Christianity.
Some Bible exegetes explained “becomes a tree” as
that the power of the kingdom of heaven has expanded to the whole world, “the
birds of the air” as the Gentile nations, “nest in its branches” as that people
of all nations partake in the kingdom of heaven and are able to rest in it.
This positive explanation about the ideal of the kingdom of heaven conflicts
with the Lord’s explanation about “birds of the air” as “the wicked one” (See
v.4, v.19). Moreover, the four parables in the beginning of this chapter are
said to all and the constant purpose of these parables is to warn men: in this
age the kingdom of heaven is mixed and therefore the situation that God’s elect
(the Jews and the Pharisees) opposed and killed the king of the kingdom of
heaven happened. The Lord did not explain the parables to all. He only
explained the first two parables to disciples. The disciples surely knew that
the third and forth parables had the negative meaning of warning and therefore
they did not ask Him to explain that.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is not a good thing for the excessive
development of the appearance of the assembly because it may easily bring in
the hide of the enemy (“the birds of the air”). The assembly should keep its
identity of “little flock” on earth (Luke. 12:32).
2) The key to overcome is to keep our position
given by the Lord and be humble willingly. (1Sam. 9:21, 16:1). God used Saul
when he thought himself as the smallest. God found David when Saul was proud
later (1Sam. 9:21, 16:1).
3) If we are proud, pretend to be great though we
are not and pretend to be of spirit though we are not of spirit, consequently
we give room for the devil.
Matt. 13:33 “Another parable He spoke
to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is
like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was
all leavened.’”
YLT: “Another simile
spake he to them: `The reign of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman
having taken, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.’”
Literal
Meaning: “the kingdom of
heaven is like leaven.” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is like the
whole parable in this verse.
Spiritual Meaning: “leaven” is evil
teaching (Matt. 16:12) and evil thing (1Cor. 5:7-8); “a woman” is the
backslidden assembly (Rev. 2:20); “three measures of meal” is originally
unleavened fine flour and the unleavened fine flour is the type that Christ is
the pure food for men and God (See Lev. 2:1); therefore “three measures of
meal” symbolize the original nature of kingdom of heaven as the Blessed Trinity
in Christ is pure and could fill men in spirit.
A woman took leaven and hid it in three
measures of meal, showing that the backslidden assembly privily brought in
damnable heresies (2Pet. 2:1) and mixed it with pure teachings. She also
received evil things and mixed them with pure spiritual things.
“Till it was all leavened.” “It” is the
whole Christianity. The enemy’s work of corruption becomes more and more
serious day by day and even corrupts the whole Christianity.
Some Bible exegetes held that “leaven”
may not present the bad things and therefore God asked men to sacrifice two
breads with leaven as food-offering in the day of Pentecost (Lev. 23:17).
Actually, these two breads with leaven are the type of the Jewish and the
Gentile assembly that were generated in the day of Pentecost. Though they were
saved for they have been born from above, their flesh of the old men still
exists and therefore “leaven” is not good. Some Bible exegetes explained
“leaven” as the inner working power of the Holy Spirit which was able to expand
in individual life, human beings and ultimately the whole. However this
explanation conflicts with the constant purpose of the first four parables
(please see the last paragraph of the spiritual meaning of v.32) and therefore
it is unacceptable.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The artifice of the enemy is to transform the
appearance of the assembly (a mustard seed becomes a tree) or deteriorate the
inner part of the assembly (it was all leavened).
2) What Christians should care mostly is not to be
cheated by teachings of heresy. Today in the world of Christianity, teachings
of heresy are very prosperous because the Lord had already foreknown this.
3) Leaven is able to make breads delicious. The
teachings of heresy please men’s appetite and therefore they are welcome to
common people.
Matt. 13:34 “All these things Jesus
spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to
them,”
YLT: “All these things
spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not
speaking to them,”
Literal
Meaning: the Lord said the first
four parables in the open; in the house He not only said the last three
parables to the disciples but also explained the first two parables in private.
The Lord treated His disciples differently from others.
Matt. 13:35 “that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I
will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the
foundation of the world.’”
YLT: “that it might be
fulfilled that was spoken through the prophet, saying, `I will open in similes
my mouth, I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the
world.’”
Literal
Meaning: The best way for the
Lord to both let His disciples know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and
let the multitude not understand is to speak in parables (Ps. 78:2).
Matt. 13:36 “Then Jesus sent the
multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.’”
YLT: “Then having let
away the multitudes, Jesus came to the house, and his disciples came near to
him, saying, `Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If we want to understand the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, we have to follow the Lord and live in the assembly (“went
into the house”) and have intimate fellowship with Him (“came to Him, saying”).
2) The key to understand His will is to draw near
to the Lord and to ask Him.
Matt. 13:37 “He answered and said to
them: ‘He who sows the good seed
is the Son of Man.”
YLT: “And he answering
said to them, `He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man,”
Literal
Meaning: “the Son of Man” is
the Lord Himself.
Matt. 13:38 “The field is the world,
the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the
wicked one.”
YLT: “and the field is
the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, and the darnel
are the sons of the evil one,”
Literal
Meaning: “the sons of the
kingdom” are Christians who truly repent and believe in the Lord. In the former
parable of the sower (v.3-9, 18-23), the Lord sows “God’s words” in men’s
hearts. Here in the parable of tares, the Lord sows believers in the world. The
Lord’s seeds are both “words” and men and He asks believers to manifest words
of God by life and bear witness to the
Matt. 13:39 “The enemy who sowed them
is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the
angels.”
YLT: “and the enemy who
sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is a full end of the age, and the
reapers are messengers.”
Matt. 13:40 “Therefore as the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.”
YLT: “`As, then, the
darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so shall it be in the full end
of this age,”
Spiritual
Meaning: please see the
spiritual meaning of v. 30.
Matt. 13:41 “The Son of Man will send
out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend,
and those who practice lawlessness,”
YLT: “the Son of Man
shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather up out of his kingdom
all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing the unlawlessness,”
Literal
Meaning: “that offend” is
towards men (See Matt. 18:6-9). “Lawlessness” is towards God (See Matt.
7:21-23).
Enlightenment in the Word: we should take heed of our behaviors in order to
edify others and glorify God (1Cor. 10:23-24, 31).
Matt. 13:42 “and will cast them into
the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
YLT: “and shall cast them
to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the
teeth.”
Spiritual Meaning: please see the
spiritual meaning of v. 30.
Matt. 13:43 “Then the righteous will
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!”
YLT: “`Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having
ears to hear let him hear.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) This reminds us that: only when we, living in
this world, seek God’s kingdom and righteousness today (Matt. 6:33), in future
we will live in the reality of God’s kingdom and please God.
2) In future the overcomers will be like
Christ------the sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2) and shine upon the nations
(Rev. 21:24, Acts. 13:47).
Matt. 13:44 “’Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and
hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
YLT: “`Again, the reign
of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found
did hide, and from his joy goeth, and all, as much as he hath, he selleth, and
buyeth that field.”
Meaning of Words: “treasure”: wealth;
“field”: piece of ground.
Literal
Meaning: “the kingdom of
heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid.”
“Treasure” symbolizes glory of the kingdom of heaven (2Chron. 32:27); “field”
symbolizes the world, it specially means the world of the Jews here; “a man” is
the Lord Himself; the whole sentence means that the kingdom of heaven was
originally the hidden mystery from the foundation of the world (See v.35) and
it was originally related to the Jews. In the eyes of the Lord, the kingdom of
heaven is glorious and acceptable. However because the Jews rejected the king, He
hid the kingdom of heaven from them (See v.11).
“And for joy over it he goes and sells all
that he ahs and buys that field.” It means that, for the joy of the kingdom of
heaven, the Lord laid down everything willingly on the cross and redeemed
(Rev.5:9) the world created by God in order to obtain the kingdom in it.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The kingdom of heaven is as precious as treasure
and it is worthy for us to take and enter into it at any price (Matt. 11:12).
2) The Lord first treats us as treasure and “goes
and sells all that He has” for us and then we are able to know Christ as
“excellent” (Pill. 3:8) and sell our possessions and goods for Him (See Acts.
2:45).
Matt. 13:45 “‘Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,”
YLT: “`Again, the reign
of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,”
Literal
Meaning: “the kingdom of
heaven is like a merchant” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is like
the whole parable from v.45 to v.46.
Spiritual Meaning: “a merchant” is the
Lord Himself. “Pearls” are generated when mussel is hurt in the sea. Sea in the
Bible symbolizes the world that is corrupted by Satan. Therefore “beautiful
pearls” symbolize the assembly that is out of the world and generated by being
united with the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus.
Matt. 13:46 “who, when he had found
one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
YLT: “who having found
one pearl of great price, having gone away, hath sold all, as much as he had,
and bought it.”
Spiritual Meaning: this verse means
that the Lord found the assembly ------she is the hidden mystery throughout the
ages in God (Eph. 3:9-10) and she is glorious, beautiful and precious.
Therefore He went and sold all that He had on the cross. He bought her to
present her to Himself (Eph. 5:25-27) and made the assembly the reality of His
kingdom.
Matt. 13:47 “‘Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered
some of every kind,”
YLT: “`Again, the reign
of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and did gather
together of every kind,”
Spiritual Meaning: “sea” symbolizes the
world that is corrupted by Satan. Here the Lord said “some of every kind”
instead of “fishes” because “fish” symbolizes believers (See Matt. 4:19) and
“some of every kind” symbolizes all nations. In the end of the word, angels
will come and cast dragnet and gather all nations to the throne of the Lord’s
glory for judgment (Matt. 25:31-32).
Matt. 13:48 “which, when it was full,
they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but
threw the bad away.”
YLT: “which, when it was
filled, having drawn up again upon the beach, and having sat down, they
gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they did cast out,”
Spiritual Meaning: “they sat down and
gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.” “Sat down” shows that
He sat down on the throne of His glory. “The good” are the sheep or the
righteous. “Into vessels” is in the kingdom or eternal life that is prepared
from the world’s foundation. “The bad” are the goats or those who are cursed.
“Threw away” is to go from the light of His countenance, into eternal fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels (See Matt. 25:31-46).
Enlightenment in the Word: Every time after the assembly spread the dragnet of
glad tidings, many true believers are gathered together and some insincere
believers are mixed with them. Therefore we should learn to discern.
Matt. 13:49 “So it will be at the end
of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the
just,”
YLT: “so shall it be in
the full end of the age, the messengers shall come forth and separate the evil
out of the midst of the righteous,”
Literal
Meaning: “so it will be at
the end of the age.” V.47 and v.48 will be fulfilled in the end of the age, the
time the Lord comes back.
“Separate the wicked from among the just.”
“The just” are those who fear God and treat believers goodly. “The wicked” are
those who do not fear God and treat believers badly.
Matt. 13:50 “and cast them into the
furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’”
YLT: “and shall cast them
to the furnace of the fire, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the
teeth.’”
Matt. 13:51 “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes,
Lord.’”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
them, `Did ye understand all these?` They say to him, `Yes, sir.’”
Literal
Meaning: the Lord’s disciples
already had the clue of part of the parables and they were able to learn by
analogy to understand all things with the working and revelation of the Holy
Spirit.
Enlightenment in the Word: believers are able to understand the will of God by
the Lord’s words and the Lord’s spirit (Acts. 22:14).
Matt. 13:52 “Then He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom
of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and
old.’”
YLT: “And he said to
them, `Because of this every scribe having been discipled in regard to the
reign of the heavens, is like to a man, a householder, who doth bring forth out
of his treasure things new and old.’”
Literal
Meaning: “every scribe
instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven.” “Scribes” are those who study the
Bible intensively and they already have the foundation of words spoken by God
through prophets. If they now are instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven,
they have the words of God spoken in the Son of God (Heb. 1:1-2). In other words,
they have the words of the Old Testament and the New Testament dwell in them
richly (Col. 3:16).
“Like a householder who brings out of his
treasure things new and old.” This kind of people is like a household who is
instructed to take care of the house of God ------the assembly (1Tim. 3:5, 15)
and shepherd God’s assembly with God’s words and his own new and old experience
towards God’s words in order that the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The teaching of the kingdom is both new and old.
In the assembly, we should not be tired of old teachings that we have heard
before. Actually, every truth is precious and effective.
2) Believers always comprehend new enlightenment,
teachings and message on the basis of old knowledge.
Matt. 13:53 “Now it came to pass, when
Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.”
YLT: “And it came to
pass, when Jesus finished these similes, he removed thence,”
Matt. 13:54 “When He had come to His
own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished
and said, ‘Where did this Man get this
wisdom and these mighty works?”
YLT: “and having come to
his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were
astonished, and were saying, `Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty
works?”
Literal
Meaning: “He had come to His
own country” is that He had come to Galilee of the city
“So that they were astonished” In original
it meant that they were strongly astonished.
“Wisdom” is His words and “mighty works” are
His deeds. They were astonished at His words and deeds because He is different
from the “man” that they knew before.
Matt. 13:55 “Is this not the
carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses,
Simon, and Judas?”
YLT: “is not this the
carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and
Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”
Matt. 13:56 “And His sisters, are they
not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’”
YLT: “and his sisters are
they not all with us? whence, then, to this one all these?’”
Literal
Meaning: in v.55 and v.56
they detailed His lineage and parentage, showing that they knew men according
to flesh (2Cor. 5:6). This is the most important reason why the Jews did not
believe that “Jesus is Christ”.
Matt. 13:57 “So they were offended at
Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without
honor except in his own country and in his own house.’”
YLT: “and they were
stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, `A prophet is not without honor except
in his own country, and in his own house:’”
Literal
Meaning: “they were offended
at Him” means that they indeed were unable to understand God’s blessing because
they knew Him according to flesh.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Blessed is whoever shall not be offended in me
(Matt. 11:6).
2) Let those laboring in word and teaching be
esteemed worthy of double honor (1Tim. 5:17). However if we know the Lord’s
servants according to flesh, we will be retrained to receive the Lord’s words
fully.
Matt. 13:58 “Now He did not do many
mighty works there because of their unbelief.”
YLT: “and he did not
there many mighty works, because of their unbelief.”
Literal
Meaning: because they knew
Jesus according to flesh, they did not believe on Him and consequently they
were unable to receive God’s blessing.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb.
11:6).
2) Many people’s unbelief blocks God’s mighty
works. Faith is a precondition to experience God’s mighty power.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
II. It has been given to disciples to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.9-15).
III. Blessed are those who know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.16-17).
IV. The Lord had already uttered the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.34-35).
V. The key to understand the mystery of the
kingdom of heaven is to let His words dwell in us (v.51-52).
The Seven Mysteries
of the
I. The parable of the sower (v.3-8, 19-23) ------
from the Lord’s birth to the day of Pentecost, the kingdom of heaven had not
started yet (it is “at hand”). It is only the teachings of the kingdom of
heaven.
II. The parable of tares (v.24-30, 36-43)
------ from the day of Pentecost to the day when
III. The parable of the mustard seed
(v.31-32) ------from the
IV. The parable of leaven (v.33) ------ from
the Pope Gregory The Great to the reformation of Martin Luther, the golden age
of Roman Catholic, many teachings of heresy (leaven) were brought into the assembly.
V. The parable of treasure (v.44) ------
from the reformation of Martin Luther to the rising of Brethren, though there
were creeds of faith (treasure) in the whole Protestant, it lacked the reality
of life.
VI. The parable of pearls (v.45-46) ------
from the rising of Brethren to the second coming of the Lord, gradually many
Christian groups and individuals stressed on the reality of life (pearls).
VII. The parable of dragnet (v.47-50) ------
when the Lord comes back (the end of this world), the Lord will judge and
separate all nations.
The Parable of the
Sower------the Connection between Men’s Hearts and the
II. The heart of the wayside------the words
are snatched away before growth (v.4, 19).
III. The heart of stony places------he
withers away with a little growth (v.5-6, 20-21).
IV. The heart of thorns------he becomes
unfruitful though the words grow (v.7, 22).
V. The heart of good ground ------he bears
full fruits (v.8, 23).
The Parable of
Tares------one of the Enemy’s Harm towards the Kingdom of heaven
II. The Lord allowed the existence of
hypocritical conditions in the world (v. 28b-30a).
III. However till the end of the world, the
kingdom of heaven will be cleared up (v. 30b, 39b-43).
The Parable of the
Mustard Seed ------Second of the Enemy’s Harm to the
I. The kingdom of heaven predestinated by
God is like the mustard seed (v.31-32a).
II. However the enemy caused the kingdom of
heaven to have abnormal appearance (v.32b).
The Parable of
Leaven------third of the Enemy’s Harm to the
I. The kingdom of heaven predestinated by
God is like three measures of meal (v.33).
II. However the enemy corrupted the inner
nature of the kingdom of heaven (v.33).
The Parable of
Treasure and Pearls------the Lord’s Treasure to the
I. The parable of treasure------it is
specially related to the Jews (v.44).
II. The parable of pearls------it is
specially related to the assembly (v.45-46).
The Parable of
Net------ It is Specially Related to the Gentile Nations
II. The Lord will judge and separate Gentile
nations at the end of the world (v.48b-50).
We Should not Know
Men according to Flesh
I. People in the Lord’s hometown knew Him
according to flesh (v.53-56).
II. Consequently, they were unable to
receive the Lord’s grace because they rejected the Lord (v.57-58).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren