The Ministry Of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel

The Parable Of The Sower.

The same day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the seaside. And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And Jesus spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13 vs 1-9.

The Purpose Of Jesus’ Parables.

And the disciples came, and said unto Jesus, Why do You speak unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them, it is not given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said; By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them. Matthew 13 vs 10-17.

The Parable Of The Sower Explained.

Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom and does not understand it then comes the wicked one, to catch away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.

And he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receive it; Yet he has no root in himself, but he endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the Word; but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the Word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13 vs 18-23.

The Parable Of The Wheat And Weeds.

And Jesus spoke another parable unto them saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man who sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares? He said unto them, An enemy has done this. The servants said unto him, would you have us then go and gather them up? But he said, No lest while you gather up the tares, you also root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13 vs 24-30.

The Parable Of The Mustard Seed.

Another parable put Jesus forth unto them, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matthew 13 vs 31-32.

The Parable of the Leaven.

Another parable spoke Jesus unto them saying; The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matthew 13 v 33.

Jesus’ Use Of Parables.

All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables, and without a parable spoke He not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matthew 13 vs 34-35.

The Parable Of The Wheat And Weeds Explained.

Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the Kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13 vs 36-43.

The Parables Of The Treasure And Pearl.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Matthew 13vs 44-46.

The Parable Of The Net.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like, unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said unto them, Have you understood all these things? They said unto Jesus, Yes, Lord. Then  Jesus said unto them, Therefore every scribe who is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who would bring forth out of his treasure things new and old. Matthew 13 vs 47-52.

Jesus Rejected At Nazareth.

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there and when He came into his own country, Jesus taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, From where has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?  from where then has this man all these things? And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And Jesus did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13 vs 53-58.