Universal Implications in the Parables of Matthew 13 : Universal Implications in the Parables of Matthew 13 Gentile Inclusion in the
Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven : The Kingdom of Heaven The “kingdom of heaven” – a kingdom of authority rather than territory.
Peter was given the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew 16:19.
To give someone “keys” is to grant the right of authority to enter.
Acts 2 – Jews
Acts 8 – Samaritans
Acts 10 – Gentiles
Kingdom Parables Introductory clause : Kingdom Parables Introductory clause v. 24 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
a man who sowed good seed. . .
v. 31 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
a mustard seed, . . .
Kingdom Parables Introductory clause : Kingdom Parables Introductory clause v. 33 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
leaven, which a woman took and hid. . .
v. 44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
treasure hidden in a field, . . .
Kingdom Parables Introductory clause : Kingdom Parables Introductory clause v. 45 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
v. 47 - "The kingdom of heaven is like...
a dragnet that was cast into the sea
Lohr's symmetrical structure of the book of Matthew : Lohr's symmetrical structure of the book of Matthew May also be seen as a chiasm
Chiasm embracing the Parables of Matt. 13 : Chiasm embracing the Parables of Matt. 13 Sower and the Soils (vv. 1-9)
Question by Disciples/Answer by Jesus (Understanding) (vv. 10-17)
Interpretation of the Sower and the Soils (vv. 18-23)
Tares (vv. 24-30)
Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32)
Leavening Process (v. 33)
Fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 34-35)
Interpretation of the Tares (vv. 36-43)
Hidden Treasure (v. 44)
Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)
Dragnet (vv. 47-48)
Interpretation of the Dragnet (vv. 49-50)
Question by Jesus/Answer by the Disciples (Understanding) (v.51)
Householder (v. 52)
Related Elements in the Parables of Matthew 13 : Related Elements in the Parables of Matthew 13 The Field
The Seed
Universal Gospel #1 The
Sower #5 The
Treasure #6 The
Pearl #2 Wheat
& Tares #3 Mustard
Seed #4 The
Leaven #7 The
Dragnet
Parallel and Unique Occurrences of the Parables of Matthew 13 : Parallel and Unique Occurrences of the Parables of Matthew 13
The Sower - Key to Understanding the Parables : The Sower - Key to Understanding the Parables And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
(Mark 4:13 NKJ)
The Parable of the Sower : The Parable of the Sower The Sower
The Field
The Soil the Son of Man
the World
the Hearers "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mt. 13:9)
The Parable of the Sower : The Parable of the Sower Types of SOIL (hearers)
wayside
stony
thorny
good
The Seed the hard-hearted
the shallow-hearted
the half-hearted
the whole-hearted
the Word of God "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mt. 13:9 NKJV)
The Parable of the Sower : The Parable of the Sower Fruitful seed
Hundredfold
Sixty
Thirty Unfruitful seed
seed on path
seed among rocks
seed among thorns The end of the Parable points to harvest and the eventual triumph of the kingdom
"Hear and Understand" : "Hear and Understand" Hearing
the obedient
the believer
the recipient of the mysteries of the kingdom Auditory challenged
the disobedient
the unbeliever
mysteries are hidden So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 NASB)
Faith comes from hearing… : Faith comes from hearing… Faith is a commodity without nationality.
Nationalism ends with Jesus.
The Shema and the Parables of the Kingdom : The Shema and the Parables of the Kingdom "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deut. 6:4-5
The Shema and the Parables of the Kingdom : The Shema and the Parables of the Kingdom laer'f.yI [m;v.
`dx'a, hw"hy> Wnyhel{a/ hw"hy>
Shema, Yisrael: Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Ehad.
Deut. 6:4-5
The “Implanted Word” : The “Implanted Word” “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;”
“for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” James 1:21-24
Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack : Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack Matt 8:10 - The centurion
I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Matt 8:26 - The disciples, storm on the sea
"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"
Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack : Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack Matt 14:31 - Peter's failed water walk
"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Matt 15:28 - a woman of Canaan
"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."
Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack : Gentiles commended for Faith while Disciples were rebuked for their Lack Matt 16:8 - The disciples, the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees
"O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
Tension in the Book of Matthew : Tension in the Book of Matthew Believer
Accept message
Hear
Response
Productive soil
Good seed Unbeliever
Reject message
Non-hearing
No Response
Unproductive
Bad seed
Observations : The parable of the sower is the response of the soil to the seed.
It is without regard to nationality!
There is no specific reference to Israel. Observations
Slide 24 : Insights in the Parables The Sower and the Soils
all kinds of soil
Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion : Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion The Mustard Seed (Mt. 13:31-32)
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,
Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion : Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion The Mustard Seed (Mt. 13:31-32)
"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."
The Mustard Seed : The Mustard Seed Triple mention in the Synoptic Gospels
Matthew 13:31-32
Mark 4:30-32
Luke 13:18-19
Sowing in the field
The Mustard Seed : The Mustard Seed Insignificant outset in contrast with the dynamic growth
small beginning, great fulfillment
minute beginnings, gigantic expansion
a mustard seed, to a great tree
"transcend the bounds of actuality"
The Mustard Seed : The Mustard Seed Kingdom will comprise both Jews and Gentiles
birds of heaven = the Gentile nations
Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6
Daniel 4:12
Psalm 104:12
The Contrasts of the Kingdom : The Contrasts of the Kingdom The smallest becomes the greatest!
The greatest is the servant
The first shall be Last!
The last shall be first
Exalted shall be abased!
Humble shall be exalted
The Contrasts of the Kingdom : The Contrasts of the Kingdom ... assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matt. 17:20 NKJV
Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion : Twin Parables of Growth and Kingdom Expansion The Leaven (Mt. 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."
The Leaven : The Leaven Parallel accounts
Matthew 13:33 & Luke 13:20-21
Final parable spoken to the Jewish crowd by the Sea
Leaven is a fermenting agent
The Leaven : The Leaven Emphasis is on the process, the leavening
Works inside the dough
Gradually pervades the whole lump
Illustrates the transforming power of Christianity
The Leaven : The Leaven Good or Evil?
Often associated with evil
Beware of the Leaven… Mt. 16:6
Also used positively as of the leavening influence of the Torah
The Leaven : The Leaven Symbols can change representation
A Lion
used of the Devil “a roaring lion”
and of the Lord “lion of the tribe of Judah”
An intentional Metaphor
Slide 37 : Twin Parables of Kingdom Expansion "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,...
external influence of growth
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven,...
pervasive internal influence
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles Not … ignorant of this mystery… "fullness of the Gentiles"
Romans 11:25
“great is the mystery of godliness … preached unto the Gentiles”
1 Timothy 3:16
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles Mystery … now revealed… "mystery among the Gentiles"
Colossians 1:26-27
“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”
1 Peter 1:20
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles . . . by revelation He made known to me the mystery
. . . (when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit . . .
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel
Ephesians 3:3-6
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
The Mystery & the Gentiles : The Mystery & the Gentiles to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church...,
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, …
Ephesians 3:8-11
Slide 44 : Insights in the Parables The Sower and the Soils
all kinds of soil
The Mustard Seed
external influence of growth
The Leaven
pervasive internal influence
The Hidden Treasure : The Hidden Treasure "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.
Matthew 13:44
Parallels in the Parables : Parallels in the Parables Two Parables
Mustard Seed and the Leaven
Treasure and the Pearl
Wheat and Tares and the Dragnet
Chiasm embracing the parables of Matt. 13 : Chiasm embracing the parables of Matt. 13 Sower and the Soils (vv. 1-9)
Question by Disciples/Answer by Jesus (Understanding) (vv. 10-17)
Interpretation of the Sower and the Soils (vv. 18-23)
Tares (vv. 24-30)
Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32)
Leavening Process (v. 33)
Fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 34-35)
Interpretation of the Tares (vv. 36-43)
Hidden Treasure (v. 44)
Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)
Dragnet (vv. 47-48)
Interpretation of the Dragnet (vv. 49-50)
Question by Jesus/Answer by the Disciples (Understanding) (v.51)
Householder (v. 52)
Chiasm of Matt. 13 : Chiasm of Matt. 13 Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32)
Leavening Process (v. 33)
Fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 34-35)
Interpretation of the Tares (vv. 36-43)
Hidden Treasure (v. 44)
Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)
The Pearl of Great Price : The Pearl of Great Price "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
"who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46
Differences in the Parables : Differences in the Parables The Treasure
Likens the kingdom to a treasure The Pearl
Likens the kingdom to a merchant
Differences in the Parables : Differences in the Parables The Treasure
Intentionally concealed
Accidentally found The Pearl
Found in natural setting
Intentionally sought
Differences in the Parables : Differences in the Parables The Treasure
Worker sold his possessions
Verbs in the historic-present tense The Pearl
Merchant in business of buying and selling
Verbs in the past tense
The Twin Parables of Kingdom Value : The Twin Parables of Kingdom Value The imagery of hiddenness and smallness continues from previous parables
The secretiveness of the kingdom, the musth>ria (musteria)
The Hidden Treasure : The Hidden Treasure 'Hidden' links to vs. 35
quoting Psa. 78:2
(NASB) so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
The Twin Parables of Kingdom Value : The Twin Parables of Kingdom Value Demonstrate the need to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to enter the kingdom
Have no interpretative support within the text, no OT overtones of meanings like the mustard seed or leaven
The Hidden Treasure of the Jews : The Hidden Treasure of the Jews Ex. 19:5; Deut 14:2 Psa. 135:4 - "special treasure"
Disciples are like a hidden treasure among Israel
The Pearl of Great Price for the Gentiles : The Pearl of Great Price for the Gentiles A specific kind of treasure
There is no possession without selling all
Could not be divided
The Pearl of Great Price for the Gentiles : The Pearl of Great Price for the Gentiles Pearls were not valued by Jews
Valued by Nineveh (Links to 12:41)
Pearl is not found in LXX
only in Matt., 1 Tim, & Rev.
'Special treasure' is not used of the Church
Slide 59 : Insights in the Parables The Sower and the Soils - all kinds of soil
The Mustard Seed - external influence of growth
The Leaven - pervasive internal influence
The Hidden Treasure
Israel “the special treasure”
The Pearl of Great Price
of value to the Gentiles
Slide 60 : Overview of the Parables 1. Sower and the Soils (vv. 1-9)
2. Tares (vv. 24-30)
3. Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32)
4. Leavening Process (v. 33)
Fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 34-35)
5. Hidden Treasure (v. 44)
6. Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)
7. Dragnet (vv. 47-48)
8. Householder (v. 52)
The Eschatological Parables : The Eschatological Parables Tares and the Dragnet both refer to the judgment of separation (vs. 40, 49)
Both deal with good and evil
Conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan
The Eschatological Parables : The Eschatological Parables The ultimate ingathering of the 'good'
Wait until 'Harvest' for the separation
Identical conclusion of Judgment, the angels will cast them into fire.
Comparison of Dragnet and Tares : Comparison of Dragnet and Tares Dragnet
The Diversity of the Catch
47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, Wheat and Tares
The Diversity of the Crop
26 "But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
Comparison of Dragnet and Tares : Comparison of Dragnet and Tares Dragnet
The Ingathering
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. Wheat and Tares
The Harvest
30 'Let both grow together until the harvest, . . . gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'
Comparison of Dragnet and Tares : Comparison of Dragnet and Tares Dragnet
The Angels in the End
49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, Wheat and Tares
The Angels in the End
39 ...the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
Comparison of Dragnet and Tares : Comparison of Dragnet and Tares Dragnet
The Final Judgment
50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Wheat and Tares
The Final Judgment
42 "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
All Kinds --- All Nations : All Kinds --- All Nations geAll Kinds --- All Nations : No race or category of people will escape the final judgment
1. God alone decides who is acceptable for the kingdom
2. The harvest of judgment will determine who enters All Kinds --- All Nations
Slide 69 : Insights in the Parables The Sower and the Soils - all kinds of soil
The Mustard Seed - external influence of growth
The Leaven - pervasive internal influence
The Hidden Treasure - Israel “the special treasure
The Pearl of Great Price - of value to the Gentiles
The Wheat and Tares - not everything is as it appears
The Dragnet - cast the net for all “kinds”
The Householder - treasures new and old
Slide 70 : Overview of the Parables 1. Sower and the Soils (vv. 1-9)
2. Tares (vv. 24-30)
3. Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32)
4. Leavening Process (v. 33)
Fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 34-35)
5. Hidden Treasure (v. 44)
6. Pearl Merchant (vv. 45-46)
7. Dragnet (vv. 47-48)
8. Householder (v. 52)
The Concluding Parable : "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”? The Concluding Parable
The Concluding Parable : The Concluding Parable ”... a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
1) understanding of the parables
the universal aspect of the kingdom
The Concluding Parable : The Concluding Parable ”... a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
2) understanding of the message of the prophets
“that the Scripture might be fulfilled”
The Concluding Parable : The Concluding Parable ”... a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
3) compilation and transmission of Scripture
The New Testament
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old Peter
Believed to have dictated the Gospel of Mark
“a house of prayer for all nations” Mark 11:17
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully” (1 Peter 1:10-12)
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old Peter
“for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:18-21)
He recognized the unity of the Scripture… the merging of the New with the Old.
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old Matthew
The centurion - “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
A woman of Canaan- “O woman, great is your faith! . . .”
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old Luke
Widow of Zarephath - Elijah, the prophet sent to Sidon
Naaman, the Syrian - Healed of leprosy
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old John
The Pharisees - “The world has gone after Him!”
The Greeks - “We would see Jesus”
Treasures - New and Old : Treasures - New and Old Paul recognized the scribal authority of the Apostles (Eph. 3:4-6 NASB)
. . . when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.