St. Matthew

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 begins the third of the Discourses, the Parables of the Kingdom of God. The first question Jesus is asked is why he teaches in parables. His answer is a bit strange on the surface. Jesus says that “to them (the “them” will be come apparent) it has not been given” to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10. “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, an d their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn – and I would heal them.” (NRSV) Jesus’ answer sounds almost fatalistic as though some were destined and not.

To understand this quotation and Jesus’ meaning in the context it is important to draw back a bit and revisit the polemic that exists.. Some are open and inquisitive about Jesus enough to seek him out and consider that he might be the Messiah. On the other hand, there are those sited in the course of the texts that are absolutely set against the possibility of Jesus as the Messiah – the scribes and the Pharisees for example. They see Jesus as rebel against God forsaking the traditions of the law that had been handed down and treasured. You may remember the arguments that surrounded the healing on the Sabbath and the healing of the unclean woman. The battle line that is drawn is the question of faith (even budding faith – yes even inquisitive faith) about the nature of Jesus as the Messiah. Isaiah’s words from God are not limitations placed upon the people by God. Isaiah’s words are not the line drawn by God to separate the “good” from the “bad”. The prophetic words are descriptive of the condition of the people who have closed themselves off to God. In not accepting Jesus, God is rejected. In the midst of the polemic Jesus says, “Let anyone with ears listen.” (13:9) Jesus calls out to those who are willing to hear that they might be turned and delivered by God.

There are seven parables in this chapter. We’ll take them one by one.

Parable of the Sower

Chapter 13:1-9, 18-32

Jesus uses a graphic image that everyone would be familiar with, a farmer sowing seeds in the field. Seed fall on rocks, in shallow ground, among thorns, and upon good soil with the obvious results that some do well and other fails. The point of this parable appears to be the phenomenon that there appear all levels of faith in the community of the people. They all hear the same message and some flourish while other fail. Why? The parable describes the various levels of willingness to receive the message that Jesus gives. Some brush it off as though it was hitting a heart of rock. Some hear it, get excited about it, but the joy burns out quickly. Some hear it but worries and cares choke it out. While yet, some hear with openness and joy and it abounds. It’s a parable that describes the Kingdom of God has having people of all levels present. Their degree of acceptance of the kingdom may vary, but Jesus acknowledges that they all have nonetheless been ushered through the door of the Kingdom of God. Acceptance of the Kingdom divides upon the boundary of acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah.

Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Chapter 13:24-30, 36-43

This parable confronts the conflict of the presence of both good and evil in the Kingdom of God. Please note, the Kingdom of God is not something in the future. This is not about getting to heaven. As Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God and ministers to the people around him he is teaching about the necessity of his followers bring “heaven” in the present. The Kingdom of God is established here and now in the presence of Jesus and then through the presence of his disciples – the body of Christ – the church. The point of the parable is that good and evil exist side by side and that often the two are not easy to separate because we truly don’t see beyond the surface of the individual. Jesus warns against the danger of trying to separate the good from the bad in the present age. We humans are simply not equipped to see well enough to sort them out. Jesus’ story tells, however, of how God will send sorters at the end of time that will be able to see clearly enough to sort out the good from bad. An important for those who dwell in the Kingdom of God is that we who are ill equipped to do the sorting could do more harm than good in trying to separate them out at this point. God will do the sorting.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Chapter 13:31-32

Mustard seeds are very small. Jesus teaches that something small planted in the Kingdom of God can never be judged by its size. The small seed grows to such proportions that the bush is able to be refuge for all creatures that need shelter. Small things in the Kingdom produce great results.

Parable of the Yeast

Chapter 13:33

A small amount of yeast in the dough makes the who lump rise. Again this is a parable about a little in the Kingdom of God goes a long way. Plant a small seed or plant a little bit of yeast and the whole lump will rise. These are also parables about the abundant productivity of God’s kingdom when introduced into the world.

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Chapter 13:44

Parable of the Priceless Pearl

Chapter 13:45

The two parables work together. They talk of the kingdom being of such great value that when valued appropriately one would give up absolutely everything to possess it.

Parable of the Fishing Net

Chapter 13:47-50

This is a parable like that seeks to answer the question about the variety of people, good and bad, that are caught up in the Kingdom of God. Like the parable of the Weeds, the lesson talks about the “eschatological” sorting that will take place. You may remember that “eschaton” is about the end of all things. The term refers to the day when God will send the Messiah back and finally establish the Kingdom of God as it will be appear for all eternity. The end of time, also referred to as “Judgment Day” will be the great sorting when God’s messengers who are qualified are to do the sorting of those caught in the nets or the weeds that were sown in the midst of the wheat.

Parable of the Old and New Treasures

Chapter 13:51-53

To the ears of those who were listening Jesus’ teaching sounded new. In comparison to the teachings of the tradition, though Jesus’ teaching sounded new, they were far more to the point an adjustment in the understanding of the Old Traditions. Jesus was not introducing something new to the mix, he was simply teaching what God meant to have conveyed through the Law and the Prophets that came before him. Jesus would be the first to say that he didn’t throw away any of the old, but like the wise scribe brings out the old that is valuable and places it next to the valuable new and together they bring full light to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus turns his attention to the negative side of the polemic. Those who had a truly difficult time accepting the possibility of his Messiahship were those who knew his when he was growing up. They went as far as to be offended by his presumption of Messianic promise when from their perspective he was just “one of the neighborhood kids.”

The dividing line that separates those who receive the hope and promise of the Kingdom of God is the willingness to recognize even the possibility that Mary and Joseph’s son could be the Messiah from God. That faith the size of the mustard seed that produces great results is the key. Faith is not measured in size but in the object of faith – Jesus the Christ.

The Rev. Dr. Kipp W. Zimmermann

Wednesday, October 04, 2006