In the Fulness of Time/Part 88
| By: Dr. Thomas O. Figart; ©2007 |
| The parable of the sower, the soils, and the seeds. Jesus disciples wonder why He taught in parables. |
Contents
His Message to the Multitudes: Matthew 13:3b-35
The First Parable: The Sower, The Soils and The Seeds. Matthew 13:3b-9
- Mt. 13:3b-9 “Behold, a sower went forth to sow, and when he sowed, some of the seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no roots, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But other seed fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who then hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Sowing seed in those days was by hand. The sower would scatter the seed, and some would fall on the hard, well-beaten paths between the plowed fields and could not sink into the soil. Birds were the beneficiaries of such sowing by the wayside. There were also areas where a layer of stone was covered by an inch or so of soil, which was not deep enough for the seed to develop strong root structure. Thus, it would appear above the earth too soon and the heat of the sun was too great to allow survival; it soon withered away. A third type of ground, already infested with thorns or thistles, choked the seed before it could bear fruit. But the good ground enveloped the seed and shared its nutrients so that there was an abundant crop, the amounts being dependent on the richness of the soil.
Upon completion of the parable Jesus said: “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Since this inferred that some would and others would not comprehend parables, the disciples came to discuss this very thing.
(Parenthesis: Private Discussion with His Disciples.) Matthew 13:10-23
The Question: Why did Jesus speak to the people in parables? Matthew 13:10
- Mt. 13:10 “And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?”
The “disciples” in this case included “they that were about him with the twelve” (Mark 4:10). Their actual question has overtones of their own need for an interpretation. Matthew’s account points the question in the direction of the multitudes; why does Christ speak to them in this manner? But both Mark and Luke indicate that His disciples also wanted to know the meaning of the parable: “They asked him of the parable” (Mark 4:10), and: “his disciples asked him saying, What might this parable be?” (Luke 8:9). Jesus had indicated in verse 9 that some would understand and some would not; His answer in verses 11-17 will explain this more fully.
The Answer: The Twofold Purpose of Parables. Matthew 13:11-17
First: To Conceal further Truth from Unbelievers. 13:11-15
- Mt. 13:11 “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.”
From the divine standpoint it can be said that certain things are sovereignly “given;” however, this particular statement is directly connected with the failure to respond, as will be seen in verses 14-15, so to them it is “not given.” To the responders, the true disciples, has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. As previously noted, “mysteries” are actually revelations, once hidden, which are now made known to believers (verse 17). It should be expected, therefore, that each of these parables should present some new truth, along with the possibility of some things that are old (see verse 52).
- Mt. 13:12 “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even what he hath.”
This account seems to imply that it is possible to take away something that a person does not even have! In Luke 8:18 the clarification is given: “and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” This not only agrees with the have/have not concept, but also aids in interpreting the statement in Matthew 25:29 (repeated from 13:12). There, Jesus also gives a series of seven parables, some including two groups, one prepared and one unprepared for the coming of Christ back to earth. In connection with the parable of the talents Christ repeats this have/have not prophecy, indicating that the “have not” servant is cast into outer darkness. So, here in Matthew 13:13-15 it is clear that those who “have not” are confirmed unbelievers, who, like those of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (11:20-24) will be judged for hardness of heart.
- Mt. 13:13-15 “Therefore speak I unto 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, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive; for this people’s heart is become 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.”
In discussing Matthew 11:25-27 mention was made of the use of Isaiah 6:9-10 here in 13:14-15 and in Acts 28:25-27. The changes from the original prophecy shift from the sovereign act of God in making their heart fat, their ears heavy and shutting their eyes, to emphasize the responsibility of those who rejected Christ by making their own heart gross or obtuse, stopping their own ears and closing their own eyes. Though God is sovereign He can never rightly be charged with man’s sins. Resulting from this, Christ used parables to keep such unbelievers from receiving new truth. Up to this point, at least, it was not because they could not believe, but because they would not believe. In contrast to these, those who “have” will be given more in abundance. This is the subject of the rest of the chapter
Second: To Reveal further Truth to Believers. Matthew 13:16-17
- Mt. 13:16-17 “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 ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”
True disciples have not closed their eyes nor stopped up their ears to the claims of Jesus as their Messiah; thus they are to be given new truths which neither prophets nor righteous men had yet known. While there is extensive prophecy concerning the death and resurrection of Messiah, and prophecy concerning a time of unprecedented tribulation, and prophecy concerning His return to earth to defeat all His enemies and rule the world; there is no indication how all this would fit into a sequence of events. As 1 Peter 1:10-11 explains:
- Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them did signify, when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow.
So, now Christ is ready to begin explaining “what or what manner of time” is to be involved to clarify His sufferings and glory. This explanation will not be limited to the parables of Matthew 13; it will also include further prophecies of His death and resurrection (see 16:21;17:22-23;20:17-19;21:37-39) as well as the extended revelation given in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25. The parables of Matthew 13 will deal with the time period which is to include the further ministry of the Son of Man sowing the “wheat” (verse 37) and will not conclude until the Son of Man sends forth His angels to gather out of His kingdom all that offend (verse 41). Rest assured, all of this will come to pass “in the fullness of time.”
