Matthew
13:24-35
Lesson 26
13:24-35
Lesson 26
Matthew 13:24-35
More parables 24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 31 Another parable put he 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: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 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. |
Margin notes:
"His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." (13:25) - "And sowed tares" is translated from the original Greek "epespeiren ta zizania." Zizania is a form of degenerate wheat sometimes called "false wheat." Zizania looks like real wheat when it first sprouts, but as it grows, its grain turns black and becomes easier to spot and be weeded out. Since Jesus' audience would have known this, it was an easily understood analogy to highlight an important point. This is also referred to as the "good seed" parable. Read question one below. "The least of all seeds." (13:32) - The mustard seed is tiny compared to other seeds but grows into a fifteen-foot-tall plant when mature. "Leaven." (13:33) - Yeast or other fermenting agents are added to dough to make it rise. A small piece of dough from each baking is saved to make the next baking rise. "Hid in three measures of meal." (13:33) - "Mixed in three measures of flour." "I will open my mouth in parables..." (13:35) - Jesus spoke in parables, as prophesied in Psalm 78:2 centuries before His birth. |