Matthew 13 Research Paper

However, the use of prophecy helps to elucidate the tenets that are being established by highlighting the fallibility of humans. When Jesus eats his last supper with his apostles, he says, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (26: 21). This prophecy is demonstrated to have been fulfilled when Judas “repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests” (27: 3). While the true meaning of the parables may be shrouded as a result of the often confusing use of comparisons and language, readers would find all of the warnings of Jesus to be encapsulated in the prophecy that he makes. Most notably, the actions of Judah echo the parable of the seed sown among thorns – as Jesus said, “As for what was sown among thorns. . . delight in riches choke the word” (13: 22). Jesus’ prophecy, directed against Judas, is a profound and vivid statement that reinforces the statement being made by the parable. The fact that a figure who promises eternal salvation is to be betrayed by one of his closest followers just for a meager amount of wealth serves to solidify Jesus’ caution against the pursuit of wealth. In addition, the fact that Jesus is able to predict such treachery is a powerful statement about the extreme difficulty that humans face in avoiding temptation. Thus, prophecy allows the Gospel to vividly demonstrate the possible pitfalls that one would encounter in trying to observe the

Parables are stories written in the Bible for truth and life guidance. We have to understand that parables are implied by God to encourage his written word and carry his truths. God’s words can touch a heart of faith despite their external circumstance. The history of parables started with Jesus writing “the sower and the seed” in the book of Matthew. The sower and the seed was the seed is “the word.” The hard ground represents the person who is hardened by sin. Parables date back as far as

As such this parable targeted the ancient rural audience. This was evident in the way the narrators of this parable described the sowing in different terrains. This was done to relate to the farmers of the hilly regions of Galilee in which birds, rocks, and thorns could be an obstacle in their farming practices. It is also interesting to note that farmers during these times on a good year might reap a 5 to 10-fold increase in harvest to what they planted. But the parable gave up to a 100-fold increase in harvest yield. This optimistic outcome of this parable is done by the authors in order to capture the targeted audience with what the authors deemed

the definition of the word Parable is a story within a Heavenly meaning, this story may tell something at that time people would only on an everyday basis here. While helping people to understand the spiritual truth that humans cannot see with their own eyes. Jesus talked in Parables to people, but most of the people he's supposed to were farmers. He also talked to a group of people who were accustomed to Growing their own crops. So the people could relate to planting seeds and some would grow While others didn't.

Consequently, as this reader searched the parable, the one that stands out is the parable of the Sower found in Mark 4:13-20. Everything in life requires a seed and the sower in the parable is sowing seed. Although the word is sown in three different areas, it is not until it is placed on good ground, does it grow. “The four kinds of soil are like four kinds of responses to the proclamation of the kingdom,” cite Fee and Stuart. God through this parable is showing that a person may not get it right the first time or the second or even the third, that He is merciful to allow the seed of His word to get through the rough times so that a harvest can come forth.

In the Bible, many New Testament books share a likeness in their eyewitness accounts, miracle stories, and even in their parables. In fact, between two of the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Luke, there are a multitude of similarities as well unique text. One of the things that both Gospels share is the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This parable is found in Matthew 18:10-14 and in Luke 15:3-7. Even though the parables are very similar, there are differences in the context, usage, and meaning.

Jesus’ parables are meant to give wisdom to other believers, but those who do not believe seem confused, as if Jesus is speaking in riddles. John MacArthur (2015) states, “Jesus’ parables were ingeniously simple word pictures with profound spiritual lessons” (p. xiii). Jesus uses

Throughout the Bible you’ll discover many parables that tell a simple story of how Jesus illustrates moral and spiritual lessons. Parables give one or more instructional lessons or principles that can be an allegory. Parables also hold key words from Jesus’ readings that are meant to grasp people’s attention and making sure they are hearing what is said. Jesus wants the listeners to focus on what is being said so that they will understand what He is teaching them. For example, “He who has ears” is a saying that is worded differently so that the reader’s attention is grasped. It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning because of the hidden key words implemented in the text. Jesus frequently used parables as a way to illustrate profound and divine truths. Readers can break down parables and vigorously study them to better understand Jesus’ way of teaching, but mainly in order to be able to connect to Him through them. The disciples noticed the change in Jesus’ teaching and asked why he told a parable. In response Jesus said “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been granted” (Mathew 13:11). Its weird to think Jesus would leave people in question. Jesus would explain to the disciples that those who have, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. This was a common teaching in Judaism.

"Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4: And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung

a. This “is not a parable, but an apocalyptic drama...[it] begins with an other-worldly depiction of the parousia - the coming of the Son of Man with his angels and the gathering of all nations before his throne - and modulates into affirmations of the ultimate importance of ordinary, this-worldly deeds,”(The Interpreter’s Bible, 455). Jesus is explaining how all the parables come together. This is the message that Jesus has been trying to explain through his parables - the kingdom will come and the good will be divided from the evil.

To discover what the parables say about the Kingdom of God, they must first be interpreted. Jesus himself can be found saying that parables contain “mysteries” on the inside. Sometimes, however, finding the deeper meaning for a parable can be tricky. To make the task of interpreting parables easier, it helps to find out Jesus’ audience. Jesus did not intend for us to be unable to understand his parables. Rather, he fully intended for them to shed light on the Kingdom of God, sometimes we just need to dig a little deeper with an open heart and open eyes.

The parables of the New Testament have been a subject of question since Jesus told them. How should they be interpreted? What do they mean? Jesus had a specific intent when he used parables to speak to the people. The understanding of his intent influences what meaning a person gains from reading his parables. In order to properly understand, one must reach past any pre-conceived notions or understandings of the parables and examine three major functions of influence on interpretation: the nature and context of the parables, whether the parables were meant to have simple or complex meanings, and whether Jesus meant for the meanings to be hidden or revealed. To neglect any of these criteria would be to reject full understanding. Different

Jesus used the parable of the sower to make his disciples aware about the varying responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He tells a narrative of a sower who dispersed seeds on four separate soils. The rigid and unyielding soil, the stony and gravelly soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil. From what I understood is that the seed in the parable is the God’s Word and the sower in the parable is Jesus. The rigid and unyielding soil illustrates someone with wrong doings that catches the word of God but does not accept it. Someone like this is kept from growing at all by Satan. The stony soil illustrates someone who displays awareness in the Gospel, however, they do not have complete faith when trouble comes. The thorny soil is someone who is is a person accepts the Gospel

The moral of the illustration, reflects the need for proper understanding. The Bible and theology student like the author needs proper exegesis and hermeneutical skills, divine revelation notwithstanding, to handle the word of God. Accordingly, exegesis resonates well with biblical hermeneutics and systematic theology. Indeed, proper hermeneutics should be preceded by exegesis, since wrong understanding brings wrong interpretation and definitely affects application. In looking into parables, as a Bible genre in the New Testament, for instance, some people spiritualize and misinterpreted hence mis represent the parables. Erstwhile, parables should be treated as they are; Jesus used parables to captivate his audience, and used ordinary or familiar

The Bible is a sacred texts to religions such as Christianity, it not only holds stories and rules or expectations to follow but hidden messages from God about the Kingdom of Heaven. The Parable of the Sower represents four different ways the word of God from the Kingdom of Heaven can be interpreted by evaluating the condition of four types of hearts from humanity. Jesus explained to the people that a farmer had gone out to sow his seeds. Referring to Matthew 13 versus 4-6, explains the first two kinds of people. “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and