God’s Saving Word: Wisdom
Introduction
Matthew 13:36-58: Today we conclude the reading of chapter 13 with more parables in which Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure, a fine pearl, and a net filled with all kinds of fish. Jesus also explains the parable about weeds growing among good seed and depicts an image of the final judgment. The reading concludes with an account of Jesus returning to Nazareth, his hometown, where the people rejected him.
Scripture Reading
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 When Jesus had left the crowd and gone indoors, his disciples came to him and said, “Tell us what the parable about the weeds in the field means.”
37 Jesus answered, “The man who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; the good seed is the people who belong to the Kingdom; the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One; 39 and the enemy who sowed the weeds is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvest workers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so the same thing will happen at the end of the age: 41 the Son of Man will send out his angels to gather up out of his Kingdom all those who cause people to sin and all others who do evil things, 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth. 43 [a]Then God’s people will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Listen, then, if you have ears!
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl
45 “Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, 46 and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl.
The Parable of the Net
47 “Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Some fishermen throw their net out in the lake and catch all kinds of fish. 48 When the net is full, they pull it to shore and sit down to divide the fish: the good ones go into the buckets, the worthless ones are thrown away. 49 It will be like this at the end of the age: the angels will go out and gather up the evil people from among the good 50 and will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth.
New Truths and Old
51 “Do you understand these things?” Jesus asked them.
“Yes,” they answered.
52 So he replied, “This means, then, that every teacher of the Law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who takes new and old things out of his storage room.”
Jesus Is Rejected at Nazareth
53 When Jesus finished telling these parables, he left that place 54 and went back to his hometown. He taught in the synagogue, and those who heard him were amazed. “Where did he get such wisdom?” they asked. “And what about his miracles? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother, and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all this?” 57 And so they rejected him.
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown and by his own family.” 58 Because they did not have faith, he did not perform many miracles there.
Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 13:43a
[Jesus said:] “God’s people will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom.”
Reflect
How does Jesus explain the parable of the weeds? Over the last three days we read how Jesus used several parables to describe the Kingdom of heaven. Choose one and explain what it means to you. Use an example from your everyday life and complete this sentence: I think the Kingdom of heaven is like . . .
Pray
Lord Jesus, I want to shine like the sun in your Father’s Kingdom. Teach me to live according to your will. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Matthew 15:1-20: Jesus teaches about what makes a person unclean.
