Matthew 13
King James Version
13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, 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 up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
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.
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 that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed 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.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 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.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matteus 13
En Levende Bok
Bildet om bonden som sådde korn i åkeren
13 Samme dagen gikk Jesus hjemmefra og satte seg nede ved sjøen for å undervise. 2-3 Snart hadde det samlet seg så mye folk omkring ham, at han var nødt til å stige om bord i en båt og sitte i den for å tale, mens folket sto på stranden. Han underviste dem ved å fortelle mange bilder, som for eksempel dette:
”En bonde gikk ut på åkeren sin for å så. 4 Mens han sådde, falt noe av såkornet på veien langs åkeren, og fuglene kom og plukket det i seg. 5 Noe korn falt der jorden var steinete og jordlaget tynt. Her vokste plantene raskt opp, 6 men i den hete solen visnet de og døde, etter som røttene satt så grunt i bakken. 7 Noe korn falt blant tistlene, og mens tistlene vokste opp, kvalte de kornplantene. 8 Mestedelen av kornet falt i fruktbar jord og ga 30, 60 og til og med 100 ganger så mye avling som bonden hadde sådd. 9 Lytt nøye og forsøk å forstå!”
Jesus forklarer bildet om såkornet
10 Disiplene kom seinere til Jesus og spurte: ”Hvorfor forteller du slike bilder som dette for folket?”
11 Da forklarte han og sa: ”Dere har fått gaven til å forstå undervisningen min om hvordan Gud vil frelse menneskene og gjøre dem til sitt eget folk,[a] men andre har ikke fått den gaven. 12 De som forstår det jeg sier, skal med tiden forstå enda mer. Men de som ikke forstår noe særlig av det, de skal til slutt miste også den lille innsikten de hadde.
13 Det er derfor jeg forteller disse bildene,
slik at menneskene skal høre og se,
men likevel ikke forstå.
14 Gjennom dette blir det til virkelighet som Gud har forutsagt hos profeten Jesaja:
’Dere skal høre det jeg sier,
men likevel ikke forstå.
Dere skal se det jeg gjør,
men likevel ikke fatte!
15 Ja, dette folkets hjerter er så hardt og likegyldig at de ikke kan forstå.
Deres hørsel er sløvet, slik at de ikke kan høre,
og de har lukket øynene sine,
slik at de ikke kan se.
Derfor kan de ikke vende om til meg og bli helbredet!’[b]
16 Men dere kan være lykkelige, for øynene deres kan se og ørene deres kan høre. 17 Jeg forsikrer dere at mange profeter, og andre som fulgte Guds vilje, har lengtet etter å få se og høre det som dere nå får være med om, men de fikk aldri muligheten til det.
18 Her er forklaringen om bonden som sådde såkornet i åkeren: 19 Den harde veien langs åkeren, der noe av såkornet falt, ligner hjertet til en person som hører budskapet om at Gud vil frelse menneskene og gjøre de til sitt eget folk[c], men ikke tar det på alvor. Straks er den onde på plass og plukker bort såkornet fra hjertet. 20 Det tynne jordlaget er likt hjertet til en person som hører budskapet og tar imot det med ekte glede, 21 men som ikke har dybde i seg, slik at røttene kan utvikle seg. Etter en tid kommer vanskeligheter eller forfølgelser på grunn av troen, da avtar entusiasmen og han forlater troen. 22 Jorden som var dekket med frø fra tistler, kan bli sammenlignet med en person som hører budskapet, men lar hverdagens bekymringer og begjæret etter å tjene mest mulig penger kvele det han fikk høre. Budskapet får ikke påvirke livet hans. 23 Den fruktbare jorden derimot, ligner hjertet til en person som hører til budskapet og forstår det og lar det påvirke hele livet sitt. Han gir en avling som er 30, 60 eller til og med 100 ganger så stor som den mengde såkorn som falt i hjertet hans.”
Bildet om ugresset og hveten
24 Dette er et annet bilde som Jesus fortalte:
”Der Gud bestemmer, blir det som når[d] en bonde sådde rent såkorn i åkeren sin. 25 En natt da alle lå og sov, kom fienden hans og sådde ugress blant hveten. Etterpå snek han usett bort. 26 Da såkornet begynte å spire og sette i aks, vokste også ugresset opp.
27 Tjenerne til bonden gikk til ham og sa: ’Herre, åkeren der du sådde det rene såkornet, er full av ugress! Hvor kommer det fra?’
28 ’Det må være en fiende som har vært der’, svarte herren deres.
Tjeneren spurte da: ’Skal vi rykke opp ugresset?’ 29 ’Nei’, sa han, ’da kommer dere til å skade hveten samtidig. 30 La begge deler vokse sammen til det blir tid for å høste. Når tiden er inne, skal jeg si til høstfolkene: Skill bort ugresset og bunt det sammen, slik at det kan bli brent opp. Etterpå kan dere samle inn hveten i mitt forrådskammer.’ ”
Bildet om sennepsfrøet
31 Jesus fortalte også dette bildet for dem:
”Der Gud bestemmer, blir det som når en gartner sår et sennepsfrø i hagen. Det er det minste[e] av alle frøene, 32 men når det har vokst opp, er det størst blant krydderplantene. Det blir til et tre der fuglene kan komme og bygge reir i grenene.”
Bildet om gjæren
33 Han fortalte også et annen bilde:
”Der Gud bestemmer, blir det som når en kvinne blander gjær i deigen mens hun baker. Hun tar bare en liten smule gjær og blander den inn i en stor mengde mel og elter alt sammen. Over tid virker gjæren i hele deigen.”
34 Alt dette fortalte Jesus til folket ved å bruke bilder. Ja, han talte bare til dem gjennom bilder. 35 Ved dette ble det virkelig som Gud hadde forutsagt ved sin profet:
”Jeg skal tale i bilder,
jeg skal fortelle hemmeligheter som er gjemt fra verdens skapelse av.”[f]
Jesus forklarer bildet om ugresset og hveten
36 Litt etter dro Jesus fra folket og gikk til huset der han bodde. Der ba disiplene om at han måtte forklare bildet om ugresset og hveten for dem.
37 ”Det skal jeg gjøre”, sa han. ”Jeg, Menneskesønnen[g], er den som sår det rene såkornet. 38 Åkeren er verden, og såkornet representerer de menneskene som tilhører Gud og er hans eget folk.[h] Ugresset er de som tilhører den onde. 39 Fienden, som sådde ugresset blant hveten, er djevelen. Høsttiden er verdens ende, og høstfolkene er englene.
40 Som når ugresset blir skilt fra hveten og brent opp, slik skal det være ved tidenes slutt. 41 Jeg, Menneskesønnen, skal sende ut englene mine, og de skal rense Guds verden.[i] De skal ta bort alle dem som lokker menneskene til synd og gjør det som er ondt. 42 De onde skal bli kastet i den brennende ovnen. Der skal de gråte av angst og fortvilelse. 43 De som følger Faderens vilje, skal lyse som solen i den nye verden der deres Far i himmelen regjerer.[j] Lytt nøye og forsøk å forstå!”
Bildene om skatten i åkeren, den verdifulle perlen og fiskenoten
44 Jesus fortalte enda flere bilder. Han sa:
”Der Gud bestemmer, blir det som når en mann oppdager en skatt i en åker. I sin iver graver han ned skatten igjen og går og selger alt han eier for å kunne kjøpe åkeren, for at skatten kan bli hans.
45 Der Gud bestemmer, blir det også som når en kjøpmann er på jakt etter kostbare perler. 46 Når han oppdager en ekstra verdifull perle, går han av sted og selger alt han eier for å kunne kjøpe den.
47 Der Gud bestemmer, blir det også som når noen kaster not ut i sjøen for å fange fisk av forskjellige slag, både spiselige og uspiselige. 48 Når noten er full drar de den opp på stranden og setter seg ned og sorterer fisken. De spiselige fiskene samler de i en korg, men de andre kaster de fra seg.
49 Slik skal det bli ved tidenes slutt. Englene skal komme og skille de onde menneskene fra de som følger Guds vilje. 50 Etterpå blir de onde kastet i den brennende ovnen. Der skal de gråte av angst og fortvilelse. 51 Har dere forstått alle disse bildene?”
”Ja”, sa de, ”det har vi.”
52 Da sa han: ”Det betyr at hver person som kjenner til Skriften[k], og nå hører til det folk som Gud regjerer over,[l] i fortsettelsen kan fortelle om både den nye og den gamle måten å tjene Gud på.”
Innbyggerne i Nasaret nekter å tro
53 Da Jesus hadde fortalt alle disse bildene, dro fra han stedet. 54 Han kom litt etter til hjembyen sin Nasaret. Der underviste han i synagogen[m]. Han overrasket alle med sin visdom og miraklene sine.
55 ”Hvordan er dette mulig?” undret folket. ”Dette er jo bare sønnen til snekkeren. Vi kjenner moren hans, Maria, og brødrene hans Jakob, Josef, Simon og Judas. 56 Alle søstrene hans bor jo her. Hvor har han fått alt dette fra?” 57 Og de irriterte seg over ham.
Da sa Jesus til dem: ”En profet som bringer Guds budskap, blir anerkjent over alt, bortsett fra i sin egen hjemby og i sin egen familie.” 58 Siden de ikke trodde på ham gjorde han bare noen få mirakler der.
Footnotes
- 13:11 På gresk: å lære kjenne himmelrikets hemmeligheter.
- 13:15 Se Jesaja 6:9-10.
- 13:19 På gresk: hører ordet om riket.
- 13:24 På gresk: Himmelriket ligner… Samme utrykk blir brukt også i v.31,33,44,45 og 47.
- 13:31 Sennepsfrøet var det minste frøet de bruker for dyrking.
- 13:35 Se Salmenes bok 78:2.
- 13:37 ”Menneskesønnen” er et hebraisk ord for å si ”av mennesker”. Det var en tittel på Messias, den lovede kongen, hentet fra Daniel 7:13-14.
- 13:38 På gresk: som er rikets barn.
- 13:41 På gresk: rense Guds rike.
- 13:43 På gresk: lyse som solen i Far sins rike.
- 13:52 ”Skriften” for jødene er Bibelens første del, den som vi kaller Det gamle testamente.
- 13:52 På gresk: som har blitt en disippel til himmelriket.
- 13:54 Synagogen er jødenes bygg for gudstjenester.
Matthew 13
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 13
The Parable of the Sower. 1 [a]On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.(A) 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 [b]And he spoke to them at length in parables,[c] saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
The Purpose of Parables. 10 The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 [d]He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 (B)To anyone who has, more will be given[e] and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 [f](C)This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ 14 (D)Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
‘You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
15 Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and be converted,
and I heal them.’
The Privilege of Discipleship.[g] 16 (E)“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower.[h] 18 (F)“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. 20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. 21 But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. 22 The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. 23 But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat. 24 He proposed another parable to them.[i] “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds[j] all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest;[k] then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”(G)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed.[l] 31 (H)He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. 32 [m](I)It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”
The Parable of the Yeast. 33 He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast[n] that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”(J)
The Use of Parables. 34 [o](K)All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, 35 to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:[p]
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”(L)
The Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds. 36 Then, dismissing the crowds,[q] he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 [r]He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world,[s] the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,[t] and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as weeds are collected and burned [up] with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom[u] all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. 42 (M)They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 [v](N)Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.
More Parables.[w] 44 (O)“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,[x] which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Treasures New and Old. 51 “Do you understand[y] all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 [z]And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53 When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
V. Jesus, the Kingdom, and the Church
The Rejection at Nazareth. 54 [aa]He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.(P) They were astonished[ab] and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?(Q) 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?(R) 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.”(S) 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
Footnotes
- 13:1–53 The discourse in parables is the third great discourse of Jesus in Matthew and constitutes the second part of the third book of the gospel. Matthew follows the Marcan outline (Mk 4:1–35) but has only two of Mark’s parables, the five others being from Q and M. In addition to the seven parables, the discourse gives the reason why Jesus uses this type of speech (Mt 13:10–15), declares the blessedness of those who understand his teaching (Mt 13:16–17), explains the parable of the sower (Mt 13:18–23) and of the weeds (Mt 13:36–43), and ends with a concluding statement to the disciples (Mt 13:51–52).
- 13:3 In parables: the word “parable” (Greek parabolē) is used in the LXX to translate the Hebrew māshāl, a designation covering a wide variety of literary forms such as axioms, proverbs, similitudes, and allegories. In the New Testament the same breadth of meaning of the word is found, but there it primarily designates stories that are illustrative comparisons between Christian truths and events of everyday life. Sometimes the event has a strange element that is quite different from usual experience (e.g., in Mt 13:33 the enormous amount of dough in the parable of the yeast); this is meant to sharpen the curiosity of the hearer. If each detail of such a story is given a figurative meaning, the story is an allegory. Those who maintain a sharp distinction between parable and allegory insist that a parable has only one point of comparison, and that while parables were characteristic of Jesus’ teaching, to see allegorical details in them is to introduce meanings that go beyond their original intention and even falsify it. However, to exclude any allegorical elements from a parable is an excessively rigid mode of interpretation, now abandoned by many scholars.
- 13:3–8 Since in Palestine sowing often preceded plowing, much of the seed is scattered on ground that is unsuitable. Yet while much is wasted, the seed that falls on good ground bears fruit in extraordinarily large measure. The point of the parable is that, in spite of some failure because of opposition and indifference, the message of Jesus about the coming of the kingdom will have enormous success.
- 13:11 Since a parable is figurative speech that demands reflection for understanding, only those who are prepared to explore its meaning can come to know it. To understand is a gift of God, granted to the disciples but not to the crowds. In Semitic fashion, both the disciples’ understanding and the crowd’s obtuseness are attributed to God. The question of human responsibility for the obtuseness is not dealt with, although it is asserted in Mt 13:13. The mysteries: as in Lk 8:10; Mk 4:11 has “the mystery.” The word is used in Dn 2:18, 19, 27 and in the Qumran literature (1QpHab 7:8; 1QS 3:23; 1QM 3:9) to designate a divine plan or decree affecting the course of history that can be known only when revealed. Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven means recognition that the kingdom has become present in the ministry of Jesus.
- 13:12 In the New Testament use of this axiom of practical “wisdom” (see Mt 25:29; Mk 4:25; Lk 8:18; 19:26), the reference transcends the original level. God gives further understanding to one who accepts the revealed mystery; from the one who does not, he will take it away (note the “theological passive,” more will be given, what he has will be taken away).
- 13:13 Because ‘they look…or understand’: Matthew softens his Marcan source, which states that Jesus speaks in parables so that the crowds may not understand (Mk 4:12), and makes such speaking a punishment given because they have not accepted his previous clear teaching. However, his citation of Is 6:9–10 in Mt 13:14 supports the harsher Marcan view.
- 13:16–17 Unlike the unbelieving crowds, the disciples have seen that which the prophets and the righteous of the Old Testament longed to see without having their longing fulfilled.
- 13:18–23 See Mk 4:14–20; Lk 8:11–15. In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness, respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. The four types of persons envisaged are (1) those who never accept the word of the kingdom (Mt 13:19); (2) those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution (Mt 13:20–21); (3) those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches (Mt 13:22); (4) those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly (Mt 13:23).
- 13:24–30 This parable is peculiar to Matthew. The comparison in Mt 13:24 does not mean that the kingdom of heaven may be likened simply to the person in question but to the situation narrated in the whole story. The refusal of the householder to allow his slaves to separate the wheat from the weeds while they are still growing is a warning to the disciples not to attempt to anticipate the final judgment of God by a definitive exclusion of sinners from the kingdom. In its present stage it is composed of the good and the bad. The judgment of God alone will eliminate the sinful. Until then there must be patience and the preaching of repentance.
- 13:25 Weeds: darnel, a poisonous weed that in its first stage of growth resembles wheat.
- 13:30 Harvest: a common biblical metaphor for the time of God’s judgment; cf. Jer 51:33; Jl 4:13; Hos 6:11.
- 13:31–33 See Mk 4:30–32; Lk 13:18–21. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast illustrate the same point: the amazing contrast between the small beginnings of the kingdom and its marvelous expansion.
- 13:32 See Dn 4:7–9, 17–19 where the birds nesting in the tree represent the people of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. See also Ez 17:23; 31:6.
- 13:33 Except in this Q parable and in Mt 16:12, yeast (or “leaven”) is, in New Testament usage, a symbol of corruption (see Mt 16:6, 11–12; Mk 8:15; Lk 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6–8; Gal 5:9). Three measures: an enormous amount, enough to feed a hundred people. The exaggeration of this element of the parable points to the greatness of the kingdom’s effect.
- 13:34 Only in parables: see Mt 13:10–15.
- 13:35 The prophet: some textual witnesses read “Isaiah the prophet.” The quotation is actually from Ps 78:2; the first line corresponds to the LXX text of the psalm. The psalm’s title ascribes it to Asaph, the founder of one of the guilds of temple musicians. He is called “the prophet” (NAB “the seer”) in 2 Chr 29:30, but it is doubtful that Matthew averted to that; for him, any Old Testament text that could be seen as fulfilled in Jesus was prophetic.
- 13:36 Dismissing the crowds: the return of Jesus to the house marks a break with the crowds, who represent unbelieving Israel. From now on his attention is directed more and more to his disciples and to their instruction. The rest of the discourse is addressed to them alone.
- 13:37–43 In the explanation of the parable of the weeds emphasis lies on the fearful end of the wicked, whereas the parable itself concentrates on patience with them until judgment time.
- 13:38 The field is the world: this presupposes the resurrection of Jesus and the granting to him of “all power in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18).
- 13:39 The end of the age: this phrase is found only in Matthew (13:40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).
- 13:41 His kingdom: the kingdom of the Son of Man is distinguished from that of the Father (Mt 13:43); see 1 Cor 15:24–25. The church is the place where Jesus’ kingdom is manifested, but his royal authority embraces the entire world; see note on Mt 13:38.
- 13:43 See Dn 12:3.
- 13:44–50 The first two of the last three parables of the discourse have the same point. The person who finds a buried treasure and the merchant who finds a pearl of great price sell all that they have to acquire these finds; similarly, the one who understands the supreme value of the kingdom gives up whatever he must to obtain it. The joy with which this is done is made explicit in the first parable, but it may be presumed in the second also. The concluding parable of the fishnet resembles the explanation of the parable of the weeds with its stress upon the final exclusion of evil persons from the kingdom.
- 13:44 In the unsettled conditions of Palestine in Jesus’ time, it was not unusual to guard valuables by burying them in the ground.
- 13:51 Matthew typically speaks of the understanding of the disciples.
- 13:52 Since Matthew tends to identify the disciples and the Twelve (see note on Mt 10:1), this saying about the Christian scribe cannot be taken as applicable to all who accept the message of Jesus. While the Twelve are in many ways representative of all who believe in him, they are also distinguished from them in certain respects. The church of Matthew has leaders among whom are a group designated as “scribes” (Mt 23:34). Like the scribes of Israel, they are teachers. It is the Twelve and these their later counterparts to whom this verse applies. The scribe…instructed in the kingdom of heaven knows both the teaching of Jesus (the new) and the law and prophets (the old) and provides in his own teaching both the new and the old as interpreted and fulfilled by the new. On the translation head of a household (for the same Greek word translated householder in Mt 13:27), see note on Mt 24:45–51.
- 13:54–17:27 This section is the narrative part of the fourth book of the gospel.
- 13:54–58 After the Sermon on the Mount the crowds are in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Mt 7:28); here the astonishment is of those who take offense at him. Familiarity with his background and family leads them to regard him as pretentious. Matthew modifies his Marcan source (Mt 6:1–6). Jesus is not the carpenter but the carpenter’s son (Mt 13:55), “and among his own kin” is omitted (Mt 13:57), he did not work many mighty deeds in face of such unbelief (Mt 13:58) rather than the Marcan “…he was not able to perform any mighty deed there” (Mt 6:5), and there is no mention of his amazement at his townspeople’s lack of faith.
En Levende Bok: Det Nye Testamentet Copyright © 1978, 1988 by Biblica, Inc.®
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