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Matthew Chapter Thirteen

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Teachings of the kingdom of heaven

I. The king spoke to all about the kingdom of heaven outside of the house (v.1-3a).

II. The king stated the beginning of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of the sower (v.3b-9).

III. The king explained the reason to use parables------it has been given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.10-16).

IV. The king explained the parable of the sower to disciples (v.17-23).

V. The king showed the appearance of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of tares (v.24-30).

VI. The king stated the deformation of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of the mustard seed (v.31-32).

VII. The king stated the deterioration of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of leaven (v.33).

VIII. The king uttered the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven in parables (v.34-35).

IX. The king explained the parable of tares to disciples (v.36-43).

X. The king showed the preciousness of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of treasure and pearls (v.44-46).

XI. The king showed the ending of the kingdom of heaven in the parable of net (v.47-50).

XII. The key to understand the kingdom of heaven is to receive and keep the Lord’s words (v.51-52).

XIII. The world rejected the king because they did not know Him (v.53-58).

  

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Matt. 13:1 “On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

   YLT: “And in that day Jesus having gone forth from the house was sitting by the sea ”

Literal Meaning: “on the same day” is the day when He was slandered to cast out demons by the ruler of evil spirits (See. Matt. 12:24).

   Spiritual Meaning: “house” has its boundary and it symbolizes the house of Israel (Matt. 10:6); “Sea” is vast and it symbolizes the Gentile world (Dan. 7:3 17).

  Here it means that the Lord came out of them and turned to the Gentiles because Israel rejected Him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though the Lord is Jewish He is the Savior of all men (1Tim. 4:10).

2) There are hundreds of millions men who haven’t received the salvation in the world (sea) and they spend their lives in an aimless and self-indulgent way. We should “go out of the comfortable house” and help them.

 

Matt. 13:2 “And great multitudes were gathered together to Him so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

   YLT: “and gathered together unto him were many multitudes so that he having gone into the boat did sit down and all the multitude on the beach did stand ”

   Spiritual Meaning: “boat” is in the sea and it is separated from the sea. It symbolizes the assembly. “The shore” is the place near to the boat but it is not in the boat. “Great multitudes” are Israel. Apparently they seemed to seek the Lord and actually their hearts were hardened (See v.14-15 Rom. 11:25). Therefore they represent nominal Christians------they only seek for the Lord’s blessing and they are not willing to receive and keep the Lord’s teachings.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord is in the “boat”------assembly. If we want to seek Him we have to come to the assembly.

2) We should not learn from the “great multitudes” to only follow and press on Him. We should learn from the women to stretch out her hand to touch Him (Mark. 5:24-34) that is to draw grace of the Lord with the hand of faith.

 

Matt. 13:3 “Then He spoke many things to them in parables saying: "Behold a sower went out to sow.

   YLT: “and he spake to them many things in similes saying: `Lo the sower went forth to sow ”

   Meaning of Words: “parables”: illustrations and sample.

Literal Meaning: “He spoke many things to them in parables.” “Parables” are the way used to express profound truth with things everyone is familiar with. Unless the parables have been opened men only have vague idea. It is not helpful to those who seek the Lord with heart if they have vague idea of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

   Spiritual Meaning: “a sower went out to sow.” “A sower” is the Lord Himself. “Seed” is God’s words especially the words of the kingdom of God (See. v.19). Seed has life and it is able to grow showing that the kingdom of heaven is a matter of life. The seed needs to grow in the fields and the field is men’s hearts (See v.19 21).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We are born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by living and abiding word of God (1Pet. 1:23).

2) There is life in the Lord’s word and it enables us to grow. However the word of the Lord profits us only if it is mixed with faith in those who heard (See Heb. 4:2).

 

Matt. 13:4 “And as he sowed some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

   YLT: “and in his sowing some indeed fell by the way and the fowls did come and devour them ”

   Spiritual Meaning: “way” is the place of communication for men. “Wayside” symbolizes the hearts that communicate and receive worldly things randomly. “The birds” symbolize the wicked one (See v.19) i.e. Satan.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men’s “hearts” are the battlefield of God and Satan. The reason why men do not receive the Lord is that the devil has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving (2Cor. 4:4).

2) The hearts of “wayside” have received various kinds of concepts. The first impressions are so strong that the word of God cannot take effect in their hearts.

3) If our hearts are busy communicating with thousands of persons and things all the day there will be no room for the word of God in our hearts. Even if we hear the word of God it is in vain.

 

Matt. 13:5 “Some fell on stony places where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.

   YLT: “and others fell upon the rocky places where they had not much earth and immediately they sprang forth through not having depth of earth ”

Literal Meaning: “stony places” are not the lands full of small stones but the land with a layer of soil on the layer of hard rock.

   Spiritual Meaning: “stony places” are the land that has not been plow. They symbolize the hearts of men who live by natural love and the depth of them has not been dealt with. Therefore they are as hard as stony hearts (See Ezek. 36:26).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should take root downward and bear fruit upward (Is. 37:31). If we want the word of God to take effect in us we have to let the word of the Lord be rooted and founded in our hearts.

2) We must let the Lord remove the hardness of our hearts (“stony places”) and then the word of the Lord will root and develop in our hearts.

3) If one does not deal with any hidden sin or lust of the flesh these will harden his heart like the “stony places” so that there will be no room for the word of God in his heart.

4) “They immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.” It is easy for words that have not been rooted in depth to go out. Many people who love to show off because they haven’t obtained truly.

 

Matt. 13:6 “But when the sun was up they were scorched and because they had no root they withered away.

   YLT: “and the sun having risen they were scorched and through not having root they withered ”

Literal Meaning: “no root”: the root is not sound and it is unable to absorb sufficient water.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the sun” symbolizes tribulations and persecutions (See v.21).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Only those who do not fear to pay price for the word of God are able to partake in the kingdom of heaven.

2) Anyone who is afraid to take cross has not rooted in depth (“no root”). Anyone who stands in the Lord has gone through hardships (“was scorched by the sun”).

3) To those who have root the scorch of the sun (difficult circumstances) will help them to grow. To those who do not have root when the sun is up they are scorched and they will wither away.

4) Many people receive the Lord’s word with their emotions. The moment they hear the word of the Lord they receive it with joy (See v.20) without any cautious thinking. This kind of people is not reliable.

5) Christians who are swayed by their emotions are easy to be satisfied or get hungry. They are easy to be joyful or sad. They are easy to be fervent or indifferent.

6) Christians’ life should not be “superficial”. We should not only have open life before men but also have hidden life before God. 

 

Matt. 13:7 “And some fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

   YLT: “and others fell upon the thorns and the thorns did come up and choke them ”

  Spiritual Meaning: “thorns” The earth yields thorns by God’s curse after men had fallen (Gen. 3:17-18). They symbolize things of nature including the cares of this world the deceitfulness of riches (See v.22) and lust of other things (Mark. 4:19).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If the devil is unable to tumble a believer with persecution it will utilize deceitfulness and delusions to choke him and make him only to keep his life without bearing any fruit.

2) Our hearts are unable to love both the world and God. Believers who are of two minds are unable to achieve maturity.

3) The heart of thorns has never been dealt with. On one hand it is not favorable for the growth of God’s words. On the other it is easy to be hurt by others.

4) Thorns are able to grow without men’s sowing. Fondness of love anxiety and desire of sins are inborn.

5) What matters is whether men have enough room for the words of God in their hearts. Some are free outwardly but their hearts are choked. Some are restrained outwardly but their hearts are broad.

 

Matt. 13:8 “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold some sixty some thirty.

   YLT: “and others fell upon the good ground and were giving fruit some indeed a hundredfold and some sixty and some thirty.”

Literal Meaning: “but others fell on good ground and yielded a crop.” “On good ground” the three states mentioned above are very few (even do not exist) (v.4-7). Good ground enables God’s words to take root deeply in men’s hearts and there is enough room for God’s words to up-grow and bear fruits.

  “Some a hundredfold some sixty some thirty.” There are differences of measures with the perfectness of hearts (See 1Cor. 15:41). However we should take our responsibilities on our sides. The more “self” has been dealt with the more natural part will be decreased and the more folds of fruits will we bear.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Three of the four kinds of hearts are unacceptable and only one fourth is able to bear full fruits by the Lord. The way to achieve fullness is straitened the gate is narrow and they are few who find it (Matt. 7:13-14).

2) What is primary in the kingdom of heaven is men’s hearts. It is impossible to achieve the fullness if hearts are wrong. Therefore we should keep our hearts more than anything that is guarded (Prov. 4:23).

3) One’s heart belongs to him. What kind of men one wants to be depends on him and even God does not force him.

4) The Lord values not only whether we have life but also how we bear fruits.

5) Being purged and dealt with through cross by God is the condition for us to bring forth more fruits (John. 15:2).

 

Matt. 13:9 “He who has ears to hear let him hear!’”

   YLT: “He who is having ears to hear let him hear.’”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord’s words are said to all however natural Christians are unable to receive the Lord’s words and only spiritual Christians are able to discern (See 1Cor. 2:13-14).

2) The kingdom of heaven comes from the words of God and the beginning of all the works of God comes from His words (Gen. 1:3 Heb. 1:1-3). Since God has treated us with grace and gives us spiritual ears we should listen carefully (Matt. 11:15 Rev. 2:7 and etc).

 

Matt. 13:10 “And the disciples came and said to Him Why do You speak to them in parables?’”

   YLT: “And the disciples having come near said to him `Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?’”

Literal Meaning: “disciples” are a group of men who were trained by the Lord to enter into the area the kingdom of heaven and to become His people. “Came” means to draw near to the Lord (See Matt. 5:1).

“Why do you speak to them in parables?” There are two functions of “parables”:

  A. To those who do not seek the Lord with their hearts. It is a punishment for them to see but not perceive hear but not hear or understand (See v.13-14).

  B. To those who seek the Lord with their hearts. It is encourage for them to remember easily listen carefully and ask at all moments (See v.36 51).

 

Matt. 13:11 “He answered and said to them "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it has not been given.

   YLT: “And he answering said to them that `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens and to these it hath not been given ”

Literal Meaning: the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are manifested to those who are willing to live in it. Since others have nothing with the kingdom of heaven there is no need for them to know.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) All spiritual and heavenly things are mysteries e.g. the Lord’s presence guidance and words. Only believers know that and unbelievers never know that.

2) Only those who intentionally long to live in the kingdom of heaven are able to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven because knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is not profitable to those who are unintentional.

3) Only those who have experience of life are able to understand what the Lord has said because what they have talked about are the things of the kingdom of God. The mature life of men is able to understand things of the kingdom of “men” and the grown life of God is able to understand things of the kingdom of “God” (1Cor. 2:14).

 

Matt. 13:12 “For whoever has to him more will be given and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have even what he has will be taken away from him.

   YLT: “for whoever hath it shall be given to him and he shall have overabundance and whoever hath not even that which he hath shall be taken from him.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) This verse shows the principle of seeking all spiritual things. The more you seek with heart the more you will be given. Otherwise even which you have before shall be taken from you (See Matt. 25:29).

2) The more bases one has and he is able to receive the more will he seek. And the more one seeks the more will he understand and receive.

 

Matt. 13:13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear nor do they understand.

   YLT: “`Because of this in similes do I speak to them because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear nor understand ”

Literal Meaning: to unbelievers their eyes are blind their ears are deaf and their hearts are dull towards spiritual things because their thoughts have been blinded by the god of this world (2Cor. 4:4).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Without vision one is unable to know spiritual things and hear the Lord’s voice by natural comprehension.

2) Spiritual things seem to be nothing to those who do not seek the Lord with their hearts. It is of no effect even if they have heard.

 

Matt. 13:14 “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled which says: "Hearing you will hear and shall not understand And seeing you will see and not perceive;

   YLT: “and fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah that saith With hearing ye shall hear and ye shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and ye shall not perceive ”

Literal Meaning: “hearing you will hear and shall not understand and seeing you will see and not perceive” because natural man does not receive or know the things of the Spirit of God (2Cor. 2:14).

 

Matt. 13:15 “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing And their eyes they have closed Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn So that I should heal them.'

   YLT: “for made gross was the heart of this people and with the ears they heard heavily and their eyes they did close lest they might see with the eyes and with the ears might hear and with the heart understand and turn back and I might heal them.”

Literal Meaning: “their ears are hard of hearing” so that they are unable to hear. “Their eyes they have closed” so that they are unable to see. These conditions occur because “their hearts have grown dull”------their hearts are wrong. “Oil” is the best part in men (See Lev. 3:16). Once one’s heart is possessed by something it is impossible for him to hear the voice of God.

“Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.” What God is afraid of is not that men repent and turn to Him but that men turn from one good thing to the better or more spiritual thing and lay by God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should keep our hearts more than anything that is guarded for out of it are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23).

2) “Oil” is the best thing that men own. One won’t be proud if he owns nothing. Once one owns something he will be proud and pride would make him not see what he does not own.

3) Men’s virtue advantages merits self-righteousness and self-infallibility contrarily become their trouble because these block them to receive God’s grace. 

 

Matt. 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear;

   YLT: “`And happy are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear ”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The reason why one is blessed is not that he is better than others but that God is pleased to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to him (See Gal. 1:16).

2) The hearing ear and the seeing eye Jehovah has made even both of them (Prov. 20:12). Only those who look upon God’s mercy humbly are able to hear and see.

 

Matt. 13:17 “for assuredly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see and did not see it and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.

   YLT: “for verily I say to you that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on and they did not see and to hear that which ye hear and they did not hear.”

Literal Meaning: “prophets” are those who speak for God. “Righteous men” are those who manifest God. Men in former times hadn’t seen what they wanted to see and did not hear what they wanted to hear because the mystery in other generations has not been made known to the sons of men (Eph. 3:5). We were born in good hour in last time and are made known the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself (Eph. 1:9). How blessed we are!

 

Matt. 13:18Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

   YLT: “`Ye therefore hear ye the simile of the sower:”

Literal Meaning: the reality of the kingdom of heaven comes from sowing and therefore the parable of the sower is very important to help men to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Matt. 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

   YLT: “Every one hearing the word of the reign and not understanding the evil one doth come and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.”

Literal Meaning: if our hearts are willing to receive so much worldly persons and things (See the notes in v.3) we are unable to keep God’s words pondering in our hearts (Luke. 2:19). Therefore we do not understand and it is easy for the devil to snatch away the words that we have heard.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “The hearts of the wayside” are the hearts of evil communications (1Cor. 15:33). They get to have everything and love everything. This kind of hearts are so mixed and disordered that God’s words are unable to be kept in them.

2) “The hearts of the wayside” are unable to receive God’s words at all. Though they have heard they have not treated it precious. Once the wicked one comes and pokes they will pay no attention to the Lord’s words.

 

Matt. 13:20 “But he who received the seed on stony places this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

   YLT: “`And that sown on the rocky places this is he who is hearing the word and immediately with joy is receiving it ”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Natural men are very superficial and act impetuously. As long as something takes his fancy they “receive it with joy” immediately. Their reactions towards the Lord’s words are quick but cannot last long.

2) Those who act impetuously only love to hear good word and do not love to pay price for the word. They are hearers of the word but not doers.

3) “The hearts of stony places” are easily to be touched by the Lord’s words in Spiritual Revival Meetings. However they are both easily to be fervent and to be apathetic.

 

Matt. 13:21 “yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word immediately he stumbles.

   YLT: “and he hath not root in himself but is temporary and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word immediately he is stumbled.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God (Acts. 14:22).

2) To those who take root into depth tribulations will help their spiritual life to grow into maturation. However those who are superficial without root would not take any beating. 

3) “The hearts of stony places” want to gain heavenly blessings and fear hardships in the world. They want to gain heavenly things and fear to lose earthly things and consequently they hang in the air like Judah (Matt. 27:5).

 

Matt. 13:22 “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becomes unfruitful.

   YLT: “`And that sown toward the thorns this is he who is hearing the word and the anxiety of this age and the deceitfulness of the riches do choke the word and it becometh unfruitful.”

Literal Meaning: to those whose hearts are full of various kinds of cares and deceitfulness though God’s words will grow in their hearts their flesh lusts are always against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17 1Pet. 2:11) and there isn’t enough room and position (“choke”) for the word and they become “unfruitful”. “Unfruitful” means that the effect of God’s words is unable to be manifested (See Heb. 4:12) i.e. it is unable to bear fruits of life (See Matt. 7:16-20).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) What the Lord cares is not whether you have received the life of God but whether the life you receive from God has borne fruits. Though there are blades in the cornfield if it does not bear fruits the lord of the cornfield will gain nothing.

2) What blocks the life of God to bear fruits mostly is cares and deceitfulness in men’s hearts because they make us not to abide in the Lord and be out of line with the Lord’s words and certainly we are unable to bear fruits (See John. 15:4-8).

 

Matt. 13:23 “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold some sixty some thirty.’”

   YLT: “`And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word and is understanding who indeed doth bear fruit and doth make some indeed a hundredfold and some sixty and some thirty.’”

   Meaning of Words: “understands”: comprehend grasp; “indeed”: that is truly actually.

Literal Meaning: “bears fruits” is to do according what one had heard and understood (Matt. 7:24 James. 1:22-25) i.e. letting the words of God be manifested in us.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The seeds are the same and the fruits are different. The effect differs from a hundredfold sixty and thirty though the word of the Lord is the same because men receive the Lord’s words differently. The more men’s hearts are open to God the more easily the Lord’s word will take effect.

2) You are completely able to decide what kind of land you are and nobody could force you. Whether you bear fruits and how much you bear fruits depend on yourself. It is a trouble of one’s own making and one should blame that God has not shown His grace.

3) Spiritual life is able to bear fruits only with spiritual revelation and vision (“he who hears the word and understands it”). In other words we have to grow up fully first and have our senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil (Heb. 5:14) and then bear fruits of righteousness (Pill. 1:10-11). 

 

Matt. 13:24 “Another parable He put forth to them saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

   YLT: “Another simile he set before them saying: `The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field ”

Literal Meaning: “the kingdom of heaven is like.” We should note that in the former parable of the sower (v.3-8 v.18-23) “the kingdom of heaven is like” had not been mentioned. Because that parable is like “a prophesy” showing that only good lands are able to partake in the reality of the kingdom of heaven. God’s will is to gain a group of men in the world through whom the kingdom of heaven would be manifested. But because of the damage of the enemy the kingdom of heaven developed abnormally and therefore the Lord has to use “like” to describe the situation.

   Spiritual Meaning: “a man” is the Son of Man (See v. 37) i.e. the Lord Himself. “Good seed” are the sons of the kingdom (See v. 38) i.e. believers; “field” is the world (See v. 38).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord’s life is “good” and men who the Lord gains are “good seed”.

2) There are only true or false Christians rather than good or bad Christians. Anyone who believes in the Lord with his heart is a good Christian (“good seed”).

 

Matt. 13:25 “but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

   YLT: “and while men are sleeping his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat and went away ”

   The Background: “tares” are wild plants which look like wheat. It is hard to tell the differences between them until they produce a crop.

Literal Meaning: “men” here is different from “a man” in v.24.

   Spiritual Meaning: “while men slept” indicate that the time when the Lord’s workers are not watchful. “His enemy came” is God’s enemy the evil (See v. 39); “Sowed tares among the wheat ” “tares” are sons of the evil (See v.38) i.e. the false believers; “wheat” are the true believers. Satan came and secretly put false believers among the true believers.

  Some Bible Exegetes explain tares as the evil unbelievers in the world instead of false believers. However this explanation conflicts with the parable of the kingdom of heaven because the evil unbelievers are not able to interfuse into the area of the kingdom of heaven and pretend to be a part of the kingdom of heaven.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The most dangerous thing in the assembly is the “paradoxical” teachings and people who seem to be good but actually evil because the obvious “wrong” and “evil” cannot kidnap true believers (See Rom. 16:17-19).

2) Every falseness is of the devil because it is the father of liars (John. 8:44).

3) The devil likes to transform itself into an angel of light and its ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness (2Cor. 11:13-15). Therefore we should not know men according to flesh (2Cor. 5:16).

4) Today there are many people call themselves as Christians. They stress on good behaviors social welfare theological knowledge and etc but do not confess the divinity of Jesus Christ. These people are “tares”.

 

Matt. 13:26 “But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop then the tares also appeared.

   YLT: “and when the herb sprang up and yielded fruit then appeared also the darnel.”

   Spiritual Meaning: “when the grain had sprouted” indicates that when their words and deeds show their nature of poisoning others. “The tares also appeared” indicates by the words and deeds of the false believers we shall know them (See Matt. 7:20).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The nature of those who save up appearance and do not have reality of life (“tares”) will be manifested ultimately.

2) We should be hasty to judge how someone is and should let them be first proved (See 1Tim. 3:10).

 

Matt. 13:27 “So the servants of the owner came and said to him Sir did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

   YLT: “`And the servants of the householder having come near said to him Sir good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?”

Literal Meaning: “the servants of the owner” are the servants of the Lord.

 

Matt. 13:28 “He said to them An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

   YLT: “And he saith to them A man an enemy did this; and the servants said to him Wilt thou then [that] having gone away we may gather it up?”

Literal Meaning: “gather them up”: disroot them by force.

   Spiritual Meaning: “gather them up” means to kill the false believers.

 

Matt. 13:29 “But he said No lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

   YLT: “`And he said No lest gathering up the darnel ye root up with it the wheat ”

   The Background: not only wheat and tares look almost the same in appearance but also their roots twist together. It is very hard to separate them. Moreover the roots of tares are deeper than that of wheat in the soil.

   Spiritual Meaning: the Lord did not allow Christians to kill false believers lest they may kill true believers. In the past centuries many so-called servants of the Lord had not kept the Lord’s words and killed many people who were treated as heresies in their eyes. However they killed many true Christians.

  Controversial Clarification: note that “the field” in this parable indicates the world (See v.38) instead of the assembly. The hypocritical are not allowed to exist in the assembly and the evil one shall be put away (1Cor. 5:9-13). However in the world we are not allowed by the Lord to put away dissents with any excuse.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord did not mean that Christian should put up with evil things. The Lord asked us to be light of the world in the circumstances of evil persons (See v.43 Matt. 5:14).

2) The Lord is patient of the existence of false believers because He fears that it is difficult to discern the trueness and falseness and the true believers may be hurt. It shows that the Lord considers true believers. He prefers the loss of His kingdom rather than the hurt of the true believers.

 

Matt. 13:30 “Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

   YLT: “suffer both to grow together till the harvest and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers Gather up first the darnel and bind it in bundles to burn it and the wheat gather up into my storehouse.’”

   Spiritual Meaning: “the harvest” is the end of the age (See v.39); “the reapers” are angels (See v.39); “gather the tares” indicates to pick up the false believers (See v.41); “bind them in bundles” is to separate them as a whole; “burn them” is to cast them into the furnace of fire (See v.42) i.e. to cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15); “gather the wheat into my barn” is to be in the kingdom of their Father (See v.42).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In this world the true mingles with the false and it is orderless. Until the end of the age the Lord will send His angels to clear up this orderless situation. 

2) The Lord did not ask us to gather tares negatively but to sow wheat positively. We should have the tolerance of the Lord------“let both grow”. However the Lord knows exactly about it and His eyes are as a flame of fire. All the hypocrisy and disorder will be burnt up by the heat of judgment.

3) There are mixed ones in the field and the corn is pure. Today there is hypocrisy and everything will be clear in the days’ of the Lord.

 

Matt. 13:31 “Another parable He put forth to them saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field

   YLT: “Another simile he set before them saying: `The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard which a man having taken did sow in his field ”

Literal Meaning: “the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is like the whole parable from v.31 to v.32.

   Spiritual Meaning: the word of the Lord here implies that:

  1) The nature of the kingdom of heaven is life and it is able to grow.

  2) The nature of the kingdom of heaven is like herbs and it is temporary. It will be harvested after is has grown up.

  3) The teachings of the kingdom of heaven are for men as bread instead of other uses.

  4) The kingdom of heaven is as small as the mustard seed and therefore the sons of the kingdom of heaven are little flock (Luke. 12:32).

  “A man took and sowed in his field.” The beginning of the kingdom of heaven is the Lord Himself (“a man”) who sowed His words as seed (“the mustard seed”) into the world (“his field”).

 

Matt. 13:32 “which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’”

   YLT: “which less indeed is than all the seeds but when it may be grown is greatest of the herbs and becometh a tree so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.’”

   The Background: there is a kind of mustard tree in the Middle East. Its seed is very small and it could grow up into a big tree of three or four meters in which birds come and rest.

   Spiritual Meaning: “but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree.” “But” shows that a tree is not the original will of the Lord but the result of the enemy’s destruction. Here it shows the accidental development of the kingdom of heaven and its features are as below:

1) The kingdom of heaven becomes tall and wide and draws men’s attention and respect. It also gives men protection.

2) It takes root deeply into the land unties with the world closely and plans to stay on earth long.

3) It is no longer the food as herbs and has lost its function as spiritual provision.

“The birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” “The birds of the air” are Satan (See v.4 19) and its angels (Eph. 6:12). “Branches” are organizations of Christianity. It shows that the excessive development of the appearance of the kingdom of heaven draws the devil to hide itself in it and many evil persons and things follow the devil and nest in the organizations of Christianity.

Some Bible exegetes explained “becomes a tree” as that the power of the kingdom of heaven has expanded to the whole world “the birds of the air” as the Gentile nations “nest in its branches” as that people of all nations partake in the kingdom of heaven and are able to rest in it. This positive explanation about the ideal of the kingdom of heaven conflicts with the Lord’s explanation about “birds of the air” as “the wicked one” (See v.4 v.19). Moreover the four parables in the beginning of this chapter are said to all and the constant purpose of these parables is to warn men: in this age the kingdom of heaven is mixed and therefore the situation that God’s elect (the Jews and the Pharisees) opposed and killed the king of the kingdom of heaven happened. The Lord did not explain the parables to all. He only explained the first two parables to disciples. The disciples surely knew that the third and forth parables had the negative meaning of warning and therefore they did not ask Him to explain that.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is not a good thing for the excessive development of the appearance of the assembly because it may easily bring in the hide of the enemy (“the birds of the air”). The assembly should keep its identity of “little flock” on earth (Luke. 12:32). 

2) The key to overcome is to keep our position given by the Lord and be humble willingly. (1Sam. 9:21 16:1). God used Saul when he thought himself as the smallest. God found David when Saul was proud later (1Sam. 9:21 16:1).

3) If we are proud pretend to be great though we are not and pretend to be of spirit though we are not of spirit consequently we give room for the devil.

 

Matt. 13:33 “Another parable He spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.’”

   YLT: “Another simile spake he to them: `The reign of the heavens is like to leaven which a woman having taken hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened.’”

Literal Meaning: “the kingdom of heaven is like leaven.” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is like the whole parable in this verse.

   Spiritual Meaning: “leaven” is evil teaching (Matt. 16:12) and evil thing (1Cor. 5:7-8); “a woman” is the backslidden assembly (Rev. 2:20); “three measures of meal” is originally unleavened fine flour and the unleavened fine flour is the type that Christ is the pure food for men and God (See Lev. 2:1); therefore “three measures of meal” symbolize the original nature of kingdom of heaven as the Blessed Trinity in Christ is pure and could fill men in spirit.

  A woman took leaven and hid it in three measures of meal showing that the backslidden assembly privily brought in damnable heresies (2Pet. 2:1) and mixed it with pure teachings. She also received evil things and mixed them with pure spiritual things.

  “Till it was all leavened.” “It” is the whole Christianity. The enemy’s work of corruption becomes more and more serious day by day and even corrupts the whole Christianity.

  Some Bible exegetes held that “leaven” may not present the bad things and therefore God asked men to sacrifice two breads with leaven as food-offering in the day of Pentecost (Lev. 23:17). Actually these two breads with leaven are the type of the Jewish and the Gentile assembly that were generated in the day of Pentecost. Though they were saved for they have been born from above their flesh of the old men still exists and therefore “leaven” is not good. Some Bible exegetes explained “leaven” as the inner working power of the Holy Spirit which was able to expand in individual life human beings and ultimately the whole. However this explanation conflicts with the constant purpose of the first four parables (please see the last paragraph of the spiritual meaning of v.32) and therefore it is unacceptable.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The artifice of the enemy is to transform the appearance of the assembly (a mustard seed becomes a tree) or deteriorate the inner part of the assembly (it was all leavened).

2) What Christians should care mostly is not to be cheated by teachings of heresy. Today in the world of Christianity teachings of heresy are very prosperous because the Lord had already foreknown this.

3) Leaven is able to make breads delicious. The teachings of heresy please men’s appetite and therefore they are welcome to common people.

 

Matt. 13:34 “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them

   YLT: “All these things spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes and without a simile he was not speaking to them ”

Literal Meaning: the Lord said the first four parables in the open; in the house He not only said the last three parables to the disciples but also explained the first two parables in private. The Lord treated His disciples differently from others.

 

Matt. 13:35 “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying: I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.’”

   YLT: “that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophet saying `I will open in similes my mouth I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the world.’”

Literal Meaning: The best way for the Lord to both let His disciples know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and let the multitude not understand is to speak in parables (Ps. 78:2).

 

Matt. 13:36 “Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him saying Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.’”

   YLT: “Then having let away the multitudes Jesus came to the house and his disciples came near to him saying `Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.’”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we want to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven we have to follow the Lord and live in the assembly (“went into the house”) and have intimate fellowship with Him (“came to Him saying”).

2) The key to understand His will is to draw near to the Lord and to ask Him.

 

Matt. 13:37 “He answered and said to them: He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

   YLT: “And he answering said to them `He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man ”

Literal Meaning: “the Son of Man” is the Lord Himself.

 

Matt. 13:38 “The field is the world the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

   YLT: “and the field is the world and the good seed these are the sons of the reign and the darnel are the sons of the evil one ”

Literal Meaning: “the sons of the kingdom” are Christians who truly repent and believe in the Lord. In the former parable of the sower (v.3-9 18-23) the Lord sows “God’s words” in men’s hearts. Here in the parable of tares the Lord sows believers in the world. The Lord’s seeds are both “words” and men and He asks believers to manifest words of God by life and bear witness to the kingdom of God in the world.

 

Matt. 13:39 “The enemy who sowed them is the devil the harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are the angels.

   YLT: “and the enemy who sowed them is the devil and the harvest is a full end of the age and the reapers are messengers.”

 

Matt. 13:40 “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so it will be at the end of this age.

   YLT: “`As then the darnel is gathered up and is burned with fire so shall it be in the full end of this age ”

Spiritual Meaning: please see the spiritual meaning of v. 30.

 

Matt. 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness

   YLT: “the Son of Man shall send forth his messengers and they shall gather up out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks and those doing the unlawlessness ”

Literal Meaning: “that offend” is towards men (See Matt. 18:6-9). “Lawlessness” is towards God (See Matt. 7:21-23).

   Enlightenment in the Word: we should take heed of our behaviors in order to edify others and glorify God (1Cor. 10:23-24 31).

 

Matt. 13:42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

   YLT: “and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.”

   Spiritual Meaning: please see the spiritual meaning of v. 30.

 

Matt. 13:43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear let him hear!

   YLT: “`Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having ears to hear let him hear.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) This reminds us that: only when we living in this world seek God’s kingdom and righteousness today (Matt. 6:33) in future we will live in the reality of God’s kingdom and please God.  

2) In future the overcomers will be like Christ------the sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2) and shine upon the nations (Rev. 21:24 Acts. 13:47).

 

Matt. 13:44Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

   YLT: “`Again the reign of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field which a man having found did hide and from his joy goeth and all as much as he hath he selleth and buyeth that field.”

   Meaning of Words: “treasure”: wealth; “field”: piece of ground.

Literal Meaning: “the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid.” “Treasure” symbolizes glory of the kingdom of heaven (2Chron. 32:27); “field” symbolizes the world it specially means the world of the Jews here; “a man” is the Lord Himself; the whole sentence means that the kingdom of heaven was originally the hidden mystery from the foundation of the world (See v.35) and it was originally related to the Jews. In the eyes of the Lord the kingdom of heaven is glorious and acceptable. However because the Jews rejected the king He hid the kingdom of heaven from them (See v.11).

“And for joy over it he goes and sells all that he ahs and buys that field.” It means that for the joy of the kingdom of heaven the Lord laid down everything willingly on the cross and redeemed (Rev.5:9) the world created by God in order to obtain the kingdom in it.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The kingdom of heaven is as precious as treasure and it is worthy for us to take and enter into it at any price (Matt. 11:12).

2) The Lord first treats us as treasure and “goes and sells all that He has” for us and then we are able to know Christ as “excellent” (Pill. 3:8) and sell our possessions and goods for Him (See Acts. 2:45).

 

Matt. 13:45Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls

   YLT: “`Again the reign of the heavens is like to a man a merchant seeking goodly pearls ”

Literal Meaning: “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant” The Lord meant that the kingdom of heaven is like the whole parable from v.45 to v.46.

   Spiritual Meaning: “a merchant” is the Lord Himself. “Pearls” are generated when mussel is hurt in the sea. Sea in the Bible symbolizes the world that is corrupted by Satan. Therefore “beautiful pearls” symbolize the assembly that is out of the world and generated by being united with the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus.

 

Matt. 13:46 “who when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it.

   YLT: “who having found one pearl of great price having gone away hath sold all as much as he had and bought it.”

   Spiritual Meaning: this verse means that the Lord found the assembly ------she is the hidden mystery throughout the ages in God (Eph. 3:9-10) and she is glorious beautiful and precious. Therefore He went and sold all that He had on the cross. He bought her to present her to Himself (Eph. 5:25-27) and made the assembly the reality of His kingdom.

 

Matt. 13:47Again the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind

   YLT: “`Again the reign of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea and did gather together of every kind ”

   Spiritual Meaning: “sea” symbolizes the world that is corrupted by Satan. Here the Lord said “some of every kind” instead of “fishes” because “fish” symbolizes believers (See Matt. 4:19) and “some of every kind” symbolizes all nations. In the end of the word angels will come and cast dragnet and gather all nations to the throne of the Lord’s glory for judgment (Matt. 25:31-32).

 

Matt. 13:48 “which when it was full they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away.

   YLT: “which when it was filled having drawn up again upon the beach and having sat down they gathered the good into vessels and the bad they did cast out ”

   Spiritual Meaning: “they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away.” “Sat down” shows that He sat down on the throne of His glory. “The good” are the sheep or the righteous. “Into vessels” is in the kingdom or eternal life that is prepared from the world’s foundation. “The bad” are the goats or those who are cursed. “Threw away” is to go from the light of His countenance into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (See Matt. 25:31-46).

   Enlightenment in the Word: Every time after the assembly spread the dragnet of glad tidings many true believers are gathered together and some insincere believers are mixed with them. Therefore we should learn to discern.

 

Matt. 13:49 “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth separate the wicked from among the just

   YLT: “so shall it be in the full end of the age the messengers shall come forth and separate the evil out of the midst of the righteous ”

Literal Meaning: “so it will be at the end of the age.” V.47 and v.48 will be fulfilled in the end of the age the time the Lord comes back.

“Separate the wicked from among the just.” “The just” are those who fear God and treat believers goodly. “The wicked” are those who do not fear God and treat believers badly.

Matt. 13:50 “and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’”

   YLT: “and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.’”

Matt. 13:51 “Jesus said to them Have you understood all these things? They said to Him Yes Lord.’”

   YLT: “Jesus saith to them `Did ye understand all these?` They say to him `Yes sir.’”

Literal Meaning: the Lord’s disciples already had the clue of part of the parables and they were able to learn by analogy to understand all things with the working and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

   Enlightenment in the Word: believers are able to understand the will of God by the Lord’s words and the Lord’s spirit (Acts. 22:14).

 

Matt. 13:52 “Then He said to them Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’”

   YLT: “And he said to them `Because of this every scribe having been discipled in regard to the reign of the heavens is like to a man a householder who doth bring forth out of his treasure things new and old.’”

Literal Meaning: “every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven.” “Scribes” are those who study the Bible intensively and they already have the foundation of words spoken by God through prophets. If they now are instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven they have the words of God spoken in the Son of God (Heb. 1:1-2). In other words they have the words of the Old Testament and the New Testament dwell in them richly (Col. 3:16).

“Like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” This kind of people is like a household who is instructed to take care of the house of God ------the assembly (1Tim. 3:5 15) and shepherd God’s assembly with God’s words and his own new and old experience towards God’s words in order that the kingdom of God would be fulfilled soon.

     Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The teaching of the kingdom is both new and old. In the assembly we should not be tired of old teachings that we have heard before. Actually every truth is precious and effective.

2) Believers always comprehend new enlightenment teachings and message on the basis of old knowledge.

 

Matt. 13:53 “Now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables that He departed from there.

   YLT: “And it came to pass when Jesus finished these similes he removed thence ”

 

Matt. 13:54 “When He had come to His own country He taught them in their synagogue so that they were astonished and said Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

   YLT: “and having come to his own country he was teaching them in their synagogue so that they were astonished and were saying `Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty works?”

Literal Meaning: “He had come to His own country” is that He had come to Galilee of the city Nazareth (Matt. 2:22-23); People in His own country here represent the unbelieving Jews.

“So that they were astonished” In original it meant that they were strongly astonished.

“Wisdom” is His words and “mighty works” are His deeds. They were astonished at His words and deeds because He is different from the “man” that they knew before.

 

Matt. 13:55 “Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James Joses Simon and Judas?

   YLT: “is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary and his brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas?”

Matt. 13:56 “And His sisters are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’”

   YLT: “and his sisters are they not all with us? whence then to this one all these?’”

Literal Meaning: in v.55 and v.56 they detailed His lineage and parentage showing that they knew men according to flesh (2Cor. 5:6). This is the most important reason why the Jews did not believe that “Jesus is Christ”.

 

Matt. 13:57 “So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’”

   YLT: “and they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them `A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house:’”

Literal Meaning: “they were offended at Him” means that they indeed were unable to understand God’s blessing because they knew Him according to flesh.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Blessed is whoever shall not be offended in me (Matt. 11:6).

2) Let those laboring in word and teaching be esteemed worthy of double honor (1Tim. 5:17). However if we know the Lord’s servants according to flesh we will be retrained to receive the Lord’s words fully.

 

Matt. 13:58 “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

   YLT: “and he did not there many mighty works because of their unbelief.”

Literal Meaning: because they knew Jesus according to flesh they did not believe on Him and consequently they were unable to receive God’s blessing.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6).

2) Many people’s unbelief blocks God’s mighty works. Faith is a precondition to experience God’s mighty power.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Kingdom of Heaven is A Mystery

I. The king only talked about the kingdom of heaven in parables (v.1-3a).

II. It has been given to disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.9-15).

III. Blessed are those who know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.16-17).

IV. The Lord had already uttered the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (v.34-35).

V. The key to understand the mystery of the kingdom of heaven is to let His words dwell in us (v.51-52).

 

The Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Predicted the History of Christianity

I. The parable of the sower (v.3-8 19-23) ------ from the Lord’s birth to the day of Pentecost the kingdom of heaven had not started yet (it is “at hand”). It is only the teachings of the kingdom of heaven.

II. The parable of tares (v.24-30 36-43) ------ from the day of Pentecost to the day when Constantine commend all the people to be converted to Christianity the devil had mixed false believers (tares) in the assembly.

III. The parable of the mustard seed (v.31-32) ------from the Constantine to the Pope Gregory The Great Roman Catholic prospered and became state religion of European countries.

IV. The parable of leaven (v.33) ------ from the Pope Gregory The Great to the reformation of Martin Luther the golden age of Roman Catholic many teachings of heresy (leaven) were brought into the assembly.

V. The parable of treasure (v.44) ------ from the reformation of Martin Luther to the rising of Brethren though there were creeds of faith (treasure) in the whole Protestant it lacked the reality of life.

VI. The parable of pearls (v.45-46) ------ from the rising of Brethren to the second coming of the Lord gradually many Christian groups and individuals stressed on the reality of life (pearls).

VII. The parable of dragnet (v.47-50) ------ when the Lord comes back (the end of this world) the Lord will judge and separate all nations.

 

The Parable of the Sower------the Connection between Men’s Hearts and the Kingdom of Heaven

I. The Lord sowed His words into men’s hearts (v.3 18-19).

II. The heart of the wayside------the words are snatched away before growth (v.4 19).

III. The heart of stony places------he withers away with a little growth (v.5-6 20-21).

IV. The heart of thorns------he becomes unfruitful though the words grow (v.7 22).

V. The heart of good ground ------he bears full fruits (v.8 23).

 

The Parable of Tares------one of the Enemy’s Harm towards the Kingdom of heaven

I. The enemy mixed hypocrisy into the kingdom of heaven (v. 24-28a 36-39a).

II. The Lord allowed the existence of hypocritical conditions in the world (v. 28b-30a).

III. However till the end of the world the kingdom of heaven will be cleared up (v. 30b 39b-43).

 

The Parable of the Mustard Seed ------Second of the Enemy’s Harm to the Kingdom of Heaven

I. The kingdom of heaven predestinated by God is like the mustard seed (v.31-32a).

II. However the enemy caused the kingdom of heaven to have abnormal appearance (v.32b).

 

The Parable of Leaven------third of the Enemy’s Harm to the Kingdom of Heaven

I. The kingdom of heaven predestinated by God is like three measures of meal (v.33).

II. However the enemy corrupted the inner nature of the kingdom of heaven (v.33).

 

The Parable of Treasure and Pearls------the Lord’s Treasure to the Kingdom of Heaven

I. The parable of treasure------it is specially related to the Jews (v.44).

II. The parable of pearls------it is specially related to the assembly (v.45-46).

 

The Parable of Net------ It is Specially Related to the Gentile Nations

I. The Lord gave Gentile nations a chance (v.47-48a).

II. The Lord will judge and separate Gentile nations at the end of the world (v.48b-50).

 

We Should not Know Men according to Flesh

I. People in the Lord’s hometown knew Him according to flesh (v.53-56).

II. Consequently they were unable to receive the Lord’s grace because they rejected the Lord (v.57-58).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren