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Matthew 13

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

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.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

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.

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.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

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:

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.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

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.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

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.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

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.

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.

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.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

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?

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

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.

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:

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.

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.

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

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.

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.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

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;

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

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.

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

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?

Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

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.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

What does Matthew 13:11 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 13:11 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, spoken by Jesus Christ to His disciples.

In this verse, Jesus explains why He speaks to the crowds in parables, which are stories with a spiritual meaning. He indicates that the knowledge of the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” is something that is granted to His disciples, but not to everyone.

The term "mysteries" here refers to divine truths and spiritual principles that were previously hidden but are now revealed to Jesus' followers.

The implication is that there is a distinction between those who are able to understand the deep spiritual truths of God’s kingdom, as represented by His disciples, and the general population, to whom these truths remain obscured or difficult to grasp.

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Historical Context

Matthew's Gospel was written in a time of religious transition.

Many scholars believe that the Gospel of Matthew was composed between AD 80 and 90, a period when early Christianity separated from Judaism.

Thus, the audience of this Gospel was likely a community of Jewish Christians.

The historical context is significant because many Jews of the period were expecting a political Messiah, while Jesus was presenting a different kind of kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, centered on spiritual transformation and inner righteousness.

His use of parables was a teaching method that could both reveal and conceal truth, depending upon the spiritual condition and willingness of the listener to understand.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints can interpret Matthew 13:11 in varied ways.

From a Calvinist perspective, this verse might be seen as evidence of the doctrine of election, suggesting that God has predestined certain individuals to understand and receive the mysteries of His kingdom.

In contrast, an Arminian viewpoint may understand the verse as indicating that God's revelation is available to all, but only those who choose to accept it and become disciples gain a more profound understanding.

Catholic theology might refer to the Church's tradition and the Magisterium as a means by which the mysteries of faith are interpreted and understood by believers.

Practical Applications

Practically, Matthew 13:11 can encourage believers to seek a deeper understanding of spiritual truths and be mindful of the importance of discipleship and teaching in the Christian faith.

It suggests that there is value in having a close relationship with spiritual teachers or mentors who can help unpack the deeper meanings of Scripture and the nature of God's kingdom.

This verse might also inspire believers to be patient and compassionate with those who do not understand or accept spiritual truths, recognizing that comprehension of divine matters is often a process and can be influenced by a variety of factors, both spiritual and circumstantial.

Cross-References

Mark 4:11-12: "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables."
Luke 8:10: "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."
1 Corinthians 2:7-10: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory."

Language Study

Two key Greek words in Matthew 13:11 merit attention:

"Mysteries" (Greek: μυστήριον, "mysterion"): This term indicates something that is beyond natural knowledge, a secret that can be known only through revelation. 2.

"Is given" (Greek: δίδοται, "didotai"): This is the third person singular present passive of δίδωμι, "to give," indicating that the understanding of these mysteries is a gift or endowment, rather than something earned or naturally attained.

Understanding the original Greek terms underscores the idea that the understanding of spiritual truths is a grace imparted rather than something universally or automatically comprehended.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions and cultures, certain truths were reserved for initiated members or elites, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries in ancient Greece.

Similarly, the Jewish Essenes, a sect contemporaneous with Jesus, had secret teachings disclosed only to members.

The Christian revelation, however, marked a departure from total exclusivity by affirming the potential for all people to know God, albeit tempered by the notion that spiritual receptiveness plays a role.

Scientific Perspectives

Science does not generally deal with the supernatural or theological concepts of "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." However, from a psychological perspective, it is known that different people have varying capacities for understanding and that learning is affected by numerous factors, including cognitive abilities and environmental influences.

Additionally, the effectiveness of parables and stories as teaching tools is well-recognized in educational psychology.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have commented extensively on Matthew 13:11:

John Calvin notes that this mystery of the kingdom of heaven is a privilege given to the disciples, highlighting God’s sovereignty in dispensing spiritual understanding.
William Barclay emphasizes the idea that the truth is always there to be seen but that we can be blind to it if we do not earnestly seek it.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the distinction between the spiritually enlightened and those who, though they have the same opportunities, fail to understand Jesus' teachings.

It also points out that the term "mysteries" may imply that Jesus’ teachings are not intended to be understood by everyone at a mere surface level.

These commentaries reveal a spectrum of thought on how revelation and spiritual comprehension are distributed and the role of human receptivity.

Matthew 13

Matthew 13

What does Matthew 13:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 13:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?