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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 13:43 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 13:43 speaks of a future time when those deemed righteous by Jesus' standards will enjoy a glorified existence.

The phrase "shine forth as the sun" suggests a state of brilliant glory or spiritual radiance.

This verse concludes one of Jesus' parables, the Parable of the Weeds, which differentiates between the righteous (the wheat) and the wicked (the weeds).

In this parable, the weeds are eventually separated from the wheat and destroyed, symbolizing a final judgment where evil is purged and the righteous are rewarded.

Jesus ends this explanation with a call to attention, "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear," urging those who are willing and able to understand the message to take it to heart.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and was written for a predominantly Jewish audience.

Scholars generally date the gospel to the late first century (c.

AD 80-90).

At the time, Christianity was in its formative years and was largely emerging from its Jewish roots.

The teachings in Matthew often reflect a continuity with Jewish tradition, while also presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

The "kingdom of their Father" reflects Jewish messianic expectations, and Jesus' parables served as a way to communicate spiritual truths through familiar, everyday scenarios.

Theological Insights

Interpretations of this verse vary across different Christian denominations and theological traditions. Generally, most Christian theologians view this verse as an affirmation of life after death and the final reward of the righteous.

Evangelical View: Evangelicals may emphasize the necessity of personal faith in Jesus for one to be counted among the righteous and to shine in the kingdom of heaven.
Catholic View: In the Catholic tradition, this verse could also be interpreted in the context of the communion of saints, where the holiness of the saints is made manifest.
Orthodox View: The Eastern Orthodox Church may view this as speaking to the process of theosis, where human beings can become divinized through participation in God's grace.
Liberal Christianity: More progressive Christians might focus less on the eschatological implications and more on the transformative nature of living a righteous life here and now.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse encourages believers to strive for righteousness and to focus on the eternal outcomes of their actions. It serves as a comfort for those facing trials, promising them ultimate vindication and glory.

Additionally, it can be a call for Christians to live in a manner consistent with their faith, being 'light' to the world through good deeds and moral integrity.

Cross-References

Daniel 12:3: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
1 Corinthians 15:42: "So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption."

Philippians 2:15: "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
Revelation 22:5: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

Language Study

Key words in the verse from the original Greek text:

"Righteous" (Greek: δίκαιοι, dikaios): Typically means just, upright, virtuous, and keeping the commands of God.
"Shine" (Greek: ἐκλάμψουσιν, eklampsousin): To beam, radiate, or send out light.
"Sun" (Greek: ἥλιος, helios): Common term for the sun, often used metaphorically in ancient literature to depict brilliance or glory.
"Kingdom" (Greek: βασιλεία, basileia): In this context, it refers to the domain in which God's will is fulfilled.
"Father" (Greek: πατήρ, patēr): Refers to God, the paternal figure of authority and origin.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse and the larger theme of the righteous shining forth in glory can be compared to other cultural beliefs in the afterlife involving transformation or glorification.

For instance, the ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife where the virtuous, led by the god Osiris, would live in a transformed, eternal state.

In Greek mythology, heroes and virtuous individuals were sometimes granted immortality among the gods.

Eastern religions often speak of enlightenment as a form of illumination, with the enlightened individual gaining new spiritual insight and radiance.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse is metaphorical and not designed to be taken as a scientific statement.

However, light as a symbol of knowledge, goodness, and spiritual insight is not inconsistent with science as light reveals and clarifies.

The metaphor of the "sun" to represent the righteous could reflect the centrality and life-giving properties of the sun, vital components to life on Earth, and symbolize the important role of virtuous individuals in spiritual and moral spheres.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Matthew 13:43.

For instance:

William Barclay notes that the Jewish belief in the glory of the righteous in the world to come is echoed in this verse, and it underscores the complete joy and glory that belong to the people of God.
John Calvin interpreted it as an assurance that though the righteous often suffer in this world, they will enjoy a future glory.
Matthew Henry expands on the idea that the ultimate condition of the righteous is as different from their state in this world as light is from darkness, emphasizing the radical transformation that awaits them.

These commentaries showcase the common understanding of this verse as a depiction of the eschatological hope held by believers in a future righteousness and glory promised by Jesus.

Matthew 13

Matthew 13

What does Matthew 13:43 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 13:43 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?