The Purpose of the Parables. Verses 10-17 are formally an interlude between the first parable and its explanation, but they are essential to the understanding of the chapter as a whole, as they set out the division between the enlightened disciples and the unresponsive crowd which is the focus both of the structure of the chapter and of much of its contents. Continue reading →

Commentary. Matthew 13 is a “day of parables.” The parable of the sower is spoken in public to great crowds (vv. 1–3), but its explanation and the teaching about parables are spoken only to the disciples (vv. 10–11). More parables are then spoken to ‘the crowds’ (v. 34), but the crowds are again left behind (v. 36), and the second explanation and further parables are spoken to the disciples in ‘the house’ (which Jesus had left in v. 1). The unresponsive crowds are thus clearly distinguished from the disciples to whom alone explanation is given, and this distinction is spelt out in vv. 11–17. Continue reading →

Matthew 13:1–23 ¹ On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.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 And he spoke to them at length in parables, 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.” Continue reading →