Teaching in parables, Jesus used well known settings to teach spiritual truths. (See FLJC #38) After his teaching of the parables to the crowds, Jesus desired some “alone” time with his more devout disciples. With them, he could reveal the spiritual truths of the parables to truly receptive hearts.
Matthew 13:10-14; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9,10
[Matthew and Mark] [Matthew and Luke] [Mark and Luke] [Matthew, Mark and Luke].
But [And] when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve [disciples] came and asked Him about the parable and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables? What do these parables mean?”
He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven [God] but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Therefore I speak to them in parables, so that in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn,and their sins be forgiven them.
Jesus explains to some of his faithful followers that the reason he speaks to the crowds in parables is because he wants to see the desire and humility to understand the truth that he is sharing with them.
And we find out what a sorry mess many of these Israelites were! In particular, the legalism of the Pharisees and Sadducees could not abide the counter power of the love of God and so they caused many to reject Jesus’ words.
Matthew 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.
Most were willfully blind and deaf. Yet those who did seek diligently to receive the words of God that Jesus spoke, they received healing and blessing beyond measure.
Matthew 13:16,17
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 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.”
The disciples then asked for understanding of even more parables.
Mark 4:13; Luke 8:9,10 [Mark and Luke]
Then His disciples asked Him about the parable [of the sower], saying, “What does this parable mean?” And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?”
Jesus’ disciples did not understand some of the parables, but they truly wanted to know what the stories meant. So Jesus continues to answer them—with another parable!
The Parable of the Sower: By the Wayside
This next parable, the parable of the sower, is key to understanding all parables because it describes the four different reactions of those who hear the word of God.
Matthew 13:18,19; Mark 4:14,15; Luke 8:11,12
[Matthew and Mark] [Matthew and Luke] [Mark and Luke] [Matthew, Mark and Luke]
Therefore hear the parable of the sower [Now the parable is this]: The seed is the word of God. The sower sows the word. Those by the wayside where the word is sown are the ones who hear; When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then Satan the wicked one, the devil comes immediately and snatches away the word that was sown in his heart lest they should believe and be saved. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
Those who hear the truth about the kingdom of God, but it falls on deaf ears. They can’t receive it because they fail to understand. Our next group at least initially receives the good news.
The Parable of the Sower: On Stony Places
Matthew 13:20,21; Mark 4:16,17; Luke 8:13
[Matthew and Mark] [Matthew and Luke] [Mark and Luke] [Matthew, Mark and Luke]
But the ones [he] who received the seed sown on stony places, when they [he] hear the word and immediately receive it with joy; yet they have [he has] no root in themselves [himself], but endure only for a while. For afterward in time of temptation, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they [he] stumble and fall away.
They received the joyful news initially, yet these people cannot endure the hardship of the world that tests their faith. Perhaps it’s the temptations of the false “good life,” or the affliction and hardship of the physical and mental challenges that come, or the persecution that is inflicted by others. But it’s not only the pressures of life that can thwart us, it’s also the pleasures!
The Parable of the Sower: Among the Thorns
Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:18,19; Luke 8:14
[Matthew and Mark] [Matthew and Luke] [Mark and Luke] [Matthew, Mark and Luke]
Now the ones sown [he who received seed] [that fell] among the thorns are they who hear the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life, and the desires for other things choke the word, and become unfruitful.
Many cannot take their eyes off of what the world appears to offer. How sad to hear the Word of God, start to believe it, but then get distracted by the riches and pleasures of the world that choke it right out of their lives. But time for the good news—some will receive the Word on good ground!
The Parable of the Sower: Good Ground
Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15
[Matthew and Mark] [Matthew and Luke] [Mark and Luke] [Matthew, Mark and Luke]
But these are the ones sown [he who received seed] on the good ground, those who hear the word with a noble and
good heart, keep it, and understand it, who bear
fruit and produce with patience: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
This describes us! We just need to continue to avoid the snares of the pressures and the pleasures of the world. And with a noble and good heart, keep the Word of God in word and deed.
The Parable of the Tares of the Field
Next let’s explore the parable of the tares of the field that Jesus told to the multitudes earlier. He did not explain its meaning to the crowds, but he will now reveal it to his disciples who eagerly seek to understand.
Matthew 13:36-43 (Explains Matthew 13:24-30)
And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 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, and will cast them into the furnace
of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Those listening to Jesus must first recognize that Jesus himself is the sower of the good seed and the good seed is the Word of God. When we accept this, we become sons of the kingdom. And ultimately we’ll “shine forth as the sun” in the kingdom of our heavenly Father forever!
Some choose the Devil’s offer and may appear quite powerful in this world, but will end up being cast in the fiery furnace, destroyed forever.
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
Again, 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.
Have not we all spent our lives looking for hidden treasure? It was a favorite game for me when I was a child. I didn’t know at the time that I would find the true treasure of life in the Word of God that pointed me to the Son of God. But when I did finally find it, I decided to invest my life, all that I have, in the kingdom of heaven.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45,46
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
First hidden treasure, now costly pearls? I’m all in!
The Parable of the Dragnet
Matthew 13:47-50
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
What a comfort to know that I have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. HE paid the price for me! I will not be thrown away nor cast into a furnace of fire.
Matthew 13:51,52
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 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.”
What a joy it is to be rich in understanding these parables. They truly show us the knowledge and wisdom we need to make the best choices in this life.
PREVIOUS: Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #38 The Harvest
You might trust the words of a friend who had true, experiential understanding of a subject. Peter’s first letter to the church is written by a man who lived with Jesus and understood how to be spiritually one with the Father, as Jesus prayed he would be. Peter understood the rest and refreshing we have when God’s glorious spirit lives within us. We can trust his advice on how to live.
Most of us like to try and figure everything out. But there are some things that are beyond our mental understanding. God’s love in Christ is one of those things. It’s more than we know, but it is real and healing and makes life worth living. 
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The epistle of I Thessalonians is thought to be the first letter Paul ever wrote to a Christian church. It followed his visit to them, as recorded in Acts 17:1-9. It was not an easy time, but Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy gave their all to help these new believers to the faith. The hope of Christ’s return and our gathering together unto him fills this epistle.
God wants us to finish strong in this race of life. During the nearly 20 full marathons I’ve done, I often remember getting past the 20-mile mark and growing tired. It would be easy to stop and say I’d done enough. But with God’s help, I summoned the resolve to pick up the pace and run strong across the finish line. The same is true as we live each day, knowing Christ could return for us at any moment. The finish line could be now or years later. 
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