DBG - October 9 - Matthew 12-13

In this chapter Christ is accused of breaking the Sabbath.

vs. 1-8 – This parallels Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5.  This is probably at Capernaum.  The Jews of course observed the Sabbath rest, and the Pharisees made many extra-biblical restrictions on how people should do it.  Christ and His disciples pass through a field of either wheat or barley.  They take some of the heads, rub the chaff off them, and eat the raw grain.  The Pharisees vehemently objected to this.  Christ first defends Himself by appealing to the story of David and his men eating shewbread in I Samuel 21:1-7, which showed that exceptions to God’s Laws had occurred before.  On top of this, the priests themselves labored in their prescribed tasks on the Sabbath day.  He then claims superiority over the Law and the Temple, being that He was the author and object of both.  Hosea 6:6 is quoted to show that it was true worship from the heart that God sought, not just mindless adherence to the Law.  The case is not closed as the Sabbath continues in the next event.

vs. 9-14 – This parallels Mark 3:1-6 and Luke 6:6-11.  The Synagogue system rose out of the Babylonian Captivity.  Without a Temple, Jews met to worship as local communities and hear the Law taught.  When the Temple was rebuilt, the system continued and was a staple of Jewish culture.  Christ attended Synagogue on the Sabbath as all God-fearing Jews did.  The issue of laboring on the Sabbath day is pressed on him as the Pharisees single out a man with a  withered hand and ask Christ if it were permissible for such a man to be healed on the Sabbath.  Christ appeals to the greater laws of love and mercy before healing the crippled man.  The miracle could not be denied and the Pharisees were upstaged.  Plots to discredit and destroy Christ being in earnest here.

vs. 15-21 – This parallels Mark 3:7-12.  Christ’s popularity grows as the opposition on the Jewish leaders increases.  Matthew points to the fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-3.

vs. 22-45 – This parallels Mark 3:19-30 and Luke 11:14-15, 17-23.  There is a lot going on here all at once.  The people see Christ’s miracles and discern that He must be the Messiah.  The Pharisees rejected this an said He was doing good through some evil power.  Beelzebub  (“lord of the flies”) is believed to be referring to the ancient Philistine idol mentioned in II Kings 1.  To mistake Good for Evil is perhaps the highest forms of blasphemy.  As the Pharisees press for Christ to prove Himself through performing a miracle on demand, He responds by offering the greatest sign possible:  the Sign of Jonah.  As Jonah had been in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, so would He be buried in the earth for three days and three nights. 

vs. 46-50 – This parallels Mark 3:3:31-35.  Duty to family was a major aspect of Jewish culture.  Christ is ministering and appears to neglect His mother and brothers (Matthew 13:55).  Christ points to His followers and claims them as family.  It is not that earthly family is not important.  There are many examples we could appeal to in the Law to prove it.  What is being taught here is there are stronger ties to a family through faith than to a family through blood.

In this chapter are the parables of the Kingdom.

vs. 1-23 – This parallels Mark 4:1-25 and Luke 8:4-18.  One of the primary methods of Christ’s teaching was the use of parables, a fulfillment of Isaiah 6:9-10.  These earthly stories were used to convey heavenly meanings. The Parable of the Sower shows that the Gospel is not received by all men.  Some accept it willingly and flourish.  Some accept it and fade quickly.  Others are too hard-hearted to accept it.

vs. 24-30 – This parallels Mark 4:26-29.  The Parable of the Sower teaches us that the righteous and the wicked, which may appear to be righteous, will be properly sorted in the end to meet the just reward.

vs. 31-32 – This parallels Mark 4:30-32.  The Parable of the Mustard Seed is often interpreted as meaning the church of Christ begins small but grows to be massive.  This interpretation is clouded by the inclusion of birds in the description.  Birds in prophetic imagery are symbolic of evil.  This could indicate that wicked men infiltrate God’s church.

vs. 33 – The Parable of the Leaven is often interpreted to say that the church, pictured as leaven, slowly infiltrates the entire world.  Again, there is an issue here because leaven is used as a picture of sin.  This could then show the corruption of Christ’s church.

vs. 34-35 – An interlude between the parables to explain Christ’s use of them as a fulfillment of Psalm 78:2. 

vs. 36-43 – The explanation of the Parable of the Tares.  See comments on verses 24-30.

vs. 44 – The Parable of the Hidden Treasure teaches us that Christ gave Himself for the entire world (the field) even though only a few would be saved (the treasure).  This story is based on a very real custom of the ancient world.  In times of distress or trouble, people would often bury or hide their valuables.  These hoards of coins and other valuables are still found today.

vs. 45-46 – The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price teaches us that Christ so willingly paid the awful price of our salvation.

vs. 47-50 – The Parable of the Drag Net is similar to the Parable of Tares, showing that this world is full of believers and unbelievers that God will sort out in the end.

vs. 51-52 – The Parable of the Housholder presses the responsibility of those that preach the Gospel.  We must be careful to present the fullness of God’s truth.

vs. 53-58 – This parallels Mark 6:1-6.  A similar event occurs in Luke 4:16-31, but it appears to be a similar but separate event.  Christ teaches in the synagogue at Nazareth.  The people of the city refused to believe that the son of Joseph and Mary could be the Messiah.  There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt.  Their unbelief stifles the work of Christ.

The oldest and most important division among mankind is between the believer and the unbeliever.  We see great crowds following Christ, but also those whose stony hearts refuse to believe.  Even some that seem to follow will fade away as their hearts are proven untrue.  We must not let this discourage us from the work.  The salvation of a soul is of measureless worth and importance.  Press on, sow the seed of the Gospel, and glory in the results God gives.

Today’s hymn, “The Sower,” was written by William Cowper.

Ye Sons of Earth prepare the Plough,
Break up your fallow Ground!
The Sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter Blessings round.

The Seed that finds a stony Soil,
Shoots forth a hasty Blade;
But ill repays the Sower's Toil,
Soon wither'd, scorch'd , and dead.

The thorny Ground is sure to balk
All Hopes of Harvest there:
We find a tall and sickly Stalk,
But not the fruitful Ear.

The beaten Path, and High-Way Side
Receive the Trust in vain:
The watchful Birds the Spoil divide,
And pick up all the Grain.

But where the LORD of Grace and Pow'r
Has bless'd the happy Field;
How plenteous is the Golden Store
The Deep-wrought Furrows yield!

Father of Mercies, we have need
Of thy preparing Grace;
Let the same Hand that gives the Seed
Provide a Fruitful-Place.