Bible Commentaries
Matthew 13

Verse 8

Matthew 13:8

brought forth fruit ... No matter how much seed seems wasted, in the end a great harves is sure.

No farmer refuses to sow because he knows some seed will be wasted.

Verse 10

Matthew 13:10

v 10, the question, "Why speak in parables?" v. 11 is Jesus’ answer.

Verse 24

Matthew 13:24

Cf sermon "How to be a Tare" vs. 24-30.

Verse 32

Matthew 13:32

least of all seeds .... The eucalyptus seed is smaller than a mustard seed and produces a 300 foot high tree, but this does not grow in Palestine.

mustard seed. This seed was in fact the smallest of the garden seeds known. (Orchard seeds, though smaller, were unknown in that part of the world.) Also “small as a mustard seed” was a proverb by which people then referred to something unusually small (e.g., “faith as small as a mustard seed,” Matthew 17:20). BKC

Verse 33

Matthew 13:33

leaven -- Leaven’s (or yeast’s) work is secret, silent, steady; though hidden in the flour, and though deposited only in one place, works silently until all the mass is brought under its influence.

three measures -- These were small measures; but the particular amount is of no consequence to the story; nor is anything to be inferred from the fact that three are mentioned. That number is mentioned as a circumstance giving interest to the parable, but designed to convey no spiritual instruction. The measure mentioned here probably contained about a peck and a half.

Verse 37

Matthew 13:37

soweth ... John 12:24

Verse 38

Matthew 13:38

seed -- childen of the kingdom ... Are we sown, or just seed in a sack?

Verse 41

Matthew 13:41

"angels" (NIV) Matthew 4:6; Matthew 4:11; Matthew 13:39; Matthew 13:41; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 22:30; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 24:36; Matthew 25:31; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 26:53; Mark 1:13; Mark 8:38; Mark 12:25; Mark 13:27; Mark 13:32; Luke 2:15; Luke 4:10; Luke 9:26; Luke 12:8; Luke 12:9; Luke 15:10; Luke 16:22; Luke 20:36; Luke 24:23; John 1:51; John 20:12; Acts 7:53; Acts 23:8; Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 6:3; 1 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Galatians 3:19; Colossians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 1:6; Hebrews 1:7; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 2:2; Hebrews 2:5; Hebrews 2:7; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 2:16; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 1:12; 1 Peter 3:22; 2 Peter 2:4; 2 Peter 2:11; Judges 1:6; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 7:2; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 8:2; Revelation 8:6; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 9:14; Revelation 9:15; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 14:10; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 15:6; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 15:8; Revelation 16:1; Revelation 17:1; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 21:12;