SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:10-17
The disciples ask Jesus why he speaks to the people in parables. He tells the disciples that the people don’t have the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom like they do. Whoever has will be given more, and whoever does not have will lose even more. Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, which says that the people have hardened hearts so even though they see, they do not, and even though they hear, they don’t. They might understand with their hearts and be healed. He tells the disciples they are blessed because they understand what they see and hear, and many have not in the past.
SUMMARY OF ISAIAH 6:9-10
Here, God is speaking to Isaiah to go to the people and tell them to hear and see, but they won’t understand or perceive. Their hearts are hardened, their ears are dull, and their eyes are closed. If they see and hear, they will understand with their hearts.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 4: Matthew 13:10-17; Isaiah 6:9-10
11a) He tells the disciples that the people don’t have the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom like they do.
b) In order to reach more people. With the growing opposition by the Pharisees against Jesus, parables would not give them any more fuel to use against him.
c) That many would not believe in him because they wouldn’t hear his message and understand.
12a) Their eyes are open, and their ears can hear the message of the Good News and follow Jesus to eternal life.
b) Just by being a believer and chosen to have my eyes open and my ears hear. I am very blessed in this world, and I know although my path can be hard, I will still be blessed.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 4: Matthew 13:10-17; Isaiah 6:9-10
I can almost see the disciples pulling Jesus aside and asking him what’s up. I like how Jesus is teaching the people, but he’s also preparing his disciples for kingdom work at the same time. Jesus understands what we need. He speaks to the people in the terms they can understand so that they can follow him. So he does the same to us today.
Here are some great parable readings for you!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 4: Matthew 13:10-17; Isaiah 6:9-10
MATTHEW 13:10-17
The point of Jesus speaking in parables he tells the disciples is so that those who hear his message and reject it won’t reject it more, and those that hear the message and accept it will turn to him more. Jesus is teaching to those who will spiritually respond.
Bible scholar Barclay puts it so: “The parable conceals truth from those who are either too lazy to think or too blinded by prejudice to see. It puts the responsibility fairly and squarely on the individual. It reveals truth to him who desires truth; it conceals truth from him who does not wish to see the truth.”
Parables challenge the listener to take action.
Those who want to hear will gain more; those who don’t, won’t fall more, but will still face consequences.
God conceals truth from those who oppose Him as an act of judgment. Those who can hear grow in Christ. However, the more truth you hear and understand, the more accountable you are to it and to God.
Parables are, in short, mercy to those who reject Jesus.
Jesus is fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy with parables, so that the hardened would hear but not hear nor see.
Those who do understand the parables are blessed with spiritual truth.
Fun Fact: “The kingdom of heaven” phrase is used 32 times in Matthew.
The disciples never quite understand Jesus’s mission or kingdom until he dies and resurrects. They keep asking for explanations. We understand the kingdom of heaven as God on earth. The disciples had no clue.
Remember that God is in control of who understands His truth. He it the one who unstops ears to hear. To understand God’s Word fully, we need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 6:9-10
God is telling Isaiah to speak to those who would not respond to His Word to prove their guilt. However, the Word of God can open eyes, ears, and hearts.
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