ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 13

Matt. 13:1–53 The Messianic Kingdom Revealed in Parables. This is the third of Jesus’ five major teachings (see Introduction: Key Themes). It is a collection of parables.

Matt. 13:1–2 sat beside the sea. The Sea of Galilee. Sitting was the typical posture for teachers. According to tradition, this teaching took place at the “Cove of the Parables,” a natural horseshoe-shaped amphitheater. The sound of Jesus’ voice would have carried over 300 feet (90 m) from the boat to a crowd of hundreds on the shore.

Matt. 13:3 Parables are Jesus’ means of communicating through a story in order to teach a moral or spiritual lesson.

Matt. 13:10–11 secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ parables hide the truth from the “crowd” (v. 2), who remained uncommitted to him, while they communicated truth to the disciples, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

Matt. 13:12–13 seeing they do not see. God uses the parables either to harden a person’s heart so that he or she will be unable to respond (v. 15) or to bring about a positive response to Jesus (see v. 10).

Matt. 13:24 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to. Compare “the kingdom of heaven is like” (vv. 31; 33; 44; 45; 47; 20:1; see also 18:23; 22:1; 25:1).

Matt. 13:25–30 These weeds are probably darnel, a weedy rye grass with poisonous black seeds. Darnel resembles wheat in its early growth but is easily distinguished from it when full grown. Let both grow together (v. 30). Believers and unbelievers live side by side in the world until the day of judgment.

Matt. 13:31–32 The mustard seed was the smallest of all agricultural seeds in Palestine. becomes a tree. The mustard “tree” grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m). Israel was not prepared for an insignificant beginning to the kingdom of God, so this image shocked the listeners. (See note on Luke 13:19.)

Matt. 13:33 Leaven usually has a negative meaning in Scripture (compare 16:6; 1 Cor. 5:6–7). Here, however, it symbolizes the positive, hidden growth of the kingdom of heaven through an inner transformation of the heart. Three measures was probably about 50 pounds (39 liters). This would have produced enough bread to feed a hundred people.

Matt. 13:39–40 harvest. The judgment that will follow the Son of Man’s return at the end of the age (see note on 24:3) to establish his kingdom in its fully realized form.

Matt. 13:41–42 fiery furnace . . . weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus’ typical description of eternal judgment in Matthew’s Gospel (see 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).

Matt. 13:43 the righteous will shine like the sun. Compare Dan. 12:3; Matt. 17:2.

Matt. 13:44 Treasure was often hidden in fields for protection. Buys that field does not suggest earning one’s salvation. Rather, it emphasizes the supreme value of the hidden treasure (the kingdom of heaven), which is worth far more than any sacrifice one could make to acquire it (sells all that he has).

Matt. 13:45–46 Unlike the man who stumbled upon the hidden treasure (v. 44), this merchant searched diligently for the fine pearls but his reaction was the same. He sacrificed all that he had and bought it.

Matt. 13:47–50 The net, shaped like a long wall, was dragged toward shore by both ends, trapping fish of every kind. sorted. Fish without scales and fins were considered bad and unclean (see Lev. 11:9–12).

Matt. 13:51–52 brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. This refers to those who understand both the “new” revelation from Jesus and how it fulfills the “old” promises in the OT.

Matt. 13:54–16:20 The Identity of the Messiah Revealed. This section marks a major new emphasis in Matthew’s Gospel as Jesus’ identity as the Messiah becomes increasingly clear.

Matt. 13:54 Although Capernaum had become Jesus’ “own city” during his Galilean ministry (4:13; 9:1), his hometown is Nazareth. Perhaps he responds to a request from his mother and brothers to return home (see note on 12:46).

Matt. 13:55–56 Since they know Jesus’ human roots, the people of Nazareth assume he cannot be anything special. His brothers and his sisters refers to other children born to Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus. On Jesus’ family, see note on Mark 6:3.