Week 2: Saturday: Matthew 13

13.3    We need to recover the art of telling simple stories: they capture the imagination.  See v34.

13.11  This seems like favouritism.

13.12  Compare 25.29

13.15  In the second half of this verse it seems as if turning to God is wrong: from a human perspective, this is puzzling.  Perhaps these are (from God’s perspective) those who are not his chosen people, and therefore full clarity is hidden from them by parables.  Acts 13.48 shows a clear statement of predestination.  Stories can be taken on many different levels: perhaps parables are merciful, in that they invite but do not compel belief.

13.17  We too are greatly blessed, to see and hear about the Christ.  Do we appreciate this enough?

13.19  This is a parable about the understanding of parables!  How self-referential is that?  Like a media soap about the media.  And yet, the responses in the parable seem very human reactions.

13.29  This gives a reason why judgement is delayed: because the saints may get caught up in it.  2 Peter 3.9.

13.31  Both parables describe the kingdom as something growing organically from tiny beginnings into something all-pervading.  Probably black mustard, although The Message finds “pine nut” easier to understand.

13.41  Weeding out people sounds tragic, but if it is the only way to banish sin and evil…

13.42  It is unclear whether this is punishment or annihilation.

13.44  Another matching pair, describing the kingdom as something worth more than anything else, almost priceless.

13.49  Compare v41-42.  v51 seems a bit glib!

13.52  What does he mean?  Law and Grace?  OT and NT?

13.55  Apparently Joseph is no longer alive.  A big family!  The brothers are not believers until after Jesus’ Ascension (Acts 1.14); James later leads the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15), and he and Jude write the letters bearing their names.

Tom meditates helpfully on the ‘hiddenness’ of parables: why some people ‘get it’ and others simply don’t, remains a great mystery.  On the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet’ of the kingdom: why can’t we do what Jesus said, and why is the world still in a mess?  I love Tom’s closing challenge: give up your small vocations, and choose the greatest purpose in life – to follow Christ and bring in the Kingdom.