From Pastor Perry

Matthew 13:24–30 (ESV)

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵ but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ²⁷ And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

It is tempting to demand all non-Christians to be removed.  But Jesus forbids this.  The point of this parable is that we are to coexist together until the second coming.  The Lutheran Study Bible states:  The master does not seem overly upset by what his enemy has done and shows great patience in delaying until the harvest the separation of weeds from wheat. He warns his servants not to judge prematurely by assuming they can distinguish between these plants. A mark of God’s rule is His patience (2Pt 3:8–15). For us sinners, this is a great comfort and also an encouragement for us to endure evil patiently (2Tm 2:24).

I pray:  O God, help me to accept the fact that in this world good and evil will grow side by side. Lead me also to count on Your wise timing and judgment. Amen.

Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 1608). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

Matthew 13:10–17 (ESV)

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

       “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand,

and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

¹⁵    For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and with their ears they can barely hear,

and their eyes they have closed,

       lest they should see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

       and understand with their heart

and turn, and I would heal them.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

I think the question asked in this passage is a legitimate question: “Why do you speak to them in parables?”  There are many parables that are hard to understand.  The parables give understanding and teachings to those who believe, but confusion to those who do not believe. Jesus says:  ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

I pray: O Lord, help me to see and understand the points of the parables, and to walk according to God’s ways.  I believe!  Amen.

Matthew 13:1–9 (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

The beauty of this parable is that I don’t have to explain it, because Jesus explains it!

Matthew 13:18–23 (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Matthew 12:46–50 (ESV)

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

⁴⁶ While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. ⁴⁸ But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Several interesting things are going on.  Number 1)  This passage says “his mother and his brothers”.  The Roman Catholic church says that Jesus didn’t have any brothers.  They claim they are step brothers.  This is a text that does not really clarify, but adds confusion to the RC claim.  I believe that Jesus mother (Mary) did in fact have other children.   Jesus gives the importance of spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ.  Instead of pointing to his mother and brothers… he points to his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and says: “Here are my mother and my brothers!”  Faith in Christ is thicker than blood… Jesus is our greatest love.

I pray:  O Lord, I love my mom and dad, but you are a higher priority.  Let nothing come between you and me.  Amen.

Matthew 12:43–45 (ESV)

Return of an Unclean Spirit

⁴³ “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

When an unclean spirit leaves a body, you better fill the void with the Holy Spirit, otherwise… more demons will return.  Jesus describes how a person delivered from a demon becomes worse when there is failure to fill the emptiness with goodness. We can also relapse into old and habitual sins when we fail to nourish our spiritual lives through Word and Sacrament. Only the Holy Spirit can replace the evil spirits that are constantly “seeking someone to devour” (1Pt 5:8). With words from Luther’s baptismal service, we cry out: “Depart thou unclean spirit and make room for the Holy Spirit” (AE 53:107). •

I pray: Come, Holy Spirit, and make my heart Your dwelling place. Amen.

Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 1606). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.