Parables -The other four parables (13:31-32,33,44,45-46) come in pairs.

Dear William,
Late evening.
Excuse indulging in fill in gaps in Parables.


God bless.
Donald

Parables of Kingdom two pairs

Matthew Other Parables Sacra Pagina p.209.

The parables, which are so close as to constitute a pair, reflect an approach common in Jewish apocalyptic writings. A good example is the "in­struction" on the two spirits in the Qumran Manual of Discipline (lQS cols. 3-4). That text divides humankind into two segments: The "sons of light" who follow the Prince of Light and do the deeds of light, and the "sons of darkness" who follow the" Angel of Darkness" and do the deeds of darkness. These two groups walk in their two ways until the final end. But God "has set an end for the existence of perversity; and at the time of visitation he will destroy it forever. Then truth shall arise in the world forever" (lQS 4:18-19). The same point is made later: "For God has allotted these spirits in equal parts until the final end, the time of renewal" (lQS 4:25).

The two parables and the Qumran text try to deal with what their writers reckoned as misguided and even morally reprehensible behavior. The particular problem facing both groups is how are the "insiders" to react. The solution is to leave judgment to God in the end-time. For the present the proper response is patience and tolerance born from the conviction that in the end God will make all things right.

The other four parables (13:31-32,33,44,45-46) come in pairs. All concern the kingdom of heaven but not the particular problem of the mixed response to Jesus' preaching about the kingdom. Rather they provide in­formation about the nature of the Kingdom and how one should respond to it.

At this point the basic significance of these disparate materials in Matt 13:24-52 is clear. The general topic is the kingdom of God. The particular problem is the mystery of the rejection and acceptance of Jesus' word of the kingdom. The two traditional parables-the wheat and the weeds, and the dragnet-put forth a message of trust in God's final judgment in the future and patient tolerance in the present. If it is correct to attribute the explanations of those parables (13:36-43, 49-50) to Matthew himself, then it seems that his special interest was the future judgment. Nevertheless, he was sufficiently concerned also with the theme of patient tolerance that he included the two parables.

The two pairs of parables in Matt 13:31-33 and 13:44-46 highlight the con­trast between small beginnings and great results as well as the inestimable value of the kingdom. They serve to make rejection of Jesus' message and the presence of the kingdom in his ministry all the more mysterious. The quotation of Ps 78 (77):2 added to the saying about Jesus' use of parables in teaching the crowds asserts that this style of teaching-and its resultant incomprehension-was in accord with God's will.

If we are correct that Matt 13:1-52 concerns the same basic problem as Romans 9-11 does, it appears that Matthew has focused on only part of the problem and given reasons for Jewish rejection of the gospel. He has also advised Christians on how to deal with their fellow Jews who reject the gospel.

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Amplified Bible Parables Harmony Mt 13

64. The first great group of Parables

Mat 13:31-32

Mar 4:30-32

31  Another story by way of comparison He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. 32  Of all the seeds it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and find shelter in its branches.

30  And He said, With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it? 31  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all seeds upon the earth; 32  Yet after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all garden herbs and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air are able to make nests and dwell in its shade.

Mat 13:33-35	Mar 4:33-34
33  He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven (sour dough) which a woman took and covered over in three measures of meal or flour till all of it was leavened. [Gen. 18:6.] 34  These things all taken together Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, without a parable He said nothing to them. 35  This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet: I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been hidden since the foundation of the world. [Ps. 78:2.]	33  With many such parables [Jesus] spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear and to comprehend and understand. 34  He did not tell them anything without a parable; but privately to His disciples (those who were peculiarly His own) He explained everything [fully].
Mat 13:44
44  The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field.

Mat 13:45-46

45  Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, 46  Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.