New Testament Survey-Fall 2007
Megan Strange
23 Aug 2007
Matthew Lesson 3: Matthew 11-13
Major Theme of this passage: Facing Opposition
3 Questions to ask of any Bible Passage:
1. What does it say?
2. What does it mean?
3. What does it mean for me? (practical application)
Miracles found in these chapters (2)
1. Man’s withered hand healed (12:10)
2. Healing of blind and dumb demoniac (12:22)
Parables found in these chapters (7)
1. Parable of the four soils
2. Parable of the weeds
3. Parable of the mustard seed
4. Parable of the yeast
5. Parable of the hidden treasure
6. Parable of the pearl merchant
7. Parable of the fishing net
Matthew 11-13
The kingdom collides with the enemy
What the kingdom of heaven is like:
-kingdom can be rejected or accepted
-produces lots of fruit (righteousness)
-people in the kingdom might look like people out of the kingdom
-here now somewhat: its fullness is yet to come
-may be small/hidden; but has great power
-kingdom worth more than everything we have
-kingdom will have future judgement
The Narrative (11:2-12:50)
11:2-19 -roles of Jesus and John the Baptist in the stream of redemptive history
-Jesus teaches about the kingdom
-Jesus eases John’s doubt
-are you the one? Or should we be looking for someone else?
11:20-30 -rest for your soul
-what does it mean to be weary?
-provided in the “yoke” of the Son of God
12:1-14 -conflict about the Sabbath
-“one greater than the temple”
-“mercy not sacrifice” Hosea 6:6
-healing of the man’s withered hand
12:15-21 -Jesus as the meek and suffering servant
-he didn’t want healing to disrupt his teaching ministry
-Isaiah 42:1-4
12:22-45 -confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees
-trying to discredit Jesus
-if you are not actively following Christ, you have rejected Him
-religious leaders asked Jesus for a miracle
12:46-50 -confrontation between Jesus and his family
-spiritual relationships/physical relationships
-need for community
Reversal of Expectations/Series of Parables (13:1-53)
13:1-23 -parable of the four soils
-“parable” compares something familiar to something unfamiliar
-compels listeners to discover truth
-parables have one meaning unless otherwise specified by Jesus
-Jesus tells the parable/explains the parable
-written to encourage “sowing”
-four types of soil represent different responses to God’s message
1. hardened
2. shallow
3. contaminated by distractive worries
4. receptive
13:24-30 -parable of the weeds
-weeds (unbelievers) and wheat (believers) must live side by side
-can’t distinguish until mature
-harvest is coming
13:31-32 -parable of the mustard seed
-smallest seed a farmer used
-kingdom had small beginnings but will grow and produce great results
13:33-35 -parable of the yeast
-yeast is a symbol of evil or uncleanness
-here it is used as a positive symbol of growth
-yeast permeates bread/kingdom permeates the world
13:36-43 -Jesus explains the parable of the weeds
-true believers/false believers
-Christ makes the final separation
-Daniel 12:3
13:44-46 -parable of hidden treasure
-parable of the pearl merchant
-kingdom is more valuable than anything we have
-how earnestly are we searching?
13:47-52 -parable of the fishing net
-related to the culture of the day
-obey God and tell others of his grace and goodness
-sorting that will occur at the final judgement
-kingdom-now/judgement-future
13:53-58 -people of Nazareth refused to believe
-a prophet without honor
-too close to the situation
-Jeremiah also rejected (12:5-6)
Review
Matthew 1-4 Presentation of the King
Matthew 5-7 Description of those in the kingdom
Matthew 8-10 The kingdom extended under Jesus’ authority
Matthew 11-13 Rising opposition against the kingdom
Homework
Read and Journal Matthew 14-18