Matthew 13

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 58 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• Papyrus 103 (~AD 200; extant verses 55–56)
• Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
• Codex Bezae (~400)
• Codex Washingtonianus (~400)
• Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450)
• Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (6th century)
• Codex Petropolitanus Purpureus (6th century; extant verses 5–32, 42–58)
• Codex Sinopensis (6th century; extant verses 7–47, 54–58)

Old Testament references

• :
• : Psalm

New Testament references

• : ; ; ; ; .

Structure

Matthew 13 presents seven parables, and two explanations of his parables. Overall, the verses in this chapter can be divided into groups (with cross references to parallel sections in the other gospels):

• 1–3: introduce Jesus preaching in a boat
• 3–9: Parable of the Sower (; )
• 10–17: reason for Parables
• 18–23: Parable of the Sower explained (; )
• 24–30: Parable of the Tares ()
• 31–32: Parable of the Mustard Seed (; )
• 33–35: Parable of the Leaven ()
• 36–43: Parable of the Tares explained
• 44: Parable of the Hidden Treasure
• 45–46: Parable of the Pearl
• 47–50: Parable of Drawing in the Net
• 51–52: conclusion
• 53–58: Jesus is rejected in Nazareth (; )

Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer identifies two groups of parables: the four first parables (up to ) "were spoken in presence of the multitude, and the other three again within the circle of the disciples". German liberal Protestant theologian David Strauss thought this chapter was "overwhelming with parables". The Textus Receptus has inserted the definite article (, to ploion), suggesting that there was a boat kept waiting for him, but other texts do not include the definite article and the Pulpit Commentary therefore argues that it was "wrongly inserted".

Verses 51–52

:51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. :"Yes", they replied. :52 He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." These verses conclude the Parabolic Discourse and may be called a "comparative proverb". Henry Alford describes them as a "solemn conclusion to the parables.

Verses 53–58

The final verses of this chapter see Jesus return to his home town, meaning Nazareth, and his own country.

Dale Allison sees these verses and the following chapters as far as chapter 17 as recounting "the birth of the Church"; the Jerusalem Bible likewise holds that the same long section constitutes a narrative on the Church, followed by Matthew 18, which is often called the Discourse on the Church.

References

References

1. Richard A. Jensen (1998), [https://archive.org/details/preachingmatthew0000jens/page/24/mode/2up Preaching Matthew's Gospel: a narrative approach], {{ISBN. 978-0-7880-1221-1. pp. 25 and 158.
2. Alexander, Loveday. (2007). "The Oxford Bible Commentary". Oxford University Press.
3. Kirkpatrick, A. F.. (1901). "The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes". At the University Press.
4. [[Henry Alford (theologian). Alford, H.]], [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/alford/matthew/13.htm Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary - Alford] on Matthew 13, accessed 25 February 2021
5. Sub-heading in [[Jerusalem Bible]]
6. Meyer, H. A. W., [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/matthew/13.htm Meyer's NT Commentary] on Matthew 13, published 1880, accessed 13 January 2017
7. At the beginning of the chapter, [[Jesus preaches in a ship. Jesus sits in a ship]] or a boat on the [[Sea of Galilee]] and addresses the crowd who stand on the shore or the beach.{{bibleverse. Matthew. 13:2. ESV
8. [[Johann Albrecht Bengel. Bengel, J. A.]], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/bengel/matthew/13.htm Bengel's ''Gnomon''] on Matthew 13, accessed 13 January 2017
9. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/13.htm Pulpit Commentary] on Matthew 13, accessed 13 January 2017
10. {{bibleverse. Matthew. 13:51-52. NIV
11. Allison, D. Jr., ''Matthew'' in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), [https://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43 The Oxford Bible Commentary], p. 862
12. [[Johann Albrecht Bengel. scribe]]s, or teachers of the Jewish law, who became disciples reflects the Matthean gospel focus in particular; the [[Jerusalem Bible]] suggests that this reference may portray the evangelist himself.Jerusalem Bible, footnote l at Matthew 13:52
13. where he preaches in the [[synagogue]] and experiences the [[Rejection of Jesus#Hometown rejection. rejection]] of his "own people",{{bibleverse. Matthew. 13:57. TLB: [[The Living Bible]], [[Kenneth N. Taylor]]'s paraphrase, accessed 29 November 2022