Beginning with the “sower” and ending with the “instructed scribe,” Matthew 13 contains eight parables all dealing with the kingdom of God from various points of view. The series begins with the word “behold” (v.3), continues with three parables introduced by “another parable” (vs.24,31,33), three starting with “again” (vs. 44,45,47) and the last beginning with “therefore’ ‘ (v.52).
Two of the parables beginning with “another parable” are closely related -the mustard seed and the leaven (vs. 31,33) — while two of those starting with “again” are also related — the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (vs. 44,45). Having considered the first two of the eight last month, we now look at the next four.
The mustard seed (vs. 31-32)
Perhaps the most striking feature of this parable is that the events depicted occur in plain view. The “mustard seed” is planted “in a field” by “a man.” From such a start, Christianity begins. The “field” is God’s; He is the one who sows this seed through the Lord Jesus.
The Jews had expected the kingdom of God to come with power, in full view and strength. The parable teaches the reality of what was going to occur. As the mustard seed is the least of all seeds, the kingdom would involve a process which would have the humblest of starts — the crucifixion of its king.
From a humble start, the mustard plant becomes the greatest of all herbs, growing to a height of 10 to 12 feet. The herb “tree” is so great that birds can nest and feed in its branches. In like manner, from its start of the death and resurrection of Christ, the kingdom would grow to the point where the nations, symbolized by the birds, will be afforded shelter by its blessings. Those who are not offended by the method of God’s choice will share in the blessings of that day.
The hidden leaven (v.33)
Like the mustard seed, this parable depicts the far-reaching effects of the kingdom of God. Here the message involves an item usually shunned because of its connotation of defilement. At Passover time, for instance, all leaven was to be removed from the house. No such connotation applies in this case, however. The emphasis here is on the hidden nature of the development of the kingdom and its spread throughout the entire loaf.
Why a “woman?” Perhaps she is used to emphasize that the bride of Christ, the ecclesia and its activities, is central to bringing about the fulfillment of the parable. Picture the action of the leaven. It is placed in the container of meal, the meal next to the leaven is affected, becoming leavened, the newly leavened portion leavens the meal in touch with it and so on. This is how our preaching should affect those around us. We should work like the first-century disciples, with our preaching spreading out in ever-increasing circles of influence. The process must begin with those with whom we are in immediate contact, like the leaven in the meal.
There are several possibilities for the reason “three” measures of meal are referred to. Reference could be to the three angels who visited Abraham, who received such clear promise of the kingdom and who, along with his spiritual descendants, will possess the kingdom. Or perhaps allusion is made to the fact Christ was raised on the third day. Or the significance could be associated with the fact of three resurrections: that of Christ, the responsible when Christ returns and the resurrection at the end of the millennium.
Summary of the first four parables
Perhaps we can sum up the first four parables as follows: The parable of the sower looks at the breadth of the kingdom, for the preaching covers the entire field; the parable of the tares considers the length of the kingdom, for the time involved continues until the angels come to sever the wicked from the just; the third parable concerns the stature of the kingdom, as it speaks of a tree which grows in full view, attracting the birds of the air; and the fourth indicates the nature of the kingdom in its development, as it is hidden until the whole lump becomes leavened.
The hidden treasure
The next two parables, both beginning “again,” are closely related.
We find a man at labor in a field which belongs to someone else. While digging in this field, he finds hidden treasure of such value he immediately puts the treasure back and goes to purchase the field. He is not trying to put something over on the owner of the field. Quite the contrary; the man does not steal the treasure and go on, he seeks to do the right thing and purchase the field.
The man has been digging in the field searching for something of value until he finds it. He finds the Truth, which is of inestimable worth. The Truth contains what is necessary to know about Jesus Christ and the coming kingdom of God. Having found the Truth, the man can only give what he had; he does just that, joyfully.
Both the treasure and the leaven were hidden. The possible relationship is that the leaven contained the Truth which is shared with others; the treasure contains the Truth which is sought for by others.
The treasure may be hidden, but it is easily accessible to those who are searching for it as long as we search for the Truth in the right place. We must be willing to sell all we possess in order to obtain this great treasure: “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
The merchant man
While obviously paired with the preceding parable, this one approaches the situation from a slightly different vantage point. In the previous parable, the man is searching in the field. Here a traveling merchant is seeking the most excellent of pearls. He has found some pearls worth purchasing, but he continues his search until he finds “the pearl of great price.” In order to make an informed decision, this man must have the ability to correctly estimate the value of the pearl.
In the previous parable, the man simply knows he has found a treasure of supreme worth. Here, this man has found the one item which is worth all that he has previously acquired. He has placed a value on what he has found and knows that there is nothing which can compare to this great pearl, which again must represent the Truth. We are admonished to “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One