Matthew 13

This chapter is very long and filled with many stories. I needed the references in the Study Bible by John MacArthur to get the full meanings of each one. From this point on in His ministry, Jesus will only talk to the crowds in parables. He did this to obscure the truth from the unbelievers while enlightening those who believed. I read all of Mr. MacArthur's references and I'm still not sure why Jesus would want to obscure the truth because wouldn't He want to try to convince everyone? But I think it has something to do with "casting your pearls before swine", in that their hearts were already hardened and would do no good anyway. And it is prophesied in Isaiah that their ears would not hear and their eyes would not see. v. 14-15. "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven..." v.11 To understand the Spiritual truth is a gift from God, and I am blessed.

The parable of the mustard seed I know more from the aspect of having faith like a mustard seed. But here it is speaking more about how large a tree grows from the tiniest mustard seed - enough for the birds of the air to nest in it's branches. v.32 Jesus was telling us that the kingdom of Heaven was large enough to include me, a gentile. I am blessed.

"And the one whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundred fold, some sixty and some thirty." "Not all believers are equally fruitful, but all are fruitful." John MacAuthur. I am blessed.