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Hearing the Word Is Only the Beginning (Matthew 13:18–23)

Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. 20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. 21 But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. 22 The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. 23 But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Jesus begins His explanation with the command, “Hear then the parable of the sower” (v. 18). Yet everyone described in the passage hears the word in some way. The difference lies in what happens after the hearing. The word may be misunderstood, received only ...

Blessed Are the Eyes That See and the Ears That Hear (Matthew 13:10-17)

The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: ‘You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. 15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see wha...

Mary Magdalene Announces the Risen Lord (John 20:1-2, 11-18)

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 11 But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said...

Whoever Does the Father’s Will Is My Family (Matthew 12:46-50)

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. 47 [Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”] 48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” At first reading, Jesus' response may seem surprising. His mother and relatives have come to speak with Him, yet instead of going out to meet them, He points to His disciples and says, "Here are my mother and my brothers" (v. 49). Some readers may wonder whether Jesus is rejecting His family or diminishing His mother's importance. That is not His meaning. Jesus is using this moment to reveal that there is a relationship even deeper than natural family ties. Those who believe in...

The Sign of Jonah Points to Christ (Matthew 12:38-42)

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. 42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. The scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign to prove His authority. They have already witnessed His miracles, including His healings and exorcisms, yet they refuse to accept them as evidence that God i...

The Kingdom Grows Until the Final Harvest (Matthew 13:24-43)

He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 31 He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown i...

The Chosen Servant Who Brings Justice to the Nations (Matthew 12:14-21)

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. 15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all, 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. 21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” In yesterday’s Gospel, Matthew 12:1–8, Jesus taught that the Sabbath serves God’s saving purposes and declared that “the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” Matthew then recounts another Sabbath dispute in which Jesus healed a man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9–13). By restoring the man, Jesus demonst...

The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8)

At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” Just before this passage, Jesus extends one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me... and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:...

Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest (Matthew 11:28–30)

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Jesus’ invitation follows immediately after He reveals His unique relationship with the Father (Matt. 11:25–27). He is the Son who alone knows the Father and reveals the Father to those who come to Him. Now He turns from speaking to His Father to speaking directly to the world: “Come to me.” His invitation is deeply personal: He calls people to come to Him, learn from Him, and become His disciples. Jesus addresses those who “labor and are burdened” (v. 28). In its immediate setting, these words refer especially to those weighed down by the demands imposed by the scribes and Pharisees, who had added numerous detailed rules and interpretations to God’s Law. Their legalism obscured the Law’s true purpose and placed heavy obligations upon ordinary people...

The Son Reveals the Father to the Childlike (Matthew 11:25-27)

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. After pronouncing judgment on the Galilean towns that refused to repent despite hearing the good news of the Kingdom and witnessing His mighty works (Matt. 11:20–24), Jesus does something unexpected. Rather than continuing His warning, He turns to His Father in prayer. Matthew allows us to overhear this intimate conversation between Father and Son. Even though many have rejected Jesus, others have received Him in faith, and this becomes the occasion for His joyful thanksgiving. Jesus begins by praising the Father, “Lord of heaven and earth,” because t...

Mighty Deeds and the Call to Repentance (Matthew 11:20–24)

Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Jesus' words in today's Gospel are among the strongest He speaks during His public ministry. Yet they are not directed at His enemies, pagan nations, or notorious sinners. They are spoken to towns that had witnessed His preaching and mighty deeds and still refused to change. Chorazin, ...

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