To Begin:
Are there any movies or books that you learned a lesson from?
What have we looked at in Matthew’s gospel so far (from Bible Talks or Bible Study Groups)?
Read: Matthew 13:1–23 (NIV)
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn,
and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Questions:
Context:
1. What is a parable and how does it convey meaning?
2. Who is Jesus speaking to in the different parts of this passage?
Observation:
3. Jesus tells a story here. What happens in the story? (retell it in your own words or draw a comic to show what happens!)
4. What are the four soils in the story, and what does Jesus say they represent?
| | What it represents | |
|---|---|---|
5. Why does Jesus choose to teach in parables?
Meaning:
6. Read Isaiah 6:8-13. Was Isaiah’s message positive or negative? Does Jesus want us to see these parables as positive messages or negative ones? Is this surprising to you?
7. What do we learn about how different people will respond to the gospel from this parable?
8. What do we learn about what faithful discipleship looks like in verse 23?
9. How does this picture about responding to God’s word connect to Matthew’s end goal in his gospel (the Great Commission)?
Application:
10. There are three threats that we see in this passage to people responding rightly and following Jesus in this passage. Which of these do you think is more common among people at uni? How can we respond to each of these with hope?
- a. Not understanding the message and the evil one snatching it away
- b. Difficult times and persecution
- c. Worries of this life and wealth
11. How does this passage provide encouragement or challenge to you as you think about sharing the good news about Jesus with your friends and classmates?
12. There is a truth in this passage that not everyone will understand the gospel, and some people will not become followers of Jesus. How could a Christian react if they’ve shared Jesus with a classmate but that person doesn’t respond?
Pray:
Pray 2-for-2 (pray for two friends who are not Christians for two minutes)
Pray that we will grow in our understanding of Jesus
Pray that we will all continue as fruitful disciples