Matthew 13:36 Commentary and Bible Study

(Synoptics: Matthew 13:36-43) Christ dismisses the multitude and re-enters the house from which he had come out to preach (Matthew 13:1), the same house around which his family had gathered (Matthew 12:26), and which is usually understood to be Peter’s house (Matthew 8:14) which he had made his base (Matthew 9:7). The disciples are with him, and this may have included others besides the twelve, for Mark has told us that others besides the twelve were present when the interpretation of the Parable of the Sower was given (Mark 4:10). The disciples have light; it has been given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, while to those outside it was not given (Matthew 13:10). And yet, there are elements of this parable which confuse them and they want more light, and they come to Christ to explain what he has said, for they know he has perfect understanding and he is the perfect teacher. He will not explain every parable to them, but on this occasion he will interpret two of the parables – the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Tares. This is not because these two are harder than other parables, but because the twelve are still undergoing training. They are to learn principles of interpretation of Scripture, and particularly of parables and figures. This was, after all, the language of the ceremonial law and of much of the Old Testament, which taught in the form of types and shadows and symbols. They are to look for a spiritual meaning which is consistent with the word of God, and with all that Christ is doing and teaching. The problem in this case is that their expectations of his kingdom clash with the apparent meaning of the parable. It speaks of the ongoing presence of evil and of a delay in the removal of the tares. They would have preferred to do what the servants in the parable suggest and remove the tares immediately, but Christ is gently teaching them that this will not happen and they need to change their whole understanding of his mission in the world. This will be a lesson which they only gradually take on board.