Matthew 13: Kingdom Stories

What if the greatest storyteller who ever lived wasn't Shakespeare, Tolkien, or Rowling, but a carpenter from Nazareth? In this illuminating exploration of Matthew 13, we discover Jesus as the master of narrative, using parables to transform complex spiritual truths into accessible stories that continue to resonate thousands of years later.

These kingdom stories aren't merely clever illustrations—they're divine wisdom compressed into human language. As Pastor Brandon explains, teaching us about God's kingdom is like "teaching calculus to an ant"—an impossible task made possible through the genius of parables. Each story unfolds with multiple layers of meaning, revealing deeper insights the more we examine them.

The Parable of the Sower shows how the same spiritual truth lands differently depending on our heart's receptivity. The wheat and weeds teach patience in a world where good and evil coexist. The mustard seed and hidden treasure reveal the surprising growth and immeasurable value of God's kingdom. What's fascinating is how Jesus intentionally designed these stories to simultaneously reveal truth to the receptive while concealing it from the resistant—a divine filter that continues to operate today.

Perhaps most striking is the paradox at the chapter's conclusion: Jesus, whose wisdom amazed crowds everywhere else, finds himself rejected in his hometown. "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown," he observes, showing how familiarity can become the greatest barrier to revelation. This challenges us to examine whether our own familiarity with spiritual teaching has dulled our capacity for wonder and transformation.

Ready to discover how these ancient stories might be speaking directly to your life today? Listen as we unpack the parables that have shaped human understanding of spirituality for centuries and learn how your life can become a living parable—a testimony to God's transforming power that others can read.

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The More We Dig. The More We Find.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Kingdom Stories
• 4:59 The Parable of the Sower
• 9:05 Jesus Explains Purpose of Parables
• 10:51 The Wheat and Weeds Parable
• 11:39 Multiple Kingdom Parables Revealed
• 14:59 Rejection in Jesus's Hometown

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Hello everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown podcast with your host, Pastor Brandon, Today, Matthew, chapter 13, and today's title is Kingdom Stories Kingdom Stories. You ever been around somebody who's just a master storyteller? It is said that Abraham Lincoln was an absolute master storyteller. I've been around people before who it did not matter what they were talking about. I was there for it because they were just amazing storytellers. Well, one of the things that I love about Jesus, and that I don't think he gets credit for enough, was Jesus was an amazing storyteller and his stories called parables were way more powerful than we can ever imagine, because it helped us understand the kingdom of God in a way that would apply to so many areas of life. Just master at it. Now, of course, he's kind of cheating because he is God. We're going to get all that in just a moment. So, if you have your Bibles, open up with me to Matthew, chapter 13. While you're doing that, as always, if you're new around here to take just a moment to like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you leave us a five-star review on the podcast. You guys are always going to be my OGs, my favorites, Can't help it. Make sure you leave us a five-star review and let everybody else know how they are going to benefit from the Word of God as we read through one chapter at a time, and make sure you're going to the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook. There's an amazing group of people doing a wonderful job and, as always, the more we dig, the more we find. Well, if you've been with us over the past several days, we are digging further and further into the Gospel of Matthew and the overall theme is King Jesus. Jesus is the rightful king, not only of earthly kingdoms, but of all things. He's the king of kings and the Lord of lords. He's awesome. We are massive fans here at the Bible Breakdown, right and he is just continuing to build the kingdom, one chapter at a time, and in chapter 13, he is going to teach us about the ways of the kingdom, and he's going to do this through these different kingdom stories, and the best way to describe kingdom stories is he tells these stories and they're called parables. Now, parables are illustrations, but a better way to understand them it is a story that has a kingdom principle wrapped into it so that we can understand it.

Speaker 1: 2:46

Like one of the best analogies I ever heard would be like trying to teach calculus to an ant. Now, I don't mean like, like you know, I mean the insect right, the insect ant. Like, think about that for a moment. Imagine you were to have to try to teach calculus to an ant. Well, first of all you'd have to understand calculus, right, which is not me, Okay.

Speaker 1: 3:04

So so, to understand calculus, you got to understand algebra. To understand algebra, you've got to understand just simple mathematics. To understand simple mathematics, you've got to understand just how numbers work, right. And then there's a language barrier, and then there's an intelligence barrier. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 3:17

And then there's so many barriers to get from calculus to even communicating with an ant that we would basically call it impossible, right, there would be so many barriers, call it impossible, right, there would be so many barriers. Well, that is what it is like for God, the infinite, timeless, spaceless, yo God, to teach anything infinite to us. There's so many barriers between infinite and finite that we would say it's impossible. But Jesus, doing this, he would take kingdom principles and he would wrap it up in a story to help us get our minds around it, Because many times the principles would have multiple different ways to apply them. And so when you tell it in the form of a story, you're able to see so many of those different principles, and it's God's way of trying to take the infinite and cram it into our brains. That's why I love these parables is you could just sit there and go. You know it means this. You know it also means that, and the deeper you dig, the more truth is there. That is the power of the parables of Jesus. So obviously that means we're not going to get anywhere near to the bottom of any of these, but I just want us to listen to these stories and just be in awe of the wisdom of Jesus. So if you're ready, here we go. Matthew, chapter 13, verse 1, says this.

Speaker 1: 4:36

Later that same day, Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat and then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told stories in the form of parables told you, such as this one. Listen, a farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell among a footpath and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell among shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow, but the plants soon wilted under the hot sun and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns and grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they produced a crop that was 30, 60, and even 100 times as much as he had planted.

Speaker 1: 5:33

Anyone who has an ear to hear should listen and understand. Now, by the way, every time he says that he is saying those who are willing to listen, those who realize I'm not just telling a story, but I'm talking about a spiritual principle, think on these things. That's what he's saying. All right, verse 10. His disciples came to him and asked why do you use parables when you talk to the people? And then he replied you are permitted to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given and they will have an abundance of knowledge, but those who are not listening, even what little they understand, will be taken away from them. This is why I use these parables, For they look but they don't really see. By the way, he's quoting from the Old Testament right here. They hear, but they do not really listen or understand.

Speaker 1: 6:22

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says when you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of Isaiah that says their ears cannot hear, their hearts cannot understand and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. So in other words, he is saying I am only wanting to talk to the people who want to learn, not the people who just want to pick apart what I have to say and try to cause division. So he's saying there's a role you have to play, and we can even see that when it comes to reading God's word.

Speaker 1: 7:00

You ever notice how some people will come in and they'll read God's word and they'll just go, ah, I don't get it, and walk away. And then you have other people who will read God's word and go wow, that's amazing, that's powerful. Many times it has to do with the position, the posture of their heart, willing to be a student. And that's what Jesus is saying for those who are willing to learn, Absolutely They'll get it. Those who are not, they're just going to go away and not understand. All right, verse 16, but blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. I tell you the truth many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they long to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.

Speaker 1: 7:39

Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they didn't last long. They fell away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. Ouch. The seeds that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of 30, 60, or even 100 times as much as had been planted.

Speaker 1: 8:31

Here is another story Jesus told the kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field, but that night, as the worker slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's workers went out to him and said Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds. Where did they come from? An enemy has done this. The farmer exclaimed Shall we pull out the weeds? They asked no, he replied You'll uproot the wheat. If you do, Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and tie them into bundles and burn them and put the wheat into the barn. Here is another illustration Jesus used the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. Jesus also used this illustration.

Speaker 1: 9:48

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God spoke through the prophets. I will speak to you in parables and I will explain these things hidden since the creation of the world. Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house and his disciples said Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field. Jesus replied the Son of man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world and the good seed represents the kingdom of God or the people of the kingdom. Weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world and the harvesters are the angels. Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of man will send His angels and they will remove from His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, and the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their father's kingdom. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen and understand.

Speaker 1: 11:07

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field Again. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for a choice pearl. When he discovered the pearl, of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it Again. The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down and sorted out all the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace where they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things? Yes, they said we do. Then he added Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out his storeroom of new gems of truth as well as old.

Speaker 1: 12:10

When Jesus had finished telling all these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country and he returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said where does he get this wisdom and power to do miracles? Then they scoffed he's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother and his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. All of his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all of these things, and they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family. So he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.

Speaker 1: 12:55

So what we got to see is is Jesus is telling us that the kingdom of heaven is a multifaceted world, that it's full of good things, deep understanding and amazing opportunities to know God more. If you notice, there was three or four times it stood out where he would say that there are seasons when there are people who are in the kingdom of God and people who only are pretending to be part of the kingdom of God and we really don't know. Only God knows and only at the end will God know people's hearts and he will separate those who are wicked and those who are good. So he says there will be seasons when you won't always be certain what's our job. Keep growing, Keep moving forward and trust that God knows our hearts and he will keep going. I think my favorite parable in there is when he talks about that there was a man who saw a treasure and when he found the treasure, he hid the treasure back where it was and then he went and sold everything he had to obtain that field that had that treasure, treasure. He hid the treasure back where it was and then he went and sold everything he had to obtain that field that had that treasure.

Speaker 1: 14:02

Can I tell you I have seen that so many times in my own life and in the lives of others that when people begin reading God's Word, when they discover who God is, they will change everything about their life so that they can experience more of God. Can I tell you, that's my hope for you today. My hope for you today is that you will discover so much more of God that nothing else will satisfy and you will literally just sell all of your possessions. What I mean by that is not necessarily your physical possessions, but you're willing to sell your past mistakes, your addictions, your holding on to other things, and you'll say I want to change everything about my life. I want to hold on to Jesus because what I have found in him is more precious and more valuable than anything else. Now it's going to come with a cost.

Speaker 1: 14:55

Notice how, at the very end of the chapter, it said that Jesus went back to his hometown and he wanted to do some of the great things that he had done in other places in his hometown. The only difference was they didn't receive him and they were unwilling to receive what he was doing. And so if they didn't always receive Jesus, then people will not always receive our pursuit of God. What do we do? We keep on growing. We keep telling people I am not any better than you. I didn't come here to try to brag on myself. I'm just telling you I'm better than I would be without Jesus, and I invite you to join in the journey, becoming part of the kingdom of God.

Speaker 1: 15:34

And as we do this, our lives become living parables. We become living stories of the goodness of God. Let's pray together right now. God, thank you so much for today. Thank you for your word that teaches us that you're on the move, that you're doing so many good things in our lives. My prayer today, God, is that we would become living parables. We would become examples of your goodness, become living parables. We will become examples of your goodness, examples of your glory, and that we, God, will be the very best story of what you can do in a life. We celebrate you today In Jesus' name. We pray Amen, Amen. God's word says in Matthew 28, verse 19,. All authority and in heaven and earth has been given to me. Jesus said go therefore and make disciples of all nations. I pray that through our time together, every day, you are becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Matthew, chapter 14.