Mateus 13
William Barclay · Citado em PreceptAustin
Mateus 13
Barclay adds that “The parable conceals truth from those who are either too lazy to think or too blinded by prejudice to see. It puts the responsibility fairly and squarely on the individual. It reveals truth to him who desires truth; it conceals truth from him who does not wish to see the truth.”(Matthew 13 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible)
Mateus 13
Barclay - When the New Testament talks of the mystery of the Kingdom, it does not mean that the Kingdom is remote and abstruse and hard to understand; but it does mean that it is quite unintelligible to the man who has not given his heart to Jesus, and that only the man who has taken Jesus as Master and Lord can understand what the Kingdom of God means. (Matthew 13 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) But to them it has not been granted - Mark 4:11+ expands the meaning of them stating that those who are outside get everything in parables. This describes hearers who do not believe in Jesus. They have not been granted enlightenment concerning the mystery of Jesus' parabolic teachings because they have refused the Light of the Word! (Jn 8:12, read Jn 3:19-20+). Not been granted is didomi in the perfect tense meaning this is their state or condition. John Phillips feels that with this pronouncement "The Lord had closed the door on Israel as a nation. Individual Jews can still be enlightened by exercising personal faith in Christ. These believers become members of the church (the multinational, mystical body of Christ) and heirs of the heavenly kingdom. Unregenerate Jewry to this day is devoid of understanding and blind to the mystery truths of the kingdom." (Exploring the Gospel of Matthew) Sean O'Donnell - To those on the inside, so to speak, those who are part of the new family of God-Jesus’ brothers and sisters by faith-parables reveal once-hidden truths. Parables unveil what Jesus calls “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 13:11). To most of us secrets are a precious commodity. If someone comes up to you and whispers in your ear, “I want to tell you a secret,” I assume that you are immediately engaged with this person and almost instantaneously feel a sense of intimacy that may not have existed before the notion of sharing some secret was communicated. If someone wants to share a secret with me, I recognize that this person is likely going to share with me something he or she is unwilling to share with others, something special that he or she trusts me to keep. So most of the time, secrets are special to us. As a special gift Jesus shares certain secrets with his closest followers, what he calls “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.” To them and only to them he says, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.” Although we are not told specifically the nature of the secret, from what these disciples have “seen” and “heard” we can safely assume that “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” concern the rule of God revealed in the person, works, and words of Jesus. And from what Jesus says in Mt 13:34, 35, “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” are similar to Paul’s term in Ephesians, “the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19; cf. Eph 1:9; 3:1-10; 5:32; Romans 16:25-27). That which has been “hidden since the foundation of the world” (Mt 13:35) is slowly coming to light, this gospel about Jesus-the one who comes to suffer, die, rise again, and commission his church to take the good news to all the world, breaking down the walls of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. In Jesus “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God” (Ephesians 3:9) comes to light. It is a riddle no more. The secret is out. In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his [God’s] grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery [the secret] of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10) That sounds a lot like Mt 28:19, doesn’t it? It echoes and expands it. What was once hidden to the world, and still remains hidden to the crowd and the Jewish religious leaders and to any who follow in their faithless footsteps, God has now revealed to a former tax collector, a few former fishermen, and anyone who is humble enough to heed the call of Christ and put on his gentle yoke. Parables conceal, but they also reveal. (See Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth) ILLUSTRATION OF MYSTERY - A college professor asked, “How many of you in this class believe the Bible is the Word of God?” He said it with such a sneer on his face that none would raise their hand except for one Christian young man there in that class. And he knew that he must be true to his Lord and Savior, and so he lifted his hand and confessed that he believed that the Bible was the Word of God and that he loved the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Then that professor began to cut this young man down. Immediately, at the beginning of the class, he ridiculed the Bible. He ridiculed Christianity. He ridiculed it as superstition, and as fogeyism, and as something that was out of date, and so forth. And then the professor sort of climaxed all that he had to say by saying, “Young man, I want you to know that the Bible is a bundle of blunders and a book of nonsense. I have read it, and it makes no sense to me.” And that young man, nonplussed, said, “Sir, may I say a word to you now?” And the professor said, “What is it?” He said, “Sir, the Bible is God’s love letter to His children. If you’ve read it, and it doesn’t make any sense to you, it’s because you’ve been reading somebody else’s mail.” Amen? Mystery (3466)(musterion - see extensive discussion from mustes = one initiated [e.g. "mystery" religions] from mueo = to close or shut) in the NT is a truth never previously known (or only partially known) which human intellect could never discover, which has now been made known by divine revelation. It describes “the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly but when revealed to the godly, are understood by them.” This Greek word does not carry the connotation it has today as when we talk of a mystery novel. A mystery in the Bible is a truth which man cannot know by his natural powers, but must be supernaturally revealed. In Paul's day musterion was a technical term utilized by the "mystery religions" which referred to a secrets concealed by strange customs and ceremonies and confided only to those initiated into the "mystery cult". The mystery-religions had their secrets and signs as modern secret societies have today. Those initiated into these pagan cults, knew these secret signs. Musterion - Matt. 13:11; Mk. 4:11; Lk. 8:10; Rom. 11:25; Rom. 16:25; 1 Co. 2:7; 1 Co. 4:1; 1 Co. 13:2; 1 Co. 14:2; 1 Co. 15:51; Eph. 1:9; Eph. 3:3; Eph. 3:4; Eph. 3:9; Eph. 5:32; Eph. 6:19; Col. 1:26; Col. 1:27; Col. 2:2; Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Rev. 1:20; Rev. 10:7; Rev. 17:5; Rev. 17:7 Kingdom (932) basileia from basileus = a sovereign, king, monarch) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. Basileia can also refer to the territory or people over whom a king rules (See "Three Basic Meanings" below). Swindoll says basileia means "“kingdom,” “government,” “royal power” This term denotes the dominion of a lawful king, which the Greeks saw as something derived from Zeus. In the Old Testament, Israel was originally a theocracy, a nation whose king was God. Therefore, Israel was the kingdom of God. Even when a human sat on the throne of Israel, he derived his power from God. The Gospels depict the earth as the dominion of Satan or evil, a usurper to the rightful throne of God. Jesus came to reestablish divine rule (i.e., the kingdom of God). (Insights on Luke) At the outset it should be noted that the Kingdom of Heaven/God is both simple and complex and has been the subject of many non-Biblical interpretations (this summary makes no attempt to review these interpretations). It is as simple as the truth that wherever the King (God/Jesus) rules and reigns, there the kingdom is present! It is complex in that a number of references to Kingdom of God/Heaven have prophetic (eschatological) overtones, so it has a present and future aspect. It is also complex in the sense that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is described in both testaments from Genesis to Revelation (See Tony Garland's interesting related summary of Genesis and Revelation as Bookends). It follows that any attempt to give a Biblical definition of kingdom will be woefully lacking. So as you read these notes on the definition of basileia, understand that this is only a summary - --indeed, it will take all eternity to comprehend God's Kingdom, a Kingdom which will endure forever and ever! Amen! The following passages are discussed in George Peters magnum opus The Theocratic Kingdom published originally in 3 volumes. the passages below are in Volume 1 (I.), Volume 2 (II.) and Volume 3 (III.). Once you open the correct volume, you will have to hunt down the comments related to the respective verse. Matthew 13:1–23 III. 186. Matthew 13:10 II. 18. Matthew 13:11–16 I. 141, 283, 430, II. 16, 18. Matthew 13:19 II. 314. Matthew 13:24–30 I. 39, II. 21, 181, III. 175. Matthew 13:31–33 I. 39, 200, 657, II. 22, 27, 33, 237, 300, 619, III. 175. Matthew 13:34, 35 I. 34, II. 23. Matthew 13:39–43 I. 577, II. 167, 176, 269, 516. Matthew 13:40, 43 II. 177. Matthew 13:41–43 I. 283, 414, II. 167, 592, III. 541. Matthew 13:44–46 I. 39, II. 23, 384, 408, 420–1. Matthew 13:47–50 II. 24. Matthew 13:52 I. 20, 39. Who can understand the mysteries? Clearly only those who have been "initiated" into Christ by the New Birth. To them it is granted (as a divine gift) from God.
Mateus 13
Barclay - The Greek word in Matthew 13:11, which I have translated secrets (as the Revised Standard Version also does), is musterion. This means literally mysteries which is, in fact, how the King James Version renders it. In New Testament times this word mystery was used in a special and a technical way. To us a mystery means simply something dark and difficult and impossible to understand, something mysterious. But in New Testament times it was the technical name for something which was unintelligible to the outsider but crystal clear to the man who had been initiated. In the time of Jesus in both Greece and Rome the most intense and real religion was found in what were known as the Mystery Religions. These religions had all a common character. They were in essence passion plays in which was told in drama the story of some god or goddess who had lived and suffered and died and who had risen again to blessedness. The initiate was given a long course of instruction in which the inner meaning of the drama was explained to him; that course of instruction extended over months and even years. Before he was allowed finally to see the drama he had to undergo a period of fasting and abstinence. Everything was done to work him up to a state of emotion and of expectation. He was then taken to see the play; the atmosphere was carefully constructed; there was cunning lighting; there were incenses and perfumes; there was sensuous music; there was in many cases a noble liturgy. The drama was then played out; and it was intended to produce in the worshipper a complete identification with the god whose story was told on the stage. The worshipper was intended literally to share in the divinity's life and sufferings and death and resurrection, and therefore shared in his immortality. The cry of the worshipper in the end was: "I am Thou, and Thou art I." We take an actual example. One of the most famous of all the mysteries was the mystery of Isis. Osiris was a wise and good king. Seth, his wicked brother, hated him, and with seventy-two conspirators persuaded him to come to a banquet. There he persuaded him to enter a cunningly wrought coffin which exactly fitted him. When Osiris was in the coffin, the lid was snapped down and the coffin was flung into the Nile. After long and weary search, Isis, the faithful wife of Osiris, found the coffin and brought it home in mourning. But when she was absent from home, the wicked Seth came again, stole the body of Osiris, cut it into fourteen pieces, and scattered it throughout all Egypt. Once again Isis set out on her weary and sorrowful quest. After long search she found all the pieces; by a wondrous power the pieces were fitted together and Osiris rose from the dead; and he became for ever afterwards the immortal king of the living and the dead. It is easy to see how moving a story that could be made to one who had undergone a long instruction, to one who saw it in the most carefully calculated setting. There is the story of the good king; there is the attack of sin; there is the sorrowing search of love; there is the triumphant finding of love; there is the raising to a life which has conquered death. It was with that experience that the worshipper was meant to identify himself, and he was supposed to emerge from it, in the famous phrase of the Mystery Religions, "reborn for eternity". (Ed: What a Tragic Deception!) That is a mystery; something meaningless to the outsider, but supremely precious to the initiate. In point of fact the Lord's Supper is like that. To one who has never seen such a thing before, it will look like a company of men eating little pieces of bread and drinking little sips of wine, and it might even appear ridiculous. But to the man who knows what he is doing, to the man initiated into its meaning, it is the most precious and the most moving act of worship in the Church. So Jesus says to his disciples: "Outsiders cannot understand what I say; but you know Me; you are My disciples; you can understand." Christianity can be understood only from the inside. It is only after personal encounter with Jesus Christ that a man can understand. To criticize from outside is to criticize in ignorance. It is only the man who is prepared to become a disciple who can enter into the most precious things of the Christian faith (Matthew 13 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) Matthew 13:12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. AMP For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him. AMPC For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ERV The people who have some understanding will be given more. And they will have even more than they need. But those who do not have much understanding will lose even the little understanding that they have. NET Matthew 13:12 For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. GNT Matthew 13:12 ὅστις γὰρ ἔχει, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ καὶ περισσευθήσεται· ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει, καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ. NLT Matthew 13:12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. KJV Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. ESV Matthew 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. NIV Matthew 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ASV Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. CSB Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. NKJ Matthew 13:12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. NRS Matthew 13:12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. YLT Matthew 13:12 for whoever hath, it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him. NAB Matthew 13:12 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. NJB Matthew 13:12 Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has. GWN Matthew 13:12 Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge, and they will excel in understanding them. However, some people don't understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them. BBE Matthew 13:12 Because whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have more; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. For whoever - Mt 25:29 Mk 4:24,25 Lu 8:18 9:26 19:24-26 Joh 15:2-5 from - Mt 21:43 Isa 5:4-7 Mk 12:9 Lu 10:42 12:20,21 16:2,25 Rev 2:5 Rev 3:15,16 Matthew 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Mark 4:24-25+ And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18+ “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 19:25-26+ “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Matthew 25:29+ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. SPIRITUAL PROGRESSION OR SPIRITUAL REGRESSION The fact that this saying (with slight alterations) is repeated some 5 times in the Gospels shows how significant this truth is to Jesus. Jesus states a principle that governs spiritual understanding and response to truth. If you have ridden a bicycle, you know that if you are pedaling, your are progressing, but if you cease pedaling, you start falling. Jesus is emphasizing the same principle in the spiritual life for every person is either progressing or regressing spiritually. Even as no one can stand still on a bicycle (except acrobats), no man remains still or static in his relationship to God. 🙏 THOUGHT - John
Mateus 13
Barclay writes that "it was a common sight to see such mustard bushes or trees surrounded with a cloud of birds, for the birds love the little black seeds of the tree, and settle on the tree to eat them." (Matthew 13 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) Cornerstone Bible Commentary shows the divergent interpretations of this parable - The birds nesting in the mustard tree are unbelievers (Walvoord 1974:101); Toussaint (1980:181) disagrees, viewing the mustard tree as portraying the Kingdom positively. (ED: BOTH OF THESE MEN WERE RESPECTED PROFESSORS AT DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BUT HELD DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSING VIEWS.) (See The Gospel of Matthew - The Gospel of Mark or here) Adam Clarke “Both these parables (MUSTARD AND LEAVEN) are prophetic, and were intended to show, principally, how, from very small beginnings, the Gospel of Christ should pervade all the nations of the world, and fill them with righteousness and true holiness.” Of course this will not be consummated until Christ returns for only then the prophecy be fulfilled that "the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14+) Daniel tells us that the kingdom of men will be totally demolished when Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:11-21+) to set up His Kingdom. Daniel writes... “You (DANIEL DESCRIBING TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE DETAILS OF HIS DREAM) continued looking until a Stone (CHRIST) was cut out without hands (SUPERNATURAL ORIGIN ~ VIRGIN BIRTH), and it struck the statue (REPRESENTING ALL THE KINGDOMS OF MEN OPPOSED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD) on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time (IN A MOMENT, THE MOMENT JESUS RETURNS TO TRIUMPH OVER ALL HIS ENEMIES) and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found (GONE FOREVER - GREECE, ROME, ETC. ALL THE GREAT BUT PREDOMINANTLY GODLESS CIVILIZATIONS AND THEIR UNGODLY INFLUENCES). But the Stone (CHRIST) that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (COMPARE THIS WITH JESUS' DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSTARD SEED BECOMING "A TREE"). (Da 2:34-35+) “In the days of those kings (THE TOE STAGE ~ TEN KINGDOMS IN A LOOSE CONFEDERACY IN THE END TIMES - Da 2:42+) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (cf MUSTARD PLANT!) which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. 45 “Inasmuch as you saw that a STONE (CHRIST) was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future (THIS PROPHECY IS YET TO BE FULFILLED! BUT IT WILL BE WHEN CHRIST RETURNS! WHY? BECAUSE IT "IS TRUE!"); so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” (Da 2:44-45+)