| Matthew 13 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Book | Gospel of Matthew |
| Category | Gospel |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 1 |
Matthew 13 is the thirteenthchapter in theGospel of Matthew in theNew Testament section of theChristian Bible. This chapter contains the third of thefive Discourses of Matthew, called theParabolic Discourse, based on theparables of the Kingdom.[1] At the end of the chapter,Jesus is rejected by the people of his hometown,Nazareth.
The original text was written inKoine Greek. This chapter isdivided into 58 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
Matthew 13 presents seven parables,[4] and two explanations of his parables. Overall, the verses in this chapter can be divided into groups (with cross references to parallel sections in the othergospels):
Protestant theologianHeinrich Meyer identifies two groups of parables: the four first parables (up toMatthew 13:34) "were spoken in presence of the multitude, and the other three again within the circle of thedisciples".[6] German liberal Protestant theologianDavid Strauss thought this chapter was "overwhelming with parables".[6] At the beginning of the chapter,Jesus sits in a ship or a boat on theSea of Galilee and addresses the crowd who stand on the shore or the beach.[7] TheTextus Receptus has inserted thedefinite article (Greek:τὸ πλοῖον,to ploion), suggesting that there was a boat kept waiting for him,[8] but other texts do not include the definite article and thePulpit Commentary therefore argues that it was "wrongly inserted".[9]
These verses conclude theParabolic Discourse and may be called a "comparative proverb".[11]Henry Alford describes them as a "solemn conclusion to the parables.[4]Johann Bengel suggests that Jesus would have been ready to explain the other parables if necessary, "but they understood them, if not perfectly, yet truly".[8] The reference toscribes, or teachers of the Jewish law, who became disciples reflects the Matthean gospel focus in particular; theJerusalem Bible suggests that this reference may portray the evangelist himself.[12]
The final verses of this chapter see Jesus return to his home town, meaning Nazareth,[11] where he preaches in thesynagogue and experiences therejection of his "own people",[13] and his own country.
Dale Allison sees these verses and the following chapters as far aschapter 17 as recounting "the birth of theChurch";[11] the Jerusalem Bible likewise holds that the same long section constitutes a narrative on the Church, followed byMatthew 18, which is often called theDiscourse on the Church.[1]
Media related toGospel of Matthew - Chapter 13 at Wikimedia Commons