Matthew 13 Jesus sat with the disciples after teaching the people. He had been teaching in parables to the multitude, and the disciples were confused. After explaining the first parables, He continued with new ones to help the disciples understand the kingdom of His Father.
The Mustard Seed
First, Jesus said, " The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows it is the biggest of all herbs. It grows into a tree, so that birds can come and live in its branches."
The Yeast
Next Jesus explained that His Father's kingdom was " like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened."
The Buried Treasure
Then Jesus said to His disciples, " The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
The Pearl
" Again," said Jesus, " the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."
The Great Net
Jesus continued, “ The kingdom of God is like a great net that was cast into the sea and caught every kind of fish. The fishermen pulled in the net from the shore. Then they sat down and sorted the fish, saving the good and throwing back the bad. This is what will happen at the end of the world. The angels will come and sort the good from the bad, and the evil will be thrown into the fires of hell."
The Home Owner
After telling those parables, Jesus asked His disciples, " Have you understood all these things?" They answered, "Yes, Lord." But Jesus had one final parable for them. He said, " Finally, every scribe of the Law of Moses is like a man who owns a house, who brings out of his treasure new and old things, loving the old understanding of the kingdom and rejoicing in new.”
