Matthew 13 -Parables about the Kingdom of God - Questions

Day 1
1. Read Matthew 13:1-9. Where do you think this took place? Which lake? Near which town?


2. Why do you think the people came to see Jesus?


3. Why do you think Jesus got into a boat to speak?


4. Jesus told the people many things in parables. What are the rules for interpreting parables in general? What do we look for? How accurate to the "real thing" is the teaching?


5. Do you see any differences between the parable as it is recorded in Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:2-9, Luke 8:5-8?


6. Why might there have been some slight variations between the telling of a parable as written by a different author?


7. Jesus said, "Whoever has ears, let them hear." How can we be sure to hear what Jesus is saying?


Day 2
8. Read Matthew 13:10-15. Why do you think that the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables?


9. Why did Jesus say he taught in parables? (See also Matthew 13:34-35)


10. If people search diligently to understand the scriptures, do you think that they are stronger believers?


11. From Matthew 13:16-17, what commendation did Jesus give his disciples and how does Jesus show value to what they are hearing and seeing?


12. Do you think there are people today who are longing to see and hear what the disciples were hearing and seeing?


13. How are we different from those who came before Jesus was here?


Day 3
14. Using Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:14-20 and Luke 8:11-15 what is the meaning of the parable about the Sower and the seed?


What is the seed?


Who is the Sower?


15. What is the meaning of the seed that fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up?


16. What is the meaning of the seed that fell among rocky places - it sprang up quickly, but because the soil was shallow when the sun came up they withered because they had no root.


17. How can we help water and nourish people who sprout and start to grow in their spiritual life?


18. What is the meaning of the seed falling among thorns which choked the plants?


19. Can we do some weeding to get rid of these choking plants? If so, how?


20. What do you think we could do to make sure that the seed continues to grow?


21. What is the meaning of the seed that fell on good soil and produced a crop of 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown?


22. What kind of harvest do you think Jesus is talking about here?


23. What would make you more fruitful?


24. How do we find good soil?


25. What is the good soil like - describe someone you believe has good soil but the seed is not yet planted in that soil. (Who are the kind of people who may be open to the gospel?) How do we plant seed there?


Are you on the lookout for good soil? Can you make a commitment to plant the seed in this kind of soil?


26. From this parable, the four reactions the seed encountered on different grounds are the 4 ways people respond to the gospel. They are:


Which one represents you?


Day 4
27. Read Matthew 13:24-30. The first parable's emphasis was on what happened to the good seed. What is the emphasis on in this parable?


28. What was the solution of the farmer?


29. Why did he not want to uproot the weeds?


30. Matthew 13:36-43. What was the meaning of the parable of the weeds?


Who planted the good seed?


What does the field represent?


31. What does the good seed represent?


What do the weeds represent?


32.Who sowed the weeds?


33. What is the harvest and when is it?


34. Who does the harvesting?


35. What will happen to the righteous after the unbelievers have been weeded out?


36. What should unbelievers be doing about what they just heard? What should believers be doing? Vs 43


Day 5
37. Read Matthew 13:31-32. What do you think Jesus is trying to say with the parable of the tiny mustard seed growing to become a tree?


38. Do you think the small things that you do are insignificant? What can your good deeds and attitudes produce?


39. Does this give you a sense of the importance of what God is calling you to do in kingdom building?


40. Read Matthew 13:33. Do you think the yeast refers to good things or bad things? Why or why not? Does it matter? Could it refer to either?


41. Does it take much yeast to leaven a large quantity of bread dough?


42. Read Matthew 13:44-45. The two parables are similar. What do you think the treasure and pearl stand for?


43. What value does this interpretation have for you today?


44. What is the most valuable thing in the world for you? Can you prove it by your actions? What would show that you mean what you say?


Day 6
45. Read Matthew 13:47-50. Which parable from Matthew 13 is similar to this one? In what way?


46. Why do you think Jesus would have told 2 parables that were so similar about the judgment in this chapter?


47. Read Matthew 13:51-52. What did Jesus want the disciples to understand?


48. What is the meaning of Matthew 13:52?


49. Read Matthew 13:53-58. Where did Jesus move on from? (see Matthew 8:5) Had they accepted & believed Christ's teachings? (see Matthew 11:23)


50. Where did Jesus go to and what did He do after he finished the parables? (see also Matthew 2:23, 4:12-13)


51. What do the people tell us about Jesus family?


52. What was the response of the people in the synagogue to Jesus' teaching and miracles?


53. What happened as a result of their lack of faith?


54. What application might that have for us today?