The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Growing and Harvesting: Mt 13,24-43

We begin by reading through this part and noting its various elements. What is the significance of verse 36? (I mentioned it in the overview.)

The Wheat and the Darnel: 13,24-30

Verse 24 sets the scene and gives the theme. Who are "them"? See 13,34.

Verse 25 introduces an enemy from which the story unfolds in in verses 26-30. The weed is sometimes called tares, sometimes darnel. We can think of it as the ancient equivalent of Japanese knotweed, impossible to get rid of without damaging the good plants.

As with the parable of the sower so here too we need to hear the parable up to verse 30 without the explanation which is given after verse 36. Where lies the emphasis?

Mustard Tree and Leaven: 13,31-33

The two parables which follow then provide further background.
Thetwo parables form a pair. Where lies the emphasis in both and how do they complement each other? For leaven, a look at 1 Cor 5,6 is helpful.

Teaching in Parables: 13,34-35

Who is making the comments in these two verses and to whom are they addressed? This is not the same as earlier, 13,10.

The evangelist gives a quotation which he says comes from a prophet. In fact, it comes from a psalm, Ps 78,2. What is the theme of this psalm?

Time for a response.

Explanation of the Parable: 13,36-43

Verse 36 sets the scene as we have seen. How Jesus gets from boat to house is not stated.

The original parable, 13,24-30, is now given an allegorial interpretation in verses 37 to 39. Write down all these details. How has the emphasis changed?
The harvest is a well known symbol in the Old Testament: see among others, Joel 3,13; Hosea 6,11 and also the Apocalypse, Apoc 14,15.

The explanation then develops in verses 40-42 into a judgement scene of the sort that Matthew is fond, 19,28 for example.

Finally, in verse 43, we hear about the triumph of the righteous. We have seen the importance of the righteous in this Gospel, 5,10 for example.

Time for a response.

Sunday Gospel

As we have seen, this second part of the chapter is read on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Once again, a shorter form is offered: 13,24-30. How is this similar to the shorter form on the previous Sunday?

The accompanying OT reading is taken from the Wisdom of Solomon: Wis 12,13.16-19. It is as well to read the whole passage: Wisdom 12,12-22. Consider how this passage helps our hearing of the Gospel.

We are ready therefore to continue our reading with the third group of parables, 13,44-52.