Matthew 13:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

NIV: So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.'

NASB: This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: 'I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL PROCLAIM THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.'

CSB: so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:I will open my mouth in parables;I will declare things kept secretfrom the foundation of the world.

NLT: This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: 'I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world. '

KJV: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

NKJV: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

Matthew has repeated once more in this chapter that Jesus spoke to the crowds only in parables (Matthew 13:3, 34). Parables are short stories or illustrations designed to reveal a larger truth. Jesus most often used them to describe the kingdom of heaven. The parables were often hard to understand, and Jesus described them in greater detail to His disciples. Previously, it seemed that Jesus was more direct, as in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7). The shift to a more obscure style is probably what prompted the disciples to ask this question. Jesus responded that it was because of the hardness of the people's hearts (Matthew 13:15). They refused to believe, so in a form of judgment, they would be made even more resistant.

In that passage, Jesus made it clear that this fulfilled a prophecy of Isaiah (Matthew 13:14). Now Matthew points to Jesus' use of parables as the fulfillment of yet another prophecy, this one from Psalm 78:2: "I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old." Matthew's version of the text changes the last line to "what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."

Matthew applies Asaph's words from Psalm 78 to Jesus. In doing so, he describes Jesus' parables as revelations of long-hidden truths about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. By communicating those truths in the form of parables, they remained hidden for many of Jesus' listeners.

Matthew 13:31–35 contains two short, closely-related parables about the kingdom of heaven. One refers to a tiny mustard seed which soon outgrows all the garden plants; it becomes like a tree. The other parable describes the leaven a woman puts in flour to make it grow. Both parables show that the kingdom of heaven will be tiny, at first—with just the disciples. Quickly, though, it will grow into something surprisingly large. Matthew quickly reminds his readers that Jesus taught only in parables at this time, fulfilling yet another prophecy.

Matthew 13 focuses mainly on a series of parables. Jesus first describes these to a large crowd along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Later, in a house, He explains to the disciples the meanings of the parables of the sower, the weeds, and the fish caught in the net. Jesus then travels to Nazareth, teaches in the synagogue, and is rejected by the people of His original hometown.

Matthew 13 follows Jesus from the overcrowded house at the end of the previous chapter to a crowded beach on the Sea of Galilee. He teaches a large crowd in a series of parables, which He doesn't fully explain. However, He reveals their meaning to His disciples inside a nearby house. Jesus pictures the kingdom of heaven as a sower, a sabotaged field of wheat, a mustard seed, and a pearl dealer, among other things. He then travels to His original hometown of Nazareth where He is rejected by the people He grew up with. This leads Matthew back to depictions of Jesus' miracles, after sadly recording John the Baptist's death.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.