Beginning to encounter opposition from Jewish leadership, Jesus transitions to teaching in a veiled form of speech previously employed by King Solomon known as parables. The first in a series, Jesus offers the story of the sower and the seed. Arguably self-identifying with the sower, Our Lord’s story offers an explanation for why some people accept him and some reject him, all the while warning his followers of the cares of the world which can so easily prevent us from seeing Jesus for who he really is.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 2. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Hahn, Scott, et al. Isaiah. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2019.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
REFERENCES
1 Kings 4:32 - "He [Solomon] also uttered three thousand proverbs [LXX: παραβολάς, parabolas]."
Isaiah 6:9-10 - "And he said, 'Go, and say to this people: "Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive." Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.'”
John 12:28-30, 36-37 - "'Father, glorify thy name.' Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.' The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to him.' Jesus answered, 'This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.' 36 He departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him."