The Parable of the Weeds

Matthew 13:36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 

Jesus has just told one of his parables to the crowd. He's left them scratching their collective heads. That was the reason for the parables you remember. They weren't to make heavenly principles easier to understand they were to totally confound the unbelieving multitude. That is what Jesus reiterated in Matthew 13:13 where he said, "This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.'" 

So it is significant that here, Jesus and his men leave the crowd and go into the house. The multitude is extracted from the explanation of this confusing little story. The disciples, however, still scratching their heads, make an interesting statement, "Explain please!" 

Why are they interested? What about this story has piqued their curiosity? Why did Matthew record this inquisition? 

It was all written for our edification or understanding. The Holy Spirit wanted us to know about the parable and also its interpretation. We are in an intimate setting here. We are in a small room with the Savior and his men. Now we are going to hear what this tome means.

But rather than go into that part of the account, I'd like to think for just a second about the implications of what has just transpired in this text. Jesus leaves the crowd. That is significant. The crowd is left out of understanding what Jesus meant. This idea goes along with what Jesus said about the way to heaven. The broad way (crowd) leads to destruction and the narrow way to life. While the crowd didn't come knocking on the door wanting to know what Jesus had just said, his men did want to know. They were his men. He had chosen them each for a specific reason and purpose (see John 15).

Why did the 12 come to ask for an explanation? We already have seen this question answered in 13:10 and 11, when even the disciples had been confused about Jesus always speaking to the crowd in parables. Look at what Jesus said, 10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11 He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." 

Wow. The crowd was left out. Only a select few could understand this new secret code. Only twelve at this stage of the storyline. However, as Matthew and the other evangelists wrote their gospel accounts others became privy to such conversations. Others like you and me. 

Since I like to keep my devotional thoughts short, let's look more into this intriguing topic tomorrow. Ok? Ok.