In Matthew 13 we find a very unique combination of parables. It seems almost certain that this beginning of parable-giving (at least so in Matthew) offers Jesus an opportunity to outline the entire Gospel Age ahead of him and his disciples. While each parable can stand alone, the sequence of them tells a story. The sequence becomes the important context.

Each parable appears in a very special way to apply to one of the seven stages of the Church as we find them listed in Revelation 2 and 3. Obviously, some of them go way beyond the period of the Church which they represent. Thus, the Wheat and Tares parable, while it functionally represents the second stage of the Church as the parable opens, extends all the way to the seventh Church (the Harvest Church) as the parable concludes.

As the chapter ends, verses 51-58 corroborate the thesis about the collective meaning of these parables. These verses are frequently ignored when these parables are discussed; but in doing so, we miss a contextual “punch” that is laden with wonderful information for us.

If we consider Matthew 12:46-50 for a contextual connection, we also find a blessing. These verses separate the multitudes and his natural kin from Jesus’ TRUE FAMILY. Jesus is getting ready to speak parables to his TRUE FAMILY — all of his disciples between the two advents. This is quite possibly why Chapter 13 begins with the revealing CONNECTIVE statement: “On that day Jesus went…” It was on the day that he DEFINED his family that he would prophesy their Gospel Age destinies. Yes, he speaks some of these seven parables to the multitudes, but all of them to us, his family of disciples.

The division of Chapter 13 is also intriguing with these thoughts in mind. The first four parables are spoken in the boat to the multitudes as well as to the disciples. The next three parables are spoken in the house, and only to the disciples.

This four-plus-three concept is present in Revelation to mark divisions in Church history. Thus, the first four seals are deteriorating horses; then we have seals five through seven. The first four trumpets show deteriorating spiritual conditions; then we have trumpets five through seven listed as “woes” because their messages begin to hurt the establishment.

It is, of course, only coincidental, but the listing of Churches in Revelation 2 and 3 has the first four Churches in one chapter, and the final three in the latter. In actual Church history, the fifth Church is the turning point. So much so, that Bro. John Wycliffe (the fifth messenger) is known historically as “the morning star of the Reformation.”

It seems at least possible that the change of Jesus from boat to house and from multitudes to disciples, marks this historic change in the sudden upward course of the Church and the downward course of the powers of the apostasy

between the fourth and fifth periods of Church history. Four parables are spoken before Jesus enters the house; three are spoken when he is in the house.

In Chapter 13, the chapter is the context. Separating these parables from each other defeats Jesus’ intent for them. We will consider the end of the chapter in context after we have reviewed the parables.