- The Parable 比喻 (13:1-9)
With chapter 13 we reach a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. From this point onward Jesus started to teach in parables. This is because Israel repeatedly rejects Jesus and even called Him Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This is a judgment to those who reject Jesus. Parables are metaphorical narratives designed to teach truths to those who are open to Jesus but alienate those who reject Him (13:10-11).
第13章是耶稣事工的转捩点。从这里开始，耶稣使用比喻来教导人。这是因为以色列不断地拒绝耶稣，甚至称祂为鬼王别西卜。这是对拒绝耶稣之人的审判。比喻是隐喻性的叙述，专为听从耶稣的人说明真理，却孤立凡拒绝祂的人（13:10-11）。
- The Purpose 目的 (13:10-13)
Parables are used to better express spiritual truths. To the believer, he is privileged to know and understand more truths, especially of things unknown in the OT, i.e. Christ and His gospel unto salvation. To an unbeliever, however, unexplained parables are meant to conceal God’s truth as they had intentionally chosen to ignore God and His Word. This is a judgment for their unbelief.
比喻是用于更好地传达属灵真理。对信徒而言，他是有福的，能够认识和理解更多真理，特别是旧约中尚未知道的事，即基督和祂拯救的福音。对非信徒而言，未经解释的比喻是用于掩盖神的真理，因为他们刻意选择忽视神和祂的话。这是对他们不信的审判。
- The Punishment 惩罚 (13:14-17)
Teaching in parables is a form of judgment to the unbelievers. Verses 14-15 are taken from Isaiah 6:9–10 to describe the judgment of unbelieving Jews. The people kept on hearing, but they did not understand; and they kept on seeing, but they did not perceive, because they had intentionally closed their eyes and their ears to God and refused to understand with their hearts and return to Him in order for Him to heal them. Because they chose to ignore God and His word, God judicially locked them up in their unbelief so that they would fear His judgment.
使用比喻的教导是对非信徒的审判。第14至15节描述的是对不信之犹太人的审判；此节出自于《以赛亚书》6章9至10节。他们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得，因为他们刻意向神闭眼遮耳，不愿用心明白，不愿归向神，让神医治他们。因为他们选择无视神与祂的话，神就使他们坚决不信，叫他们畏惧祂的审判。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Please list down the reason why Jesus teaches in parable. Please read Matt. 13:10-11.
请列下耶稣使用比喻教导人的原因。请仔细阅读《马太福音》13章10至11节。
- Who does Jesus want to conceal the truth from (Matt. 13:11-12)? Why?
耶稣想要向谁掩盖真理呢（太13:11-12）？为什么？
- Why is this a judgment (Matt. 13:14-17)? How can we prevent ourselves from committing the sin that deserve this judgment?
为什么这就是审判（太13:14-17）？我们怎能避免自己犯下同样的罪呢？
