Like the fig tree that puts out leaves as summer nears, when Jesus’ followers see the events He had described earlier taking place, they would know that the end of the age was near. Then Jesus makes it clear that no one knows the day or hour of the final great event. But like the servants of a man who leaves on a journey do not know when he will return, nevertheless they continue to work faithfully. And the servants must stay awake, even they do not know when their master will return.

Jesus uses childhood games to speak to the attitudes of the scribes and Pharisees. Then he contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee and a tax collector, who both went to the temple to pray at the same time. No one was lower in the Jewish community than a man who sold out to the Romans and cheated his own people out of money. But the tax collector who prayed, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner” was forgiven and justified rather than the boastful Pharisee.

A land owner planted a complete vineyard then retired to his home. When it came time to give him a percentage of the crop, the tenants treated his servants very badly. Finally, the owner sent his beloved son to collect, but the tenants conspired to kill the son, ignoring obvious consequences. Then the owner of the vineyard destroyed those tenants. The Jewish leaders who heard the parable understood Jesus was speaking directly about them, but they feared the people and did not react—yet.

When the treasure or pearl is found, nothing else compares in value, and all else is counted as loss. Here the treasure or pearl is Jesus Himself and the salvation that is in Him alone. The Net parable says that God Himself is the Judge at the end of the age—Christians are not. New and Old Treasures are the great revelations of both the Old—the Hebrew Bible—and the new—the Greek Bible or the words of Jesus, and both inform the preachers of the Gospel.

Appearances are deceiving. The tiny mustard seed yields a tree large enough for birds to nest in it. A small lump of yeast will cause even a large amount of dough to rise. Jesus’ hearers would know about this. The message to His disciples is: what looks like very little will yet be useful. Large or small is not what counts, a lesson of comfort for many Christians. Jesus affirms that His followers are to prophecy (proclaim or preach) and depend on the work of the Holy Spirit to bring faith.

In the field of the sower will be weeds growing up alongside the wheat. Some might think that it would be proper to tear out the weeds. But Jesus says no, let the wheat and the weeds grow up together. Pulling out the weeds might mean some wheat would also be lost. That we must wait is the teaching; let the angels of God, under His direction, do the work of harvesting. The meaning of this parable will help His followers minimize their concern about the weeds. “Let it be” is the answer.

A sower/farmer scatters seeds everywhere, some falling on a path, some on rocky soil, some among thorns, and some on good soil. Only the seed upon good soil bears a crop. Jesus says that for the seed on the path and rocky ground, nothing happens at all. The seed among thorns produces a plant but no fruit. Jesus is preparing His followers, in that day and this, for how it will be when His great commission to present the Gospel is undertaken. No surprises, but there will be a harvest.

Parables were used by some of Israel’s prophets, like Ezekiel. They usually had one primary point and were more easily remembered. Jesus explains in Matthew 13:10-17 why He speaks in parables, and surprisingly, he quotes Isiah 6:9-10, where in commissioning Isaiah to his prophetic ministry, God tells him that people would not understand what he was saying nor listen to him. Jesus wants His disciples, whom he is sending out to evangelize, that their hearers would not understand the message.

All on board survive a shipwreck. Paul is bitten by a snake but survives, leading the locals to think he is a deity. Later Paul prays for the leader Publius’ father, who is made well. Paul and company are treated royally as a result. Finally in Rome, Paul is under house arrest, and leaders of the Roman Jewish community come to visit him. Some believe, but many do not. Here, Paul supposedly writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Luke ends his account with Paul in Rome. (End)

Luke gives us an eye witness account of a sea voyage from Palestine to Rome during late Spring and early Fall. The year is AD 59. Paul and companions are aboard a “coasting ship” at first, then a large grain boat whose destination is Rome. Julius, a Roman centurion, is in charge and sees to Paul’s needs. Paul is assured by God that all will reach shore safely despite the “northeaster” that descended upon them. Though the boat is broken apart, all (2)76 persons on board survive the ordeal.