What was Jesus revealing through the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great value?

Matthew 13 continues the kingdom parables as Jesus challenges His listeners to rethink their expectations about the messianic kingdom. Glenn and Steve examine why the mustard seed grows into a large plant where birds can nest, why leaven represents something that quietly spreads, and why the treasure and pearl are worth everything required to obtain them.

They also discuss why these parables should not be interpreted as though people purchase their own salvation. Salvation is a free gift; Christ is the One who paid the price.

The chapter then closes with Jesus returning to Nazareth. The people recognize His wisdom and miraculous power but still cannot get past the fact that He is the man they watched grow up.

The discussion ends by asking what Matthew means when it says Jesus did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief—and why that does not mean faith mechanically produces miracles.

Matthew 13:31–58 | The Book of Matthew — Session 27

Questions discussed in this session include:

• Is it true that there will be resident evil in the church?
• Does the kingdom have non-believers in it or only saved people?
• Do non-Christians benefit from Christianity?
• How much did Jesus give?

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Why does God allow good and evil to continue side by side?

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds and later the parable of the dragnet. Both teach that the world contains those who belong to Christ and those who do not, and that the final separation does not happen immediately.

Glenn and Steve work through Jesus’ own explanation of the wheat and weeds, discuss the reality of false believers and false teachers, and consider why Christians must be careful about trying to determine another person’s salvation.

The study then moves to the dragnet, where fish of every kind are gathered before the good are separated from the bad. That leads into a larger discussion about the end of the age, the present church age, the future millennial kingdom, the return of Christ, and why the final judgment should make the Gospel urgent today.

The central takeaway is simple: the harvest is coming, the net will eventually be full, and today is the day to respond to Christ.

Matthew 13:24–52 | The Book of Matthew — Session 26

Questions discussed in this session include:

• Why are there a mixture of Christians and non-Christians in our churches?
• What does the Bible say about the end of the age and end times prophecy?
• Is there a final judgement day? When will it be?
• Is the kingdom now or later?

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Why do some people hear the Word of God and grow, while others seem interested for a time and then walk away?

Matthew 13 begins Jesus’ great series of kingdom parables with the parable of the sower. A farmer scatters the same seed across four kinds of soil, but each produces a very different result.

Glenn and Steve examine what Jesus says about the hard path, shallow rocky soil, thorns, and good soil. They discuss persecution, the need for discipleship and deep biblical roots, the deceitfulness of wealth, the distractions of everyday life, and why new believers need more than a moment of initial enthusiasm.

The study also explores why Jesus began teaching publicly in parables after growing rejection from the religious leadership, what the New Testament means by a “mystery,” and why those who genuinely want spiritual truth are given more understanding.

Matthew 13:1–23 | The Book of Matthew — Session 25

Questions discussed in this session include:

• Has Jesus already told you about how you will react to His message?
• What is the role of a seed sower today?
• What types of things might cause the word of God to not be fruitful in someone’s life?
• Are there people who accept the word of God but do not grow? Why?

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Are the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God the same thing?

Matthew uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” repeatedly, while the other Gospels more commonly speak of the “kingdom of God.” Is that simply a difference in audience and terminology, or does Scripture point to a real distinction between the two?

In this topical discussion connected to the Matthew study, Glenn and Steve work through key passages involving the kingdom promised to Israel, the millennial reign of Christ, the church, salvation, the present and future aspects of the kingdom, and the significance of Jesus being the promised Son of David and Messiah.

They compare the parable of the talents with the minas, examine passages where kingdom language seems present and future, and consider how Matthew’s kingdom theme helps explain the movement of the Gospel from “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” toward Jesus’ announcement of the cross.

Rather than forcing every passage into a system, the goal is to reason through the biblical evidence and let Scripture define the kingdom.

Reasoning Through the Bible — Matthew Topical Study

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Is simply cleaning up your life enough?

Matthew 12 closes with Jesus describing an unclean spirit that leaves a person, only to return later and find the “house” swept, orderly, and empty. The warning is clear: removing something evil without being filled by God does not produce lasting spiritual change.

Glenn and Steve discuss why true transformation requires more than behavior modification, how the Holy Spirit changes the believer from the inside, and why the generation rejecting Jesus was in danger of ending up worse than before.

The passage then shifts to Jesus’ mother and brothers standing outside. Jesus responds by pointing to His disciples and saying that those who do the will of His Father are His true family.

That leads into a discussion of Mary, later Christian teachings about her, the meaning of Jesus’ brothers and sisters, and why every believer has direct access to Christ without needing another human mediator.

Matthew 12:43–50 | The Book of Matthew — Session 24

Questions discussed during this session include:

• Should people today be afraid of the devil or demons?
• Can Christians be attacked or possessed by demons?
• Who is Mary and what is her position in the Bible?
• Are there people on earth today who are closer to God than Mary?

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Have you ever worried that you may have committed the unpardonable sin?

Matthew 12:31–42 contains one of Jesus’ most debated warnings: “Blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.” But what did He mean, and can someone today accidentally place himself beyond God’s forgiveness?

Glenn and Steve examine the immediate context of Jesus’ words, where the Pharisees had just attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. They discuss why this is not simply about saying one terrible sentence and why anyone who genuinely comes to Christ seeking forgiveness can still be forgiven.

The study then turns to Jesus’ teaching that the mouth reveals what fills the heart, the certainty of judgment, why salvation is not based on balancing good works against bad, and how the blood of Christ covers the believer’s guilt.

Finally, when the Pharisees demand another sign, Jesus points them to the sign of Jonah—His coming death, burial, and resurrection—and declares that something greater than Jonah and Solomon is standing before them.

Matthew 12:31–42 | The Book of Matthew — Session 23

Questions discussed in this session include:

• Is there going to be a judgement day? What will it be like?
• What is the only way to stand justified before a holy and righteous God?
• Which prophet is greater than Jonah?
• If we do more good things than bad, can we get into heaven?

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Matthew 12 reaches a major turning point as the religious leaders move from questioning Jesus to openly rejecting Him.

After the Pharisees begin plotting His death, Jesus withdraws and continues healing those who follow Him. Matthew connects His gentle ministry to Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant who would bring justice and become the hope of the Gentiles.

Then Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The crowd begins asking the crucial question: “Could this be the Son of David?” The Pharisees cannot deny the miracle, so they claim Jesus is casting out demons by the power of Satan.

Glenn and Steve examine why this miracle mattered, how Jesus answers the accusation with the logic of a divided kingdom, why His authority over demons confirms the presence of the King, and what He means when He says, “He who is not with Me is against Me.”

Matthew 12:15–30 | The Book of Matthew — Session 22

Questions discussed during this session include:

• Who is the only person who can know someone’s thoughts?
• Can someone be neutral regarding Jesus?
• What about people who merely do not care about Jesus?
• Has Jesus shown Himself trustworthy, or is faith blind?

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Did Jesus and His disciples break the Sabbath?

In Matthew 12:1–14, the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of doing unlawful work because they plucked grain while walking through a field on the Sabbath. But the Mosaic Law actually permitted what they were doing.

Glenn and Steve examine how religious leaders had added layers of tradition around God’s commands and turned the Sabbath—a gift intended for rest—into a burden. Jesus answers their accusation by pointing to David eating the consecrated bread, the priests working in the temple on the Sabbath, and the greater importance of mercy, compassion, and genuine worship.

Jesus then makes two remarkable claims: something greater than the temple is here, and the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

The conflict intensifies when the Pharisees try to trap Jesus over healing a man with a withered hand. Jesus responds simply: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” The man is healed, and the Pharisees respond by beginning to plot Jesus’ death.

Matthew 12:1–14 | The Book of Matthew — Session 21

Questions discussed in this Session include:

• We learn the purpose of showbread and the priests’ responsibilities
• Can giving up things result in pleasing God?
• What is the purpose of the sabbath and how important is it to God?
• Jesus asks “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath?”

Support the show

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You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve