What does Matthew 13:53 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Matthew leaves the reader with the impression, from this concluding transition as well as from the structure of the discourse, that Jesus related all the preceding parables at one time. This was apparently the case, though He may have repeated some of them at various other times as well. Jesus now left Capernaum and traveled to Nazareth ( Matthew 13:54). [source][source]

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The clause "and it came about that when Jesus had finished" signals the end of the discourse and the end of another major section of this Gospel. Matthew traced the course of opposition to the King carefully in this section. Israel"s rejection of Jesus was so clear that the King began to tailor His teaching more specifically to unbelievers and to believers. [source][source]

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"Thematically the three chapters (11-13) are held together by the rising tide of disappointment in and opposition to the kingdom of God that was resulting from Jesus" ministry. He was not turning out to be the kind of Messiah the people had expected. Even John the Baptist had doubts ( Matthew 13:2-19), and the Galilean cities that were sites of most of Jesus" miracles hardened themselves in unbelief ( Matthew 13:20-24). The nature of Jesus" person and ministry were "hidden" (an important word) from the wise, despite the most open and compassionate of invitations ( Matthew 13:28-30). Conflicts with Jewish leaders began to intensify ( Matthew 12:1-45), while people still misunderstood the most basic elements of Jesus" teaching and authority ( Matthew 12:46-50)." ^[1] [source]

However, Jesus" enemies had not checkmated Him. The kingdom would still come. Matthew 13provides assurance of that fact. Jesus added new revelation to old about the kingdom in this chapter to appeal further to the crowds and to prepare His disciples for what lay ahead. He did not teach about the church in this chapter, though He did describe conditions that would exist in the church age, which is part of the inter-advent era. The new revelation that there would be a "church" did not come until chapter16. He did give further revelation concerning the coming messianic kingdom here (ch13). ^[2] [source]

Context Summary

God's truth is always new and always old. It is as fresh as the morning breeze for each coming generation. But however stated, the fundamental facts are invariable. Let us store our minds and hearts with holy and helpful thoughts, so as to deal them out as the occasions serve.

Compare Matthew 13:53 with Luke 4:16-30. The question His townspeople put is stated a little differently in Mark 6:3. Till He left home, at the age of thirty, for His baptism, our Lord evidently worked with His hands. Perhaps the full wonder of His nature was not realized even by Himself. But surely none can despise manual toil when the Son of man wrought at the bench, making, according to the old tradition, implements of husbandry.

Sons and daughters were born to Joseph and Mary, whose names are here given. Alas, that we do not see the glory in common, familiar people and circumstances! Never forget that the absence of expectant faith does more to limit the progress of the gospel than the lack of funds! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 13

¹  The parable of the sower and the seed;
¹⁸  the explanation of it
²⁴  The parable of the weeds;
³¹  of the mustard seed;
³³  of the leaven;
³⁶  explanation of the parable of the weeds
⁴⁴  The parable of the hidden treasure;
⁴⁵  of the pearl;
⁴⁷  of the drag net cast into the sea
⁵³  Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country