Master Teacher

Daily Devotional: Read Matthew 13:10–43

Dr. Rosalie de Rosset has served for decades as a Communications professor at Moody Bible Institute. She specializes in teaching literature and in mentoring. “I love my students,” she says. “I love talking to them about their lives, their struggles, and the way Jesus meets them…God is good. His grace is profound, and my students have made teaching a marvel of an experience.”

Students

Dr. de Rosset lives her life as an ardent follower of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. Today’s reading shows the heart of Christ who often taught with parables, using pictures and stories from everyday life. He wanted the meaning to be clear to those listening in faith (Matt. 13:10–17). He was perfectly in tune to the hearts and minds of His audience, and He always taught following the larger “lesson plan” of His Father.

The second story, later revealed to be an allegory, is built around a problem (vv. 24–28): A good man planted wheat, then his enemy came and planted weeds in the same field. This became known only when the plants sprouted. The solution was to sort it out at the harvest (vv. 29–30). Why wait? To make sure the wheat wasn’t harmed.

At the disciples’ request, Jesus explained the meaning (vv. 36–41). The good man is the Son of Man (Himself), while the enemy is the devil. The field is the world. The wheat represents people of the kingdom of God, that is, believers in the Son. The weeds represent everyone else. The harvesters are angels and the harvest is the final judgment. The core lesson here focuses on the two contrasting destinies: Sinners will be punished, while “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (vv. 42–43).

Go Deeper

Did you have a teacher who was also a Christian role model? Why not write a note to that teacher today (if the person is still alive)? Let them know how much you appreciated their godly example.

Pray with Us

Thank you, Jesus, for being our Master and Teacher. Thank You for the clear lessons You left us in Your Word and Your ongoing instruction in our lives. Help us to be committed students of the Word!

You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am.

John 13:13