Matthew 13:2  “…the whole multitude stood on the shore”
Common practice then, the teacher or speaker would sit while the audience would stand.  In this case, because there were so many and they were beside the water, Jesus got into a boat so all could see Him, and they wouldn’t push Him into the water.

3  “…He spoke many things to them in parables…”
New teaching method.  Jesus tried several teaching methods while He was here.  Sounds odd since He was God, but He chose to do things as a human.  He would try one way, then another, whatever worked for the audience.  Methods can differ, but our message must always be the same, Jesus.

12  “…whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him”
This sounds rather cruel.  We’re taught to be fair and to share with others what we have.  But Jesus isn’t speaking about material possessions.  He’s speaking about desire and interest in Him, in the kingdom, in salvation.  The disciples had asked why He was speaking in parables, why not just speak plainly.  His reply sounds strange, but it amounts to one’s choice.  The disciples wanted to know Jesus and about the kingdom, while others may only be there to gain materially, food and healing and such.  Whoever has a desire to know more of Christ, more will be given to him.  But to him who has no interest in repentance and salvation, even what little thought he has on it will go away.  Those who truly wanted to know what Christ was speaking about would hear the parables and understand or inquire more about it.  Those who really didn’t want to know wouldn’t understand and would let it pass.

15  “…the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed…”
Isaiah’s prophecy of how many of the people of Jesus’s day would be.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the Pharisees.  Some weren’t belligerent about it, but simply apathetic.

17  “…many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it”
Jesus Himself.  The prophets would proclaim what God told them, but many times they didn’t fully understand what they prophesied.  I’m sure many did indeed long to know and understand what God was saying.  I’m sure they knew it was about the future and probably had to do with the Messiah, but the specifics were masked in mystery.  The disciples were privileged in that they saw the fulfillment of what was prophesied.  We, too, are privileged in that we can look back on what has happened and understand because of God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

19  “…the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart…”
This would be the ones Jesus spoke of who weren’t concerned about understanding.  Their hearts are hard.  They aren’t interested in the things of God.  But it’s not beyond God’s power to soften them, which is why we continue to pray for those we know in this condition.

22  “…the cares of this world…”
We let so many things get in the way of our relationship with Christ.  Even those things which are needed and helpful.  We must be diligent to make Him our priority above all.  I have a hard time with this.  Praying for diligence.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.