Today's Lesson Text is one of great importance, as it’s focus and context is based on building God's kingdom.

Matthew 13 explains that Jesus now teaches the crowds in parables, partly to fulfill a prophetic statement found in Psalms 78. (Matthew 13:34-35). These teachings are in context of Israel’s response to Jesus’ ministry.

In this week's lesson we find Jesus sending out his disciples to do the work that he had been preparing them to do.