Moses writes in Leviticus that the person who keeps the law will live by it, establishing the principle of righteousness through obedience. Paul has been explaining that Israel pursued righteousness through works of the law rather than by faith, stumbling over Christ as the stumbling stone. He has just expressed his deep desire for Israel's salvation and acknowledged their zeal for God, though it lacks proper knowledge. The Jews sought to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God's righteousness, not understanding that Christ is the end or goal of the law for everyone who believes. Paul contrasts the righteousness that comes from the law with the righteousness that comes from faith, showing that salvation is accessible to all who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead.
[5] For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” [6] But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) [7] or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): [9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. [13] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
[14] How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
[16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” [17] So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jesus continues teaching the crowds by the Sea of Galilee using parables about the kingdom of heaven. He has just finished explaining the parable of the sower and the parable of the wheat and tares to his disciples, emphasizing how God's word produces different results in people's hearts and how good and evil will coexist until the final judgment. The crowds remain gathered around him as he presents more parables to illustrate spiritual truths about God's kingdom. After sharing parables about the mustard seed and leaven with the multitude, Jesus dismisses them and enters a house where his disciples request further explanation of the parable of the tares. Jesus then provides a detailed interpretation of that parable's meaning. Jesus is addressing the crowds by the sea, then specifically his disciples in the house.
[31] Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, [32] which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
[33] Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
[34] All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, [35] that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
[36] Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
[37] He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. [39] The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. [40] Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. [41] The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, [42] and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.