Jesus’ parables seem to apply neatly to His own ministry. They also seem to apply neatly to the history of Israel.

Which is it?

No need to choose, of course. It’s fundamental to Matthew’s gospel story that Jesus is the true Israel, reliving Israel’s history. We should expect the shape of Jesus’ story to be the same as the shape of Israel’s.

So: Is the parable of the sower about Israel’s resowing in the land, culminating with the fruitful harvest in the time of Jesus? Yes. It is also about the varying responses to Jesus’ own teaching? Yes.

Did the devil sow tares among the wheat of diaspora Israel? Yes. Did he also sow tares among the wheat of first-century Israel, even of Jesus’ own disciples? Yes.

Etc.