Matthew includes two particular sections of significant interest to prophetic studies.  One is the Olivet Discourse in chapters 24-25; the other is these seven parables delivered in chapter 13.  One's presuppositions on methods of interpretation greatly determine the conclusions of interpreters on the meanings of both of these sections. 

Literalists lean toward dispensationism--seeing God relating to mankind in various ways over time; spiritualizers and allegorical interpreters tend to lump all believers together as they search for secret meaning behind the words; consequently, they see little distinction between different ages and God's dealings with man.

Anyone who uses the terms "Old Testament" and "New Testament" must admit God's dealings with mankind is divided into at least two different time periods and two different modes of operation--"Law" and "Grace." 

Our present age is markedly different from the previous period.  In all ages before this Christ and the "good news" he proclaimed was anticipated--there were only scattered clues and promises--but now those promises have been realized.  God's revelation to man was incomplete in past ages, but with the appearance of the Son of God, and subsequent New Testament accounts of his life and teachings that revelation is complete--we can expect no more divinely inspired Scripture, He's given us his Son.  In this age the Holy Spirit lives in every believer  perpetually to seal, guide, and empower--before Acts 2 this was unthinkable.  The Holy Spirit filled certain individuals for a short time, then left.  This present age is under control of Satan--the "god" of this age; therefore, it is described as an "evil" age.  The nation Israel--so prominently the centerpiece of the entire Old Testament--has been temporarily set aside, "pruned," "blinded" while the church (non-existent in the Old Testament) has become temporarily the focus of God's work--the calling out of a people (Acts 15:4) for himself.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

This is the general basis of the dispensationist view.  God has a program for Israel set forth in the Old Testament; they rejected it.  God set them aside temporarily to begin another program (the church).  When God finishes His church program He will return to finish with Israel.  Dispensationists generally believe this church age extends from the birth of the church in Acts 2 until seven years before Jesus' second advent when the church will be removed from the earth.  The last seven years is the last seven of Daniel's 70 Weeks--which deals exclusively with Israel, not the church.  God will conclude his plan for Israel during those last seven years.  Therefore, dispensationists generally believe the parables in Matthew 13 are a veiled explanation of what is going to happen between Messiah's two advents--our church age plus the last seven years of Israel.   While many Christian brothers may disagree with this presumption, this is the view I have taken in this discussion.