Storys from the Kingdom of God
Matthew: God's Promises Fulfilled • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Matthew 13— there are seven parables. Six of these begin with the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven is like...”
Matthew 13— there are seven parables. Six of these begin with the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven is like...”
A picture is worth a thousand words...
The early Anabaptist reformers often wrote and identified what they called a “dualism”. Simply put they experienced life— just like you and i do— in two realms- Two Kingdoms— two existences— and that isn’t good— The healing of our dualism, or our existence in both of these kingdoms is one of the main tenets of the Anabaptist Vision.
Palmer Becker writes in his book called Anabaptist Essentials:
“Early Anabaptists believed that at all times and in all places, followers of Jesus are to give their supreme allegiance to God as knowing in Jesus Christ— They are to be always personally responsible for their actions. Followers of Christ are fist of all citizens of God’s Kingdom, to which they owe ultimate allegiance.”
Jesus absolutely understood the dualistic nature of our lives. He spends great time and energy with his disciples to lay out this principle.
Sometimes called the 3rd Discourse—(of a total of 5 in Matthew) Jesus finds his way into a boat on the shoreline— with a crowd of people on the land— this probably helped him get some distance from them— and it allowed them to hear him a little better too! This is basically a master class in the teachings of Jesus— he is the master teacher, and we are going to see today His wit, wisdom, and authority once again in his teaching.
[picture of Jesus on shoreline?]
Then within these 6 parables— we get six different comparisons to help us understand the kingdom of heaven.
And I might add that we can ask ourselves 6 parallel questions about the kingdom and our response to these parables. How I would like to do this— Let’s create some questions about the kingdom— and allow these parables to answer our questions.
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
Matthew 13:3 (NIV)
3 Then he told them many things in parables...
He uses a common teaching tool— an illustration, or a story to give us the lesson. You’ve probably experienced this— it’s why movies or art is so helpful in teaching a lesson or getting a message across— Our brains are wired (by God by the way) to remember facts and data best when they fit into a storyline— or a comparison that is vivid and familiar to us.
He is using parables.
“Parable”= parabole’, to cast alongside- something that comes alongside— comparison
48 times in the Gospels.
Its a great teaching tool that often gets us to “think” rather than just listen. He gets us focused on a particular situation— and then pairs a great lesson with that thinking.
Why did he do this— why not just tell us what He wanted us to know?
We’ll before we get into these parables— he answers his disciples on exactly why--
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
That’s Isaiah 6:9 — it’s from the dramatic vision that Isaiah has where he is in the throne room of God— Here am I Send me!
Secondly—
What might Jesus mean by the phrase the “Kingdom of Heaven”?
Matthew is the only one who uses this phrase. Mark, Luke, John all use “Kingdom of God”.
Both express the idea of “rulership”.
Kingdom refers to the rule of a King.
In this case— Kingdom of Heaven (or Kingdom of God) is referring to the rulership of God, and it’s both Physical (like heaven is indeed a physical place)— but it’s also Spiritual, because God is ruling a person— like you and me! We are citizen’s of the Kingdom of Heaven (or God)— and God is our King.
SO he’s helping us to realize and understand that the Kingdom of God is like… this or that—and enthusiastically welcoming people to surrender to the King— become citizens, and allowing us to apply these concepts to our citizenship! Benefits and responsibilities—
Admit it— someone is ruling your life. Is it you? or is it the world? or is it God? You are either a citizen or not.
And if you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God— then God is the King, and the kingdom has certain characteristics.
The Sower and the Soils (Matt 13:3-9)
What is our response to the Kingdom?
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Four different responses to the word of God. Four different responses to the person of Jesus.
The Wheat and The Tares (Matt 13:24-30)
Why does God allow evil to persist?
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
Just let me read the remaining verses— you follow along:
26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Everyday life— this is one of the rare parables where Jesus actually gives the meaning. Think about what he’s expressed before—”Not everyone is going to understand this stuff--” and most of the time he left everyone to scratch their head and decipher the meaning on their own. But in this case—
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
The funny part about this— is that these disciples are not the most bright guys sometimes— just like us, right? They are the ones that Jesus has chosen to ultimately start his church and continue his movement throughout history— and they don’t get it most of the time. Praise the Lord for people who don’t always get it right all the time.
Like when they were out with the crowd— they were just nodding along— oh yes, hmm, of course---
When they get Jesus alone in a room privately— they ask him to explain it.
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
Let me read the rest:
38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
There are two sowers. ME- Jesus, and the enemy, Satan. There are two groups of people here. Those who are planted and from me— the Son of God— and those who are planted and from the world— the enemy.
At the judgement— the angels are going to separate everyone, and a day of reckoning will occur.
Wheat will be going into the eternal reward. For those who have accepted Jesus and surrender to him— Heaven. But the weeds, those who have rejected Jesus and will not surrender their soul to him and believe--- will be burnt in a tormenting fire— that’s hell.
In today’s life— there is such a grass— a weed if you will that does pop up with wheat— it’s called Darnell Grass.
[picture of Darnell grass]
When it’s first growing— you can’t tell the difference. That’s why you can’t separate it— until the harvest, and then you can tell the difference easily.
If you were to try to separate these plants earlier— it’s not going to work— you’ll tear up the ground that the good wheat needs to grow. So let them both grow together.
The good and the bad are allowed to “grow” and dwell together. We all grow in the same world. Believers and Non-Believers. We all work together, live together, play together. But there is a big difference at the end.
It may seem like the unrighteous are getting away with stuff— but mark Jesus’ words. There will be a harvest day— stay strong and faithful!
The Mustard Seed (Matt 13:31)
Why does the Kingdom seem so insignificant today?
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Many theologians describe this as the beautiful description of the nature of faith— the little seed that becomes this great grand plant— expanding it’s reach. It can start out seemingly very small, but it grows exponentially. Some also point out that this is Jesus making a reference to an old Testament prophecy — a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had in:
10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.
11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
Daniel then is able to interpret the dream— it’s referring to a great kingdom! So the image is pretty clear- The Kingdom of God may seem like it starts out tiny— the smallest seed— but it in fact is a great kingdom indeed!
The Leaven (Matt 13:33)
Why is the Kingdom so hidden?
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Leaven is typically a bad thing in the Jewish culture. So there is actually two camps of thought on what Jesus was teaching here:
If Leaven is understood to be bad---Watch out, since evil is present in the world, it can permeate the church— and it will infect everything.
I tend to lean with the scholars who Believe Jesus is using this illustration in a more positive way:
The Kingdom of God is the permeating agent.— and just like yeast (or leaven) it will “infect” every aspect of Human history!
The Church— or God’s presence on earth has had an amazing record in medical care, social work, education, liberation of women and slaves, helping the vulnerable, the hungry, the aged— widows, orphans— the helpless or those who society neglects! Look at most every monument or organizational history— in every sector of life— the kingdom work of God has permeated— and it will continue to permeate— to infect (in a positive way) all of our existence.
A transition occurs here in the passage: It moves from public teaching— to private conversation with the disciples:
Matthew 13:36 (NIV)
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house.
The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) and the Priceless Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46)
How is worth? measured in the Kingdom?
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Once again, this parable can be interpreted at least two ways. The Kingdom is obviously very valuable, and one would give everything to attain it. There are some who refute this, though, because we don’t actually give up anything to get close to Jesus— he does it all!
Many believe it’s our worth to God. That’s how he sees us. We are the treasure— we are the pearl that Jesus, God the son, gave everything to attain. The relationship— and your citizenship in the kingdom is worth everything!
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
He does the seeking— he is the initiator!
“O Victory in Jesus— my savior forever— He sought me and bought me— with his redeeming blood. He loved me ere’ I knew him, and all my love is due him— he plunged me to Victory, beneath his cleansing flood.”
The Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50)
Who is welcome in the kingdom?
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
Today there are approximately 35 different species of fish in the Sea of Galilee— in essence I want us to hear that all kinds of fish are being gathered. And its not up to us to sort them out. It’s never our job to decide who is “in” or “out” that’s up to God.
That’s God’s business— our work is to cast that net. To welcome everyone into the net!
The Kingdom is open to all who would believe in him and accept him as Lord and Savior.
Caretakers of the Kingdom! (Matthew 13:51-52)
Here’s the last part of this magnificent teaching—
Take a look here at what Jesus says to his disciples after all this— and he says to us this morning:
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
There’s the last parable for today— we, when we accept Jesus and become his disciple— a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven— we become like an owner of a house who can bring out of our storage areas these awesome objects— the treasures of our testimony, our life experiences with Jesus— the wisdom that we’ve learned by walking with Him.
And I have one question for you this morning: Have you understood these things? Do you believe in Jesus? Are you a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
I’m not asking if you’re perfect— I know you’re not. Neither am I. I’m not asking you if you’re altogether— That’s not what Jesus is asking.
Do you understand the most important relationship in the universe?
Matthew 11:25 (NIV)
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.