The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 13:24-56

11/8/23

After the parable of the soils, Jesus goes on to tell 8 more parables.

These can definitely be a little confusing, and Jesus only explained one of them.

Phrase used....

Kingdom of Heaven:

is Equivalent to our term Christendom

It is made up of all who profess allegiance to the King

Whether in Truth or Pretense

Keep this in mind as we walk through the parable

But don’t forget the context…

Jesus was being Rejected by the religious, hard-hearted hypocrites.

The Pharisees

They rejected Jesus and said He is actually teaming up w/the devil, to do the devils work

Mormonism

Jesus and Satan are brother...

The parable of the sower demonstrated that not all hearts receive the word or bear fruit from what Jesus shares.

The parables are everyday stories with a spiritual point.

They are puzzles by design for those that want to understand.

Proverbs 25:2 “2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”

When we seek and search out the wisdom of God we will know him, His Character and his plans better

The First 3 parables Describe tactics Satan Uses to Hinder and oppose the Work of God

The last 3 parables describe God’s View of Success

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

This is the ONE Jesus explains...

Let’s keep reading...

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

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.”

V:31- Mustard Seed:

A mustard seed is one of the smallest of all seeds.

A mustard seed is referred to about the ability of God to take our meager little Faith and do great things-

Matthew 17:20 “20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Cast out demons & other miraculous works…If it is the Will of the God

V:32- It is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree,

Herbs normally only grow into the size of a bush.

A herb that becomes a tree is not normal.

But such is the case with the smallest of seeds…it becomes an unusually large herb

Such is the case of a faith filled surrendered life in the Hands of God

It Grows big compared to the “normal” things of this world...

V:32- so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Comparison: Mustard Tree and Potted Basil

Potted Basil at Home:

Its small, no way a bird is nesting in there

The Mustard Tree:

Is larger than most herbs, can be a place for birds to nest

Birds: throughout scripture represent evil or wickedness.

The idea: the kingdom of heaven will grow so large evil will hide in it.

Kingdom of Heaven:

is Equivalent to our term Christendom

It is made up of all who profess allegiance to the King

Whether in Truth or Pretense

Tactic of the Enemy: He sits on the Branches of Christendom and influences what goes on

Evil will hide in it...

Matthew 7:15-23

Jesus says…false Prophets will come

Wolves in Sheep's clothing

…But you will know them by their Fruits..

Every Good Tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bears bad fruit..

Likewise…there will be birds in the trees…picking off, eating and destroying the good fruit.

Just because it is IN the TREE doesn't mean it is of the Tree

Jesus is giving this picture, because this is just what was happening with the Jews…

They were outwardly doing right, but inwardly they are dead or “Whitewashed tombs”

…and what would happen over and over again throughout history

Works of the flesh not works of the faith…that is not God’s natural design…

Just like how this Mustard tree grew unnaturally large,

Jesus is saying the works you are doing are not what would come of me

We see this throughout history...

When Constantine made Christianity the official faith of Rome.

When governments ruled by religion in the middle ages.

Even now in some spheres of Christendom, there are some pastors that become celebrities and seek a following more than encouraging other to following Christ.

Just because you see something in the “kingdom”…Doesn’t mean it is of the King...

…It doesn’t mean it should be there or God is ok w/ it.

Tactic of the Enemy: He sits on the Branches of Christendom and influences what goes on

Are you being a Berean, with scripture as your measure for truth, or are you allowing the world to be your yardstick or measure?

The Parable of the Leaven

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.”

This is a larger than Life picture, it would shock the hearers.

3 measures of meal

Normal women don’t bake 50 pounds of meal, it would make enough food for 150 people

Unless you are the Fiesta Con Jesus....

You will see them baking HUUUGE amounts

But for everyday....this is out of the norm...

And Jews would not think it is ok to “hide” leaven.

Leaven is often correlated as a depiction of sin.

They get the connotation that you are “Planting or Hiding” “Sin” into the meal

As the Leven is put in it changes the the shape, structure and size of the lump

Tactic of the Enemy: He desires subtly to plant sin or false doctrine into Christendom that deceives and distorts, the truth of God’s Word

Matthew 13:

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.”

Jesus has come to the turning point in the book

parables to those that are rejecting Him and those that are seeking Him.

He is revealing secrets, but He is saying them secretly.

Psalm 78:2- prophesied that He would do this…

Talking in code...

Are you going to seek me and search out the meaning

Or are you just here for the show...

This is who and how God is.

There are things that God reveals plainly…

…and there are other things that He chooses to hide…

…some we find and others we just wonder.

The disciples want to understand and go deeper

ask Him about the Tares.

The Parable of the Tares Explained

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.”

V:36-Jesus sent the multitude away

This is privileged information.

And they have the privilege…because of relationship, and so do we.

The multitudes leave but the disciples stay.

And that is always how it is, if you want to follow, you will.

If you don’t…He does not hold onto you

But he does remain there waiting and wanting your return...

Don’t forget the opportunity you have, to ask and to seek understanding.

(HW) Matthew 7:7-11 -

Reminds us to keep asking, seeking and knocking

He is like a loving father that will give to his kids what they NEED

There may be some things Jesus doesn’t speak…

…but there are other things He might just be waiting for you to ask.

Jesus explains....Parable of the Tares...

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.

So in this parable, the seed are people…both good and evil.

Jesus plants these good seeds in the world.

There are tares planted also; they are 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.

The devil has an ongoing role of planting sons of the wicked one.

These are liars and hypocrites and those who live after the flesh.

Tactic of the Enemy: He plants “false Christians” wherever The Lord plants “true believers”....

Many people are living lives of false righteousness, apart from faith in Jesus

In Jesus’ life, He could be describing the Pharisees or even Judas, who was sitting right there with him...

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.43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

This is pretty unsettling…

…there are those in the kingdom that…

…“offend and practice lawlessness” who will be judged.

V:41- offend - (skandalon) -someone who sets a trap or causes others to stumble.

V:41- Lawlessness-just means that don’t follow the Law.

They think they are above or beyond, or better than the Law.

This is a description of the Pharisees again.

They set traps for Jesus and they do whatever they want and make up a religious cover for their fleshly actions.

And though they are not judged in the moment…

At the end of the age

those that are living lives of false righteousness, apart from faith in Jesus...

Those that trap and trip up others

Those that do whatever they want for whatever reason they have…

Will be gathered by angels and thrown into a place of judgment w/wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This is a judgment that involves feelings and awareness and bitter regret without relief.

But for the righteous

Those that have been planted by God.

…or born again by faith in Christ

V:43- Their reward is to shine like the sun…

To Recap:

Within the kingdom of heaven

There are wicked ones

They will be judged

There are good ones

they will be rewarded with bright lightness.

Each of these parables was about evil hiding within the kingdom.

We wonder how sinful people hide in the church.

We wonder how evil things can be done in the name of Christ.

We can’t imagine how God doesn’t judge them.

Let me remind you...

Just because something is in the Kingdom, it doesn’t mean it is OF the King...

The Kingdom (is comprised of people that are all talk and those that ALL IN with HIM)

John 8:44-

Satan is the father of LIES

He uses things that are phony and false to take us away from a Real and Right relationship with Jesus

The Lord leaves those that are phony and false, until judgment comes in the end.

Just because judgment isn’t now, doesn’t mean judgment won’t be coming.

Here is a set of 2 parables with a new theme.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

So there are two ways to look at these parables.

The treasure and the pearl that are found is Finding and experiencing the Hope that we have in the Gospel

When find and experience the Hope of Jesus in the Gospel message

Everything else is counted as worthless to us.

There is nothing else that has greater value in our lives

Jesus to the Rich young Ruler

Matt 19:21-24- Sell all you have and follow me

The Second interpretation of Treasure and the Pearl

Is describing the great value and worth that God ascribes to His people

V:44-The Treasure: is the nation of Israel, the Jewish people

We see in Exodus 19:5 and Psalm 135:4

IN OT Same term “treasure” is used to describe His people

God sent Jesus as the “Mesaiah” / Deliverer of the Jewish people

To deliver them from a rule of law or government but from religious regulatory system that they had been operating in

He gave all that He had to restore right relationship with His people

V:45-46 The Pearl: It’s you and I- The Church, the bride of Christ

1 Peter 3:18 “18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,

Hebrews 12 :2

For the JOYYY Set before Him he Endured the Cross

He Gave his all

He is the one that thinks you are a beautiful pearl.

The last parable is a little like the second and involves judgment.

The Parable of the Dragnet

Matthew 13:47

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

Did they really understand?

Maybe they did, probably they didn’t.

Peter- Foot in Mouth Syndrome …quick to speak

Maybe had information overload...

What is the dragnet about?

The Dragnet pulls in all kinds of things.

Dragnet -Colombia with Tim Mallory

Big Net with weights on one side and bouys on the other.

Get’s pulled into shore and then you sort it all out...

They took the good stuff and threw out the bad stuff.

The kingdom or Dragnet has both those that are faithful followers and those that are phony and fake

…there is a time for judgment.

A time that God judges who is “Real and Right” and who is not.

Those that are not

He gives the same description…fiery furnace, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

And this is a hard truth to process.

But, if you don’t want to be with God now…

…why would you want to be with God forever?

God does not force your hand

When you step into eternity…

…you will know you have chosen poorly if you reject Christ...

…and there is unfortunately nothing you can do about it then.

52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder (HOMEOWNER) who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

To the disciples, there are things you understood, things you now understand, and things yet to be revealed.

…all things about the kingdom are to be treasured.

53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

They didn’t receive Him, because they did not know Him, they did not know the power that he possessed

kept them from experiencing His power and work.

As believers that know him…how often do we reject the power of His spirit?

John 14:17 - The Spirit Dwells in you and is with you

Acts 1:8- Walk in His POWER

For us, let’s be those that are planted by the Lord, who believe by faith and bear fruit.

Who will be lights in the darkness and rewarded for our faithfulness.