Parables of the Kingdom.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 13:24–52 NKJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 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?’ 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?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 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.” ’ ” 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, 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.” 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.” All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 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.” 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.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 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, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “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. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Up until this point in our study of Matthew, we have seen one of the main topics he speaks of is the Kingdom of God.

As John the Baptist, was preparing the way for Jesus, he preached a spesific message, Matthew 3:2 “saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!””

At the inception/start of Jesus ministry, He preached the same message, Matthew 4:17 reads, “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

On the sermon on the mount Jesus taught His disciples about the principles of the Kingdom of God, and how we can be a part of that.

We also saw throughout the book of Matthew, Jesus displaying the power of the Kingdom of God. Where He healed the sick, delivered people from demons and raised the dead.

And today, we will be looking at what the Kingdom of God is like.

As we saw last week, Jesus often taught in parables.

Question: Who here can tell me what a parable is, and why did Jesus use them?

Answer:

A parable is an analogy in the form of the story, meaning that Jesus is using a comparison in the form of a story, but each story has one central point.

An example of this would be the parable of the sower that was discussed last week.

Jesus taught in parables for two reasons:

Firstly:

To hide the truth behind the parables from the ungodly in the “crowd”.

Those who were not walking in a right relationship with God could not understand the things which He was teaching.

Why? Because their hearts and minds were darkend.

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Secondly:

Through speaking in parables, Jesus true disciples, who had a real desire for truth and understanding would have the truth behind the parables revealed to them.

We will see this in Matthew 13.36-43.

Last week you guys looked at the parable of the sower, and this week we will be looking at four new parables.

The parable of the wheat and the tares

The parable of the mustard seed

The parable of the leaven.

Each of these parables describe the Kingdom of God on earth, two types of people: true disciples and false disciples, how Satan opposes the Kingdom of God, and judgement day.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Matthew 13:24–30 (NKJV)

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 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?’ 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?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 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.” ’ ”

In this parable, there are couple of characters I want you to take note of:

V24:

Jesus is describing what the kingdom of God is like on the earth.

The field refers to the whole world, rather than just the church.

V25:

We see the enemy (Satan) coming to sow tares among the wheat, and going his way.

Tares refer to something called darnel. In its early stages of growth, it looks very similar to wheat, but it is actually a poisonous type of weed. Only once tares and wheat have matured, is one able to distinguish between the two.

In Roman Law it was actually prohibited to sow darnel in another man’s field, because it had the potential to destroy his livelihood.

And that is Satan’s purpose when he sowes tares among the God’s people.

Because Satan cannot destroy the true disciples of Jesus, He tries devastate the work of God in their lives, by destroying their testimony and making them ineffective by mingling them with the children of devil.

I just want to pause here quick:

This passage of scripture was also laid upon my heart for someone today, especially for if you are a lady considering to dating a non-believer.

That is one of Satan’s primary tactics to destroy a believers life, we see it throughout the bible, for example:

David and Barsheeba,

Samson and Delilah,

And when Balaam could not succeed in cursing Israel, He instructed the enemy to use the Moabite Women to seduce the Israelites in order to destroy them.

If that is something you are currently doing or considering, God wants you to know that belong to Him before you belong to anyone else, you need to repent.

2 Corinthians 6:14–15 (NKJV)

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (Another name for Satan)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Do not partner with unbelievers. Satan will use them to draw you away from God.

Back to the study:

God is fully aware of the Satan’s tactics to corrupt God’s people.

However, God in His wisdom, withholds His judgement for the sake of His own people.

Because if He were to uproot the tares, it would damage the wheat also.

Therefore, He allows the righteous and unrighteous to co-exist in the world until judgement day, when He will seperate the true from the false, and each will be rewarded according to his works.

Matthew 3:12 NKJV

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 13:31–32 NKJV

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, 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.”

At this time the mustard seed was the smallest seed in Palestine.

Just like the mustard seemed small and insignificant, later growing into a marvelous tree big enough for the birds to nest in its branches.

The Kingdom of God though seeming small and insignifcant at the time, would later grow and spread throughout the world.

This would also fulfill the Old Testament Prophecy, such as Ezekiel 17:23, 31.6, and Daniel 4:21 that predicted that Gentiles (non-Jews) would be included in the Kingdom of God.

The Parable of the Leaven

Matthew 13:33 NKJV

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.”

Generally, in the Bible leaven is never used in a positive light. For example:

Matthew 16:11 NKJV

How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

1 Corinthians 5:6–7 NKJV

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

But in this analogy, Jesus is using leaven to make a point.

Just like little bit of leaven is used with wheat to produce bread, the kingdom of God will influence and spread throughout the world.

Prophecy and the Parables

Matthew 13:34–35 NKJV

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 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.”

CSB Study Bible makes the following comment:

Like Asaph in Ps 78:2, Jesus taught in parables and revealed to his disciples truths that had not previously been understood.

The Parable of the Tares Explained

Matthew 13:36–43 NKJV

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.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 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, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Now proceeds Jesus to explain to his disciples privately the parables He shared with the crowds. Why? Because they asked and they wanted to understand the truth behind them.

The field is the world.

The good seed is God’s true people, the sons of the Kingdom.

The tares are false believers, the sons of the devil.

The Son of Man is Jesus.

Important Note:

The Son of Man is title given to God Daniel 7:13-14, describing what it will be like when He comes to judge the world in the end times.

By using this title for Himself, Jesus is claiming to be God, and is the One who will judge the world for its evil deeds upon His second coming

At the end of the age (the havest time), Jesus will send forth His is angels to seperate the godly from the ungodly, the true from the false.

Revelation 14:15 NKJV

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

After they have been seperated, the ungodly will receive their eternal judgement along with the devil - where they will be continously and consciously tormented forever.

Revelation 20:10 NKJV

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The people of God will however shine forth in glory in Christ’s kingdom and eternal Heaven.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasures

Matthew 13:44 NKJV

“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.

This parable describes the immense value of the kingdom of Heaven.

Those who are wise are willing to sacrifice everything to gain it.

Listen to how Paul responded, when he understood the supreme value spending eternity with Jesus.

Philippians 3:7–8 NKJV

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Our response should be the same.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45–46 NKJV

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

This parable means the exact same as the previous one.

When you understand the value of being with Jesus forever, you are willing to let go of everything else that can prevent that.

The Parable of the Dragnet

Matthew 13:47–50 NKJV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

This parable is similiar to that of the parable of the weeds, where Jesus will seperate the godly from the ungoldy at the end of the age for judgement.

This dragnet was a net that was thrown into the sea and dragged towards the shore with fish of different kind.

Upon reaching the shore that which was in the net was seperated, the good kept and the bad disposed of.

At the end of the age, Jesus will remove all evil from the world.

In closing:

Matthew 13:51–52 NKJV

Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Jesus asked the disciples if they understood what he explained to them.

Just like scribes were experts in the Old Testament, Jesus was equipping His disciples to become excellent teachers - however they would be even better equipped teachers than the scribes.

Why? Because they had the old treasures (the Old Testament) and the new treasures (the teachings of Jesus).

Jesus had given them understanding of how He fulfilled the scriptures and what would happen in the future at His second coming.

Conclusion

And just like Jesus asked His disciples if they are understood what He taught them, I am asking you today:

Do you understand what you heard today?

Did you learn something new?

What stood out to you?

Finally, are you ready to meet Jesus on judgement day.

Are you true disciple of Jesus or false disciple, and will you spending eternity with Him or without Him?

Closing Prayer