Parables of the Kingdom

Text: Mt 13:24-58

Matthew 13:24–58 ESV

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” 31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown 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 not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Interpreting Parables

Each parable typically has one primary point. Resist the urge to allegorize every aspect of the parable, unless Jesus himself does so, and resist the urge to overextend the parable's meaning.

That being said, there are often times Jesus DOES use allegories, and this first parable is such an example. Still, there is one primary point that he is trying to communicate.

Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven (Mt. 13:31-33)

Matthew 13:31–33 ESV

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Example of a wrong interpretation--the allegorical interpretation of the mustard plant's "unnatural growth" as the Catholic Church, and naming the birds that roosted in its branches.

What is the main point that Jesus is trying to make about the Kingdom of Heaven in these two short parables? The Kingdom (mustard seed/leaven) will start off small and seemingly inconsequential, but grow to impressive influence.

Why did Jesus tell these two parables? How did these parables of the Kingdom of Heaven challenge his listeners' perceptions and expectations? Israel was not prepared for an insignificant beginning to the kingdom of God, so this image would have shocked the listeners.

How do we see this parable fulfilled today? The gospel and the Kingdom of God has reached almost every corner of the earth.

Parable of the Weeds (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43)

Matthew 13:24–30 ESV

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:36–43 ESV

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

In vv. 28-29, Jesus instructs the angels not to uproot the weeds, "lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them." What is the point of this part of the parable? The parable describes the activity of God’s kingdom in the world rather than within the church. The enemies of the kingdom (weeds) will always coexist with the sons of the kingdom (good seed) in this age. We will not achieve 100% evangelization.

How does Jesus describe the final judgement for unbelievers? fiery furnace … weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus’ typical description of eternal judgment in Matthew’s Gospel (cf. 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).

(Skipping vv. 34-35 and vv. 44-46, which will be covered in subsequent sermons)

Parable of the Net (Mt. 13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47–50 ESV

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How does Jesus describe the final judgement for unbelievers? The same as he did in the previous parable--"fiery furnace...weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Are you sometimes afraid to talk to people about Hell? Why?

If we truly believe in a final, eternal judgement, what effect ought that to have on our evangelism? We should be bold and share the gospel often

Parable of New and Old Treasures (Mt. 13:51-52)

Matthew 13:51–52 ESV

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

What does Jesus mean in v. 52? Who is the scribe/master of the house? What is the "old"? What is the "new"? What is the "treasure"? Scribes/master = disciples of Jesus | the old = the Old Covenant | the new = the New Covenant |treasures = truths of God's KingdomTrue disciples grow in understanding through Jesus’ teaching (cf. 28:20). They understand both the “new” revelation from Jesus and how it fulfills the “old” promises in the OT and they teach the truths of God's Kingdom to others.