The Kingdom’s Call To The Believer

Secular -

A pastor was finishing up his sermon on Sunday morning and said, "Next week, I'm going to preach on the sin of lying. To help you prepare, I want everyone to read chapter 17 of the Gospel of Mark."

The following Sunday, the pastor asked the congregation, "How many of you read chapter 17 of Mark this week?"

Nearly every hand shot up.

The pastor shook his head and said, "That’s the sin I’m talking about! There are only 16 chapters in the Gospel of Mark."

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 13:24–50 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.”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - You Are Jesus’ Treasure, So Watch Out For Evil, & Do Kingdom Work.

Life Point- Watch Out For Evil In The Church

Exegetical -

Matthew 13:24–30 BSB

Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 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?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. 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 into my barn.’”

Matthew 13:36–43 BSB

Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Homiletical -

In this parable the one who sows the good seed is Jesus, the field is the world, The good seed is the born again believer. The weeds, or tares, are people in the church who are unsaved but may think they are saved or they know completely they are sons of the Devil.

I have heard testimonies where people who were Satan worshippers came into a church for the express reason to cause strife, division, and chaos. Now these particular people ended up becoming Christians but how many are out there that don’t end up coming to Christ? That is a true concern.

The harvest is the end of the age when all will be judged. Remember the believer to the bema seat of Christ and the unbeliever to the great white throne of judgement. The harvesters are angels bringing the people in.

As the weeds are collected they are burned, so it will be with all unbelievers in the end of the age.

You mean to tell me pastor that not everyone sitting in these pews out here are all going to heaven? That there will be those going to hell?

That’s exactly what I am saying. As the end draws near I believe that we will see more and more who the wheat and the tares are. Because, as we discussed last week, there will be plenty of opposition coming to Christians.

Right now we are under an invasion in the United States. It’s pretty under the radar. The muslims from over seas are coming and building their own communities. I can name one in Texas. As they become the majority they become violent against any non-muslims. Just do a search for Dearborn Michigan muslims attacking christians online and you will see a bunch of video of it.

The political offices have been taken over and so have the police department and they do nothing to protect people who are not muslims.

This is getting out of hand. What you believe does matter as it shapes your worldview. Will you be shaped by Christianity or the world.

Back to our scripture here now that I have taken a tangent. The tares will be burned for all eternity in the fiery furnace where those that are unsaved will be weeping and crying in pain.

Someone will say well pastor isn’t that a bit extreme? Nope. Jesus said it, not me. You got a problem with it take it up with Him.

He says as for the righteous they will shine like the sun.

In other words you get to be with God in eternity.

Life Point - Every Believer Has A Job To Do In The Kingdom

Exegetical -

Matthew 13:31–35 BSB

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Homiletical -

Let’s look at the mustard seed a minute.

The mustard seed is the smallest yet it becomes a tree and birds come and nest in it.

I don’t care if you are the smallest least likely person to share the Gospel. That small seed, that small testimony can turn into something magnificent. Something Big and wonderful when given to the Lord.

Give yourself to God and let Him make you into a tree that people can come and find purpose through.

Billy Graham one of the titans of Christianity was saved in a small church. I bet that pastor never thought that young man would become who he was.

Can you make bread without leaven? Well you can, but not many people but myself like unleavened bread.

You got have leaven in your bread if you’re going to make good fluffy bread.

If you take the Word of God and share it you will see that people become new. They become something wholly different.

Notice now it says He spoke to the people in parables and without one He didn’t speak. This was all to fulfill prophecy.

The lesson being, don’t think of yourself to insignificant to spread the word. You are important to the Kingdom of God. So be encouraged that everyone is important and has a place in the Kingdom.

Life Point - The Believers Are Jesus’ Treasure

Exegetical -

Matthew 13:44–50 BSB

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Homiletical -

You have probably never heard what I am about to teach here before. But you are not the one who sells the land or who buys the pearl. You are the treasure and the pearl.

Stay with me here. Jesus is the one who sold everything to buy the field and the one who sold all he had to buy the pearl.

Jesus came from heaven where He gave up everything. He went to the cross where He gave up everything. To purchase you. To save you, redeem and make you new.

Isn’t that good?

Now Jesus revisits the idea of believers being separated from unbelievers in the judgement and where the unbelievers will end up in Hell. This is the Jewish way to reiterate something. They didn’t have bold or italics to get their point across and Jesus wants to make sure He is getting His point across.

Did you know Jesus spent much more time talking about Hell than He does Heaven? Why? Because He doesn’t want you to end up there.

Did you know that Hell enlarges itself daily to take in unbelievers? Why? Because it wasn’t made for us, it was made for Satan and His demons.

Isaiah 5:14 NKJV

Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.

Jesus wants you to spread His Word so that others might be saved. He bought us with a price and it was High. He wants that none should perish.

Life Principle– You Are Jesus’ Treasure, So Watch Out For Evil, & Do Kingdom Work.

Call to Action – altar call….