Parables of the Kingdom Prt1

Over the next couple weeks we will be diving into a few stories Jesus told concerning the Kingdom of God. These stories are known as Parables.

Parables are short stories that relate deep truths through simple everyday tasks or objects found in the immediate audience of Jesus.

Jesus uses these stories for a couple important reasons.

These stories hide spiritual truths from those whose hearts are completely closed to the things of God.

Matthew 13:13–16 NLT

That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

2. Stories speak to our heart - our passions and loves and bypass our rational mind. This is very important and we will speak more on it in a little bit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, let’s jump right into today’s Parables.

Matt 13:1-9

Matthew 13:1–9 NLT

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

Matthew 13:18–23 NLT

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Matt 13:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There Are Two Principle Characters in this Parable of the Kingdom of God.

The Seed and the Soil

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why a seed and what does the seed represent?

When you think of a Kingdom declaring the message of Victory the analogy you think of is not a seed.

Maybe an A-Bomb or a Meteor crashing into the power structure of the enemy kingdoms but, not a seed.

What is Jesus saying about the message of God’s Reign invading the world by using a seed to depict this message?

A seed appears fragile, even foolish.

It is small and insignificant

It is dependent on good soil

And this is exactly how the message of the Kingdom of God comes across to those who are not ready to receive it.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NLT

For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

1 Cor 1:17

1 Cor 1:

1 Corinthians 1:22–23 NLT

It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

John the Baptist was looking for an A-Bomb not a seed.

When you announce that God is taking back control over the world through Jesus, you would think it would come with a punch!!

And it is this thought that Jesus is trying to dispel to those who have ears to hear.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You see a seed is not simply small - It also transformative!

Matthew 13:31–32 NLT

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Show a picture of the Sequoia Seed and Tree

Matthew 13:33 NLT

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Matt

God’s reign is like a small pinch of yeast that slowly permeates the entire lump of dough and transforms it.

The message of the Kingdom comes in a way that baffles the wisdom of man.

But to those who have an ear to hear it, it is the power that transforms an empty life of death into a vibrant life of joy and beauty!

1 Corinthians 1:24–25 NLT

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Seeds and Leven take time.

The Good news of the Kingdom of God like a seed, and yeast takes time.

But once it starts growing it radically transforms and permiates lives.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jesus said that the soil in this parable of the sower is the heart of man.

Now the heart is a figurative way to describe

Passion, loves, desires and intuitions.

The message of the Kingdom of God is not planted in the rational mind

It is planted in the seat of our desires, passions and longings.

This is powerful -

Paul talks about the rational mind being overwhelmed by our passions.

I do what I do not want and don’t do what I want.

Johnathan Haidt - Describes the relationship between the rational mind and the passions of man, like a small man riding an elephant.

The Message of the Kingdom Transforms our Passions, Desires, Loves and Intuitions towards the direction of God’s character.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is your heart?

Is your heart - passions, desires, longings - ready for the message of the Kingdom?

Or is your heart hard from the pains of life?

Are you the kind of person that drops God and his ways as soon as things get hard?

Are your passions so deep into the false happiness of wealth, fame and power that you turn from the ways of the Kingdom when it calls you to walk away?

How is your heart?

God has not given up on you and He

Are you in the Word of God allowing it to till the soil of your heart?

Are you in fellowship with other believers allowing those relationships to keep you energized and accountable?

Are you putting into practice the ways of Jesus? Allowing your passions and desires to be changed?

How is your heart?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lastly,

How Are We To Respond To Those Who Are Not Ready For the Good News of God’s Reign?

You may get angry or arrogant towards them. - Don’t!!

You may lose hope and want to give up. Don’t

Instead:

Be Patient - A Harvest never comes over night.

Pray for these people daily asking the Spirit to open their heart towards the Kingdom.

Live love towards them - Don’t just use words but, love them deeply with actions.

Gently and courageously share the Good News of God’s Reign.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I look around and I see people who were Atheists.

I see people who refused God’s ways for years

I see people who were hardened and refused God

I see people who ran for years every time things got hard

I see people who once were more interested in wealth, fame and power.

And everyone of them are here - With hearts open, and the Good news of God’s reign transforming their lives.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Message of the Kingdom may look fragile and foolish

But it is the power of salvation!

It comes in like an unassuming seed

And when it is planted in a willing heart - It explodes in the power of resurrection.