Matthew 13:24-43 "Kingdom Parables of Growth"

Matt 13:24-43 "Kingdom Parables of Growth" Marc Transparenti / General Parables / Church Growth; Kingdom of God; Parables; Leaven / Matthew 13:24-43 The Kingdom of Heaven grew in the world, but corruption has crept in. Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! • If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hands and one of our ushers will bring you one. • If this is your first time at Calvary Chapel...I'm Pastor Marc...welcome! • Calvary Chapel is known for a few things...a relaxed environment, relatable worship, and teaching the Bible chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse. Thanks for joining us today! Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 13...Matthew 13. Last week we looked at the Parable of the Sower and Jesus' explanation of why He taught in parables. He gave 3 reasons...concealing truth to unbelievers who don't want truth...revealing truth to believers, and to all fulfilling prophecy. At the end of Matt 12, we observed a shift in Jesus' ministry where Jesus began turning from Israel, and openly inviting all to come to Him. • Jesus said, "...whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Mt 12:50 • Jesus' family consist of those who do the Father's will...which is believing Jesus is Messiah. Jesus' teaching of parables... "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning"....casting alongside a natural truth to a spiritual truth....He taught in this fashion to illustrate truths about what the kingdom of heaven will be like between His 1st and 2nd coming,... AND in response to the opposition and rejection from the "wicked generation" of Jesus' day. Here, we see Jesus as both Master Teacher and Judge. The setting: Matt 13:1-2 tells us Jesus is teaching from a boat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee...likely a Galilean fishing boat (capable of holding about 15 people). A great multitude of people from the surrounding cities are the audience. Teaching from the boat maintains order, perhaps aids in acoustics, and the lake is not a bad backdrop. The title of today's sermon is "Kingdom Parables of Growth" and let me remind you... these parables today build upon the Parable of the Sower. • Jesus spoke to a large crowd who were a representation of the parable. Hearts that were...Hard...Shallow... Unfruitful... and Fruitful. This crowd contained unbelievers, apostates, carnal believers, and true believers...same as today. Today, we are looking at Matt 13:24-43. First looking at the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. Let's Pray! Matt 13:24-30 "Another parable He put forth to them [the great multitude], 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." ' " 1. The first parable was about a sower, scattering seeds on various soils and the initial results. The parables today picture the results and growth of the kingdom of heaven. 2. The Parable of the Sower, and the Parable of the Wheat and Tares are the only two parables in this chapter where Jesus provides and explanation, so I'll go through the natural explanation first, and we will hold off on the interpretation until we come to V36. 3. Notice the phrase in V24 "The kingdom of heaven is like..." a. Jesus didn't start the Parable of the Sower with this phrase, but ALL the remaining parables begin with this phrase and there are 2 things to observe: i. First, the subject... "The kingdom of heaven..." we discussed this phrase in detail last week (if you missed it, check it out on our website). 1. Jesus is the "King of kings and Lord of lords" 1 Tim 6:15, Rev 19:16)...and the Kingdom is His. He talked about His kingdom from the beginning to the end of His earthly ministry. It's a big deal. 2. The Kingdom is God's sovereign rule, the church age, the eternal nature of His kingdom, the future eschatological expression of His kingdom, and so forth. It's a multi-faceted concept and worth some of your private study time. ii. The Second observation is quite simple...V24... the phrase "The kingdom of heaven is like..." 1. "...is like..." let's us know the speaker is speaking symbolically. Jesus didn't say the kingdom of heaven IS a man who sowed good seed in his field...but that the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. It's symbolic. 2. In the Bible, you will see the phrase "is like" or sometimes just "like" or "as"...and it's important to observe. In the Book of Revelation, we see "like" 54x alone. Some say, "You can't interpret Revelation." or "The book of Revelation is all symbolic." Both of these statements are false. a. Revelation is a complex book, but it's not difficult to observe when John, the author, is speaking symbolically and when he is speaking literally. i. Rev 6:12 is a good example..."I looked when he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake [a literal earthquake]; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair...[the sun literally turns black....but symbolically compared to a sackcloth of hair- dark clothes made with animal hair...worn during mourning], and the moon became like blood [the moon literally turns red, but the moon does not turn to blood...blood is symbolic to the color red]..." ii. So, in these parables and throughout the word...recognize literal and symbolic language for what it is. A good expositor recognizes the difference. 4. The natural explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares is pretty straight forward...just a couple things to explain... a. A man plants a crop, and his field is sabotaged by an opportunistic enemy who scattered tares (likely darnel...a type of ryegrass) among the wheat. This mischief is intentional and malicious. i. I have slides of Wheat and Tares...almost identical in their early stages, but there is a noticeable difference at harvest... 1. the color: wheat is golden and tares are dark... 2. the crop: wheat yields grain (useful for flour)...where tares are just weeds. ii. A 533 A.D. Roman legal document...the "Code of Justinian" ordered by Roman Emperor Justinian...discusses Roman legislation against sowing darnel in another's field. The fact that this document exists suggests this was not an infrequent occurence, and is a support for Jesus' teaching as a relatable context. b. The servants of the man ask him if they want to uproot the tares, but if they did this some of the wheat would also be uprooted as their root systems would be intertwined. So, the man suggests let them grow together for now, but there will be a future day...a time of harvest when there will be a separation...tares to the fire and wheat to safety in the barn. 5. So, that's the natural explanation. A parable casts a natural truth alongside a spiritual truth, a known to the unknown...Jesus first explained the relatable truth to the crowd. i. Some look at Matthew 13 and wonder why Jesus taught the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, ...then 2 other parables, ...and THEN gives the interpretation...seems choppy, but it's not...it makes total sense. Jesus teaches 4 parables to the crowds... then later, privately He gives the interpretation to the disciples. 6. Jesus continues... teaching 2 more parables...The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Leaven. a. I'm going to share these both at once because I believe they share a similar truth...just using different imagery. Matt 13:31-33 "Another parable He put forth to them [still the great multitude], 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. 33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven [yeast], which a woman took and hid in three measures [50-60 lbs.] of meal [flour...a lot of flour] till it was all leavened." 1. Before we discuss these parables, notice the word "another" at the beginning of this parable. The previous parable and the next parable also begin with the word "another." The final parables begin with the word "again." Scholars note that the differences in this words and their intent in Greek is noteworthy. a. One suggestion is the first four parables are the outdoor parables...addressed to the multitudes; where the final four parables are indoor (since in V36 Jesus goes in a house to address the disciples privately). b. Another interesting observation is the first four parables pertain to growth (soils, wheat and tares, mustard seed, yeast), whereas the final four pertain to value (treasure, pearls, a great catch, and again treasure). c. We don't have an exact explanation as to these pairings, but the observations are interesting nonetheless. 2. One other note... Evolutionists criticize the Bible stating the Mustard Seed is NOT the smallest seed, and they are correct...the Black Mustard plant, present in Israel today, has a seed size of 1 mm in length...whereas the Jewel Orchid measures .05 mm in length. a. So, Evolutionist would say, "See, Jesus is wrong...therefore Genesis is wrong...in fact you might as well throw your Bible away." b. Quite the slippery slope...Obviously, I am going to disagree, and ask... i. Were orchid seeds known in 1st century Israel? 2000 years of discovery has passed since Jesus gave this parable. Mustard seeds were a known seed...a relatable plant to the people Jesus spoke to. Jewel orchids are native to China and SE Asia...not relevant to Jesus' audience. ii. Also, was Jesus talking about all the seeds of the world, or garden seeds?...the context is herbs, not flowers. iii. So, don't throw out your Bibles...but, do think critically about criticism against the Bible. iv. A good article on this debate can be found on AnswersinGenesis.org titled "Are Mustard Seeds the Smallest or Was Jesus Wrong?"...same organization as The Creation Museum. 3. Notice, this parable does not have an interpretation, which has led to 2 main views...and there are good scholars in both camps...nothing to divide over, and certainly you can't be dogmatic here because Jesus didn't give us the interpretation. a. So, here is View #1...which most of you have probably heard...I will say upfront I see value in this view, but lean more towards View #2. View #1, i. The church is the mustard seed and the yeast pictured in these parables. The church started humbly and has grown throughout the whole world (the field) becoming a safe haven and a source of sustenance for all people (pictured as birds nesting in it's branches). The gospel (pictured as leaven or yeast) would have a spreading influence...permeating the whole world (pictured as meal or flour) until all are saved. 1. One of the strongest supports I see for this view is found in Ezekiel 17:22-23 ...a messianic passage... a. Ezk 17:22-23 "Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs [a shoot...from the line of David...messianic] a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs [branches], and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell." b. Very interesting parallel...though a different dispensation of time...picturing Israel in the Millennium, and at that time truly protection and provision will be found in the kingdom. 2. Here are some challenges I see with View 1... a. Birds are sometimes represent evil in scripture, not always,... i. In Rev 18:2 Babylon is called "a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!" ii. Most significant is the context in Matt 13:4 Jesus said...the birds came and devoured the seed by the wayside...in V19 Jesus identified the birds as the "wicked one"...the "devil" or "Satan." iii. Why would Jesus in the same teaching use birds as a picture of evil, and then turn around a picture them as neutral or good...as the people of the world seeking sanctuary? That's confusing. b. Leaven in scripture, especially to a Jew, was a picture of sin...not as a good spreading influence. Going back to Exodus 12 ...Leaven was removed from the house during Passover. i. In 1 Cor 5:6-8, Paul spoke on the symbolic nature of leaven and Passover... "Your glorying is not good [a rebuke on pride]. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven [evil...moral sin], that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." ii. Jesus also spoke about leaven in the negative. 1. In Matt 16:6 Jesus said, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." which Jesus explains as "...the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 2. In Luke 12:1 Jesus said, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." 3. In Mark 8:15 Jesus said, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." a. Jesus warned against ritual and traditions over relationship, hypocrisy in asking for a sign with in-genuine motives, self-righteousness, worldliness, skepticism, immorality... b. If leaven is associated with these sins...why now would Jesus use leaven in a positive light? c. Also, if leaven is supposed to be the influence of Christianity in the world...why hid it? The leaven was hidden in the meal. You are not supposed to hide the gospel...you are to preach from the housetops...don't hide your light under a bushel. c. The last difficulty I quickly want to mention, is I believe this first view goes against the greater context of Matthew chapters 11-12, where the "wicked generation" of Jesus' day opposed Him, thus He responded in parables to conceal truth to unbelievers and reveal truth to believers. The first and key parable, the Parable of the Sower, revealed that 3 out of 4 of the soils (or hearts) were bad. In the next parable, The Wheat and the Tares, we saw the wheat and the weeds growing together...good and bad in one field...the world. i. Jesus spoke parables, in part,... as a judgment against the people of His day...so viewing these parables as the churches dynamic influence on the world doesn't fit well with the context...and context is king for good bible exposition. b. So, View #2... i. These parables picture unusual growth...growth beyond expectation. 1. It's unusual for a mustard seed to grow into a tree (mustard is usually a bush). Indeed Christianity has spread throughout the world, but this unusual growth was not necessarily all good growth...there has been much corruption in the kingdom. a. Christendom is a mix of true believers and false believers. The world consists of the four soils in the first parable. And, evil birds lodge in the branches of the church. Jesus called them "wolves in sheep's clothing"... Paul called them "...savage wolves...not sparing the flock." False prophets...false teachers...Christians by name only. 2. Thus, the picture of yeast. There will be a spreading influence, but that influence is evil in the world...and that evil will permeate even into the church. a. Versus View 1 which, again, views Christianity spreading and permeating the whole world. But, Christianity will not save all people in the world and usher in the Kingdom Age (as dominion and Kingdom Now theologies un-scipturally believe). i. Presently, Islam is the fastest growing religion, and scripture declares there will be a great apostasy of Christians prior to Jesus' 2nd Coming. ii. Paul said in 2 Thes 2:3 "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away [apŏstasia} comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition..." ii. The unusual growth of the church, with a mix of good and bad is honest. The Bible is honest...it points out our flaws. 1. And, these flaws are supported historically...the church began with humble beginnings (like a mustard seed)...Jesus and the twelve apostles...then 120 disciples in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15)...after Pentecost 3000 believers...which grew to 5000 believers. 2. But, even in it's beginnings...even with persecution...there were false teachings...such as gnosticism. 3. In the third century, under Emperor Constantine...the first Roman Emperor to identify as a Christian (whether that was a true profession or a political move is up for debate), but the church experienced very abnormal growth (like a mustard seed growing into a tree...not normal). a. In 313 AD, the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity and 10 years later...Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire, and grew exponentially. i. But not all this growth was good. Constantine sought to unify his kingdom, thus he blended pagan and Christian traditions...Christmas and Easter were birthed from this melding. ii. Prior to Constantine, Christians were persecuted...Now free from persecution...all kinds of opportunists and false converts flocked to the Christian banner. Birds nested in it's branches. 1. And, they still do today...false teachers and cults...Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Unitarian Universalists...all kind of birds nest in the branches...claiming to be kingdom citizens. iii. Plus the blend of politics and Christianity led to disastrous results... 1. In the 4th century, the marriage of the church and state formed the Roman Catholic Church (and I mention that just to say that church and state should not be merged because political agendas distort the intent of the church)...for ex... a. The Crusades in the 11th to 13th centuries. Kings/emperors and the Roman Catholic Church retaliated against Muslims for attacking Christians in the Middle East. Both the Muslims and Christians were guilty of horrible acts. b. Inquisitions in various parts of the world started around 1184 and continued all the way up to about 1834...where Catholic Church and State sanctioned hunting down, trying, torturing, and killing suspected heretics. The Spanish Inquisition tried more than 341,000 people...executing about 32,000. c. And, there are many other examples, historically, of things done in the name of Christianity by evil influences posing as authentic Christians...birds lodging in the branches of Christendom. iii. The church has indeed seen unusual growth throughout the world, but has attracted those with evil and opportunistic intents. Not all professing Christians are Christians indeed. 1. In this dispensation of time...between Jesus' 1st and 2nd coming, the time reflected in these parables... because of the evil presence in the world...the birds...leaven...sin has also infected the church. As Jesus said, the leaven of the pharisees...hypocrisy...false doctrines...sin...these are realities of the kingdom. 2. The ugly things that people hate about the church...these are not the church. God is love, but the flesh, sin, and evil influences give a distorted view of the church...and unfortunately many people do not discern the difference. 3. My hope for this church is that we will be able to keep the birds and leaven out...that we will attract true believers with pure intentions to Love God and Love our neighbors as ourselves, and that we will not be infected by the sinful influences of the world... a. "For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world." 1 Jn 2:16. Matt 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." 1. To this crowd of people, Jesus spoke only in parables...concealing truth to unbelievers, revealing truth to believers, and fulfilling prophecy to all. a. In V14, Jesus fulfilled Isa 6:9-10...now here in V34, Jesus fulfills a second prophecy spoken by Asaph (who is identified as a 'seer' or 'prophet' in 2 Chr 29:30)...this particular prophecy of Asaph is from Psalm 78:2. i. Ps 78:2-4 "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings [enigmas] of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." b. So, what are those "dark sayings of old"... that "secret from the foundation of the world?" i. It's the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" that Jesus spoke of in V11 that has been given or revealed to believers and withheld or concealed from unbelievers. It's what Jesus spoke of in V16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." ii. According to Carson, the secret from the foundation of the world is "the righteous acts of God in redemption taking place in his teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection." iii. Prophets of old knew there was an sin issue in the world that caused separation between mankind and God...the mystery was 'how is God going to fix the mess we created?" He did it by sending His son Jesus to satisfy God's wrath on sin through His own perfect sinless sacrifice on the cross. 1. Since the foundation or creation of the world, the redemption of mankind was not a mystery to God, but certainly a mystery, a dark saying, a secret to all created beings. 2. In Jesus' ministry and teachings, He was beginning to unveil the mystery of ages...Mankind's redemption...which happens by the sowing of seed...the word of God...the Gospel...upon the hearts of people. a. So, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mk 16:15 because "...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17 2. Let's wrap up with Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares... Matt 13:36 "Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house [possibly Peter's house]. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 1. The first 4 parables in Matt 13 are addressed to a crowd. Then Jesus sends the crowd away and has a private conversation with His disciples. The explanation and the final four parables are given to the disciples alone. 2. Interesting...the disciples don't ask for explanation on the Parables of the Mustard Seed or Leaven...just the Wheat and Tares. a. Perhaps they understood the other parables...though doubtful. Or, maybe they felt the length of the parable of the wheat and tares substantiated asking for an explanation....we cannot say for sure... i. In the early 19th century, Thomas Campbell, a leader in the Restoration Movement, stated, "'Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent'" ii. Solid advice...I don't mind imagining possibilities, but we can not speak in certainties when the Bible is silent. V37 "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. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 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!" 1. The interpretation (which...wow!...Look how blunt Jesus is here): a. Jesus, the Son of Man (a favorite title for Himself), is the sower of good seed. b. The field is the world. The field is not the church, but the world...important note. c. Good seeds are sons of the kingdom- believers. i. Interesting...In the first parables the seed was the "word of God"...now good seeds are the sons of the kingdom...the result of the word of God in the good soil...the good heart. d. Tares are sons of the wicked one/ Satan- unbelievers. i. Tares are counterfeit. They look like wheat, but they are not wheat. When fully mature you can tell the difference...for the heads of wheat bow, and the tare stands upright. Picturesque to believers and unbelievers before God. ii. Satan is all about counterfeits...primarily seen in unholy trinity...Satan, the anti-christ, and the false prophet. e. The sower of the tares is the devil/ Satan. f. The harvest is the end of the age...the end of this age at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns in His 2nd coming with the armies of heaven riding on white horses. You and I will be there! g. The reapers are angels who carry out God's judgment on the offensive (skandalŏn- bait, snare, stumble) and the lawless... i. ...separating the wheat (believers) who are destined V43 to "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father"...a heavenly picture... ii. ...and the tares (unbelievers) who are destined for fire...hell/hades...described as V42 "the furnace of fire...wailing and gnashing of teeth...not yet the eternal Lake of Fire...that's at the end of the Millennium. h. At the end of this age there is a Judgment called "The Judgment of the Nations" -or- "The Sheep/Goat Judgement" spoken of in Matt 25:31-46. 1. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." Mt 25:31-32. a. After Jesus returns, He will separate believers and unbelievers. I believe these are believers spiritually born during the tribulation after the rapture. If you hold to a different view, other then a pre-tribulation rapture, you may believe this is the church that went through the tribulation...I don't see it this way. The other group is unbelievers. i. Jesus describes these two groups as "sheep" and "goats" -or- as we saw in Matt 13 "wheat" and "tares." b. To believers, Sheep, Jesus says, " 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world..." Mt 25:34. They enter the millennium kingdom. c. To unbelievers, Goats, Jesus says, "'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels..." Mt 25:41 "And these [goats] will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Mt 25:46 i. Hell was not created for man...it was created for "the devil and his angels..." likely why Jesus talks more about hell then heaven, because He knows how bad it is and He is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). That should be our heart too! 2. While we don't see angels judging in Matt 25 ...and Jesus said in Matt 13:39 "the reapers are the angels," ...some scholars link the Wheat/Tares Parable in Matt 13, and the Sheep/Goat Judgement in Matt 25 with the events of Rev 14:14-20 which picture "The Judgment of the Nations" after Jesus' 2nd coming...and indeed the angels are reaping. a. Rev 14:14-19 "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 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." 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." 3. Jesus concludes His explanation with, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" a. Spiritual hearing and sight is a gift for the believer. b. If you are here today and you don't know Him, know this...time is short, and Jesus tells us these things to prepare us for what is to come. There are different destinies for the wheat and the tares...and, all you have to do to be on the right side, is to say, "Yes!" to Him today. Worship Team Come! Whether you view these parables as the kingdom permeating the world...or the corrupt world permeating the church...judgment is coming...and let me remind you...Jesus assigned you a role, right now, in His kingdom. He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." Mt 28:19. So, no matter what parable camp you are in...big picture...there is someone in this town that needs the good news of Jesus Christ... I pray God opens doors for you, this week, to share "the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." Let's pray! Page . 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