Are You a Part of the Kingdom of God?

TEXT: Matthew 13:24-30; 34-43

TOPIC: Are You a Part of the Kingdom of God?

Bobby Earls, Eastside Baptist Church, Blacksburg, SC

April 22, 1979, Sunday night

(This sermon is a part of the Eastside sermons which were some of the earliest sermons I wrote and preached. I have resisted the urge to edit them or add additional thoughts to further develop the sermons! I have used the AV or the KJV which is the Bible version I would have used at that time. More precisely, the Scofield Reference Bible. These sermons were handwritten on 3 x 4 index cards which I still keep in an old index card box in my office. Precious Memories!!)

I. The Parable, Matthew 13:1–3 (AV) 1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Matthew 13:24 (AV) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Matthew 13:34–35 (AV) 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto 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 which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Parable – paraballo. “To lay aside of, compare, likeness.

A way of expressing an essential truth by using analogies or examples.

Two affects: 1) Successful – contrition and change of life

2) Unsuccessful – create or increase hostility

“Whereas Jesus spoke in parables, we preach onparables.

II. What is the Parable? “The Kingdom of Heaven”

Matthew 13 has seven parables.

1) Sower

2) Tares among the wheat

3) Mustard seed

4) Leaven Bread

5) Hidden Treasure

6) Pearl

7) Fisher’s net

III. Essence of the Kingdom

A. Jesus is the Sower, Matthew 13:24 (AV) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Matthew 13:37 (AV) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

B. The Children of the Kingdom are the Good Seed, Matthew 13:38 (AV) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

C. The World is the Field, Matthew 13:38 (AV) The field is the world;

IV. Enemy of the Kingdom

A. Laziness of the Servants, Matthew 13:25 (AV) But while men slept,

B. Liveliness of Satan, Matthew 13:25 (AV) …., his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.,

Matthew 13:39 (AV) The enemy that sowed them is the devil;

C. Likeness of the Sinners, Matthew 13:25–26 (AV)

25 ……. his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat,….. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

V. Expertise of the King

A. Accusation of the Servants, Matthew 13:27 (AV) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

B. Answer of the Saviour, Matthew 13:28 (AV) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

C. Anxiousness of the Servants, Matthew 13:28 (AV) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

D. Authority of the Saviour, Matthew 13:29–30 (AV) 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

VI. Emergence of the Kingdom

A. Harvest of the Field, Matthew 13:30 (AV) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Matthew 13:39 (AV) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

B. Heaven’s Firebugs, Matthew 13:30 (AV) and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:

Matthew 13:40–42 (AV) 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

C. Hell’s Fire, Matthew 13:30, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:

Matthew 13:40–42 (AV) 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

D. Home of the Faithful, Matthew 13:30 (AV) but gather the wheat into my barn.

Matthew 13:43 (AV) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

VII. Prayer

Invitation—Matthew 13:43, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

(I am confident I used the six volume Matthew Henry’s Devotional Commentary as my sole resource since it was the only commentary I owned at the time, which was a gift from my pastor, the Reverend M.P. Hampton.)