Understanding the Kingdom
With the numerous times that Jesus teaches those around Him through a parable, it can almost become tempting to gloss over them. As with any aspect of God’s word, this is to the readers detriment. So much of God’s word is missed simply because the readers fail to take it seriously. Today, we are going to look over five parables that Jesus uses to describe the kingdom of heaven; however, each parable shows us a different aspect into the kingdom of heaven.
“24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like 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 left. 26 And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. 27 And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Matthew 13:24-30
If this parable doesn’t describe the world right now, then I do not know what does. The world is the field that the man sowed seed in, due to actions by an enemy the field became riddled with weeds. Due to mankind’s actions, sin entered the world and allowed the good seed to have to compete with the weeds. So how does this passage describe the kingdom of heaven? Just like the world today, those who follow Jesus Christ (these people are the good seed) grow alongside those who will not accept Him (the bad seed).
“31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fullygrown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32
Have you ever looked at the size of a mustard seed and then looked at what it grows into? The seeds themselves are extremely small, but the plant is huge! This passage describes the kingdom of heaven as one that grows and that is very fitting. When an individual becomes a born-again believer, their impact is unstoppable. Consider John Chapter Four, one woman becomes saved and that leads to many more in her city to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Once the word of God is planted, nothing can stop it and so the kingdom of heaven grows.
“33 He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”
Matthew 13:33
For being the smallest of parables we are discussing today, this one impacts a lot. If any of you have ever made bread, you know how a small amount of yeast can affect the dough. Considering the amount of flour and the amount of yeast used, it is rather remarkable how the yeast can cause such an impact. This passage describes the kingdom of God as unstoppable, once the leaven (God’s word) is mixed in, nothing can remove it.
“44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
Here we see two individuals who have determined that one individual item is worth far more than anything else that they have. This is the kingdom of heaven, the riches we find in the word of God is worth far more than any momentarily happiness here on earth. Seeking God’s word brings us riches far beyond what we could possibly imagine.
“47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
This parable not only links back to the one in verses 24-30, but it also dispels a false idea. That everyone will make it into the kingdom of heaven. The fact is, just as the weeds grew up with the wheat but in the end were separated, we see that again here. The wicked will be removed from the righteousness and the only way that one can be righteous is if they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Hold the truth and encourage one another,
Alex