Matthew 13
Parables of the Kingdom
8/24/97
Intro: Today we are going to talk about some of the parables of the bible. What is a parable? Many times it has been called "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Really, it is simply a word picture to better help us understand. Jesus knew that if he taught "theology" the people would be bored and fall asleep. Instead he talked about things thew knew about: farming, business, life at home, family. This morning we want to look at some of these pictures Jesus used as he taught about the kingdom of God.
Read vs. 1-2
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables
I. Why did Jesus teach in parables?
A. Opposition to him was mounting - 12:14 - Jews plotting to kill him
*you can say things without making direct reference
B. To make things more on the disciples level: using ideas they were familiar with
C. To find out their level of desire: vs. 10-17
The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "`You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Jesus used parables because the hearts of the people were hard. He knew that those with open hearts and a desire to learn would hear and understand. Those who have a hard heart will never understand.
**We need to be careful to look at our own hearts to see if we have a desire to learn and know God. If weread the scripture and it doesn’t make sense, maybe it’s because we don’t have the right kind of heart.
Speaking of the right kind of heart, let’s look at the first parable Jesus told.
I. The Make-up of the kingdom of God - vs. 3-9
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
This has been called the parable of the four soils.
The interpretation of this parable is in verses 18-23
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
This parable really talks about the hearts of men. As you look at your heart this morning, what kind of heart do you have towards the word of God.
I’ve gotten a good understanding of this parable by my garden this summer. Back in the spring, Mike Reeves tilled up a little patch for me out back. We planted a few things, just so the girls could watch things grow. Many weeds have sprung up. Some things were eaten by the animals. Many things just haven’t grown.
These are parables about the kingdom of God. John the Baptist preached, repent for the kingdom of God is near. Christ came proclaiming the kingdom of God was upon them. God was initiating the opening of his kingdom to those who would believe. Yet, not everyone who heard Jesus or John responded. In the same way today, when we think about Christendom or the church, not everyone who comes to church believes.
The first soil:The PATH - The unsaved who hear the word preached but do not understand: Satan never lets them hear. There’s always some distraction to keep them from truly hearing in their heart.
Second - ROCKY soil - Those who are excited about God, but don’t want to pay the cost. They just don’t want to give up their "fun".
Third - THORNS - Those who hear and want to respond, but are hindered by worries, cares, wealth, and the world. They have too much to give up.
Last, GOOD SOIL - Those that hear and receive the word. They produce fruit. Each person brings a different percentage of fruit, but each seed in good soil produces fruit.
MEANING: We need to examine our hearts. As we hear God’s truth, will we receive it and let i bear fruit in our lives
Parable of the Weeds - Jesus goes on to give anouther parable about the makeup of the kingdom. Verses 24-30.
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, 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. "The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ "`No,’ he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up 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 and bring it into my barn.’"
The Jews would have understood this well. There is a weed in Israel called "bearded darnell" that grows wild in the area. As it grows, it looks just like wheat, and can not be told apart from the wheat until maturity. Also, it’s roots tangle around the roots of the wheat. Pulling it up too soon could harm the wheat.
The explanation is given in verses 36-43.
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for 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 pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 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.
In our church, we have believers and unbelievers. We don’t need to try to determine who is a believer and who is not. God will decide that. God looks on the heart. At the end of the age, God will separate the true believers from the unbelievers.
So, the kingdom of God is a mixed grouping of those with different responses to God.
II. The Growth of the Kingdom of God.
Mustard Seed - vs. 31-32
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
The smallest seed can produce the biggest plant. Jesus started his church with just 12 disciples: in fact, he even lost one of those. Yet out of that handful, he produced a church that would spread to all peoples, all nations.
Yeast - 33
He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Making bread, they would save a small lump of bread with yeast in it. Sort of like we make sourdough bread. The next day they would pull it out to make new bread. A woman took her little lump, and used it to rise thirty pounds of flour ( great amount - about 10 gallons).
The kingdom has great effects. One Christian can be used to influence a whole community, family or workplace. How could you be used for God?
III. The Price of the kingdom
Hidden treasure - 44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Pearl - 45
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Whatever it costs you to serve God, it is worth it. There is no sacrifice too big to make.
Fishing Net - 47-50
Jesus goes back to the idea of a mixed multitude in the kingdom.
"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will 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.
Conclusion: After telling them all the parables, look at verse 51. Jesus asks them
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.
I find this amusing. They understood everything. I’m sure! Jesus likens it to someone who can pull out old and new treasures. We may not understand everything we hear or read in God’s word. But there’s always something new for us to chew on. Let’s use what we do know, and let God constantly teach us more about himself.
How is your heart today? Is it good soil for the Lord?
How is your influence today? Are you permeating your environment?
How is your desire today? Are you willing to give whatever it takes for the kingdom?
It is worth it!
He is no foo who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.
