The Kingdom of Heaven
Thesis: To teach the hearers some of the multifaceted aspects of the kingdom of Heaven.
Text: Matt 13:31-33, 44-46, 47-50, 24-30, 36-43
Introduction,
In this section of Scripture (Mt 13) our Lord is teaching exclusively by parables, in order that he might fulfill the prophecy found in Ps 78:2 (Mt 13:35b)...
Mat 13:35b "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."
Παραβολή; parabolē; par-ab-ol-ay'
From G3846; a similitude (“parable”), that is, (symbolically) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apoth gm or adage: - comparison, figure, parable, proverb.
Parabolic teaching was frequently employed in the times of Christ and throughout the ages, it uses commonly known situations in order to teach spiritual truths, the parabolic method is said to be likened unto the shell of a nut, it keeps its fruits hidden from the unwilling, the carnal, and slothful (those blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), and at the same time makes them accessible to the diligent, spiritual assessor, and seeker.
In our context Jesus had just finished explaining the parable of the sower (v 18-23), then brings forth the parable of the tares, now He goes on to give some more parables “describing” the kingdom of heaven.
Thus we will take a closer look at them, in order that we may more fully learn about . . .
1) The nature of the kingdom.
2) The worth of the kingdom.
3) The realities of the kingdom.
4) The consummation of the kingdom.
I. THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM (Matt 13:31-33)
A. (v 31-32)
Mat 13:31 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
Mat 13:32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air (heaven) come and make nests in its branches."
1. Let us keep in mind the kingdom, the church, the body of Christ are all synonymous terms (Mt 16:18-19; Heb 12:23-28),
a. It speaks of that spiritual organism over which Christ rules, through the NT (Eph 1:22-23; John 17:20-21), the only difference lies in the “location” of the individuals therein, they, for the most part, are at this present time either in comforts in Paradise which is in Hades, or they are member of Christ’s church on earth (except for the martyrs whose souls I believe are currently in Heaven itself until the general resurrection; Rev 20:4).
b. The reason it is referred to as a “kingdom” is in fact descriptive of the type of system which it is, it has a King (our Lord Jesus; Mt 28:18), subjects (us, willing in this case; Rom 6:16-18), and rules (the NT; Heb 8:10) through which the King exercises His authority over His subjects (Mt 28:20; Col 3:17).
2. In this short parable we learn some important facts about Christ’s kingdom, it would be likened to a mustard seed (which is very small) and grows into a very large plant.
a. This is descriptive of how the kingdom began in a small and obscure province under Roman rule with the birth of a child to unknown and humble parents in a stable, and how that kingdom grew to include people from every race and nation upon the earth.
b. In fact Judaism, from which salvation through Christ came, even to this day, is only two-tenths of one percent of world-wide religions, our Lord stated concerning Judaism being the origin of the Faith (Jn 4:21-24) . . .
Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
c. In comparison to Judaism today, the Way, the Faith, Christianity, is the largest religion on earth, here are some stats from Wikipedia . . .
Christianity 31.5% (of the entire world population, roughly 8 billion)
Islam 23.2%
Unaffiliated 16.3%
Hinduism 15.0%
Buddhism 7.1%
Folk religions 5.9%
Other 0.8%
Judaism 0.2% Pew Research Center, 2012
d. As it is written in the book of Revelation (Rev 11:15) . . .
Rev 11:15b . . ."The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."
e. What we see here is the “majority rules” concept, we Christians rule gently and peaceably through Christ, the only way to the only true God (Jn 14:6), this exclusivity infuriates some, especially the violent of the other groups, this is why we see the beheadings of the Muslims, the violence and the murders of the Hindus, and the lawsuits of the atheists.
3. Also, this parable is prophetic, and is still is being fulfilled to this day, God is still working through the perpetual great commission (Mt 28:19-20), individuals are still hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, and obeying the gospel unto the salvation of their souls.
a. There are people in various countries all across the world that are this very day assembling (Heb 10:25) in houses (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 2), partaking of the Lord’s supper (Mt 26:26-29; 28:20; 1 Cor 11:20-26), giving as they have been prospered (1 Cor 16:1-2), praying and singing unto God (1 Cor 14:15) with grace in their hearts, listening to real chapter and verse Bible preaching and teaching (1 Cor 1:12; 1 Tim 4:13), all according to the NT pattern revealed in their Bibles (2 Tim 1:13).
b. The apostle Paul writes this admonishment in the 3rd chapter of the 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians (2 Thess 3:4, 14-15)
2Th 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command . . .
2Th 3:14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
B. (v 33)
Mat 13:33 He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
1. “Leaven” usually signifies evil influence upon the pages of inspiration (Matt 16:5-12; 1 Cor 5:6-8), but here “leaven” illustrates how the gospel would and does permeate the world.
a. This refers to “nature” of the kingdoms growth, rather than the “degree” of its growth.
b. It is the property of “leaven” (yeast) to quietly spread itself throughout the lump of flour in which it is placed, in like manner, the kingdom of heaven quietly advances throughout the world.
c. But not by the means of earthly kingdoms with “physical” weapons of man, as seen in Isa 2:4 (look there).
Isa 2:4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
d. But rather this nation advances through the “spiritual” weapons of God. (turn to 2 Cor 10:3-5).
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
2Co 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
e. We need to properly understand and engage evil, the evil one, Satan, Mastema, and his henchmen, the evil spirits, demons. These entice and lead us and others to do evil, and without the gospel, we are blind to them, but through the gospel, God’s power to salvation, we can see their working, resist them, and thereby defeat them as depicted in Eph 6:10-18 (look there) . . .
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
f. The gospel message of Jesus, His death for our sins, His resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, and our living hope of following Him, this is the core of the Christian Faith, we are to be shoed with this, this is what we bring to others, that they also might believe . . .
g. Then our practice of imitating Jesus, by telling the truth, living in righteousness, living by faith in God’s promises, all according to God’s word, that sword of the Spirit, shining as lights in this sin darkened world.
h. And praying to God, thanking God, crying out to God, continually, for others and ourselves, this is walking with God, worshiping God in spirit and truth.
i. This lifestyle, this way, the Way, is to grow in us, till its permeates every aspect of our lives (1 Pet 1:15-16; 2 Cor 7:1; Heb 12:14)
1Pe 1:15 But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.
1Pe 1:16 Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy." (GW)
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
2. Not only would this kingdom would permeate within and without us, it will also permeate throughout the kingdoms of men (turn to Dan 2:44)
Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
a. Rome was the world power when the kingdom of God, the church was established 2000 yrs ago, over 1500 yrs ago it fell from power, yet the kingdom of Heaven still stands.
b. The US is now the world power, yet the time will come and I believe has come when the US will fall, but the kingdom of Heaven shall still be standing strong in this world as long as God upholds this earth by the word of His power (Heb 1:3).
3. Therefore this parable also illustrates the spreading nature of the kingdom , within the world and within the individual, the kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21), and as the seed of the kingdom (the word of God; Luke 8:15) germinates in our hearts, we are continually being transformed by applying God’s word to our lives, as it is written (Rom 12:1-2). . .
Rom 12:1 I beseech (appeal to) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
Rom 12:2 And be not fashioned according (conformed) to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
a. This is called the renewal, the renewing of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Tit 3:5, which He (the Holy Spirit) accomplishes with His sword, the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), that living and active word of God (Heb 4:12) within us.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
b. Our Lord Jesus said (John 6:63) . . .
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
c. For it is also written (1 Pet 2:2)
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the (pure) sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
d. This parable also, as the last, is prophetic, its fulfillment is constantly going on, and will continue until Christ’s 2nd coming.
e. This section of Scripture teaches us the “nature of the kingdom,” it is spiritual, not of this world (John 18:36) as are the kingdoms of men, thus it is unstoppable, it is continually spreading within us and around us, and will continue forever in the heavenly places.
f. We ought to stand in awe of the wisdom of our God that is displayed in such a plan, the inspired Paul wrote in Eph 3:8-11(turn there) . . .
Eph 3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Eph 3:9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
Eph 3:10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Eph 3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
II. THE WORTH OF THE KINGDOM (Matt 13:44-46)
A. (v 44)
Mat 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
1. Here we see the kingdom pictured as a “treasure,” those who are faithful unto the Lord certainly know this to be the truth, there is nothing of this world that could compare with the unsearchable riches which are “in Christ” as depicted in (Phili 3:8).
Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
a. Let us look at some verses talking about these riches . . .
Luk_16:11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
Rom_2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Rom_9:23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
Rom_10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Rom_11:12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
Rom_11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Eph_1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Eph_1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Eph_2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph_3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Eph_3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Php_4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Col_1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col_2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,
b. Here we have a certain man, who finds this treasure in another’s field, and hides it; in ancient times individuals would bury their valuables, similar to our putting it into a safe, a safe deposit box or a vault.
c. It has been asserted that this hiding was dishonest considering that this was another’s field and treasure.
d. Again, we need to be careful and commend only where God commends, and recognize the difference between what the Bible teaches as approved, and merely reports.
e. In this case though, it is assumed that he was hiding it “from” the field’s owner, I would conclude that this is not the case, but rather he was hiding it “for” himself, he did not take it from the field, but rather was safeguarding it until the transaction was complete. This shows forth even more the extreme value he considers this treasure to have.
2. And having safeguarded it, “in his joy” he sold “all he had” in order to buy the field which contained the treasure.
a. The first thing I want you to note that this individual is “in his joy” because of this treasure, here are some of the things that brings about the “joy” seen in this verse
i. When one hears and believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ they receive God’s Holy Spirit, this is referred to as being “born of the Spirit,” when God’s Spirit dwells in you, you begin looking at things differently, as God would (Rom 14:17) . . .
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
ii. You notice all the things He does around you and you just marvel, the creatures, the plants, the waters, the earth, the heavens, the celestial bodies, all these declare His mighty power, and make you want to give Him glory, so we do, thus fulfilling our purpose in creation (Isa 43:6-8) . . .
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,
Isa 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isa 43:8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!
iii. Our Lord stated in Jn 9:39 . . .
Joh 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."
iv. He also told the apostle Paul in Acts 26 (Acts 26:16-18) . . .
Act 26:16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
Act 26:17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you
Act 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
v. Thus through the gospel, through God, through Jesus, by means of His Spirit, you also begin to be more “spiritually aware” God enables you to see not only His physical works, but also His spiritual workings, the good, which gives us joy, and the evil, which brings us to repentance concerning ourselves, and unsettledness even grief concerning others.
b. Another thing that brings us joy is the shift in our priorities (Col 3:1-4),
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
i. Also when we think like God, we see the true worth of the eternal things as opposed to the perishable things, and since the kingdom that we are part of is imperishable, we joy as we close in on our leaving this realm and entering the next, this imperishable nature is depicted in Heb 12 (Heb 12:25-29) . . .
Heb 12:25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
Heb 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
Heb 12:27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship (service), with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
ii. That is why we and the apostle Paul are able to say (Phili 1:21) . . .
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
iii. Thus we ought to have joy not only concerning this life, but also concerning our death, we are not to be like those of the world, because the fear of death is taken away for us Christ followers because Jesus paved the way for us, He is the Way for us, His death, His descent into Hades, His being rejoined with His body, His resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, His eternal life with God forever and ever, this is alluded to in the book of Hebrews (Heb 2:14-15; 6:19-20) . . .
Heb 2:14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 6:19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the (veil) curtain,
Heb 6:20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
c. Also in 1 Cor 15:23 . . .
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
d. And also in Jn 14:2-3 . . .
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
e. This treasure is available today for “whosoever wills” to purchase it (Rev 22:17), and the cost is the same today, as it was almost 2000 yrs ago, it will cost the buyer “all that he has.”
f. Our Lord affirms this fact in (Luke 14:33) . . .
Luk 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
g. The interesting thing is “all that we have” is, for the most part, is that which would keep us “out” of Heaven (i.e.; our behavior, our lives in the world, our sins, our self-centeredness concerning our possessions and time, and so forth).
h. And seeing that the whole of creation is the property of God (Ps 24:1), not His creatures’, it is only fitting that we do that which is right in His sight, keeping His commands, and having dominion (stewardship) over His possessions, as He sees fit, for . . .
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
B. (v 45-46)
Mat 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
Mat 13:46 who, on finding one pearl of great value (price), went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Again the kingdom is pictured as something bought, again the purchase price is great, “all that he had.”
a. Yet there is a difference between this parable and the last, this man was “seeking” fine or goodly pearls, while the last man seems to have stumbled upon the kingdom.
b. We should all be in a constant state of “seeking” “knocking” and “asking” our Lord states (Mt 7:7-8) . . .
Mat 7:7 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep (seeking) searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you.
Mat 7:8 Because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps (seeking) searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened. (ISV)
c. We should never get too comfortable in our spiritual status; we should always have an open mind, an open bible, and a willing heart, because we need to be one that is able to turn to the truth when it is found.
d. For if we have the truth, it will stand, if we don’t, praise God for commanding us to stay in this mode to make sure that we do.
e. There are some points of approval that can be held up for our consideration in this merchant . . .
i. He did not waste time admiring the pearl.
ii. He did not try to bargain for a lower price.
iii. He did not delay, nor postpone the purchase.
iv. He did not reject it as too expensive, he simply raised the necessary price and purchased it immediately, and we ought to do the same.
f. These parables teach us of “the great WORTH of the kingdom,” the church, the called out ones, the body of Christ; it will cost us everything from a worldly point of view, yet it will be well worth it, for it will endure eternally, beyond our physical lives, and this physical universe, our infinitely wise God, Who cannot lie, has assured us of these facts, Paul wrote in (Rom 8:18).
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.
g. And (Phili 3:8). . .
Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
h. If being flogged, burned alive, crucified, decapitated, or boiled in oil was worth enduring in the 1st century in order to inherit the eternal kingdom of God, there is nothing in our day and time that should keep us from reaching that goal (1 Cor 9:24; Heb 12:1-2a).
1Co 9:24 You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, don't you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,
Heb 12:2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer (author ) and perfecter of the faith, (ISV)
III. SOME REALITIES OF THE KINGDOM (Matt 13:47-50) “This is commonly referred to as “the parable of the dragnet.”
A. (v 47-48)
Mat 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net (Gr. drag-net) that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
Mat 13:48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.
1. A typical fishing net (or drag-net) is constructed with floats along the top and weights along the bottom so that when it “was cast into the sea” it spread out horizontally and vertically “and gathered of every kind” of sea life.
a. The net was then pulled up on the beach, and then the contents were sorted out, the “good” were collected and put into containers, and the “bad” were merely “thrown away.”
B. (v 49-50)
Mat 13:49 So it will be at the end of the age (world, time). The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
Mat 13:50 and throw them (the evil) into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1. As a net collects various sorts of marine life as it is drawn through the water, likewise the kingdom of Heaven attracts various kinds of people as it passes through the sea of humanity.
a. This parable refers to the Final Judgment, at the consummation of the Christian age (the end of the world), the earth will be severely shaken (Heb 12:26-27), burnt up (2 Pet 3:10), the Judgment will take place and “all” will appear the judgment seat of Christ (Rev 20:11-15), but this parable refers only to those “in the kingdom,” it serves as a warning to them.
b. We do not know the hearts of individuals when they believe the gospel, or as they obey it and serve in the kingdom, we must give them the benefit of the doubt, but God knows our hearts (1 John 3:20-21), all things are laid open before Him to Whom we have to give account (Heb 4:13; Rom 2:16).
Rom 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
2. Those who were not sincere in their service, who practice lawlessness, who are mere pretenders, who follow the flesh instead of the Spirit, who love this world and the things of this world more than Heaven, these will be separated from the faithful, and will be cast into the lake of fire, Gehennah Hell proper.
a. We must keep in mind that sincerity is a necessary condition, but it is not a sufficient condition, in other words it is necessary to be sincere, but sincerity alone will not save us.
b. We can illustrate this with the case of Saul (Paul) the persecutor, he believed with all his heart that he was right in his attempt to destroy the church, yet he was dead wrong, and without him accessing the grace of God by belief and obedience to the gospel, his lot would have been in the lake of fire, not the crown of life, despite his sincerity.
c. The case of Paul teaches us that the worst of sinners can be forgiven and changed through the gospel, those who are confronted with the truth, and turn towards it, can be saved.
d. Thus “the reality of the kingdom” here is that, there will be those that are in the kingdom, the church, the body of Christ, that will be lost, the Lord means exactly what He says, for He himself said (John 12:48) . . .
Joh 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
e. When Jesus states that practicing murderers, fornicators, adulterers, thieves and liars are defiled in the sight of God, He means it (Mt 15:19-20),
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Mat 15:20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
f. but when religions of men study these truths away, twisting the scriptures to their own destruction, making them line up with a sinful world, instead of a holy God, there is going to be much trouble on That Day, many will be turned away instead of being accepted into eternal fellowship with the Holy God (Mt 7:21-23) . . .
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does (keeps doing) the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of (who practice) lawlessness.'
g. Therefore let us strive, give all the more diligence, not only to receive Jesus as the Christ, but also to receive the words of Jesus as the truth that will make us free (Jn 8:31-32), to work out our salvation with trembling and fear (Phili 2:12), allowing God to work in us (Phili 2:13), through His word, through His Spirit, for to reject Christ’s words are to reject Him, He stated (Luke 9:26) . . .
Luk 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
h. And that includes the words of the apostles and NT prophets from Jesus (Gal 1:12), from the Spirit (Eph 3:5) which we have recorded in the NT (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21)
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19 Now the actions of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions,
Gal 5:21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
i. Christ said to His apostles when he sent them preaching in Israel (Luke 10:16) . . .
Luk 10:16 "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
j. The apostle Paul stated (1 Cor 14:37) . . .
1Co 14:37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
k. Instead of being “rejected” let us strive to be “accepted” and hear those longed for words (Mt 25:21) . . .
Mat 25:21 . . . 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master (Lord).'
3. Do we have to be perfect? No! Christ was perfect for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
a. But we should be “trying” to be perfect, practicing righteousness, attempting to bring holiness to completion (2 Cor 7:21).
b. The requirement of the law (perfection) is imputed, accounted, given to us as we live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Rom 8:1-4), in other words as we live (generally speaking) according to the gospel instead of being conformed this world we are perfect in the sight of God, this is called being “faithful”.
c. And if we do stumble (and we will), we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of our sins (Jn 16:8), repent (turn from them; Lk 13:3,5), confess our sins to God (1 Jn 1:9), brush ourselves off and continue the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:1-2).
d. But if we practice lawlessness, according to the word of God, and think we are going to enter into eternity with the holy ones and the Holy One, we will be in for a big disappointment; this is a reality of the kingdom of Heaven.
IV. THE CONSUMMATION (THE FULL END, THE GOAL) OF THE KINGDOM (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43)
A. (Look back at v 24-26)
Mat 13:24 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
Mat 13:25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds (tares) among the wheat and went away.
Mat 13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain (fruit), then the weeds (tares) appeared also.
1. According to Vines; “tares” are as tall as wheat, and look like wheat in appearance, it was known as “degenerate wheat” among the Jews, many modern versions translate it as “weeds”.
a. The seed was poisonous to man and carnivorous animals, it caused sleepiness, nausea, convulsions, and even death.
b. We should note here that the wheat “brought forth fruit,” while the tares merely “appeared,” Jesus said “by their fruit you shall know them” (Mt 7:20), and “every branch that does not bear fruit He takes away” (Jn 15:2), now we know we are not saved “by” good works, but rather we are created in Christ Jesus “for” good works (Eph 2:9-10), when we put this all together we must conclude that the born again Christian will maintain some sort of good works (Tit 3:8), and these works are the proof that God is working in us (Phili 2:13).
B. (v 27-30)
Mat 13:27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds (tares)?'
Mat 13:28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
Mat 13:29 But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds (tares) you root up the wheat along with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds (tares) first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
1. Tares were generally left until the time of harvest, when at that time they were separated from the wheat. Today in most farming operations, man in his so called wisdom deals with this using chemical herbicide (weed killer), which destroys both man and the earth, the end result is cancers and a poisoned water table (hey, but were defeating God’s curse, aren’t we?).
c. Since the servants of the householder knew that He had sown only good seed in the field, they questioned the origin of the tares (weeds).
d. It is important to note that this parable immediately follows the explanation of the parable of the sower, in that parable “the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11), “the word of the kingdom” (Mt 13:19).
e. Thus we can consider the “bad seed” to be anything that is not the result of the pure unadulterated word of God, from false so called Christian doctrines, to atheism, and everything in between, this is harmonious with our Lord’s statement concerning the teaching’s of the religious leaders of His day (Mt 15:13) . . .
Mat 15:13 . . . Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up.
f. This is also one of the few parables that the Lord interprets for us, so let us see what He says.
C. (Look at v 36-38)
Mat 13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds (tares) of the field."
Mat 13:37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
Mat 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed is (are) the sons of the kingdom. The weeds (tares) are the sons of the evil one,
1. Let us first note, that again the disciples exercised diligence concerning this parable, they asked, while most did not so.
a. Notice also that the field is the world, not just the kingdom, all are accountable to the gospel of Christ, those that obey, and those that do not (Tit 2:11; Acts 17:30-31)
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for (to) all people,
Act 17:30 . . . He commands all people everywhere to repent,
b. The good seed are the sons of the kingdom, they must be those that are product of the word of God, which is pictured as the seed in the previous parable of the sower.
c. The tares are the sons of the evil one, the product of bad seed, either it be the doctrines of men disguised as the doctrine of Christ, or anything else, unto atheism.
2. Note that oftentimes Satan copies the things of God and twists them for evil, instead of good, for the glory to himself or man, instead of God, as a gardener I can attest to the fact that whatever type of good plant I am attempting to grow, for some odd reason there are weeds that are strikingly similar, attempting to grow around them, they usually grow very close to the good plants making weeding very difficult without pulling up some of the good plants, the same is true in the spiritual realm.
a. Note also that there is no “sort of good seed,” or “sort of bad seed,” the “good seed” is the product of God, the “bad seed” from which grow the tares/weeds, that which looks like wheat, and is similar to wheat, is the product of the devil, there is no middle ground, one is either a child of God, or a son of Satan, Jesus said (Mt 12:30) . . .
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters.
b. So likened unto some things we see today, as in the case of people teaching that that gospel is just like the world, only including Jesus, but Jesus said (Jn 18:36) . . .
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from (of) the world."
c. From the offering (murdering; shedding innocent blood) of their children to molech or baal through abortion, to the teaching that sodomy, lesbianism, divorce, adultery, promiscuity, immodesty and money loving are approved of God; these are the bad seeds bearing bad fruit, the doctrines of men, which produce tares, and are in fact against Christ, scattering by error instead of promoting the Truth, that once and for all time delivered Faith (Jude 3).
D. (v 39-40)
Mat 13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age (world; time), and the reapers are angels.
Mat 13:40 Just as the weeds (tares) are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age (world; time).
1. At the end of the Christian dispensation, which will coincide with the end of time (when God destroys this world; Heb 12:26-27; 2 Pet 3:10), Christ will send His angels to separate the good from the bad, considering the power of angels (2 Ki 19:35; one angel 185,000 dead!), no one will miss this appointment!
E. (v 41-42)
Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers (who practice lawlessness; NKJV),
Mat 13:42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Remember that the field is the world, and the kingdom is “in” the world, but not “of” the world (1 Jn 2:15-17; Ja 4:4), it exists in the world in order that it can seek and save a lost and dying world (Luke 19:10), but it is not to be conformed to it (Rom 12:2).
1. Again there will be those that are Christians who will be gathered out of the kingdom, they should have believed and practiced the word of the Lord, it meant exactly what it said, they who practiced lawlessness, whom Jesus never truly knew (Mt 7:21-23), who are actually the children of the devil (1 Jn 3:4-10), will be cast into the furnace of fire which coincides with the lake of fire (Rev 20:15).
a. There shall be extreme sorrow signified by “weeping,” and there will be extreme anger signified by “gnashing of teeth.”
b. This sort of language ought to put the fear of God in a person, yet there will be those who will have the audacity to be angry with the Almighty in That Day.
c. Also, if Hell is not a reality (as many these days assert), the Lord misled us here, in other words, He lied, as in other places where He speaks of eternal punishment (Matt 25:46), the Lord is no liar, He never sinned, not even once (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22).
F. (v 43)
Mat 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
1. But concerning the righteous they will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, they shall be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, transformed into the likeness of Jesus, let us look at some verses that teach this (Mt 17:1-2; Acts 26:13-15; Rev 1:12-16; Phili 3:20-21; 2 Thess 2:13-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3) . . .
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Mat 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Act 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
Act 26:14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Act 26:15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Rev 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
Rev 1:13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Rev 1:14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Rev 1:15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
2Th 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2Th 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1Jn 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
2. And after we are changed we will enter into the eternal phase of the kingdom (2 Pet 1:11), no tears, no pain, no death, no unbelievers, the first order of creation will have been done away, and the new heavens, and the new earth (which could be figurative language for the realm we refer to as Heaven; the Heavenly places) will be our home forever and ever, we will eternally remain in the very presence of God in all his glory, it is written in 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21:1-7 (turn there) . . .
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (the earth shaking, renting asunder; Heb 12:26-29; Enoch 1:7), and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy living and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:
Rev 21:4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he says, Write: for these words are faithful and true.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcomes shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
a. He that has ears should heed these warnings, and the faithful can rest on these promises.
b. God, Who cannot lie, Who created all, and sustains all, has spoken, and of a surety, this will come to pass, this is the “consummation of the kingdom,” when Christ hands the reigns of the kingdom back to the Father (1 Cor 15:24), and the saints will be in glory serving and worshiping the LORD God, for ever and ever, Amen! Let us give the utmost diligence that we are found among these.
Conclusion,
1) We looked at “THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM,” it has a King, that is Christ, He has willing subjects that obey Him by faith working through love, the kingdom started small, spreads like leaven, and will outlast the kingdoms of men, and this physical realm, the kingdom is spiritual, thus eternal, it cannot be stopped nor destroyed, and endures forever.
2) We also looked at “THE WORTH OF THE KINGDOM,” It is worth more than anything you could imagine, and it will cost all you have and are to obtain it.
3) Then we looked into some “REALITIES OF THE KINGDOM,” many Christians that believe they are OK, and are only fooling themselves, God’s love is manifested in His word, when believed and obeyed from the heart, it can save your souls (Ja 1:21), when ignored (Rom 10:3), or twisted (2 Pet 3:16), it becomes your judge (John 12:48), I fear many are going to face this reality of the kingdom on That Day.
4) And lastly we looked at “THE CONSUMMATION OF THE KINGDOM,” every accountable human being is subject to God’s laws, whether they acknowledge it or not, do not be deceived, there is a great Day coming when the final separation will be made between saint and sinner, and no one will “just get by,” those that partake of God’s righteousness will inherit eternal glory, and the rest eternal fire.
5) But the longsuffering of our God is salvation to the lost (2 Pet 3:9), He by the word of His power is keeping this realm intact in order that all the more may believe, repent and obey, He does not wish that any should perish, but rather that they should all turn to Him and live! How? The same way it has been for almost 2000 years, there is no “new plan” or “ever changing plan” it’s the same plan Peter preached on that first Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Christ . . .
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17);
We must teach and preach the pure doctrine of Christ, without additions or subtractions
For “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17), not the doctrines of men.
Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Divine Son of God (Acts 8:37; John 8:24); Who died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven (1 Cor 15:1-4), He is our forerunner (Heb 6:20), our living hope (1 Pet 1:3-4). Belief (faith) is the crossover point from spiritual death to spiritual life (Jn 5:24), but people are not saved by faith alone (Ja 2:17, 24, 26), God wants individuals to continue in the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15) . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), determine to turn from your old ways, and turn to the new and living Way, living by faith (according to God’s word; Rom 10:17), not as the world lives (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 6:17).
Confess Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), initially at conversion and while you fulfill God’s will for all people to hear the good news of Christ through His gospel.
Be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); baptism is the point where one is to be determined to be dead to sin and to be alive unto God (Rom 6:1-11).
Live a holy life unto God (1 Pet 1:15), bringing holiness to completion (2 Cor 7:1), “holiness” means “separated”, separated “from” the ways of the world, and “to” the Way of God, walking in newness of life, imitating Jesus (1 Cor 11:1), being determined to follow God’s instructions, that difficult Way that leads to life, whatever the cost may be (Rev 2:10), for it is worth all that and more (Rom 8:18).