Parables of the Kingdom

1. Why parables
Matt 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should[a]heal them.’[b]
16 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.

- Jesus quotes Isaiah's call to ministry Isa 6:9-10 – “Go, and tell this people:”
- Isa 6:11-13, “Lord, how long?” … till God’s judgment comes
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(1Pe 4:17)
- God's judges us by His standard, for us that believe judgement serves not to comdemn us because Jesus has already paid the full price or propitiation for our sins, but rather to refine us.

- Parables: Simple stories to reveal a moral or spiritual lesson or truth
- These mysteries of God are made plain and easy to those who are willing to be taught (hearing and doing, denoting receiving truth and action as a result of belief, James 1:22)
- Yet difficult and obscure to those who make themselves willing ignorant
- Mysteries are God secrets that He reveals to us with a condition

Vs.11 He answered and said unto them , Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven , but to them it is not given .
- 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God .

2. Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-9)
- He who has an ear let him hear (vs. 9), mentioned also to the 7 churches in Revelation
- This denotes that the hearers need to take special attention. There is a warning or a weighty truth we need to grasp.
- This truth was demanded to be understood by the disciples and so Jesus explained in vs. 18-23. Are we ones that seek the truth or chose to ignore it?
- Jesus is the sower who sows the seed of the Gospel
- Mark 1:15 Now is time (time is fulfilled), the Kingdom of God is at hand. It takes repentance to receive the Gospel
- Response to the sower is the condition of the ground -> bringing life or not. Or even some short lived.

3. It’s the problem with the ground, not the sower
- 4 grounds mentioned
- Even the good ground has different levels
The grounds that didn't bring life
a) Wayside (vs.4). The devil steals the seed away. On the highway, traveler that didn't settle down on decision having no understanding.
b) Stony ground (vs.5), immediate response. No depth, not going further. The sun of testing comes and as quickly as the response, so quickly faith dies
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Sanctification is journey God takes us through to prepare us as His beloved Bride when Jesus Christ returns. Trials is to 'kill' the flesh so that the spirit will grow stronger. To bring us to the end of ourselves that we be in Christ. All the world sees is Christ, as we decrease (John 3:30)
c) Among thorns (vs.7). Choked by cares of the world and faith dies. Deceived by riches:
- Vanity of heaping up riches
Psa 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
- Bring boasting not dependency on God
Psa 49:6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
- It is righteousness that profits much, not riches
Prov 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
- Reputation supersedes great riches, fear of the Lord, honor and life
Prov 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.
- Love of money brings much sorrows
I Tim:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- If faith pleases God (Heb 11:6), what is our attitude?
James 2: 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
Matt 5: 3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. The good ground and level of fruitfulness
- 100 in the Bible = Children of promise (Abraham has Isaac at 100) or living in God's promises
- Those that are of the good ground WITH 100fold yields live in all of God’s promises and blessings
- However, the 100fold yielding life comes with a cost of forsaking or dying to something for the sake of a higher blessed life as did Abraham
Gen 12:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land , and received in the same year an hundredfold : and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great , and went forward , and grew until he became very great : 14 For he had possession of flocks , and possession of herds , and great store of servants : and the Philistines envied him.
Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands , for my name's sake , shall receive an hundredfold , and shall inherit everlasting life .

5. Subsequent Parables
a) Tares among the wheat. No differences when young. In maturity the wheat brings golden grain and bends down (more fruits, more humble). Both grow up together in church. It's not our duty to identify the tares and up root them. It is the Lord of the harvest that will send the angels to reap. Tares are those who practice lawlessness. The tares, by God's grace grow in receiving His benefits (the field watered and given fertilizer). Having the appearance of Christian life but lacking it's true value unto eternal life. It will show in the fruits and obedience.

Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

b) Mustard seed
As with faithfulness (Luke 19:17), the Kingdom of God within us grows. God takes us on the journey of increase to greatness. We should never assist God in our growing process because as the 1st ground, fast is not necessary better. Again it speaks of a big tree that brings shelter and has vital signs of life.

c) The leaven and hidden treasure
Similar to the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God within us or the reality of it is worked in by God silently, yet gradual. Strong, yet without much fanfare. It’s a hidden treasure that must be sought after and owned by forsaking others
Mark 4: 26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.

d) Pearl of great price
The Kingdom of God is treasured, valued and not for ‘everyone’
Matt 7:6 “…… nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
2 Pet 2:22 …… and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire .

e) Dragnet
Separating the good from the bad after the catch means that the church, the net of the great Fisher of Man today is same as with the tares and the wheat.

Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is only given to those who hear and receive with genuine faith that is secretly and silently growing inside the faithful. A pilgrimage not be rushed but in accordance to God’s perfect timing. There will be both the good and the bad. The latter appear to be living the Kingdom life, but it’s in the end that separation will occur. May we live as God's children of promise and not be satisfied with sub-standard holy lives. May we be found faithful to the end.

Mat 24:12-13 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matt 13:49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."