If what you believe is not true, do you want to know it? We have established conventional wisdom and answers that may not coincide with the responses of Jesus. Hold your beliefs in an open hand. The Spirit of God may reveal surprising details that will change our opinions. Commit to a longer-view when judging a present condition. Some circumstances are within our ability to change. Some things will require the intervention of God. The removal of our enemies will be difficult for us. Trust Him.
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Ch. 30 – Jesus Teaches the Kingdom in Parables
THE TARES (WEEDS) Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43
THEN JESUS told another parable, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 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?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 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.”’”
Later on, after the multitude had been sent away and Jesus had gone into the house, his disciples came to him, saying:
“Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.”
Jesus answered them, saying:
“He that soweth the good seed is the Son of many. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. 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; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
THE SEED (Mark 4:36-29)
Jesus spoke another parable, saying:
“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
A MUSTARD SEED (Matt. 13:31, 32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19)
Then Jesus, speaking another parable, likened the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows from a small grain into a large plant:
“Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth. But when it is sown, it growth up, and becometh greater than all hers, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”
LEAVEN (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20, 21)
Then Jesus compared the kingdom of Heaven with leaven, saying:
“The kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
THE HIDDEN TREASURE (Matt. 13:44)
Jesus spoke another parable, likening the kingdom of Heaven to a hidden treasure. He said:
“Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field-which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”
THE COSTLY PEARL (Matt. 13:45, 46)
Jesus told another parable to teach his listeners what the kingdom of Heaven is. He said:
“Again, he kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls—who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, as bought it.”
A NET (Matt 13:47-53)
Jesus likened the kingdom of Heaven to a net, saying:
“Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind—which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said:
“Have ye understood all these things?”
The people answered:
“Yes, Lord.”
Jesus said to them:
“Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”