The goal is to reinforce Christianity with the wisdom and words of Jesus. Examine His life, His friends, and His relationship with His father as recorded in the four gospels of the Scriptures. These written accounts are a gift from God; called to the remembrance of the apostles. Here’s what Jesus said,
“…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” John 14
***
Ch. 30 – Jesus Teaches the Kingdom in Parables
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.”