08-31-14

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM

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The depth of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrines.

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Tares

PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

(Mat 13:31,32)  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree [What does that suggest to you?], so that the birds of the air come and lodge [Gk: to camp down, haunt /// encamp, occupy, reside] in the branches [divergent doctrines] thereof.

1. parable = Gk: a similitude (“parable”), that is, (symbolically) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral): - comparison, figure, to throw alongside, (figuratively) to liken: - arrive, compare.
2. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dict: “mustard seed” = A plant which grew wild along roadsides and in fields, reaching a height of about 15 feet. The mustard seed was the smallest seed known in Jesus’ day.
3. herb = Dict: a flowering plant whose stem above ground does not become woody.
4. tree = Dict: a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground.
5. Commentary: “the birds of the air” = When describing “the way side” in The Parable of the Sower, the Lord Jesus Christ first delivers the parable to the multitude, and then interprets the parable for His Disciples: “the fowls came… the wicked one” (Mat 13:4,19); “the fowls of the air came… Satan cometh immediately” (Mark 4,15); “the fowls of the air devoured…then cometh the devil” (Luke 8:5,12). Because Satan himself can only inhabit one person at a time (presumably the current Antichrist), we may conclude that the birds are evil and represent his fallen angels, demons, devils, unclean spirits.   

PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN

(Mat 13:33,34)  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid [heavy connotations of deception] in three measures of meal [crushed seeds], till the whole was leavened. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

1. leaven = Gk: ferment (as if boiling up).
2. leaven = Dict: 1. a substance, as yeast or baking powder, that causes fermentation and expansion of dough or batter. 2. an element that produces an altering or transforming influence. 3. to add leaven to (dough or batter) and cause to rise.
3. (Mat 16:5-12)  And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up [twelve baskets]? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up [seven baskets]? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees [“and of the leaven of Herod” Mark 8:15].
4. (1 Cor 5:6-8)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
5. Commentary: The three measures of meal (crushed seeds) represent the supreme humility of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost that the woman “took” and within which she “hid” or mixed or mingled the evil foreign substance of “leaven” which is conducive to puffing one up into pride, the opposite of the pure “crushed seed” that brings one down into humility.

PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE

(Mat 13:44)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

1. (Mat 6:19-21)  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2. Commentary: May we recall from last week that God has made each of us into a treasure chest (if we are saved, and a coffin if we are not) in the form of the wooden box of the ark of the testimony, and as a treasure chest we each contain the wonderful treasures of the Ten Commandments (God the father), the golden pot of manna (God the Son), and Aaron’s rod that budded (God the Holy Spirit). Hallelujah!

PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

(Mat 13:45,46)  Again, the 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, and bought it.

1. (Mat 19:16-22)  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
2. (Mar 14:48-53)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

PARABLE OF THE NET

(Mat 13:47-50)  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 [Gk: receptacles], but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world [Gk: aion] [this world order]: 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.

1. (Isa 28:9-13)  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept [Heb: commandment] [vertical] must be upon precept [Heb: commandment] [vertical], precept upon precept; line [Heb: a cord (for connecting)] [horizontal] upon line [Heb: a cord (for connecting)] [horizontal], line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips [Heb: as a buffoon: mocker] and another tongue will he [Father God] speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(Mat 13:51,52)  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder [Gk: the head of a family, master of the house], which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Amen