[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 13
“This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eye; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.’(Matthew 13:13-15)
“So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”(Matthew 13:35)
“And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” (Matthew 13:57)
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS EXPLAINED IN FOUR PARABLES:
- The Parable of the Sower
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
- The Parable of the Hidden Treasure & the Pearl
- The Parable of the Net
The word “parable” comes from a Greek word meaning “to throw alongside”. A parable is a story in which something familiar explains something that is unfamiliar. Jesus used to teach and arouse interest in the truth so that the people can open their eyes and ears to receive the truth.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (vs. 1-23)
A farmer went out to sow seeds in four different places. Some fell along the path, some on rocky places, among the thorns and some on good soil. Those fell along the path was eaten up by the birds.Those on the rocky places sprang up quickly but was withered by the scorching sun because they had no roots. Those fell among the thorns grew up but were choked by other plants and died; Those on the good soil produced abundant good crops.
MEANING OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER:
- Along the path – the evil one carries and snatches away
- At the rocky place – the word does not take root in his ear. When trouble and persecution come, he quickly falls away.
- Among the thorns – the man hears the word bu the worries of life and deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making him unfruitful.
- On good soil – he hears and understands the word and produce fruits a hundred sixty and thirty times more.
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS (vs. 23-30)
Good seeds was sown in the field and the enemies also sound weeds among the wheat. The master told his servant to allow the weeds to stay. But during harvest time, they will collect the weeds and buried them before they gather the wheats.
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED (vs. 36-43)
The Good seeds stands for the sons of the the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one and the enemy who sown them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the ages and the harvester are angels. At the end of age, the Son of Man will send out his angels and weed out sin and evil. They will throw them into fiery furnace. But the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father.
THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE YEAST (vs. 31-35)
The kingdom of heaven in like a mustard seed being planted in a field It is the smallest seed but when it grows and becomes a tree, it serves as a shelter for the birds of the air. Whenever Christ plants true believers, it will grow and bring glory to Him. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast mixed into the flour that worked through the dough.
THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE PEARL (vs. 44-46)
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a filed. When a man found it, he hid it and sold all he had to buy that field.
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found it to be of great value, he sold everything to buy it.
The Word of God is like the treasure and the pearl. We have to value it, read it and do it.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET (vs. 47-52)
The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown down into the lake to catch all kinds of fish. The fisherman collected the good fish in buckets and threw the bad ones away.
At the end of the age, the angels will come and separate the wicked form the righteous and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace.
A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR (vs. 53-58)
The people in the synagogue were amazed with the wisdom and miraculous power of Jesus. But they would not believe in Him. So Jesus said: n”Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor” (v. 57)
LESSONS TO LEARN:
- Satan opposed the work of God by snatching the Word of God So from the heart of men and tempted them with worldliness. So, set a devotional time witht he Lord.
- Satan plants false doctrines and false righteousness to deceive people. Stay awake and exercise discernment.
- Let us plant God’s word in our heart so that we can bear fruits for His glory.
- The “tares” will be separated and bound together for burning at the end of the age. Be an authentic Christian , not a counterfeit.
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