Gospel of Matthew Matthew 13:31-35, 44-53

More Parables of the Kingdom

Christ used many parables as an effective teaching tool and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (vs. 34-35). Matthew 13 gives us a series of parables, each of which is introduced by the phrase: “the kingdom of heaven is like” (vs. 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47). The phrase “kingdom of heaven” is found some 33 times in the Gospel of Matthew and is equivalent to the kingdom of God. Matthew was originally written for Jewish readers who would have understood His use of this term. When Jesus began His earthly ministry He preached: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17). Some people believed Him and some did not. As time went on, those who thought Jesus was the Messiah assumed He would establish His kingdom, put down Roman authority, and bring blessing to the Jewish people. Jesus clarified that His earthly physical kingdom was going to be delayed, but in the meantime He would have a spiritual kingdom in this world. He would rule in the hearts of His people, the ones who turned from their sins and accepted Him as their Lord. He used parables to describe the nature of the kingdom until the time of His return. This chart reveals both the expected form of God’s kingdom and the actual revealed form of the kingdom (adapted from Larry Richards, The Bible Reader’s Companion , 615):

EXPECTED FORM OF ACTUAL FORM OF PARABLE THE KINGDOM THE KINGDOM

The sower Messiah rules over all Israel Individuals respond and nations differently to God’s Word

Wheat and tares Kingdom citizens rule the Kingdom citizens live world with Christ among people of the world

Mustard seed Kingdom begins gloriously Kingdom begins humbly

Leaven Kingdom begins with the Kingdom grows and righteous only includes more righteous

Hidden treasure Kingdom is public and Kingdom is hidden and for all people for individual “purchase”

Priceless pearl Kingdom brings valued things Kingdom requires abandoning earthly values

Dragnet Kingdom begins with Kingdom ends with separation of unrighteous separation of unrighteous

1. Parable of the mustard seed (vs. 31-32)

• Describes the impressive growth of the kingdom

The mustard seed was the smallest seed commonly known at that time, but the mustard plant could grow up to 12-15 feet high, large enough for birds to lodge in. It was amazing growth from the smallest seed to the incredible size of the plant. Jesus began with only twelve disciples and one of them was a counterfeit. On the day of Pentecost, 120 believers met in an upper room and prayed. Then when the Holy Spirit came and Peter preached 3,000 people were saved and baptized in one day. After that the gospel spread beyond Jerusalem, and souls were saved everywhere. Like the mustard seed the kingdom has steadily grown.

2. Parable of the leaven (vs. 33)

• Describes the incredible influence of the kingdom

Leaven is sometimes found in Scripture as a symbol of the subtle influence of evil, but in this context it seems best to take it in a positive sense. Leaven (yeast) was something commonly used in making bread. Only on special occasions would Jews bake unleavened bread. When a Jewish girl was married her mother would give her some leavened dough so she could start baking for her husband. A little yeast affected the whole lump of dough. Jesus taught that His kingdom will eventually have a worldwide influence. Jesus taught that His kingdom was not the military and political takeover that most Jews expected and longed for. The kingdom was an internal, spiritual kingdom where God worked inside human hearts. Jesus came to rescue souls, not capture lands. God chooses to do His work through people and ways that are not obvious, but in such a way that will ultimately bring Him glory. There is an internal, unseen, dynamic power at work in the world as souls are saved and the Gospel marches on.

3. Parable of the hidden treasure (vs. 44)

• Describes the infinite worth of the kingdom

At this point in His ministry Jesus was demanding a lot from his disciples. He had asked them to leave their former occupations, give up family priorities, endure rejection and persecution, and face much worse treatment in the future. The disciples needed assurance that the price they were paying was worth it. Believers today need the same assurance. In this parable a man finds treasure hidden or buried in a field. This was a common practice in Bible times, as John MacArthur states: “Because Palestine had been a battleground for hundreds of years, families would often even bury food, clothing, and various household objects to protect them from plundering enemy soldiers. Over the years, the ground of Palestine became a veritable treasure house. When the owner of buried treasure died or was forcefully driven from the land—sometimes deported to a foreign land such as Assyria or Babylon—the treasure would be forever lost unless someone accidentally discovered it, as occasionally happened” ( Matthew 8-15 , 382). The treasure in this story was discovered almost by accident. This is a picture of someone so absorbed with his life, and yet God somehow breaks through and reveals the value of salvation. When he realizes the spiritual riches of salvation and being in Christ’s kingdom, he is overjoyed. Although this parable is not implying that salvation is for sale, believers realize the value of Christ and would willingly part with everything they own to have Him.

4. Parable of the priceless pearl (vs. 45-46)

• Describes the incomparable value of the kingdom This story is about a pearl merchant (a wholesaler) who was searching for something of value. Pearls were most precious in the ancient world. Jesus spoke of casting pearls before swine when he said the precious truths of the Gospel are not appreciated by some people. The gates of heaven are made of twelve giant pearls. This parable reveals that people are searching for fulfillment, but they are searching in all the wrong places. By God’s marvelous grace believers come to realize the incomparable value of Christ. The pearl merchant realized the value of this unique pearl in comparison to all others, and therefore he sold everything he owned in order to have the one priceless pearl. This value of Christ and His kingdom is similar to the incomparable value of truth found in Proverbs 23:23.

5. Parable of the dragnet (vs. 47-50)

• Describes the ultimate separation and judgment of God

Commercial fishing was often done with a large weighted net that dragged along the bottom of the lake. When the net was retrieved it contained both good and bad creatures, so the fishermen had to sort out the catch. In the same way, a lot of people claim to be members of Christ’s kingdom, but in the end they will be sorted out from genuine believers. It will be a terrible judgment for all the unsaved. The important thing in this parable is the nature and quality of creatures in the net. It is amazing how many people today refer to themselves as “Christians” or members of God’s kingdom including Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and all Protestant denominations. The professing church is like a big net with lots of different creatures in it. In this net there are practicing homosexuals, people who don’t accept the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God. There are some in the net who teach another kind of gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). This wide net has become so inclusive that some people inside it must now identify themselves as “evangelical” Christians or “born-again” Christians rather than just Christians.

At the end of this parable Christ reminds us of the separation and certain judgment on all the wicked. At the present all seems to be well for unbelievers, but that is only temporary as MacArthur explains: “Men move about within the net as if they were forever free. It may touch them from time to time, as it were, startling them. But they quickly swim away, thinking they have escaped, not realizing they are completely and inescapably encompassed in God’s sovereign plan. The invisible web of God’s judgment encroaches on every human being just as that of the dragnet encroaches on the fish. Most men do not perceive the kingdom, and they do not see God working in the world. They may be briefly moved by the grace of the gospel or frightened by the threat of judgment, but they soon return to their old ways of thinking and living, oblivious to the things of eternity. But when a man’s day is over and Christ returns to set up His glorious kingdom, then judgment will come” ( Matthew 8-15 , 395).

Gospel of Matthew Matthew 13:31-35, 44-53

More Parables of the Kingdom

Christ used many parables as an effective teaching tool and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (vs. 34-35). Matthew 13 gives us a series of parables, each of which is introduced by the phrase: “the kingdom of heaven is like” (vs. 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47). When Jesus began His earthly ministry He preached: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17). Some people believed Him and some did not. As time went on, those who thought Jesus was the Messiah assumed He would establish His kingdom, put down Roman authority, and bring blessing to the Jewish people. Jesus clarified that His earthly physical kingdom was going to be delayed, but in the meantime He would have a spiritual kingdom in this world. He would rule in the hearts of His people, the ones who turned from their sins and accepted Him as their Lord. He used parables to describe the nature of the kingdom until the time of His return. This chart reveals both the expected form of God’s kingdom and the actual revealed form of the kingdom (adapted from Larry Richards, The Bible Reader’s Companion , 615):