Kingdom Parables

KINGDOM PARABLES

Sources of the following arrangement: Authorized Version of the 1611 King James Bible, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, and the Spirit of truth. All commentary is in Italics font as seen here.

Let us study the Word of God about the kingdom parables of Matthew chapter 13, for example; the kingdom of heaven is like. In addition, we will study a parable of the Scribe. First, for clarity and a deeper understanding we will divide the chapter into segments.

__Out Of The House__public__

Matt.13:1-9 …….Parable, the Sower.
Matt.13:10-17 ….Question of disciples, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Matt.13:18-23 …..Interpretation, Parable of the Sower.
Matt.13:24-30 …..Parable, tares of the field.
Matt.13:31-32 …..Parable, kingdom of heaven is like, a grain of mustard seed.
Matt.13:33 ……..Parable, kingdom of heaven is like, leaven.
Matt.13:34-35 …..Prophecy fulfilled.

__In The House__private__

Matt.13:36-43 …...Interpretation, Parable of the tares of the field.
Matt.13:44 ………Parable, kingdom of heaven is like, treasure hid in a field.
Matt.13:45-46 …...Parable, kingdom of heaven is like, a merchant man.
Matt.13:47-50 …...Parable, kingdom of heaven is like, a net.
Matt.13:51 ………Question of Christ, Have ye understood all these things?
Matt.13:52 ………Parable, the Scribe.

It is important to note; first the seed (Word) is sown in the soil (minds).

Concerning the parable of the Sower, in Mark Christ said the following.

Mark 4:11-13 And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And He said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Understanding the parable of the Sower is essential to knowing all parables.

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__ Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like__ a grain of mustard seed __

Matt.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: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

The Hebrew writers speak of the mustard-tree as one on which they could climb, as on a fig-tree.

Its size was much owing to the climate.

The seeds of this tree are remarkably small, so that they, with the great size of the plant, were an apt illustration for Christ.

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This parable immediately follows (Parable, tares of the field), which is later interpreted privately, see Matt.13:36-43.

The man is God and the field is the world.

The seeds are children but here we have one seed, a grain of mustard seed or a tree.

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The tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden.

Ezek.31:8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.

Gen.3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,
and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

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The word “birds” is the same Greek word as in Matt.13:4 only translated there as “fowls”, note by the way side.

Christ speaking, parable.
Matt.13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Christ speaking, interpretation.
Matt.13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

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__ Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like__leaven__

Matt.13:33 Another parable spake He unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Leaven always used in a bad or negative sense to show corruption.

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Christ taught to beware of three types of leaven.

__1.__hypocrisy or formalism__

Luk 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, He began to say unto His disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

__2.__evil doctrine or teaching__

Matt.16:11-12 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? 12 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.

__3.__political religion or worldliness__

Mark 8:15 And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
and of the leaven of Herod.

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Woman is used as a common symbol of evil.

Rev.2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Zech. 5:7-8 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

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Three measures of meal or flour used to make bread, the bread of life, the bread of eternal life.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

I Cor.5:6-8 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 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: 8 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.

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__ Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like__treasure hid in a field__

Matt.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.

Again the man is God and the field is the world, see Matt.13:36-43.

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Spiritual treasures of the heart (mind or soul).

Matt.6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Col.2:2-3 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

II Cor.4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Also, consider God’s hidden purpose concerning the Remnant, His peculiar treasure hidden.

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hideth G2928 krupto (kroop'-to) A primary verb; to conceal (properly by covering): - hide (self), keep secret, secret [-ly].

Rom.4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

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buyeth G59 agorazo (ag-or-ad'-zo) From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem: - buy, redeem.

__ Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like__a merchant man__

Matt.13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Here a merchant man is used to show he is carnal and of the world.

A merchant man seeking goodly pearls of wisdom, goodly pearls of understanding, goodly pearls of counsel, and goodly pearls of knowledge.

Then a merchant man finds One Pearl of great price, Jesus Christ, the key of David.

God’s Word is one pearl of great price.

Rev.19:11-13 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. 13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God

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For your consideration, do you buy Salvation with money?

The words “he had” means to hold possessions, so what other possessions does a merchant man hold?

For example, talent, intuition, aptitude, competence, and last but not least his love.

The word “bought” is the same Greek word (G59 agorazo) as in Matt.13:44.

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__ Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like__a net__

Matt.13:47-50 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This is the Lord’s harvest and final harvest.

The Lord’s harvest reaped a merchant man.

The Lord’s harvest sprouts with Christ, the First Advent, and ends at the great white throne, then final harvest and eternal glory.

Hard to comprehend but there will be many in the final harvest.

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__ Parable, The Scribe__

Matt.13:52 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, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

instructed G3100 matheteuo (math-ayt-yoo'-o) From G3101; intransitively to become a pupil; transitively to disciple, that is,
enrol as scholar: - be disciple, instruct, teach.

Some may teach the New and Old Testament, which is fine, but let us look at this word “new”.

new G2537 kainos (kahee-nos') Of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while G3501 is properly so with respect to age): - new.

Consider seeds germinating and growing, producing fruit, producing fresh fruit.

Remember the spiritual treasures of the heart (mind or soul).

Matt.6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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Heavenly Father we are thankful for your Word a Pearl of great price. Feed us Father the bread of life and help purge the old leaven out. Heavenly Father, that we may lay up treasures in heaven, where our hearts are, and produce fresh fruit. In Jesus name, amen.