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The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13) This chapter contains a wealth of information concerning the kingdom of heaven, the church, as Jesus teaches in parables. |
The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13)
This chapter contains a wealth of information concerning the kingdom of heaven, the church, as Jesus teaches in parables:
- Open For Reception (v3-23) – The word of God would come to many people, but not all would receive it and hold fast to it. Some would reject it immediately, others turn from it later, still others allow it to be crowded out, yet others would allow it to flourish. The difference is in the individual but there is joy for those that receive it.
- Exists In The World (v24-30, 36-43) – They should not think that the church would exist by itself in the world but rather surrounded by the wicked until separated in the end. A reminder we are in the world (1 Cor. 5:10) and that God knows His own (2 Thess. 1:6-10).
- Growth & Influence (v31-33) – The church, while it would start seemingly small and insignificant, would grow quietly yet surely, influencing the lives of others (Acts 4:13, 5:35-42, 17:6; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).
- Valuable/Worthwhile (v44-46)—How valuable should the knowledge of the kingdom be to us, so much that one would give everything that he has for it (Matt. 16:25-26)!
- Approaching Eternity (v47-50) – Another reminder of the coming judgment which will be a time of separation — to one everlasting fire, the other life eternal (Matt. 25:31-46).
The disciples were then charged with taking what they knew and using it and sharing it with others (v51-52).
