February 24, 2013
Morning Service

Matt. 13:24-43

 

Review:

1.      After finishing the sermon on the mount, and into His healing ministry, Jesus began to teach in parables.

2.    Allegory:  "A figurative representation containing a meaning other than and in addition to the literal." "A fable or parable; is a short allegory with one definite moral."

3.    Jesus explains why He teaches the multitude in parables;  Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

4.    The first parable was that of the Sower.  After Jesus had spoken the parable, He took His disciples aside, and explained what it meant.

The lesson:  Not everyone who hears the Word of God will be saved, but those who receive it, obey it, and grow in the grace, and knowledge of God.

 

You, and I are so blessed to be able to understand the parables as He would allow to be understood.  This also brings with it, great responsibility.  We will be held accountable for what we know, not what we do not know.

 

Let’s look at our next parable;  the wheat, and the tares.

 

Mat 13:24-44  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  (25)  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  (26)  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  (27)  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?  (28)  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  (29)  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  (30)  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

·        According to Matthew, Jesus by passes the explanation, and goes right into another parable.

(31)  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 lesson: From one small sermon ( the seed, the Word ) from Peter on the day of Pentecost, the church, or kingdom of heaven has filled the earth with the doctrine of Christ.

 

 

(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. 

·        The lesson:  The same as the previous, the leaven ( the teaching, doctrine, or Word of God ) has filled all the earth, just as the leaven would fill all the batter.

(34)  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:  (35)  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.  (36)  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 

·        They did not ask Him to reveal to them the parable of the mustard seed, nor the leaven, they were easily understood.

(37)  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 

·        The Son of Man continues to sow the good seed, through His called Ministers.

(38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 

·        This is easily understood.  We determine who is who by the fruits they bear.  Jesus said, “you shall know them by the fruit they bear.”  Gal. 5.

(39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil;

·        There are two spirits that have battled since man came on the earth.  The Spirit of God, and the spirit of satan.  It was the spirit of satan that rose up in Cain, when he killed his brother Abel.  That warfare still goes on today.

the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 

·        This is clearly stated.  This is what will happen.

(40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

FURTHER REVELATION:  Rev 20:11-15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

·        This is not difficult to hear, and understand.  It is every Ministers responsibility that preaches the Gospel to expound, and warn of this coming judgment.

WILL YOU BE FOUND A TARE, OR THE WHEAT?   YOUR CHOICE.