Matthew 13-
Find the hidden kingdom !
Tables and illustrations as well as audio and slides appear at
http://jubilee-church.org/sermons/mt13.htm
Discussion questions, followed by detailed notes.
1. Was finding the Kingdom easy or difficult for you?
2. Did you get put off by the church? Do you think other people do?
3. Do you agree that sometimes the church as a whole can be ‘Of the World but not in it’ instead of ‘in the world but not of it’?
4. Do you find it easy to believe that the kingdom is going to grow dramatically large?
5. Are you excited to be part of the worldwide Church at this time? This church? This group of churches?
6. What can we do to further the expansion of the kingdom into our communities? What do you think we should be considering as God leads us? (eg social action, upholding principles at work, parenting classes, homes for ex-offenders etc…)
Introduction
Church is only mentioned twice in gospels, kingdom hundreds of times. Kingdom is bigger than the church!
Parables confound the theologian or philosopher but delight the children and simple
· The Kingdom is no novel invention that needs a PR job done!
· Its communication isn’t showy but simple.
· The parables have the effect of illuminating the subject of the kingdom for those who are willing to accept the message and of darkening it for those who reject the message of the present reality of the kingdom.[i]
· The kingdom message of Jesus was the most radical message the world has ever heard. Here is a true revolution, not launched with guns, tanks and soldiers but with a wandering preacher in Galilee.
Detailed note-
‘The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought. It is small wonder if the world of that time failed to grasp its full significance, and recoiled in dismay from even a half apprehension of its tremendous challenges to the established habits and institutions of mankind. For the doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, as Jesus seems to have preached it, was no less than a bold and uncompromising demand for a complete change and cleansing of the life of our struggling race, an utter cleansing, without and within……….. It is true that he said his kingdom was not of this world, that it was in the hearts of men and not upon a throne; but it is equally clear that wherever and in what measure his kingdom was set up in the hearts of men, the outer world would be in that measure revolutionized and made new……….
The personal teaching of Jesus does seem to mark a new phase in the moral and spiritual life of our race. Its insistence upon the universal Fatherhood of God and the implicit brotherhood of all men, its insistence upon the sacredness of every human personality as a living temple of God, was to have the profoundest effect upon all the subsequent social and political life of mankind. With Christianity, with the spreading teachings of Jesus, a new respect appears in the world for man as man.’ H.G. Wells (1866–1946), Outline of History, vol. 1, ch. 28, sect. 2 (1920).
Why parables (see v 35) “It is assumed by the Psalmist (Ps. 78:2) that there was a hidden meaning in “God’s ancient dealings with his people. A typical, archetypical, and prefigurative element ran through the whole. The history of the dealings is one long Old Testament parable. Things long kept secret, and that were hidden indeed in the depths of the divine mind from before the foundation of the world, were involved in these dealings. And hence the evangelist wisely sees, in the parabolic teaching of our Lord, a real culmination of the older parabolic teaching of the Psalmist. The culmination was divinely intended, and hence the expression that it might be fulfilled” (Morison on Matthew).[ii]
Many Agree that the parables hear show us what the kingdom is like-
The Parable
Kingdom Expectations
Unexpected Form
The sower
Messiah rules all nations.
Individuals respond to God’s invitation.
Wheat/tares
Citizens rule the world with Christ.
Citizens live among people of the world. people of the world.
Mustard seed
Kingdom begins in majestic glory.
Kingdom begins in insignificance.
Leaven
The kingdom includes only the righteous.
Citizens become increasingly righteous.
Hidden treasure
The kingdom is public, for all.
The kingdom is hidden and for individual “purchase.”
Priceless pearl
Kingdom brings valued things.
The kingdom requires abandoning earthly values.
Dragnet
Kingdom begins with separation of unrighteous.
Kingdom ends with separation of the unrighteous.
(The Bible Reader’s Companion) [iii]
The Kingdom, is so unlike a worldy kingdom because it is a hidden one
The kingdom is hidden because-
-It is mingled with the world - It is like wheat and weeds next to each other, like different kinds of fish in a net, and like yeast hidden in flour.
For the Jews of Jesus day, the idea of the coming of the kingdom being consistent with the Romans remaining in charge and the evils they were committing remaining unchecked would have been very difficult for them to handle. Jesus has some explaining to do- if the kingdom is here, how come evil still exists. Hear Jesus explains that this is the case because out of mercy to the sons of the kingdom judgment has been delayed.
Detailed note-
The immediate, natural reaction of the people to Jesus’ proclamation of the presence of the kingdom was to wonder about the continuing presence of evil in the world, as manifested particularly in Roman rule over the people of God. The era of salvation was more or less equated with national-political deliverance.[iv]
When we look at the world today it is sometimes hard at first glance to say where does the world stop and the kingdom start? Is America the most Christian nation on earth with ‘in God we trust’ on the money and a around 80% of its citizens claiming to be Christian. Or is it the secular state where God is banned from schools, and where the gospel of ‘free living’ rings form with evangelistic zeal to the rest of the world?
In America, people who claim have made a commitment to Jesus are actually marginally MORE likely to get a divorce (see www.barna.org ) Actually many of these would not be described as evangelical, but sadly even among US evangelicals 29% have been divorced at least once.
Source: The Barna Research Group, Ltd. 2002
The above is perhaps not surprising as the survey found that only four out of every ten adults who describe a personal commitment to Jesus in the US relies upon the Bible or church teachings as their primary source of moral guidance.
On issues such as abortion, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage and other such issues, there were differences between expressed views in this survey, but they were surprisingly small.
Unfortunately often then the church is not seen as especially different from the world. And this is especially true when it comes to behaviour rather than beliefs.
"We have found that in a lot of ways Christians are not living different lives than non-Christians, when we look at their behaviour," Flammang said. "It’s hard for Christians to understand because it seems contrary to what people think would happen." http://www.cnsnews.com
This is not as it should be
In fact in the parable of the wheat and Tares we see that even the servant could tell the difference between the wheat and the weeds- the difference was obvious. Yeast is completely different from flour! Jesus is very clear about this in Matt 7-18 speaking of FALSE so called ‘Christians’
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them lby their fruits.21 Not everyone who psays to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who rdoes the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day tmany will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not uprophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 tAnd then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; xdepart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’[v]
So the ‘sinners’ or the weeds are NOT in fact indistinguishable from the righteous!
Detailed note
It is extremely important to understand that both the good seed and the darnel (tares) are sown in the world, not in the Kingdom, not in the church. [vi]
Note however that the field here is not the kingdom OR the church- we are talking about the world and there is no sense that we shouldn’t aim for purity in the church!
Of course we all also know of things that go on in churches that ought not occur, and like the servants we may well say God why don’t you sort it out NOW and show people up for what they are like. Ironically of course, when He does just that, the scandals also hurt the innocent believers. So, all to often to the request to deal with evil whether in the world or in the church and root out its perpetrators, Gods answer like the master to his servants is not yet!! Of course, there is no doubt that on judgment day the truth will out!!
Separation between the kingdom and the world will only come on judgement day! What can seem like seed of the devil can in fact change its appearance to become seed of God (which is where the illustration breaks down) God is kind to us, wanting people to be saved.
See v41 The righteous will be revealed, and the sinners punished!
Also The kingdom may seem as if it has some smelly fish in it, but the angels will through out the rubbish!
So the kingdom will not remain hidden, and indeed should not be seen as totally hidden now!
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.1 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.[vii] John 17:15-16 This is summarized almost universally as IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT!
The so called Church is all too often ‘OF THE WORLD BUT NOT IN IT’
Another recent survey in the US revealed a surprising lack of response to the events of September 11th which rocked secular America. Both C J Mahaney and John Piper two of my heroes who both preached sermons relevant to the attacks in the week following. 9/11 seems to have been largely ignored by US churches with notable exceptions.
77% of US churchgoers said their churches did not pray publicly about the attacks
84% said their church hadn’t taught them related to the attacks
90% said their church had provided no special services related to the attacks
How can that be appropriate in America? Because the church often feels isolated from the world.
We often have no friends in the world, some Christians don’t watch any of the worlds entertainment, and only communicate with the world in a snatched moment at a work lunch break or on kamikaze ‘Missions’ events.
According to the parables of the wheat and Tares and that of the Yeast, the kingdom is supposed to be mingled with the world but totally different to it. Are we like that here? Or are their areas of your life that God is putting his finger on, or is there a detachment from the world?
When we are different to the world the kingdom will not remain hidden, and indeed should not be seen as totally hidden even now!
It is hidden because it starts small
‘a little yeast’ in a lot of flour- The three measures are enough to make ‘50 kilograms of bread or enough to feed 150 people.’[viii]
detailed note
Curiously enough some people deny that Jesus here likens the expanding power of the Kingdom of heaven to leaven, because, they say, leaven is the symbol of corruption. But the language of Jesus is not to be explained away by such exegetical jugglery.[ix]
BUT it always grows large-
It touches everything!!! When it arrives it is signally unimpressive! But ‘although at the beginning it looks unimpressive, it will have an effect that is out of all proportion with that beginning.’[x]
‘a humble beginning is not inconsistent with a great and glorious destiny.’[xi]
……..In this way the character and nature of Jesus’ ministry, including its failure in Israel, can be better understood.[xii]
‘The kingdom presently hidden is nonetheless really present. The powers of the kingdom are already at work (11:4–6; 12:28). Just as power is released in the seed and in the yeast at the very moment they are hidden away, so the powers of the kingdom are being unleashed here and now, in the very time of its small beginning. And just as the full-grown mustard tree is potentially present in the seed, so the kingdom presently revealed is the kingdom that will one day be fully revealed. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast are both parables of growth. The powers released now do not abate until their purpose is achieved’[xiii]
- It ALWAYS starts small but grows large-
· true of the kingdom as a whole- Jesus starts small and seems to fail, in reality There really will be a multitude that no one can count. We are not into remnant theology here where the church is to struggle on being faithful as an ever smaller community!
‘The all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men. and exhibit over the whole earth one “kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.”’[xiv]
This really is happening!
Then the growth of church attendance in our area whilst south London is declining ought to encourage us- its probably because Tope and Colin have left South London!
· of local churches seeking to build biblically- We must expect growth. What we have here is just the beginning. Our family of churches begun quietly with just one man seeking to build initially one church that was more bible based. Now the flow out of that small beginning touches all the major continents of the world! We as a movement are called to believe for 1000 churches in the UK and to change the expression of Christianity around the world. We can be caught up in that.
HIDDEN TO GROW- principle eg workplace etc
· of the witness at my workplace or other things that we get involved with for God. Prison alpha began with one father and son prisoner dramatically saved after asking their chaplain to do an alpha course (Who’d not heard of it!) and then it spread to 85% of current UK prisons! Never underestimate the value of a kind word here on a Sunday morning even.
· Of my life! The small step you make today to put a kingdom principle into operation will grow in your life! EG forgiveness, deciding to try using a gentle answer with your child/husband on the basis of what the bible says. ‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’[xv] It might seem silly, might seem unlikely to succeed, but done regularly we KNOW that it does make all the difference.
· The smallest thing you or I do is linked to the biggest thing you will ever do and also to the biggest thing that our movement of churches, or indeed the worldwide church as a whole is doing! Where we run a small alpha, the church in the UK is running thousands of such alphas and as a result, we can benefit from someone looking on the internet for an alpha course!
‘Willie Pennington’-Spoon River Anthology By Edgar Lee Masters
THEY called me the weakling, the simpleton,
For my brothers were strong and beautiful,
While I, the last child of parents who had aged,
Inherited only their residue of power.
But they, my brothers, were eaten up
In the fury of the flesh, which I had not,
Made pulp in the activity of the senses, which I had not,
Hardened by the growth of the lusts, which I had not,
Though making names and riches for themselves.
Then I, the weak one, the simpleton,
Resting in a little corner of life,
Saw a vision, and through me many saw the vision,
Not knowing it was through me.
Thus a tree sprang
From me, a mustard seed.
· Like salt, or light, yeast is pervasive and although not always seen DOES bring about change.- This is an important principle, and is what drives many godly people working in the world. If you are honest, caring, upright, etc, the impact you can have is far greater than you realise! It is not wrong for us to celebrate the ways in which kingdom principles can work out good influence even when they are seemingly divorced from Christianity. An example of this is AA which works because of its emphasis on taking stock of your life, facing the fact that you cant deal with your problems on your own, looking for ‘God as you know him’ to help you, and of course ‘the fellowship’ where others help you and hold you accountable. Of course we would rather people found Jesus properly, and maybe if churches were more welcoming to alchoholics AA as such might not be necessary for many, but shouldn’t we rejoice when a little bit of kingdom touches someone’s life? Even if they don’t become a Christian, the kindness of God is that these principles work.
· Our laws, our practices, our concepts of marriage, until recently our child rearing practices were all based on kingdom principles. Hidden yes, but impactful beyond description. It is only really because of the idea of human worth being intrinsic because God put it there that many of our moral principles can have any foundation.
· Remembering the poor is vital…….Gal 2:10 if we want to be apostolic! Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Thus social action that may not trumpet the gospel initially is very much a kingdom activity. What can WE do as a church to help?
SO the kingdom will not remain small and will therefore not remain hidden!
· The kingdom is hidden because its like treasure found in a surprising place
o The idea of finding treasure in a field, although its possible, usually requires that you know where to look. Sadly many today simply do not know where to look. As a result it is often like stumbling on something wonderful when you least expect it. It is often missed as despite its value people don’t always notice it-! Pearls and diamonds often don’t look beautiful when they are first found.
o Imagine a cruel death, one of many many crucifixions that occurred. How wonderful how strange that this should be the source of our salvation. Treasure found in the cross!
o It is hidden because of sin and our blindness to Gods ways.
o The parables reveal the kingdom the truth of which has been hidden since creation (v34-5)
‘although the kingdom is hidden (cf. 13:31–3) it can be found; and when it is, one should make whatever sacrifice is necessary to obtain it. ‘Anyone who counts the cost of discipleship has completely failed to grasp the greatness of the reward’ (Beare 1981: 315)…..Granted the kingdom’s value and its sure triumph, one must strive to overcome every obstacle in the way of obtaining it.’[xvi] And also promoting it!
o If it dominates your life and leads to sacrifice you will be the winner ‘The sole point being made is that the kingdom is worth everything.’[xvii]
o Of course it is possible to see this the other way round where the one doing the seeking for treasure and paying everything is in fact Jesus. Both can of course be true, as a kingdom principle is that sacrifice for something worthwhile is no sacrifice at all and will be rewarded. Missionaries almost all say at the end of their lives ‘I sacrificed nothing’
· The kingdom really is a source of great joy and riches but not always like some would want! God doesn’t promise you a BMW or a mansion on earth, but he does promise you treasure that may be secret to yourself. God meets us sometimes in the hidden place when things are tough and the treasure we find there amongst the earth makes it all worthwhile.
The kingdom CAN be understood. And when understood right there will always be new things to say but the good old story will never cease to excite. We will say new things that are relevant to our society in terms of our communication, but we will never change the message.
The kingdom is the oldest story yet new every day!
We will learn to work out for ourselves the way that the kingdom can be hidden yet revealed!
If we seek the kingdom all other things will be added to us
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[i]Hagner, D. A. (1998). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Mt 13:34). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
[ii]Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, Page 81). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[iii]Richards, L. (1991). The Bible reader’s companion. Includes index. (Mt 13:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[iv]Hagner, D. A. (1998). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Mt 13:24). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
n See ch. 3:10
l [See ver. 16 above]
p [Hos. 8:2]
r ch. 12:50
t Mal. 3:17, 18
u [Num. 24:4; John 11:51; 1 Cor. 13:2]
t [See ver. 22 above]
x ch. 25:41; Ps. 6:8
[v]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) (Mt 7:17-23). Wheaton: Good News Publishers.
[vi]Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol.V c1932, Vol.VI c1933 by Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Mt 13:38). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
g ver. 9
h [1 Cor. 5:10]
i ver. 11
j See Matt. 13:19
1 Or from evil
[vii]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) (Jn 17:15-16). Wheaton: Good News Publishers.
[viii]Hagner, D. A. (1998). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Mt 13:33). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
[ix]Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol.V c1932, Vol.VI c1933 by Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Mt 13:33). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
[x]Hagner, D. A. (1998). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Mt 13:33). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
[xi]Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (2001). Oxford Bible commentary (Mt 13:24). New York: Oxford University Press.
[xii]Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (2001). Oxford Bible commentary (Mt 13:24). New York: Oxford University Press.
[xiii]Elwell, W. A. (1996, c1989). Vol. 3: Evangelical commentary on the Bible. Baker reference library (Mt 13:31-47). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.
[xiv]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Mt 13:33-34). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[xv]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Pr 15:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[xvi]Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (2001). Oxford Bible commentary (Mt 13:44). New York: Oxford University Press.
[xvii]Hagner, D. A. (1998). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System;Word Biblical Commentary (Mt 13:44). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
