Why did Jesus preach in parables? It’s because people really don’t want the truth.
“All of them have stubborn minds! They refuse to listen; they cover their eyes. They cannot see or hear or understand. If they could, they would turn to me, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15 CEV)
Shepherds
We can learn many important spiritual lessons from Jesus’ farm parables.
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 CEB)
Pastor means shepherd. The ideal political and church leader is pictured as a caring shepherd (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 3:15; 23:4; Ezekiel 34:23-24; John 10:1-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4). People are burdened by leaders with vain traditions and bad ideas, weighed down in ignorance, neglected and scattered abroad without care and attention.
An urgent task in the church is still to seek and care for lost sheep and bring them into the kingdom.
Seed
The Parable of the Sower reveals four possibilities for the word of the kingdom.
“A farmer went out to scatter seed.” (Matthew 13:3b CEB)
Jesus spoke of sowing the word of the kingdom like an indiscriminate seed sower. There is no target audience. The seed of the kingdom is sown with wild abandon, like spreading the Gospel with faith instead of formulas.
Wheat and Weeds
A man planted wheat.
“but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.” (Matthew 13:25 ESV)
The church has done much good in the world, like schools, universities, medical care, music, arts, literature, science, human rights, opposing human trafficking, influencing laws, providing orphanages, and caring for the hungry and poor. But the weeds of sin also exist in the church.
God’s sovereign decision is that we may choose (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 1:29-33; Matthew 7:7-8; Revelation 3:20). God wants children who love Him by choice, not robots. What will happen to the weeds within the church who choose sin?
“So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.” (Matthew 13:40 NASB)
Jesus attests to judgment and hell more than anybody else. Heretics may deny it, and lenient people may think it harsh, but a loving God will not tolerate lawlessness for eternity.
Righteousness for Christians is by faith in forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for God’s forgiveness and focus on the day when the righteous will shine like the sun.
Mustard Seed
“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’ ” (Matthew 13:31-32 NKJV)
Exclusive small sects that think they are still that “little flock” (Luke 12:32), totally miss the point of this parable. The “least of all the seeds” is conversational speech, an informal superlative. Jesus’ frequently taught with imagery and hyperbole.
Leaven
“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.” (Matthew 13:33 KJV)
Leaven spreads. Is it the kingdom growing or sin inside the kingdom? Both seem to be relevant, but this is a parable about the kingdom growing. It’s growing even though the church is so very imperfect.
Hidden Treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44 NIV)
The most valuable treasure of all is in this world but buried. Would we be willing to sell everything for the kingdom of heaven?
Priceless Pearl
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46 NKJV)
The buried treasure was found by accident. The pearl was found by someone searching. Both men sold all that they had.
Fishing Net
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.” (Matthew 13:47-48 NLT)
Trawlers separate their catch. Many moderns don’t like to hear about hell, but Jesus does not shy away from it. Angels will only confirm what we have already chosen, to avoid God or be near Him. Hell is separation from God. Don’t choose distance from God or neglect salvation.
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42 WEB)
Householder
“So he told them, ‘Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.’ ” (Matthew 13:51-52 CEV)
Earthly treasures will all fade, but the new and old treasures of the kingdom of heaven are forever. Do we count the kingdom of heaven as our greatest treasure?
Virgins
Part of being ready for His coming is to have oil in our lamps.
“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:3-4 (ESV)
Perhaps this is the oil of gladness (Psalm 45:7) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). Definitely a form of spiritual preparedness is mandatory and that always involves the Holy Spirit.
Talents
What does God expect us to do with what Heaven has given us? Why hasn’t God given to us all equally? The kingdom of heaven is like various heavenly investments.
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” (Matthew 25:15 KJV)
Let’s not bury heaven’s investment in us, but work diligently to increase its kingdom value.
Sheep and Goats
It may not be politically correct, but God expects us to love our neighbor who is needy, a foreigner, someone in need of health care or in prison for crimes committed.
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger [literally, foreigner], and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.“ (Matthew 25:35-36 NASB)
What will happen to those who fail this modern political test?
“... they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 NIV)
God’s reign is growing large, giving everyone a chance, gathering good and bad, leaven, hidden, priceless, new and old treasures. Will you have a change of heart and mind and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!
