HOW DO THE KINGDOM PARABLES OF MATTHEW RELATE TO JESUS KINGDOM ON EARTH?

A STUDY OF THE PARABLES OF MATTHEW

Matthew often uses the terms “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” in his gospel account. The parables of Jesus that Matthew includes in his book nearly all seem to reflect some aspect of the kingdom of heaven. They are often called “kingdom parables.” We will now begin a study of all the kingdom parables included in the book of Matthew. Jesus begins using parables extensively in Matthew’s account in chapter 13. There are seven parables in Matthew 13 and they are all kingdom parables.

Jesus explains to the disciples why he speaks to the people in parables in Matt 13:10-16. I will quote verses 10-13:

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you, but not to them.

12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak in parables:” Jesus then goes on to say that this fulfills a prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10. This prophecy says that “They (the Jews) will be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. This people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”

Verse 12 may be saying “Whoever has (the Spirit within him) will be given more (eternal life and the associated rewards). Whoever does not have (the Spirit within him) will lose everything (including his life; he will spend eternity in the lake of fire). The Jews are forever hearing the word of God, but they never see and perceive the truth in that word; Jesus is the Messiah and Savior. They have become calloused and stubbornly refuse to listen to and see the truth, the gospel of Jesus.

What are the secrets or mysteries referred to by Jesus that have been given to the disciples and believers that others do not have? What allows believers to understand these secrets? I would say that it is the ability to understand the word of God, the will of God and the things of God through the help of the Holy Spirit, which has been given only to believers. Believers have been given the “mind” of Christ, 1 Cor 2:11, 16. This seems to say that the Holy Spirit puts the thoughts of Jesus into the spirits (hearts) of those who belong to him. These thoughts or insights from Jesus through the Holy Spirit enable believers to understand the things of God which others cannot even begin to comprehend.

One mystery that seems to have particular application to the kingdom of heaven is given in Eph 1:8-10.

8 ….he lavished on us all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

This passage clearly teaches that the literal, physical phase of the kingdom of heaven begins when all things in heaven and on earth are placed under one head, Jesus. This can only be at the Second Coming when Satan is bound and thrown into Hades for 1000 years. Before that time Satan is the ruler of the earth, John 12:31, 2 Cor 4:4, Eph 2:2, Matt 4:8-9. Rev 10:7 confirms that the prophecy described in Eph 1:8-10 is accomplished at the Second Coming of Jesus.

In Matt 13:18-23, 36-43 Jesus taught the disciples how to interpret the kingdom parables by example. He very clearly interpreted two of the parables for them. We can use these examples to help us interpret the other sixteen kingdom parables in Matthew. We have attempted to do just that.

We will now move on to our study of the kingdom parables of Matthew. As we study we will note that nearly every parable presents a division of some sort, with most focusing on separation of believers in Jesus from unbelievers in some interesting way.

KINGDOM PARABLE 1: THE SOWER AND THE SEED, MATT 13:1-9, 18-23

Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

The Parable of the Sower (separation between members and non-members of the kingdom)

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear." (NIV)

The parable of the Sower explained

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (NIV)

KINGDOM PARABLE 2: THE WEEDS AMONG THE WHEAT, MATT 13:24-30, 36-43

Matthew 13:24-43 The Parable of the Weeds (separation of wheat and weeds, believers and unbelievers)

24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " (NIV)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (NIV)

CHARACTER OR OBJECT	INTERPRETATION
Man who sowed good seed	The Son of Man, Jesus Christ (vs. 24, 37)
Good Seed	The sons of the kingdom, those who accept and follow Jesus (vs. 24, 38)
The man’s field	The world (vs.24, 38).  At the creation Jesus created man in his image and placed them in the world.  He created them to be good and to do good
Weeds	The sons of the evil one, Satan (vs. 25, 38)
Enemy who sows the weeds	The devil, Satan (vs. 25, 39).  Soon after Jesus had created man, Satan introduced sin to man and he found it be very enticing and unavoidable.  Those who chose a life of sin over a life with Jesus were everywhere in the world, (Vs, 26).
The harvest	The end of the age (vs 39).  Jesus chose to leave sin and those who follow Satan in the world until the end of the age, (Vs. 27-30).  He left sin in the world because he wanted man to have the choice to freely choose him over Satan and sin.
Harvesters	The angels (vs 39).  At the end of the age, the angels first collect unbelievers and present them to God for judgment. They are judged and thrown into the lake of fire (vs 42).  All remaining believers are then glorified for all eternity.
My barn	God’s barn represents heaven, the place where believers will be taken at harvest time.
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven Phase 1 & Phase 2	This parable reflects the battle between the forces of good and evil in the world and the fact that sin will be a part of the world until the end of the age.   This parable also reflects the harvest at the end of the millennium, at the end of the physical phase of the kingdom of heaven, when the kingdom of heaven becomes the kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:24-28, Matt 13:40-43).  It reflects the end of the age (Matt 13:40), after which there will no longer be any humans on the earth (Rev 21:1).  All believers will live in the new heaven and the new earth in glorified, resurrected bodies with God after that time as the New Jerusalem (Rev 21 & 22).  It also reflects all unbelievers being sent to the lake of fire after the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:11-15). Some of those in the world get into the kingdom and some do not.

KINGDOM PARABLE 3: THE MUSTARD SEED, MATT 13:31-32

Matthew 13:31-32

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (implied division between good and bad in the church)

31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (NIV)

CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC.	INTERPRETATION
Mustard seed	The smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants and is shaped like a small tree, with branches, (vs. 32).  It represents the church in this parable, (vs. 31).
Man who planted the seed	The Son of Man, Jesus Christ (vs. 31)
The man’s field	The world (vs.31)
Birds	Birds represent the evil one, (vs.19).  They often represent the followers of Satan or sin in the Bible.  These are the same birds that we saw in the first parable.The mustard tree becomes large enough for birds to come and perch in its branches (mustard plants generally get about 3 feet tall).
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven Phase 1	This parable is prophetic of the fact that the church will grow to be very large, but it will always have those within it who are sinners and are doing the will of the evil one.  This parable speaks of the small beginning of the church which had its birth at Pentecost with the coming of the Spirit.  The mustard tree is composed of the sons of the kingdom, but the sons of the evil one, Satan, are perched within it, (vs.32).  Their desire is to destroy it with deceitful sin. Matt 7:21-23 tells us what Jesus thinks of this, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers,” Many in the church are not saved and really represent the will of the evil one. Some in the church get into the kingdom and some do not.

KINGDOM PARABLE 4: THE YEAST, MATT 13:33

Matthew 13:33

The Parable of the Yeast (implied division between sound and false doctrine in the church)

33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough." 34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."[b] (NIV)

CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC.	INTERPRETATION
Yeast	Yeast brings about fermentation, and when mixed with flour and water it causes a puffing up which yields dough.  In Scripture yeast signifies the presence of sin, evil or false doctrine.  Puffing up represents pride, which is the mother of all sin.
Flour	In parable 1, seeds represent the message of the kingdom, the gospel.  Wheat is the result of planting and nurturing the seed.  Processing the wheat yields flour.  Likewise, planting and nurturing the gospel yields a crop of believers.  Processing and refining them yields a crop of believers who follow sound doctrine.
Dough	Dough results from mixing yeast and water with flour.  Mixing false doctrine in with a group of believers who follow sound doctrine will cause many to fall away and accept the false doctrine.  False doctrine is a very powerful mixing agent (yeast) and eventually it will permeate the complete body of dough.  The water represents the spirits who facilitate the whole mixing process.
Woman	The woman is the one who adds the yeast into the flour.  She introduces the false doctrine into the church.  She represents the agents of the evil one.
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven Phase 1	During the spiritual phase of the kingdom of heaven, the church includes both those who follow sound doctrine and those who follow false doctrine.  False doctrine is continuously being added by agents of the evil one.  False doctrine is very alluring and powerful.  It is appealing to the senses and our very sin nature cries out for us to accept it.  It includes believing that there is some way to heaven other than through Jesus, believing in evolution which teaches that Jesus did not create the universe, believing a whole host of lies crafted by the evil one regarding sex, marriage, etc., all of which are contrary to the word of God. Some in the church get into the kingdom and some do not.

KINGDOM PARABLE 5: THE HIDDEN TREASURE, MATT 13:44

Matthew 13:44

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (implied separation; Jesus only buys believers)

44"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. (NIV)

CHARACTER OR OBJECT	INTERPRETATION
Field	The world
Man who bought the field	Jesus Christ
Cost of the field	The very blood, the very human life of Jesus.  Jesus bought the whole field; he paid for all of the sins of everyone, past, present and future.
Hidden treasure	The inheritance (Eph 1:18), the joy (Heb 12:2), the treasure (1 Pet 1:18-19) of Jesus, his bride the church.
Commentary Application:Kingdom of heaven Phase 1	Jesus treasures his bride.  Acts 20:28 says “Be shepherds of the church of God, which Jesus purchased with his own blood.”  The kingdom of heaven is composed of believers in Jesus, those who will one day be his bride, the church. This parable shows how Jesus made it possible for man to enter the kingdom.

KINGDOM PARABLE 6: THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE, MATT 13:45

Matthew 13:45

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (implied separation of believers from unbelievers)

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (NIV)

CHARACTER OR OBJECT	INTERPRETATION
Merchant looking for fine pearls	Jesus Christ. Oysters are not kosher. Pearls are valued by gentiles as jewels. They are only valued by Jews as something they can sell to gentiles. However, a pearl is the only jewel that grows in a living organism as a response to an irritation.
Pearl of great value	The church, which grows in the presence of irritations, persecutions, etc.
Cost of the pearl	The very blood, the very human life of Jesus.
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven Phase 1	This parable is prophetic of the fact that Jesus would purchase the church with his own blood. Acts 20:28 says “Be shepherds of the church of God, which Jesus purchased with his own blood.” The kingdom of heaven is composed of believers in Jesus, those who will one day be his bride, the church. This parable shows how Jesus made it possible for man to enter the kingdom.

KINGDOM PARABLE 7: THE DRAGNET, Matt 13:47-51

Matthew 13:47-51

The Parable of the Net (separation of good from bad fish; believers from unbelievers)

47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. (NIV)

CHARACTER OR OBJECT	INTERPRETATION
Net	The harvest at the end of the age.
Lake	The earth which contains the mass of humanity.
Fish of all kinds	Includes the good and the wicked people, the saved and the unsaved, those who follow Satan and those who follow Jesus.
Fishermen	The angels who collect everyone on earth at the end of the age (Matt 13:30, 39).  They first take unbelievers to God for judgment and then take believers to heaven.
Shore	The presence of God, the place where God will conduct the final judgment.
End of the age	End of the 1000 year millennium, when everything will be renewed (Rev 21:5).
Good Fish	Those who are believers and followers of Jesus.  They will receive glorified, resurrected bodies and will abide with God for ever and ever (Rev 21:1-7).
Bad fish	Those who are unbelievers and follow the evil one (Rev 21:8).  They will stand before God at the great white throne for their final judgment (Rev 20:11-15).
Fiery furnace	The lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15), often called hell, into which Satan, his evil angels, death, Hades and all unbelievers will be thrown (Rev 20:10-15).  It is a place of torment, day and night, for ever and ever (Rev 20:10).
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven Phase 2 & kingdom of God	This parable reflects the harvest of souls, both good and bad, at the end of the millennium, at the end of the physical phase of the kingdom of heaven, when the kingdom of heaven becomes the kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:24-28, Matt 13:40-43).  It reflects the end of the age (Matt 13:40), after which there will no longer be any humans on the earth (Rev 21:1).  All believers will live in the new heaven and the new earth in glorified, resurrected bodies with God after that time, as the New Jerusalem (Rev 21& 22).  It also reflects all unbelievers being sent to the lake of fire after the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:11-15). This is another parable about who gets into the kingdom and who does not.

CHARACTERS, OBJECTS, PLACES, EVENTS IN THE SEVEN KINGDOM PARABLES OF MATTHEW 13

Note that there are seven categories of things involved in these seven kingdom parables.  They are (1) a powerful presence which influences people to follow sound doctrine, (2) a powerful presence which influences people to do evil, (3) an object representing those who accept sound doctrine, (4) an object representing those who reject sound doctrine, (5) a place where good and evil exist together, (6) something of great value which Jesus purchases, and (7) something that represents the harvest and judgment at the end of the age.  Note that every parable is about the kingdom of heaven and represents a separation of those who follow Jesus from those who do not.

All  of the seven parables in Matthew 13 are about the kingdom of heaven.  This is the place where Jesus resides and reigns as king.  It is currently in the hearts of believers, individually and collectively as the church.  One day in the future it will be physically on earth, during the millennium.  Some of the kingdom parables relate to the spiritual kingdom, some relate to the future literal kingdom and some relate to both.  Note that there are seven aspects presented in the seven kingdom parables of Matthew.

CHARACTERS, OBJECTS, PLACES, EVENTS, ETC.	INTERPRETATION
Farmer who is sowing seed	The Son of Man, Jesus Christ
Man who sowed good seed	The Son of Man, Jesus Christ
Man who planted the seed	The Son of Man, Jesus Christ
Man who bought the field	Jesus Christ
Merchant looking for fine pearls	Jesus Christ
Birds	Satan and his angels
Birds	Birds represent the evil one.  They often represent the followers of Satan or sin in the Bible.
Enemy who sows the weeds	The devil, Satan.
Yeast	Yeast brings about fermentation, and when mixed with flour and water it causes a puffing up which yields dough.  In Scripture yeast signifies the presence of sin, evil or false doctrine.  Puffing up represents pride, which is the mother of all sin.
Good fish	Those who are believers and followers of Jesus.  They will receive glorified, resurrected bodies and will abide with God for ever and ever.
Good seed, the wheat	The sons of the kingdom, those who accept and follow Jesus
Seed	The message of the kingdom of heaven, the gospel, the word
Mustard seed	The smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants and is shaped like a small tree, with branches.  It represents the church in this parable.
Flour	In parable 1, seeds represent the message of the kingdom, the gospel.  Wheat is the result of planting and nurturing the seed.  Processing the wheat yields flour.  Likewise, planting and nurturing the gospel yields a crop of believers.  Processing and refining them yields a crop of believers who follow sound doctrine.
Weeds	The sons of the evil one, Satan
Bad fish	Those who are unbelievers and follow the evil one.  They will stand before God at the great white throne for their final judgment.
Woman	The woman is the one who adds the yeast into the flour.  She introduces the false doctrine into the church.  She represents the agents of the evil one.
All places where seed is sown	The heart of man which can be either good or evil.
The man’s field	The world which contains the mass of humanity, some good and some bad.
Lake	The world which contains the mass of humanity, some good and some bad.
Dough	Dough results from mixing yeast and water with flour.  Mixing false doctrine in with a group of believers who follow sound doctrine will cause many to fall away and accept the false doctrine.  False doctrine is a very powerful mixing agent (yeast) and eventually it will permeate the complete body of dough.  The water represents the spirits who facilitate the whole mixing process.
The field	Jesus bought the whole field; he paid for all of the sins of everyone, past, present and future.  The cost was the very blood, the very human life of Jesus.
Hidden treasure	The inheritance, the joy, the treasure of Jesus, his bride the church.
Pearl of great value	The church, which grows in the presence of irritations, persecutions, etc.  The great cost was the very blood, the very human life of Jesus.
End of the age	End of the 1000 year millennium, when everything will be renewed.
Shore	The presence of God, the place where God will conduct the final judgment.
My barn	Heaven, the place where all believers will be after the harvest at the end of the age.
The harvest	The end of the age.  Jesus chose to leave sin and those who follow Satan in the world until the end of the age.  They will be collected and judged at that time.
Net	The harvest of at the end of the age.
Fishermen	The angels who collect everyone on earth at the end of the age.  They first take unbelievers to God for judgment and then take believers to heaven.
Harvesters	The angels.  At the end of the age, angels first collect unbelievers and present them to God for judgment. They are judged and thrown into the lake of fire.  Believers are then glorified for all eternity.
Fiery furnace	The lake of fire, often called hell, into which Satan, his evil angels, death, Hades and all unbelievers will be thrown .  It is a place of torment, day and night, for ever and ever.