Sungai Ara Gospel Hall

Part 1 – The Parables in Perspective

Part 2 – The Parables in Particular

• 16 Dec. 2012

• 23 Dec. 2012

DID THE WORLD END ON DECEMBER 21, 2012?

• The unsettling evidence behind ancient astrologers' claim and the film they inspired

• A tidal wave engulfs the Himalayas. A tsunami scoops up a warship and dumps it on the White House.

• The Great Wall of China crumbles and thousands of screaming tourists plummet to their deaths.

• Soon the horrors reach British shores. A massive earthquake sends Big Ben crashing to the ground and destroys the newly-built Olympic stadium, great surges in our rivers drown millions up and down the country, and plunging asteroids turn our towns and cities into smoking ruins.

• Those who survive the initial onslaught flee in terror, but to run is futile for this is the ultimate catastrophe —

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the

wicked from among the just. Mt. 13:49, 50

What do the Kingdom Parables say about the end of the World?

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the

reapers are the angels. Mt. 13:39

Introduction to the Parables. Mt. 13:1, 2

From Jesus’ Seat on the Shore to fishing boat because of the Multitude.They Stood or Sat on the Sloping Shore listening to Jesus.

A. THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND THE SEED - He told them many things in parables, Mt. 13:31. An Introductory Parable:

2. Two Important rules in Interpreting parables in Matthew 13.

.a. Accept as final an interpretation when given by Jesus Himself.

b. Points of Analogy should be limited to the Author’s mind. Avoid Adding to His interpretation to have an Accurate interpretation that the parables illustrate.

3. The Introduction of the Parable: it does not begin: The kingdom of heaven is likened unto…Mt. 13:24 cf. 3

4. The Intent of the Parable:

•It Illustrates the various responses (the different soils) to the Word of God (the seed).

5. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable as given by Jesus: Mt. 13:3-9, 18-23

a. The Seed: The seed is the word of God. 13:3b. The Seed falling on the Side of the road: 13:4c. When he sowed, some seeds fell

by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

d. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not,

then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

This is he which received seed by the way side. 13:19 

c. The Seed falling on Stony places Scorched by the Sun: 13:5, 6

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

13:20-21

d. The Seed falling among thorns Sprung up andwas Suffocated:13:7Some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 13:22

e. The Seed falling on good Soil bore much fruit. 13:8

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 13:23

• Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

6. The Inconsistencies of other explanations:Does this parable support the Postmillenarian’s view of universal reception of the truth at the end of the age?

B. THE PARABLE OF Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43

1.The Introduction of the Parable: Mt. 13:38, 30•The next three parables demonstrate Satan as the great Counterfeiter.•In this parable he Plants Professing Christians (tares) among Possessing Christians (wheat). 

B. The Parable of the Tares and the Wheat. Mt. 13:36-43

The Introduction of the Parable: Mt. 13:38, 30

2. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable:Mt. 13:24-30 cf. 36-43

a.The Sower of the good Seed.•The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 13:24a.He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man. •The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom. 13:36-38ab. The Sower of Tares when Men Slept. 13:25-28a.But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.The tares are the children of the wicked one; 13:38b•The enemy that sowed them is the devil. 13:39a

c. Growing together until the Gathering (Harvest)

•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.

13:29, 30The harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

13:39b-43

=> 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; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Cf. Mt. 25:31-46Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 13:43b

Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mt. 25:30

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Mt. 25:46

3. The Inconsistencies’ of other explanations:

a. Does Mt. 13:30 support the Posttribulationist’s view that the rapture occurs after the tribulation? Gather ye together first the tares

Ct. Gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 13:48

b. Is this parable a picture of the universal triumph of the gospel, as the postmillennialists teach?

C. THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED.

Mt. 13:31, 32

• The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: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.Satan Produces False Growth.

1. The Intent of the Parable.To illustrate Christendom as a sphere of profession that will grow rapidly from a small beginning to an organization with great power and wealth.

2. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable.

a. A grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds:b. 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 thereoftree Cp. Dan. 4:11, a symbol of a world power. Rapid growth of professing Christendom.The mustard plant distinguished from the birds in its branches were unbelievers. (cf. Dan. 4:20-22). The birds represented Satanic influences (Matt. 13:4, 19).

3. The Inconsistencies of other explanations of the Parable.

a. Is Scripture erroneous? Is the mustard seed the least of all seeds?

The Greek word translated “least” (mikroteron) is actually a comparative and should be translated “smaller”. (NEB, NASB)

b. Is the Kingdom of heaven identical with the Kingdom of God? Cf. Mk. 4:11, 26, 30

Cp. the “sons of the kingdom shall be cast out” (Mt. 8:12; 24:50, 51; 25:28-30)

Parables of the wheat and the tares and the good and bad fish are only spoken of in relation to the kingdom of heaven.

The parable of the leaven, however (Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:20, 21) is applied to both kingdoms.

D. The Parable of the Leaven hid in a meal. Mt. 13:33 cf. Lk. 13:20, 21

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.1. The Intent of the Parable.•The mustard seed illustrates the false outward expansion of the kingdom,•The leaven illustrates the inward development of false doctrine and false living.

Satan Propagates False Doctrine.2. The Introduction in the Parable.•In biblical times, it was customary to retain a small portion of leavened dough from each batch to mix with the next batch of dough, thereby leavening the new dough. In modern times, yeast is usually used.

3. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable.

a. Leaven Jesus used leaven to picture hypocrisy (Lk. 12:1 - Pharisees),

false teaching (Pharisees , Sadducees, Mt. 16:6-12), and worldliness (Herodians, Mt. 22:16-21; Mk. 8:15).

The Bible uses leaven as a symbol of evil to be removed from Jewish homes during Passover (Ex. 12:15-19; 13:7) and excluded from the sacrifices (Exo. 34:25), with the exception of the loaves used at the Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-18) and the peace offering in Lev. 7:11-13.

Paul used leaven to picture carnality in the church (I Cor. 5:6-8) as well as false doctrine (Gal. 5:9).

b. Which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Cf. Rev. 2:20

• Sin is like leaven (yeast): It quietly grows, it corrupts, and it "puffs up" (I Cor. 4:18-19; 5:2; 8:1).

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

4. The Inconsistencies of other explanations of the Parable.

a. Are Postmillenarians and Amillenarians right to assume dogmatically that leaven cannot represent evil in this parable; although it is universally used to represent evil in both the O.T. and the N.T. ?

b. Lenski states. “It is impossible to use leaven in this sense (evil) when picturing the

kingdom.” If the kingdom was all good, this would be true, but

the other parables make clear that that there are tares among the wheat, bad fish as well as good fish in the net.

In the O.T., leaven is used consistently to represent evil.

E. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure. Mt. 13:44

• The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field

1. The Intent of the Parable.• This parable is linked with the

parable of the pearl and the good and bad fish, reflecting the divine point of view ct. the first four parables.

2. The Introduction in the Parable.• At the close of this age, God will have three peoples:

the Jews (the hidden treasure), the church (the pearl), and the saved Gentile nations who will enter into the kingdom (the dragnet).

3. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable.

a. kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field => Israel, the treasure. Exo. 19:5; Psa. 135:4 

b. The which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.Jesus Christ gave His all to purchase the whole world in order to save the nation, Jn. 11:51

•On the cross, Jesus died for the whole world; but in a special way, He died for Israel, Isa. 53:8. God sees Israel as His hidden treasure, and one day He will establish her in her glorious kingdom.

4. The Inconsistencies of other explanations of the Parable

a. The common interpretation: The sinner finds Christ and gives up all that he possesses to gain Him and be saved.

This interpretation presents several problems. Jesus Christ is not a hidden treasure. Must the lost sinner purchase the world to gain

Christ? Does he hide Him again?The facts: a believer in Christ has nothing to

offer and the treasure is not for sale. The believer does not buy a field (the world) in order to gain Christ. Upon discovery of the treasure, a believer shares it with others rather than hides it.

F. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. Mt. 13:45, 46

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 2. The Intent of the Parable.The pearl of great price is the Church. Composed of believing Jews and Gentiles. Eph. 2:11ffThe Concept of the church as a living organism is reflected in the pearl in its formation in the present age..Two major purposes of God for Israel and the church in their dual development culminating in the second coming of Christ seen in the Pearl and the Treasure.

Cf. I Cor. 10:32

2. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable.

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.The merchant sold all he had to secure the great pearl. Cf. Phil. 2:6-8Compare the pearl with the Church.The pearl is a Unique entity. Cf. The church, a Unity. Eph. 4:4-6The pearl is the product of suffering. Eph. 5:25The pearl grows gradually. Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

4. The Inconsistencies of other explanations of the Parable.

• The pearl of great price Mt. 13:45, 46.

• Cf. I’ve found the pearl of greatest price,My heart doth sing for joy;And sing I must, for Christ is mine;Christ shall my song employ.

• Cf. O that pearl of great price! have you found it?

• The sinner does not find Christ; Christ finds the sinner. No sinner is able to pay for salvation, even though he sells all that he has.

G.The Parable of the Dragnet.Mt. 13:47-50

• The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

1. The Intent of the Parable.• Cf. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.

• It summarised the main ideas of Matt. 13a. A net, that was cast into the sea,

and gathered of every kind “the largest kind of net, weighed below with corks on

top, sweeping perhaps a half mile of water.” (Lenski) Because of its large character, the net collects a

multitude of different kinds of fish.

2. The Illustration in and Interpretation of the Parable.

b. Which, when it was full, they drew to shoreThe net dragged ashore and the fish sorted out.

c. and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.The bad fish were cast back into the sea.

The good fish were gathered into the vessel.

d. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Angels separate the wicked from the righteous,The wicked wail and gnash their teeth when cast into

the furnace of fire. Mt. 13:50 cf. 25:31-46The righteous who remain enter the kingdom.

Cf. 13:41-43.The net represents the kingdom of heaven as a

sphere of profession included all kinds, wicked and righteous. The separation did not come until the end.

Thus, the kingdom of heaven differs from the kingdom of God which includes only the righteous.

4. The Inconsistencies of other explanations of the Parable.

a. Does this parable support the view that the present age ends in a postmillennial triumph with the entire world being Christianized?

b.Does it fulfil the kingdom promises of the O.T. when all nations will serve the Lord?

The Net Dragged in good and bad fishes. Note the Dual Development of Good and Evil. Separation Done at the end of the world = age.

G. Concluding Statement about the Parables.Mt. 13:51, 52

• Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea, Lord.

• Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Therefore every scribe which is instructed [lit. who becomes a disciple] unto the kingdom of heaven is...

• like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Mt. 13:52

They must be scribes who Discover the truth. Ct. Lk. 11:46-52

They must be disciples who Do the truth – Learning vs. Living out... Cf. Jas. 1:22

They must Dispense the truth, cf. Lev. 26:10From his treasure things new and old!

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables… 13:53• He went across the sea in a storm and delivered the

demoniacs in the country of the Gadarenes. Matt. 8:28-34

• Then he went into His own country: 13:54-58The people were Amazed at His Words and His

Works, but they were Against Him. 13:54-56His Friends and Foes in Nazareth rejected Him, now

He would reject them (13:58).

He would speak in Parables!Have ye understood

all these things?