Parables of God’s Just Kingdom

June 10, 2018 Background Scripture: Matthew 13:24 – 43 Lesson Passage: Matthew 13:24 – 33 One of Jesus’ teaching methods was the use of picture stories. Picture stories are great because they allow so many things to happen to listeners. For those who are visual learners, picture stories give the visuals that are needed for learning. Picture stories, or parables as they are better known as, also allow for the conveying of spiritual principles in everyday language that can be understood by the masses—even those without formal education. Parables make recalling the information easier. Remembering a story is easier than remembering a set of facts and figures and trying to recall how to apply the facts and figures. Parables can also allow a message to be hidden inside the story to escape the scrutiny of those who opposed the messenger. As in all things, Jesus was a master at using parables as a teaching tool. The synoptic gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) collectively record thirty parables that Jesus used during his three years of teaching. Jesus used parables to teach the crowds that gathered to hear him. Within those crowds, Jesus encountered all of the individuals previously named: the uneducated, those hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the critics who were looking for something they could use to bring an accusation against him later, and those who needed to learn the spiritual principles that would be the foundation of their faith. Jesus’ teaching concerning the kingdom of God went forward with the power of the Holy Spirit using the vehicle of parables. To many of Jesus’ listeners, the unfolding of these events was the good news foretold by the prophets of Israel hundreds of years prior. The kingdom of God was going to be established on earth—and was already being established through Jesus’ ministry. It was happening in the midst of the people through Jesus’ teaching and many did not know it because of the parables. Jesus’ disciples did not always understand the spiritual message in the parables he used. On some occasions after Jesus had finished teaching a crowd or instructing someone who did not accept his message, his disciples would come to him privately and ask for an explanation of the parable he used in his teaching. Jesus provided them with the spiritual message hidden in the parable, so they could learn to interpret other parables. The parable contained in the text of this lesson teaches a very important spiritual principle about the kingdom of God. Namely, there will be a mixture of God’s saved people and those who reject God. The caution is for the people of God to not attempt to separate the non-believers from the believers. According to the explanation of the parable given by Jesus, God has angels designated for the purpose of separating at the end of time. Christians are to abide with those who they may suspect are not saved. It is not the duty or work of the church to separate believers from non-believers. Nor will this work take place during the time of the Church Age. Christians can be confident of this not because of our intellect but because Jesus taught this principle in one of the parables of God’s just kingdom. Robert C. Hudson May 7, 2018