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The Elusive Kingdom
After Jesus had used 6 similes, found in Matthew 13: 24-50, to explain to His hearers what the Kingdom of God is and how it will come into existence, He took His Disciples aside and asked them, "Do you understand all that I have said?" They answered Him that they had.
It seems curious at first, and disconnected, when we read what Jesus said to them in response to their affirmative answer to His question: Matthew 13:52; "Then said He to them, "Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things old and new."
Okay. I don't connect it, so I went to the Strong's Concordance and searched the meanings of some of these words:
1. Scribe: A clerk, a public servant, a writer of the rules or laws, a person learned in the Scriptures, one who is given ability to answer the hard questions, one with ability to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. These people had a place in The Sanhedrin, the ruling body.
2. Kingdom of Heaven: Dominion, power, kingship, rule of,( not to be confused with the factual Kingdom, but rather the right to rule over the Kingdom.
3. Householder: words used equate, "owner of" the house and or the treasure.
4. Brings forth out of: (This one is long, but it is dynamic with instruction)
A) with notion of violence:
1) to drive out (cast out)
2) to cast out
a) of the world, deprived of power he exercises in the world
b) a substance: excrement into the sink (flush)
3) to expel a person from a society: to banish from a family
4) to compel one to depart; to bid one to depart in stern language, although
not violent language
5) so employed that the rapid motion of the one leaving is transferred to the
one sending forth or to command or cause one to depart in haste
6) to draw out with force, to tear out
7) with implication of a force overcoming an opposite force
8) to reject with contempt, to cast of or away
B) then without the notion of violence:
1) to draw out, extract, one thing inserted into another
2) to draw out of, to draw or to bring forth
3) to except, to leave out, i.e., to not receive
4) to lead one forth or away somewhere with force
which he cannot resist
5. Treasure: the place into which good and precious things are collected and laid up
a) a casket, coffer or another receptacle in which valuables are kept
b) treasury
c) the things that are laid up in the treasury, collected treasures
6. New: in respect to form; recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn
7. Old: old, ancient, no longer new, worn by use and the worse for the wear
SO, what did Jesus say about the Kingdom? I need more information.
Now I would like to investigate each of the 6 metaphors that Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God; maybe that will provide a more informed view.
Matthew 13:24-30: Example #1
Another parable He put forth to them saying: "A man sowed good wheat grain in his field; but while men slept his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went on his way.
When the wheat was grown and the blade was identifiable as wheat with the fruit of the grain being apparent, then was seen also weeds among the wheat.
When the "householder," the owner of the property's field hands saw it they inquired of the owner if he had sown only good seed in the field and if so, how did the weeds get there?
He answered them saying that an enemy had done that, telling them to let the weeds grow with the wheat and at harvest time they could gather the wheat and store it into his barns, then they should gather the weeds and throw them into the furnace and let them burn in the fire.
What I see in this parable is that in our earth, our societies, our Churches, this Kingdom which we now possess, is peopled with those who are honest in their profession and bring into existence the good and proper works of the Kingdom; conversely, there are those in this Kingdom who are not a real part of the Kingdom although they occupy the same space and enjoy the same sun and rain.
Conclusion: You will know them by their fruit. Continue to produce the proper fruit of God's Kingdom and God will take care of those who don't, in due time.
Example #2
Matthew 13: 31-32
Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed which a man sowed in his field and with time the seed grew into a tall tree and that the birds of the air perch there- in and take shelter.
The Kingdom does not suddenly appear; it is growing strong and provisional every moment in an unnoticeable and silent progression. The "birds of the air" in the Strong's Concordance, indicates both physical and spiritual "birds." There are good and bad "spiritual birds."
Conclusion: This parable is a reconfirmation of the first parable in that it presents a silent and unnoticed coming forward into being of what the Kingdom is, and that both the proper and improper make use of the Kingdom's physical provision together.
Example #3
Matthew 13: 33
Another parable Jesus used to convey information about the Kingdom of Heaven is to compare it to yeast that a woman placed into a lump of dough. The activity of the yeast is not immediately noticed, but given time it will permeate the entire lump of dough. The yeast did don't flaunt its ability to infiltrate the entire lump of dough; it just was doing what yeast does.
Conclusion: When we as Believers and true followers of Jesus do as He has instructed us to do, THEN the world is being permeated with the Kingdom and eventually it will consume the entire world, and the world will be filled with the total attributes of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God IS WITHIN you."
Example #4
Matthew 13: 44
Jesus told His Disciples that, "The Kingdom of God is likened to treasure hidden in a field which was found by a man who went and sold everything he owned so that he may purchase the field.
Conclusion: When a person realizes the worth of the Kingdom of God they will give/sacrifice everything they are or own to possess that Kingdom.
Example #5
Matthew 13: 45
"Again", Jesus said, as if to magnify this fact of truth; "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant, a seller of pearls who found the Pearl of Great Value; he hid the pearl in the ground and then went and sold everything he owned and purchased the field so that he could be owner of the precious pearl.
Conclusion: Jesus was speaking to Jews primarily who considered the "pearl" to be a disgusting stone. However, Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom of Heaven will be precious to one who recognizes its worth and that they joyfully give everything they are or own to possess it.
Example #6
Matthew 13: 47
Jesus told them about a fisherman who threw his net into the waters and upon pulling in the net he found that he had both edible and inedible fish in the net. The fisherman then proceeded to separate them, and the good fish he kept but the bad fish he threw away.
Conclusion: This parable in many ways is like the first one. The children of the Kingdom and those who are not children of the Kingdom are found in close proximity to each other. They all enjoy the living conditions necessary for physical life; but in the end there will be a separation of those who have become owners of the Kingdom and those who have not come into the Kingdom.
Please note: God is not willing that any should perish being thrown into the fire or discarded onto the seashore left alone to die without air.
"God is NOT willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (and have eternal life) 2 Peter 3:9
One gains eternal life and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven by:
1. Receiving Jesus as your Savior; "Lord I am a sinner, I have missed the mark of Your requirements for being a perfect person." I need a Savior, an Attorney, a Substitute, a Bondsman, a Redeemer, and I receive Jesus into my heart and life right now. I want You Jesus to be my Savior."
Jesus says, "Everyone that comes to Me I will never cast out, or throw away." John 16:37
Also, He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Ezekiel 33:11 God speaking says, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn therefore, turn and live, why will you die for your evil ways?"
The message of the Gospel is to require us to repent and then to live the life of God's righteousness in the growing Kingdom, in which we possess great authority, here and now.
Conclusion: While it is true that there are possessions and joys unspeakable and full of glory, that we will realize when the Earth is totally become "The Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ," there are instructions given to us right now to fill the earth with the works of righteousness that the Lord requires of us, and each of us as individuals will be "yeast" and "salt" and "light;" and the Kingdom is growing, and there is no fanfare or resounding trumpet...not yet!
The prominent instruction for us right now is to live our life at all cost in the Kingdom producing righteous fruit because the Kingdom of Heaven resides along beside the other kingdom. However, the righteousness of our Father's Kingdom will eventually come to full growth and the entire world will be, once again, fully His Kingdom alone.
The fact that two kingdoms reside side by side at this time is evident throughout the Scriptures; we are called to not be a part of the "world" around us, the one that is not the Kingdom of Heaven.
We have access to Gods Kingdom and may presently possess many virtues of the Heavenly Kingdom. Notice that Jesus keeps prompting us throughout all the Scriptures to Pray and Say. "Be careful of your words for a "bird of the air" will hear what you say and report it." We have authority in this Kingdom now and the edits we proclaim have a weight for change, both good and bad. We are admonished, "Let no foul or corrupt communication come from your mouth, but rather that which is good and builds up." Do mediate and study this instruction which is given to us throughout the Scriptures.
Jesus said that you cannot take the strong mans house unless you first bind the strong man and then you can plunder his house. We bind or loosen by our words as well as by the blood of Jesus and the invoking of the authority of His Name.
So, where is this Kingdom of God? Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is within YOU!" Planted within us who believe and follow Him. It is growing day by day, as we walk in His Way.
Do you get the picture? I think I see the picture more clearly. "Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come...
Ramona: 05/15/2013
*Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible; James Strong, S. T. D., LL.D.,
Hendrickson Publishers, P. O. 3473, Peabody Mass. 01961-3473,
ISBN 0-917006-01-1
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