The Kingdom of Heaven

One day Christ was teaching a multitude by standing on a boat tied just off shore, using it as a podium. He taught several parables, explaining that those who have a listening ear will understand, but those who are not spiritually in tune will not. It is interesting how the same words can be heard by two people, and while one will tear-up by the presents of the spirit whispering it is true, the other will have no real response to the message. If given time to study and pray, the less responsive people can strengthen the spiritual side. But without that exercise, the words may be heard, but never felt.

He told several parables that started with the phrase: “The kingdom of heaven is like”. So what is meant by the kingdom of heaven? When the Bible refers to the kingdom of heaven it is talking about a church on earth setup by God to bring heaven to earth. He has set this church up several times.

Adam was the first prophet God worked through to establish His church. Enoch was the second, after most of Adam’s children became evil. Noah was third, after the flood removed the wicked practices and participants off the earth. Abraham came forth, when most of the world was worshiping idols along with Egypt. Fifth of course, was Christ himself, who was born in the Roman Empire with all of its moral problems. The breakdown of the Jewish religion is evident by all of the trouble He encountered throughout His earthly life. With each of these prophets leading the church on earth, they all thrived for a time. But eventually the churches members were either killed or fell into ungodly practices.

Christ told these parables for the benefit of the righteous. He wanted them to have a way of identifying His church when it returned. Notice that each parable can be matched up with each of these prophets experiences.

Matt. 13

24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 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.

Wheat and tares look very much alike in their early stages. Tares are darnel grass, a poisonous weed, which, until it comes into ear, is similar in appearance to wheat. But it has roots that entangle themselves with other plants; to pull the young plants would cause great damage to the nearby wheat stocks. To harvest them together adds a toxic ingredient to the grain. So at the time of harvest, the wheat and tares must be separated, saving the wheat for a good purpose, and burning the tares so they will not multiply for the next season.

Christ was called to establish God’s church, and He found good people to be members. But Satan’s followers live amongst them. As the people grow in communities of both good and bad members, the angels ask Christ if they should banish the evil from their midst. But the Lord wisely sees that this would tear the world apart; so He forbears until such time as judgment comes. For at the end of the world, the angels will be charged with finding the righteous and keeping them from danger, as the wicked are destroyed. So it was for the city of Enoch and Noah’s ark. So it will be in the Day of Judgment. The angels will save the good from the same fate that the evil must endure.

31 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 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.

It is said that a man took this tiny little seed and planted it in his field. The mustard is actually a weed, and as such is for the most part undesirable. But in planting it, the man will find that after a while it will grow into more than a weed, but rather a bush or small tree. For an herb, it is pretty large. In the care of this man, it will stay a bush, but somehow it becomes a tree, undoubtedly by the hand of God. Then it is said that the birds of the air, representing angels, will come and lodge in the branches.

The prophet will start with a very small church, and with God’s power, a power from without, it will become very large, attracting angels who will stay close, watching over it.

33 ¶ 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.

Leaven is a food substance that, through the fermentation process, causes dough to rise from within. God’s church grows from within. The members learn from their leaders, each other and from the spirit. They teach one another what they have received, until all are edified. God’s church will encourage the members to teach each other His truths and confirm those truths by the power of the Holy Ghost.

44 ¶ Again, 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.

When a righteous person perchance stumbles upon the church of God, they will sacrifice all to obtain it, holding nothing back; for it is the only true lasting happiness that this earth has to offer. Before this discovery, the person’s heart was set on other treasures. But they are discarded in favor of this one precious gift.

45 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Unlike the lucky one who happened to find the truth, some people search diligently everywhere, finding precious gems of wisdom and knowledge in many places, and then one day, they find the pearl of their dreams, the gem that they have always searched for. They will sell all the other lesser gems, turn their back on all the other good things they have found, and take possession of this one great pearl.

47 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

All teachers of the gospel reach out to every man, woman, and child in the world, in hopes of netting them into God’s kingdom. For just as Christ loves all of God’s children; it is expected of us to love everyone unconditionally. But only the angels at the end will read the hearts of these, and then will come the separation of the truly righteous from the wicked. There are those who call themselves Christ’s, but in the end He will deny them, saying, “I know you not” (Matt. 25:12).

Mark 4

26 ¶ And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Mark is the only gospel writer to report this parable. It appears to be directed at the apostles, for Christ is saying that although you may work hard to teach people to enter the church, sometimes one just walks in. The gospel is so touching, that the spirit may convince people to join without a missionary effort. The Lord is happy to bring that crop in just as He is the others. This may have been in preparation for the apostles to accept gentiles into their flock. While Christ was sent to the Jews, the Apostles would be sent to the world, and certainly many good people, though untaught, would come to them, asking for membership.

There are many parables in the gospels, and each one has a message for the righteous. Each of them has a potential spiritual experience awaiting you. May you read them in your quiet times and places and find out for yourself which of them speak to you.