Matthew 13:24-32: “Jesus Teaches
by
1.
INTRO:
1.1.
In this next section we will begin to look at the 6
kingdom parables which Jesus taught
1.1.1.
The Parable of the Sower which we just finished
looking at was a parable that dealt with principles that are working within
God’s Kingdom, however it is not one of the Kingdom Parables itself because the
rest of the parables all begin with Jesus saying, “The kingdom of heaven is
like…”, or, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to…”
1.1.2.
Interestingly, the gospel writers have not included
Jesus’ interpretation of any but the first of these Kingdom Parables, so we
must do our best to interpret the rest of them, and we must use the most
consistent and reliable rules of exposition
1.1.3.
As I have studied these Kingdom Parables I have
discovered that very many otherwise reliable Bible expositors have been
off-track in their interpretations of them
1.1.4.
We will see how this principle of proper Bible
exegesis called “Expositional Constancy” guides us to the proper interpretation
of the Kingdom Parables
1.1.4.1.This concept
provides that in order to arrive at proper parabolic interpretation we must
allow each symbol to consistently have the same conotation, especially with
regard to whether or not the symbol has a good or an evil designation, as in
the following examples:
1.1.4.1.1.‘Birds’ in
the Parable of the Sower which we just studied symbolize demons, therefore we
would not expect them in a consequent parable to symbolize something or someone
known to be benevolent, we would expect them again to represent evil and demons
1.1.4.1.2.Jesus is
symbolized as the person who is doing the main action in the Parable of the
Sower, for He is the one sowing, and thus we would expect that He would be
symbolized as the one acting in the other parables (especially one who is seen
as sowing)
1.1.4.1.3.The ‘field’
in the Parable of the Sower represented the world, so we would not expect it
later to represent something that is quite different from that, for example, a
man’s heart, as some have surmised
1.1.5.
Each of these Kingdom Parables begins by Jesus saying,
‘The Kingdom of heaven is like’, or ‘The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to’,
thus each of them teach us about what is going to happen during the
establishing of God’s Kingdom
2.
VS 13:24-30, 36-43
- “24
He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 “But while men were
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.
26 “But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident
also. 27 “And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you
not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 “And he said
to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ And the slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want
us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 “But he *said, ‘No; lest while you are
gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 ‘Allow both to
grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to
the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them
up; but gather the wheat into my barn… 36 Then He left the multitudes, and went
into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the
parable of the tares of the field.” 37 And He answered and said, “The one who
sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for
the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of
the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed
them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are
angels. 40 “Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire,
so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 “The Son of Man will send forth His
angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those
who commit lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that
place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father. He who has ears, let him hear”’”” -
KINGDOM PARABLE #1: The Tares
Among The Wheat
2.1.
In this parable we see that Jesus begins the parable by saying that it is
an illustration of the Kingdom of heaven, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to…”
2.2.
In this parable we notice that first of all that there is a man who is again
sowing seed, as in the Parable of the Sower, where Jesus told them that the
sower is the Son of Man. So, here we
should expect that the sower is again Jesus, the Son of Man (one of Jesus’
Messianic titles).
2.2.1.
When Jesus explains this parable, in verse 37 He explains that in fact
the man who is doing the sowing is again the ‘Son of Man’ (a term Jesus often
employed for His own identity)
2.3.
Jesus sowed ‘good seed’ in His field, and the context of this parable
teaches us that the ‘good seed’ are genuine believers in Him, ones who have
come to have a genuine conversion and are therefore heaven bound (Jesus’
explanation in verse 38 verifies this)
2.4.
However, while the man was sleeping his ‘enemy’ came and sowed another type
of seed, the seed of ‘tares’ (or weeds), and the context then of this parable
should lead us to conclude that the ‘enemy’ of Jesus is none other than ‘the
devil’, Satan, the ‘deceiver of the brethren’
2.4.1.
When Jesus explains this parable, in verse 39 He tells us that in fact
the enemy who sowed the tares is ‘the devil’
2.4.2.
We see here the stealthiness of the devil in coming in the dark of night
to do his dirty work
2.5.
Again, the context of this parable should also lead us to conclude that
the ‘tares’ represent false believers who will come into the church, and they
have come there there because Satan has placed them in it to wreak havoc and
draw others away after them
2.5.1.
When Jesus explains this parable, in verse 38 He clarifies that the field
is again the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom (God’s people)
and the bad seeds are the sons of the evil one (non-believers)
2.5.2.
History teaches us that this has happened over and over again within the
church, for there have always been false brethren who have come within the
church, many have been in it for many years, and some who have come in and even
worked their way up into leadership within the church
2.5.2.1.William Gurnall in, “The
Christian In Complete Armor”, writes that Satan has his high places in the
world and the governments of the world, however his highest place is within the
church, for if he can control the pulpit and the ministry of the church he can
hold captive God’s working in the world to a large degree
2.5.2.2.In 2 Peter 2:1-3, Peter
tells us that there will always be false brethren who will come in amongst
God’s people in the church, “2:1 But false prophets also arose among the
people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly
introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them,
bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many will follow their
sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in
their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long
ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep”
2.5.2.3.In 1 Cor. 11:19, Paul writes
that God allows false brethren to come into the church in order to test the
church and show which brethren have God’s approval on their lives, “19 For
there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may
have become evident among you”
2.5.2.4.You see, if satan can’t
hinder God’s working in people’s lives by the persecution of the church, he
will join it (through those who aren’t walking according to God’s plans) and then
working from within he can do the most harm
2.6.
Interestingly, there are those who work for the landowner who had sown
his field, and they ask the landowner whether or not they should immediately
rip out of the soil all of the tares that have sprung up, however they are told
to just leave them there in the soil until the day of harvest
2.6.1.
If men were to go and try to pull up all of the tares they would in the
process accidently destroy some of the wheat that is growing alongside the
tares, and there is also the possibility that they might mistake a very young
blade of wheat for a tare and pull up the wrong plant
2.6.2.
Down through history there have been those who have tried to do what
these men requested. For instance,
during the Spanish Inquisition men went throughout the land with the sword in
order to root out all of those who would not confess Christ and be baptized,
thrusting them through with the sword if they refused, with the result that
much damage has been done to multitudes of peoples’ lives, the reputation of
the church, and the reputation of Christ Himself
2.6.3.
We in the church are not responsible to make sure that every single
person who is not proven to be a genuine believer in Christ is forcibly removed
from the church, rather it is wise not to be that radical, and it is also the
case that some people who originally would have been classified as ‘tares’
eventually end up becoming ‘wheat’ through the influence of the church and
church services
2.6.3.1.If there is not some gross
sin in a non-believer’s life that might cause others in the church to stumble,
and if the non-believer has a sincere desire to learn God’s Word and ways, then
it is fine if they attend the church services.
However, according to 1 Cor. 11, non-believers in the church must be
warned not to take communion until they have truly turned their life over to
Christ.
2.7.
So, let’s keep in mind for future interpretation of these Kingdom
Parables (remember the principle of Expositional Constancy) that Jesus, as this
parable demonstrates, is revealing through them that the church will become
something that it was never meant to be, and that some men will go out into the
world as His representatives who are not sent by Him, and who are not His
people at all
2.7.1.
When non-believers tell me that the reject Christianity because of the
things that were done during the Crusades or the Spanish Inquisition, I will
tell them that anyone can go and take the name of the Lord for their cause, and
yet never be commissioned by Him or in allegiance with His will and purposes
2.8.
You may ask me does the Bible really teach that there will be a literal
hell for unbelievers? The answer is,
‘Yes!’ This parable teaches that it is
not until the final day of judgment that will come upon the world that ‘the
sheep will be divided from the goats’, or as Jesus says here, the wheat will be
divided up from the tares, and hell will be reserved for all goats
2.8.1.
Actually, I believe that the separating of the sheep from the goats will
occur at the end of the 7 year Tribulation Period of the book of Revelation
because all of Christ’s followers before that time will be removed by Him (not
angels) during the Rapture which occurs just before the Tribulation
2.8.2.
When Jesus explains the parable in verse 41, He tells us that it is the
angels’ job to do that separating, for they are the ones then who will remove
the wicked non-believers are removed from God’s Kingdom at that time
2.8.3.
Those people who are ‘tares’ in God’s sight, not truly His people, will
end up in the Lake of Fire that burns forever as Rev. 20:10-15 reveals, “10 And
the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day
and night forever and ever. 11 And I saw
a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and
heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the
great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and
another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged
from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to
their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is
the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire””
2.8.3.1.As He does here, Jesus often
spoke of this place of judgment for non-believers as being a place where there
would be, ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’
2.8.3.2.Those today who think that
there will be partying and fun in hell are going to be horribly shocked one day
when they discover their error in judgment and the horrors of their eternal
punishment which will last for all of eternity
2.8.4.
In verse 43 Jesus tells us that the righteous people (His followers)
‘will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father’
2.8.4.1.This points to the
resurrection from the dead which believers will one day experience as their
bodies are made like unto Christ’s and raised unto power and glory (see 1 Cor.
15:41-54)
2.8.4.2.Daniel likewise foresaw this
day and wrote about it in Dan. 12:3, “3 “And those who have insight will
shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead
the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever””
3.
VS 13:31-32 - “31 He presented another
parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a
man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds;
but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a
tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”” - KINGDOM PARABLE #2: The Mustard Seed
3.1.
Jesus teaches in this parable that the Kingdom of heaven is like, or its
growth into maturity can be compared to, that of a very small mustard seed
which grows all the way into a tree, and then the the birds of the air come and
nest in its branches
3.2.
Many commentators, even many that are otherwise reliable, have
interpreted this parable to simply teach that the Kingdom of God started out
insignificantly with just 12 apostles and a few more disciples, all of whom are
dispersed after Christ’s death upon the cross, and then these ones later came
together and the Kingdom then grew from something very small and insignificant
to a very large entity, and then because it became so impressive even some of
the world’s influential people (symbolized by the birds) lodged in its
branches. IOW, the parable is meant to
have a totally positive outlook for the church
3.2.1.
On the outset this explanation sounds plausible, and we could also
surmize that this explanation could make Jesus here to simply be giving
encouragement to the multitudes, and His disciples in specific, to simply hang
in there with Him and each other and watch and see that despite persecution
that will occur, their cause will spread out across the world
3.2.2.
However, the problem with this explanation is three-fold as I see it
3.2.2.1.First of all, the context of
this parable is that it falls after His having taught the Parable of the Sower
and the First Parable of the Kingdom, ‘The Tares Among The Wheat’, and in that previous
Kingdom parable Jesus was pointing out that the church would become something
it was not intended to be, for there would be a corruption that would occur
internally within it, and therefore I would expect that Jesus would next try to
build upon this same foundation for this next parable
3.2.2.2.Secondly, this principle of
Bible interpretation previously mentioned of ‘Expositional Constancy’ presents
a problem with this interpretation, for the birds in the previous Parable of
the Sower were seen to be demons, and so we should expect for clarity’s sake
for them to be so now, not influential leaders within the church
3.2.2.2.1.This same principle would
lead us to believe that Jesus is again the main one doing the action, being the
man sowing the seed (instead of the church doing it), and that the seed planted
would symbolize the planting of the church in the world
3.2.2.2.2.Notice here that Jesus gives
us a further clue as to what the ‘birds’ symbolize for they are called ‘birds
of the air’, and we know that satan is called the ‘prince of the power of the
air’
3.2.2.3.Third, a mustard plant is an
herb, and as such it does not grow nearly into the size of a tree, and in fact
many times people will place these types of plants in their kitchen or living
room windowsill
3.2.2.3.1.Some have tried to make the
argument that the mustard plants in Israel grow to be much larger in size than
in other parts of the world, and that these plants could then be referred to as
trees by Jesus, however I think that this takes some stretching to accept for
explanation
3.2.2.3.1.1.If a mustard plant grew
large enough to become a tree, it would be a weird looking thing, almost like
if a Dandelion growing up to become a
tree, it would be a freak of nature
3.3.
I believe then that what Jesus is saying builds upon the previous Kingdom
Parable of the Tares Among The Wheat and that the parable is meant by Jesus to
explain that His Kingdom will grow large, and there is an encouragement meant
to be taken from this growth, however there is a warning associated with this
growth because the church will become something that is much more than it was
really meant to be, and that it will become associated with and many times
controlled by those who are actually emissaries of Satan (symbolized by the
birds)
3.3.1.
This first occurred in the third century when
3.3.2.
This same thing has occurred throughout the history of the church, and it
has happened time and again in many nations around the world when the
government has gotten involved with the national church and corrupted it from
within