Basics of the Kingdom - Part 3

I felt like I should continue my review of the Kingdom, and the look st the parables that Jesus told to explain what the Kingdom is like. He speaks about it so many times, it is clearly one of His most significant messages. In Matthew, the phrase is translated the Kingdom of Heaven, in the other Gospels, we find the same parables using the term the Kingdom of God. The two terms are equivalent, and I use the Kingdom of God - as it avoids confusion over the location of the Kingdom.

1. Matthew 13:24-26 NIV: "Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared."

This parable makes it very clear that the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is on the earth, and is made up of people. Jesus explanation of the parable in verse 37-43, He says that the grain is people, and the enemy is Satan. He also describes clearly that there will be a day of judgment for all people. Jesus often compared life following Him to grain, how our response to the Word, would determine our fruitfulness. He likened our following Him to grain that must die to its present form, to bear fruit. In the me way we are called to respond to the Gospel, and to change our lives, that we might bear fruit - namely the multiplication of the Kingdom into other's lives around us.


2. Matthew 13:44-46 NIV: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

In case anyone missed the value of the Kingdom of God to them personally, Jesus told these two parables. The Kingdom of God is not something we can take lightly, it is more valuable than anything we have ever encountered, and requires all that we have and are. The reward is beyond understanding. The Kingdom is something that we look for, and something we all long for, whether we know it or not. We have a deep longing for God, for His ways, for relationship with Him, and to see Him work in and through us. Being found in the Kingdom, has eternal consequences, and rewards even here on earth.

3. Matthew 13:47-50 NIV: “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. [48] When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. [49] This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous [50] and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Once again Jesus is speaking about a day of judgement that will affect all people. We will all be judged, between the righteous and the wicked. The good news for those of us that follow Jesus, and have faith, is that Jesus righteousness is applied to us, and we will be judged righteous because of Him (Romans 3 & 4).


4. Matthew 18:1-4 NIV: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” [2] He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. [3] And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The Kingdom of God is unlike any other kingdom. All other kingdoms have greatness and position based on authority and power as their structure. In the Kingdom of God, it is based on humility and service, lowliness over pride. Children were the lowest level of the social strata during Jesus time, and He is making a significant statement here. He said they must change, and become like a child, clearly not indicating in thought or action, but rather in position. Jesus demonstrated this truth again at the Last Supper, where He washed the feet of His disciples, which was one of the responsibilities of the lowliest servants. If we want to be great in the Kingdom, than we must become servants to all. This never changes, we don't serve in this role for so many years and then get moved higher up so we don't have to serve any more. We don't put in our time as servants in the hopes of getting promoted, this IS the position of the greatest.


5. Matthew 18:21-27 NIV: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. [23] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. [26] “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ [27] The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."

In these verses Jesus is describing the forgiveness as it relates to the Kingdom of God. He uses numbers that are beyond reason to describe the reality of the situation. When asked how often we should forgive, He says seventy-seven times, in other Gospels its conveyed as 70 x 7 times, regardless its more than most of us would ever have the heart or patience to go to. He is describing His heart towards us as well, for the rules in the Kingdom flow from the King. He then describes man's debt of sin, in using the 10,000 bags or talents of gold. A talent was equal to 20 years wags for a laborer, so He was saying the man owed him 200,000 years of labor to pay off the debt. In other words, something that was absolutely unpayable. Yet, when asked for mercy, the King extended mercy and completely forgave the debt, completely cancelling it. The story continued on with the servant then going out and collecting debt from another, but treating him harshly. The King heard about it and threw the original man into prison, to be tortured, for his refusal to forgive others, and extend mercy. Clearly forgiveness and mercy are key components of the Kingdom of God. As members of the Kingdom, we are called to represent the heart of the King in all our ways, and forgiveness and mercy are at the top of the list.

Lord, help us to understand how to walk in the fullness of our position in Your Kingdom!