Jesus spent the last 40 days of his time on earth talking about the kingdom (Acts 1:3), so it is a very large and important topic. Additionally, the Kingdom is not easy to understand, it is a mystery. However Jesus revealed the mysteries of the kingdom in Matthew 13. There are, at least 7 mysteries of the kingdom - parable of the sower, tares, the mustard seed, the leaven, the treasure, the pearl, and the net. The number 7 is significant, indicating perfection or completion. Actually each of these parables cover a different period in time. First the age of the gospel, the sowing seed, then growth, and then finally the harvest. When the parable of the net takes place, the 7th parable, this will correspond with the last trumpet of Revelation (there are 7 trumpets). The key to understanding these mysteries is to be the type of person described in Matthew 5:3-10, the most important of which is to be poor in spirit. Unless we are poor in spirit we cannot be open to receive anything.
Parables of the sower, tares, mustard seed and leaven
These 4 parables can be seen as a group, as they are all related to agriculture, with the three basic elements of planting, growth, and harvest. We can note that of the 7 parables, these 4 were the only ones spoken to the crowds (this is for a reason, that I explain later).
1. Sower
This parable is about the beginning of the kingdom. Jesus is the sower. Human beings regarded him as only a teacher, but Jesus saw himself as a sower. Jesus did not want to merely give people head knowledge, but to implant something within them that can grow and produce fruit. The seed is sown in Acts, grows in Pauls epistles and in Revelation is the harvest (see Rev 14 - the ripe harvest). The earth represents our heart (1 Cor 3:9). Jesus sows and grows Himself into our heart. The thing which Christ is growing is not a something but a someone. Christ wants to grow and spread in our being (Eph 3:17). This is actually what it means for the kingdom to come (Luke 17:20-21). People expect the kingdom to come down from the heavens, but Jesus said the kingdom is within us. If we are those waiting idly by for a visible coming kingdom we have missed the point
completely (like the Jews, and even John the Baptist did, who saw Jesus as like an earthly king). The kingdom comes by our growth in Christ. Unless we grow in Christ the kingdom will not come. Many Christians make no effort to grow because they have not seen that the matter of the kingdom is directly related to their spiritual growth. These type of Christian are the unwise virgins who did not prepare themselves, redeem the time and had no oil in their lamps when Christ returns.
2. Tares
In order to prevent our spiritual growth, to prevent the coming of the kingdom, Satan sowed false seed, in addition to coming as a bird, and taking advantage of the rocks and soil (condition of our heart). Many false Christians have been planted among true believers to confuse and lead astray. Satan sowed these seeds when men were sleeping. Satan sowing tares is a byproduct of our own laziness. If our church has many tares in it, we must feel somehow responsible for it. I know churches where even the pastor or priest is a tare - how can the congregation allow this? - because they are spiritually lazy and indifferent. And the easiest way for satan to prevent the growth of a whole church, is to put a tare in church leadership. The main purpose of growing tares is to prevent the wheat, true believers, to grow. Any one in your church or in the world who prevents you growing as a believer, is likely to be a tare. True believers will encourage and build you up in Christ so that you may grow spiritually. We cannot tell the difference between wheat and tares, until it matures and the fruit comes.
3. Mustard Seed
This is about a small mustard tree growing into a big tree. This refers to the growth of Christianity throughout the world. Christianity has grown so large that birds come to dwell in its branches. This refers to Christianity being too big for its boots, being puffed up with great pride and outward display, so much so that it is a nice resting place for birds (evil spirits). This is Christianity which grows big due to ambition and self-effort. It grows fast and it also falls fast. Many churches want to grow big in size but don't care about the purity of its members. Size is not a measure of purity. Generally the larger the church the more tares and devils there are in it. As we know from parable of the sower, birds represent satan and his angels. Many evil spirits are in Christianity today. The branches became places where demons can live. Genuine Christian growth takes time, it can be slow. A person does not go from an immature believer to a mature person over night. It can take a whole lifetime. Additionally, a large tree is complicated and confusing, like the whole of Christianity today, but God's genuine church is simple and pure, and by comparison with all of the false religions, cults and sects in the world - small.
4. The Leaven
Even though wheat can grow, having been sown in good soil, and overcoming the rocky ground of our flesh, and not being eaten by birds, satan again tries to prevent growth again, this time by adding something to the wheat - leaven. Leaven represents corruption. Leaven signifies something evil, sinful, fleshly, even satatic. There are many believers caught up in evil things, who once were pure but now are mixed with things of the world. The leavened church is Jezebel in Revelation 2 and includes the mixture of pagan things with christian.
In summary, God's main aim is to sow Christ in the hearts of believers, for them to grow, and to be built into a kingdom. Meanwhile, the enemies of God's plan are the birds of the air, rocks under the earth, thorns, tares, and leaven to try and prevent this from happening.
Parables of the Treasure, Pearl and Net
These last 3 parables Jesus spoke to his disciples privately. Whilst the first 4 parables are related to agriculture, these parables are related to minerals and fishing.
There is a reason why Jesus did not speak these things to the crowd. The reason was that Jesus saw the crowd as like plants. However Jesus saw his disciples as precious materials, gold or precious stones, because these are the materials that Jesus can use to build His kingdom. Jesus cannot use wheat for building his kingdom, it is not
suitable building material, he must use stones and precious metals. A stone can represent a wheat which is suitable for building (Matt 16:18).
1. Treasure
The treasure hidden in the field is gold, or precious stones (1 Cor 3:12, Rev 21:18-2). The treasure hidden in the field is the kingdom hidden on the earth.
2. Pearls
Jesus is the merchant seeking fine pearls, looking for his church, and finding it he went to the cross to purchase it with his own blood (Acts 20:28). A pearl is a kind of stone. Jesus is building his kingdom with living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
3. Net
The net is not the gospel of grace but the gospel preached during the tribulation period (Matt 13:49, Rev 14:6-7).
Many verses in the bible can be cross referenced to these 7 parables, for us to go further into more in depth bible study, e.g. look up search word terms such as stones or building.
We may summarize the 7 mysteries of the kingdom in this way - God wants to sow something (i.e. the gospel, the Word, Christ) into people, so that they may grow and becoming like rocks, suitable for building into a kingdom. This kingdom will then be the means by which God defeats all of His enemies (or see any good Bible study regarding God's purpose and intention of the Kingdom).
When we pray for God's kingdom to come, as Christ told us to in the Lord's prayer, we are not praying that God would send some visible earthly kingdom to defeat all of God's enemies, we are praying that we and others would grow and mature in Christ. With this in mind, consider Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-21. Here it seems that Paul is praying that the Ephesians would have a wonderful experience of God's love, and we may think "how nice, isn't it a lovely prayer". But Paul's motive must have been the kingdom. This is ultimately a kingdom prayer, that Christ may dwell in our hearts, that we would be strengthened within, that we would grow and be filled to the measure of God's fullness. Paul was a person who had God's kingdom as the focus of his ministry (Acts 28:31). If we want to know and experience the kingdom, we should make praying Eph 3:14-21 a daily habit.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Parables of the sower, tares, mustard seed and leaven
These 4 parables can be seen as a group, as they are all related to agriculture, with the three basic elements of planting, growth, and harvest. We can note that of the 7 parables, these 4 were the only ones spoken to the crowds (this is for a reason, that I explain later).
1. Sower
This parable is about the beginning of the kingdom. Jesus is the sower. Human beings regarded him as only a teacher, but Jesus saw himself as a sower. Jesus did not want to merely give people head knowledge, but to implant something within them that can grow and produce fruit. The seed is sown in Acts, grows in Pauls epistles and in Revelation is the harvest (see Rev 14 - the ripe harvest). The earth represents our heart (1 Cor 3:9). Jesus sows and grows Himself into our heart. The thing which Christ is growing is not a something but a someone. Christ wants to grow and spread in our being (Eph 3:17). This is actually what it means for the kingdom to come (Luke 17:20-21). People expect the kingdom to come down from the heavens, but Jesus said the kingdom is within us. If we are those waiting idly by for a visible coming kingdom we have missed the point
completely (like the Jews, and even John the Baptist did, who saw Jesus as like an earthly king). The kingdom comes by our growth in Christ. Unless we grow in Christ the kingdom will not come. Many Christians make no effort to grow because they have not seen that the matter of the kingdom is directly related to their spiritual growth. These type of Christian are the unwise virgins who did not prepare themselves, redeem the time and had no oil in their lamps when Christ returns.
2. Tares
In order to prevent our spiritual growth, to prevent the coming of the kingdom, Satan sowed false seed, in addition to coming as a bird, and taking advantage of the rocks and soil (condition of our heart). Many false Christians have been planted among true believers to confuse and lead astray. Satan sowed these seeds when men were sleeping. Satan sowing tares is a byproduct of our own laziness. If our church has many tares in it, we must feel somehow responsible for it. I know churches where even the pastor or priest is a tare - how can the congregation allow this? - because they are spiritually lazy and indifferent. And the easiest way for satan to prevent the growth of a whole church, is to put a tare in church leadership. The main purpose of growing tares is to prevent the wheat, true believers, to grow. Any one in your church or in the world who prevents you growing as a believer, is likely to be a tare. True believers will encourage and build you up in Christ so that you may grow spiritually. We cannot tell the difference between wheat and tares, until it matures and the fruit comes.
3. Mustard Seed
This is about a small mustard tree growing into a big tree. This refers to the growth of Christianity throughout the world. Christianity has grown so large that birds come to dwell in its branches. This refers to Christianity being too big for its boots, being puffed up with great pride and outward display, so much so that it is a nice resting place for birds (evil spirits). This is Christianity which grows big due to ambition and self-effort. It grows fast and it also falls fast. Many churches want to grow big in size but don't care about the purity of its members. Size is not a measure of purity. Generally the larger the church the more tares and devils there are in it. As we know from parable of the sower, birds represent satan and his angels. Many evil spirits are in Christianity today. The branches became places where demons can live. Genuine Christian growth takes time, it can be slow. A person does not go from an immature believer to a mature person over night. It can take a whole lifetime. Additionally, a large tree is complicated and confusing, like the whole of Christianity today, but God's genuine church is simple and pure, and by comparison with all of the false religions, cults and sects in the world - small.
4. The Leaven
Even though wheat can grow, having been sown in good soil, and overcoming the rocky ground of our flesh, and not being eaten by birds, satan again tries to prevent growth again, this time by adding something to the wheat - leaven. Leaven represents corruption. Leaven signifies something evil, sinful, fleshly, even satatic. There are many believers caught up in evil things, who once were pure but now are mixed with things of the world. The leavened church is Jezebel in Revelation 2 and includes the mixture of pagan things with christian.
In summary, God's main aim is to sow Christ in the hearts of believers, for them to grow, and to be built into a kingdom. Meanwhile, the enemies of God's plan are the birds of the air, rocks under the earth, thorns, tares, and leaven to try and prevent this from happening.
Parables of the Treasure, Pearl and Net
These last 3 parables Jesus spoke to his disciples privately. Whilst the first 4 parables are related to agriculture, these parables are related to minerals and fishing.
There is a reason why Jesus did not speak these things to the crowd. The reason was that Jesus saw the crowd as like plants. However Jesus saw his disciples as precious materials, gold or precious stones, because these are the materials that Jesus can use to build His kingdom. Jesus cannot use wheat for building his kingdom, it is not
suitable building material, he must use stones and precious metals. A stone can represent a wheat which is suitable for building (Matt 16:18).
1. Treasure
The treasure hidden in the field is gold, or precious stones (1 Cor 3:12, Rev 21:18-2). The treasure hidden in the field is the kingdom hidden on the earth.
2. Pearls
Jesus is the merchant seeking fine pearls, looking for his church, and finding it he went to the cross to purchase it with his own blood (Acts 20:28). A pearl is a kind of stone. Jesus is building his kingdom with living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
3. Net
The net is not the gospel of grace but the gospel preached during the tribulation period (Matt 13:49, Rev 14:6-7).
Many verses in the bible can be cross referenced to these 7 parables, for us to go further into more in depth bible study, e.g. look up search word terms such as stones or building.
We may summarize the 7 mysteries of the kingdom in this way - God wants to sow something (i.e. the gospel, the Word, Christ) into people, so that they may grow and becoming like rocks, suitable for building into a kingdom. This kingdom will then be the means by which God defeats all of His enemies (or see any good Bible study regarding God's purpose and intention of the Kingdom).
When we pray for God's kingdom to come, as Christ told us to in the Lord's prayer, we are not praying that God would send some visible earthly kingdom to defeat all of God's enemies, we are praying that we and others would grow and mature in Christ. With this in mind, consider Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-21. Here it seems that Paul is praying that the Ephesians would have a wonderful experience of God's love, and we may think "how nice, isn't it a lovely prayer". But Paul's motive must have been the kingdom. This is ultimately a kingdom prayer, that Christ may dwell in our hearts, that we would be strengthened within, that we would grow and be filled to the measure of God's fullness. Paul was a person who had God's kingdom as the focus of his ministry (Acts 28:31). If we want to know and experience the kingdom, we should make praying Eph 3:14-21 a daily habit.
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Last edited:
