What is the kingdom of heaven like?

Matthew 13:31-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like…” Matthew 13:24b

What is the kingdom of heaven like? In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus told seven parables to explain what the kingdom of heaven is like. The first one was the parable of the sower, or the soils, which describes how the kingdom begins. It begins with the sowing of God’s Word which plants the seed of salvation in people’s hearts. The Word of God is living, and it can impart life to all who believe and obey it. When God’s Word takes root in a heart and is cultivated, it bears fruit for the Kingdom of God.

We have an enemy, Satan, who is fiercely opposed to God’s kingdom. God warns us about his desires in the parable of the tares, or weeds. In this world, Christians and unbelievers live together. The weeds represent non-Christians who mix and mingle with believers. The owner of the wheat field said to let the plants grow together until the harvest. But there are graphic word pictures to depict the end of believers and unbelievers. The tares, or unbelievers, will be collected and burned, a picture of everlasting damnation. The believers will be gathered into the owner’s barn, a picture of God gathering those who are His in heaven.

The parable of the net has the same message as the parable of the wheat and the tares. All kinds of fish were caught in the same net. When the net was full, the fishermen pulled it to shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but they threw the undesirable fish away. Matthew 13:49-50 says, “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It is one of the tiniest seeds, but it grows into a tree where the birds can come and perch. The kingdom of God had a small beginning, but it is large enough to accommodate all who believe in Christ, and they will find rest there.

As yeast permeates a batch of dough and changes it, so the indwelling Holy Spirit permeates and affects every area of a believer’s life. And Christians are like yeast in the world, permeating and changing society by their witness and influence.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

We have seen clearly in the parable of the weeds and the parable of the net what will happen to those who do not belong to the kingdom of God. The tree grown from the mustard seed pictures a place for all who believe in Jesus in heaven. The parable of the yeast encourages Christians to use their influence in the world so many people will come into God’s kingdom. The hidden treasure and the pearl show the tremendous value of being a part of God’s kingdom. A person should be willing to give up everything he has to attain it. 

Father, the greatest thing that can happen to a person is to believe in Christ, enter Your forever kingdom, and be assured of going to heaven after death. May we make sure of our own salvation and use our influence to help others come to Christ. Amen.

This is how it will be at the end of the age.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

“This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49-50

I had an uncle who was a minister. I remember asking him one time why God poured out His gifts on bad people as well as good people, why He “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45b My uncle said if God gave His gifts to the righteous only, many people might try to be righteous just to receive God’s gifts. Their motives for serving Him would be wrong.

Another reason that God pours out His gifts on all people is because He is hoping that will bring some people into His Kingdom. He is giving them every chance to repent and accept Christ. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, so He patiently gives many opportunities for people to come to Him.

These thoughts should help us understand the parable of the weeds. The parable says that a man sowed good seed in his field. But while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds in the field with the wheat seeds. When the wheat came up, so did the weeds. If you have ever gardened, you will realize that this is a common occurrence.

People in Decatur, Alabama have been know to sow seeds in the shape of football game scores in the yards of their friends who support different teams.

The servants of the owner of the field came and asked him where the weeds came from since he had sown only good seed. The owner told them that an enemy had done this. The servants asked if they should go pull up the weeds. The owner told them no because they might pull up wheat along with the weeds. The owner told the servants to let the wheat and the weeds grow together until time for the harvest. Then he would instruct the harvesters to gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned. Then they were to gather the wheat and put it in the owner’s barn.

The disciples came to Jesus later and asked Him to explain the parable of the weeds. Jesus said that He is the One who sowed the good seed. The field represents the world, and the good seed stands for those who become God’s children. The weeds are children of Satan, sown by him. The angels will be the harvesters. They will weed out of God’s kingdom all who do evil and everything that causes sin. Then the weeds will be burned in a fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous will enter God’s Kingdom.

There is a parallel parable. A net was let down into a lake, and all kinds of fish were caught in it. The fishermen pulled the net to shore, sat down, and separated the fish. They collected the good fish in baskets, but they threw the bad fish away. Again, the angels will separate the righteous from the unrighteous.

We should be sufficiently warned to make certain our destination will be heaven for eternity, and, hopefully, we will do all we can to help as many people as possible enter God’s place of glory and reward as well.

Father, once we know we are secure in Christ Jesus, may we be used of You to help others, and especially those we love the most, become secure in Him as well. Amen.

Matthew 13:1-23

“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.’” Matthew 13:3

This parable is best known as The Parable of the Sower, but it really is a parable about the different soils where the seed fell. That’s what made the difference in how the seed grew because the sower and the seed are constants.


God is the sower and the seed is God’s word. Some seed fell along the path. The gardens were edged with paths that were beaten down and packed by the foot traffic so the soil was hard. Seed that fell on the ground would just stay on top until the birds came and ate it. The birds are a picture of Satan snatching away the word.


What makes the human heart hard? Sin--the desire to go our own way and do our own thing and ignore God. Author James Montgomery Boice tells of a conversation he heard between two women. One asked the other, “Why is America in such a declining moral state?” Her friend replied, “Because the people love sin.”


Some seed fell on rocky places where there was not much soil. The seed sown on stony ground with little soil represents people who receive God’s word with joy and excitement, but in a time of testing they fall away because they lack roots and nourishment. They are shallow Christians. We never know when trouble will come, but we need to be prepared by putting our roots down deep in Christ when we have opportunities.


Some seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked out the plants. The seed that was sown on thorny ground and was choked out by the weeds represents people who hear the word but they become so caught up in worrying about the problems and details of living and in enjoying wealth and leisure that the seed of God’s word can’t grow and mature. We can become so involved in the things of the world that we do not grow and bear fruit.


Finally, the seed was sown on good ground and produced a bountiful harvest. A fruitful Christian, represented by good soil, is one who studies God’s word and is obedient to what he learns.


The application of this parable is obvious. We are led to examine our lives to see what kind of soil we are. Are we fruitful Christians? If not, why not? How can we change?



Father, I want to be good soil for Your word to grow in my life and make me be fruitful for You. Amen.

Matthew 13:11-17

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables…” Matthew 13:1-3a

Have you ever wondered why Jesus taught by parables? The disciples wondered too, and they asked Jesus about it. A parable is a story that has one main point. It usually teaches a particular spiritual truth. Wiersbe defines it this way, “It is a story, or comparison, or illustration that is put alongside something else to help make a lesson clear.” Another good definition is “a heavenly truth illustrated by an earthly story.” A parable is different from an allegory. In an allegory, like Pilgrim's Progress, almost every detail has special meaning, but a parable usually makes just one major point.

Jesus told His disciples that He taught by parables for three reasons: 

1. because it was prophesied that He would do that; 
2. because of the hard hearts of some people; and, 
3. to further the understanding of those who were receptive to His teachings. 

He also used parables for teaching because of the impact they made on His listeners and because they were easy to remember and share with others--parables are great teaching tools.

Jesus fulfilled prophecy when He taught by parables. Matthew 13:34-35 says, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’” This prophecy is from Psalm 78:2.

Jesus spoke in parables because of the hardened hearts of many of His listeners. His enemies were seeking ways to discredit Jesus with the people who were following Him and who thought He was wonderful. The Pharisees and others wanted to kill Jesus, but they didn't want to cause an uprising among Jesus’ followers. If they could trap Him into saying something that would be unpopular, it would help their cause. But those who were opposed to Jesus or indifferent to Him would not understand the parables because they had closed their hearts and minds to His teaching. Because they did not understand, they would not be able to trap Jesus with His words or use what He was saying against Him.

Matthew 13:13-15 says this about those who opposed Jesus, “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’’” No one is so blind as one who refuses to see, and no one is as deaf as one who refuses to hear.

Jesus also spoke in parables to enhance the understanding of those who were listening and open to what He had to say. He told those people how blessed were their eyes because they saw and how blessed were their ears because they heard. And then Jesus told the crowd that they had an incredible privilege of hearing and seeing what many prophets and righteous people had longed to see and hear in the past--the long awaited Messiah Himself.

Think of the incredible spiritual privileges we have today. We have the whole Bible. We know that the Messiah has come and who He is. We have many years of church history and the lives of many saints to challenge and encourage us. We have our local congregations of the church where we can meet regularly with others who are like-minded. We have the privilege of prayer at any time and any place for any need. And we have the Holy Spirit who opens our minds and hearts to God’s Word. How blessed we are!!!

Father, thank You for all the spiritual privileges you have given us. May we learn and obey Your Word and pass it on to others. Amen.