(1/6/13) message.
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This week we are starting a four week series of sermons on the parables
of Jesus. We’re going to examine several of Jesus’ parables and look at what
these 1st century illustrations tell us about life for 21st
century Christians.
Before we talk about specific parables, I want to tell you a little
about parables in general.
For
those of you who have been in church most of your life, you grew up in Sunday
school and at Vacation Bible School, you probably have a good idea of what a parable
is. If you didn’t grow up in church, you have probably heard about parables,
too. One of the things we hear about Jesus, time and time again, is that he
taught using parables. Many of the most well-known and beloved stories from the
Bible are parables told by Jesus. Parables were not unique to Jesus. They were
common before and after Jesus’ life on earth. They are still common today. In
their simplest terms, a parable is a story used to make a point or illustrate
an idea.
The word parable comes from the Greek
word parabolē (pä-rä-bo-lā') – which is a combination of two Greek words para
– beside and ballo – to throw. It means, literally, to throw beside, or to
place something beside another. In other words, it’s a way to compare things. But
it’s not a compare and contrast sort of thing. It’s more like trying to explain
the solar system to a young child. You need to compare it to something they
understand, like a basketball and marbles. So with a parable, you use things
people understand to explain concepts or make a point that you are trying to
help them understand.
One of the
comparisons Jesus made most often with his parables was to the Kingdom of God
or Kingdom of Heaven. Many of his parables began with the phrase “The kingdom
of Heaven is like…” That was usually followed by a short example or a long
story. Today, we’re going to look at a few of these parables.
Matthew 13:31-33; 44-50
New Living Translation (NLT)
31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of
Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of
all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree,
and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is
like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little
yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered
hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he
owned to get enough money to buy the field.
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout
for choice pearls. 46 When
he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought
it!
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was
thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.48 When the net was full,
they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into
crates, but threw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world.
The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into
the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So
here we have 5 rapid-fire parables, 5 parables about the ‘kingdom of heaven’ or
the ‘kingdom of God.’ Here Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. And
that’s good, because each week, we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth as in heaven.” What exactly are we asking for?
Before
we talk about the parables I want to say something about the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven.” I mentioned
this a few weeks ago, “the Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God” doesn’t refer to geographical boundaries
of a kingdom, but to the sphere of influence of a king. So the Kingdom of God
is the sphere of influence of God rather than a specific location. In other
words, it’s not simply a reference to heaven. So when you hear “The Kingdom of
Heaven is like” you can think of it as meaning “As things go in this parable,
so they go under the reign or authority of God.” Or “When God reigns it will
look like this.”
Let’s
look at Jesus’ description of the reign of God.
In
the first two parables, Jesus talks about great things coming from humble
beginnings. A mustard seed. Have any of you ever seen a mustard seed? It’s
tiny, about the size of a flea. From that seed grows a plant 6-7 feet tall. A
tree where, like Jesus says, birds can come and nest in its branches. He also
talks about a little bit of yeast being put into a batch of bread. This is not,
of course, an envelope of “Dry Active Yeast” from Publix. It is more accurately
referred to as leavening. It was a piece of dough from a previous loaf of
bread. This piece was torn off before baking and set aside. It was left there
to rot. To ferment. That leavening would then be added to the next batch of
bread the baker made.
This
little bit of leavening, added to 3 measures of flour would make enough bread
for about 100 people to eat. Again, great things from humble beginnings.
But
this is more than two stories of big things coming from small things. A mustard
plant, in 1st century Judea, was a weed. It was wild and hard to
control. It was a nuisance. Maybe it was the kudzu of their time. And Jesus
uses this as an example of the Kingdom of Heaven. And then there is the yeast.
It
was not unusual to use leavening as a metaphor in Jesus time. But, just like
the mustard plant, it was not typically a positive symbol. It was usually used
to symbolize corruption and impurity – after all, you’re talking about a rotten
piece of dough. Here it is used to symbolize the spread of God’s kingdom
throughout the world. Again, quite an unexpected image to equate to the kingdom
of heaven.
Next
we have two parables that compare the Kingdom of heaven to something precious
and valuable. First Jesus tells of a man who finds treasure buried in a field.
Obviously, this is not his field, because he immediately goes out and sells all
of his possessions and buys the field and the treasure buried there.
The second story is similar. A merchant
searches everywhere for fine pearls. When he finds a particularly beautiful
specimen, he sells all he has and buys it.
Each story tells of someone who risks
everything they have to obtain their prize. Each gives up many good things to
get something great. There is a contrast in the stories as well.
In the story of the hidden treasure, the man
happens upon the treasure by accident. Maybe he was working in the field, we
don’t really know why he was digging in someone else’s field. But in doing so
he found a treasure hidden there and , we assume, forgotten by someone. This
can be true of the kingdom as well. Many have accidentally met Jesus. Simon of
Cyrene simply came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, but he found himself
carrying the cross of a stranger. This parable demonstrates, once again, that
God pursues us. God longs for relationship with us.
There are also those who search and search
for meaning in life. Eventually that search can, but doesn’t always, lead to
Jesus. The merchant searched and searched for the perfect pearl. Finally he
found it. Again, countless men and women have found Jesus after a thorough
search for joy and peace.
The final parable compares the kingdom to a
net. This is a dragnet. The net is dropped and then the boat drags it through
the water and it picks up everything. Good fish, bad fish. 1 fish 2 fish, red
fish blue fish. The net does not discriminate. In other words, Jesus tells us
that the kingdom is for everyone! Yes, the good will be separated from the bad,
but all are welcome. All are invited. All are pursued.
So, what do these parables mean for us? First, God wants all of us to experience the
Reign of God. The kingdom is for everyone. Not only are all invited, God
pursues us. God wants a relationship with us. Second, the kingdom is a
treasure. It is something worth sacrifice. It is something to be valued, and it
makes us valuable. Finally, it’s easy to feel small and insignificant?
Sometimes we feel like a weed. Unwanted, a nuisance. But when we place our
faith in Jesus Christ, when the kingdom is planted in our hearts, the Holy
Spirit works in us to help us become something great. Something useful.
Something valuable.
There’s something important to
remember. The kingdom is now. It is both a future and a present reality. Each
parable starts “The kingdom of heaven IS like…” Not “will be like.” John Wesley
said, “As soon as God speaks to your heart:
‘Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven,’ His kingdom comes. You have
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Let that be your prayer.
“Thy kingdom come. Bring the righteousness and peace and joy of your kingdom to
me. To my family. To this church.”
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