Jesus Taught About the Kingdom of Heaven Through Parables

John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom was "at hand" or close (Matthew 3:2). 

Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom was upon us.

• (Matthew 12:28)  "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

The Parables, in His Own Words is one of the ways Jesus taught people about the Kingdom of Heaven. These are the parables that appear only in the gospel of Matthew, and they are all about the Kingdom of Heaven.

• The Wheat and the Tares (13:24-30)
• The Hidden Treasure (13:44)
• The Pearl of the Great Price (13:45-46)
• The Dragnet (13:47-50)
• The Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35)
• The Workers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)
• The Two Sons (21:28-32)
• The Wedding Feast (22:1-14)
• The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1-13)
• The Talents (25:14-30)

The Wheat and the Tares (13:24-30)

• When the wheat and tares grow they look the same, but when they are fully grown they look completely different. Some people are in the church and look like other Christians, but Jesus knows the difference and when judgment day comes Jesus will separate the hypocrites from the Christians. The tares that get burned represent the people who go to Hell and the wheat represents the people who go to Heaven.

The Hidden Treasure (13:44)

• When the man finds the treasure he finds it and the hides it in a field. Then he goes and sells everything he has and buys a field. When he sells everything he has that represents giving up everything you have just to get into Heaven.

The Pearl of the Great Price (13:45-46)

• This parable has the same idea as the parable about the hidden treasure. When he sells everything he has that represents giving up everything you have just to get into Heaven.

The Dragnet (13:47-50)

• The good were put into the vessel and the bad were thrown away. When judgment day comes the Angels will separate the evil from the good and the evil will be thrown into a furnace of fire where there will be whining and gnashing of the teeth.

The Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35)

• Just like the servant who was thrown into prison you will be treated the same way if you do not forgive your brother from the heart.

The Workers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)

• The people who are put on front by other people should humble themselves. They will be the last ones. The people who are humble will be first.

The Two Sons (21:28-32)

• We are all sinners. Some of us are sorry for our sins and repent. Some of us choose to live a life of sin. The two sons show the different attitudes. Those who repent will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Wedding Feast (22:1-14)

• Many people were invited to go to the wedding, but they didn’t want to come. When the man came into the wedding hall he didn’t have a wedding garment meaning he was invited but did not want to wear the right clothing. The Master told his servants tie his hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. Everyone is called to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But we must all enter the same way. Some people want to be saved but only on their own terms.

The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1-13)

• The wise virgins were ready to go to the wedding, but the foolish virgins were not. Be ready for when Jesus Christ comes.

The Talents (25:14-30)

• The Master made the servants who gained more talents and were faithful over a few things rulers of many things. The servant who hid his talent had it taken away and he was cast into outer darkness. Use your talents. The people who use their talents bear good fruit and the people who don’t do not bear good fruit.

Image credits: Jesus: In His Own Words CD Collection by Henry O. Arnold  and Cross GIF.  Content also published Medium.com.

It is Written … (Celebrate Book Lovers Day!)

If you have ever watched the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”, you will likely the remember the scene where Lawrence (played by Peter O' Toole) uttered the words: “Nothing! … is written.”  Evidently, it was a memorable scene because if you do an organic search, you will find several movie clips.

The words of Lawrence, instantly called to my mind a contrast between words often uttered by Jesus Christ:
“It is written.”

Jesus spoke these words so confidently, and as a matter of fact, as if being literate was a given.

Of course, among the Jews, there were Scribes and their job was to write down the scriptures for future posterity. It was clear that many of the Jews could read and write. Although it is possible that some of the Apostles were not literate. In the book of Acts, they were referred to as men who had not “learned letters”.

But beyond the Jewish people, what about the Gentile world?

Many non-Jewish civilizations had a written language, but not all of the inhabitants could read and write.

But Lord!  The gospel message? Isn't it for ALL?

~ Did Jesus already know that in this world there would be many people who could read and write? At least enough people to spread the good news to all the world.

~ Did He already know that men would die in order for the Bible – both Old and New Testaments - to be printed in multiple languages and circulated so that people all around the world could read it?

~ Did He know that Google would partner with the Israel Museum to convert the Dead Sea Scrolls into a digital format?

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Being illiterate is not a social matter these days. Right? At least, not in the USA. That may be a problem for undeveloped countries. Right?

One would think that in a country like America, literacy would not be an issue. Think again.

Both first ladies – Barbara Bush and Laura Bush – chose as their platform to focus on literacy and education.

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Efforts to address the problem of illiteracy?

• World Over - 2016-07-28 – America's Literacy Crisis, Kyle Zimmer with Raymond Arroyo

• Integrating Technology in Early Literacy: A Snapshot of Community Innovation in Family Engagement

• NEA - Read Across America Partners and Supporters (“Reading Buddies”)

• National Coalition for Literacy (“... advancing adult education, family literacy”)

Those 3 words: "It is written."

It's really not a casual statement to be taken lightly, is it?

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This post was inspired by a friend who published a post in a blogging community, Literacy Base, where I used to be an active member.

National Book Lovers Day isn’t the only book holiday. Each year on April 23, the day Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died in 1616, the United Nations holds World Book and Copyright Day. In 2017, Conakry, Guinea was the World Book Capital.

There is also World Book Day, which is sponsored by the U.K.’s National Book Tokens.

SOURCE:  Celebrate National Book Lovers Day 2017

National Book Lovers Day is always celebrated on August 9th.

* Entertainment trivia:

The film “Lawrence of Arabia” won 7 Academy Awards. Peter O'Toole did NOT get the award for Best Actor. (REF: Academy Awards, USA 1963 ) Hey! When he accepted the lead role, maybe he should have got it writing that the Oscar for Best Actor was going to be a given. :) Gregory Peck won that year for his portrayal of the lawyer, Atticus Finch, in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. (REF: The 35th Academy Awards | 1963 ) I say the decision of the Academy was fair. What say you?

Related articles

• THE DARING MISSION OF WILLIAM TYNDALE - Steven J. Lawson (2015)
• Sometimes I Babble - Can't You Tell?
• Nimrod and the 'Gate of God'

Lawrence of Arabia

© Photographer: Nadalinna | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Sometimes I Babble - Can't You Tell?

The blue letters are found in the Bible.

• Ignorance was always a choice. (“… fools hate knowledge”)

• Information was always currency. (“Buy the truth and sell it not.”)

• Knowledge is freely offered and there for the taking or … accepting. (“Choose knowledge rather than choice gold.”)

• Wisdom when rightly applied is the key to not wasting your life way. (“Teach us to number our days.”)

- Sometimes I babble.

- Sometimes I say things that are verifiable truths.

Am I babbling?

Personification of knowledge (Greek Επιστημη, Episteme) in Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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