Parables in Matt 13:
- Parable of the Sower
- Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
- Parable of the Mustard Seed
- Parable of the Leaven
- Parable of the Hidden Treasure
- Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
- Parable of the Dragnet
Why parables? How does this explain the Kingdom?
v11: Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
These parables seem so disparate. How can they be talking about the same kingdom? Some talk about fruit or maturity produced in someone’s life (sower), others talk about getting into heaven (wheat/tares, dragnet). Then others talk about the KoH as being something to be searched for and found (pearl, treasure in field). Then two of them are seemingly unrelated yet again: something small that produces something very large (mustard seed, leaven).
How can these all be talking about the same Kingdom? Just when I start to think I understand; maybe this is all about a small idea/concept that produces something big in our lives(covers sower, mustard seed, leaven, maybe even wheat/tares). Unfortunately, it doesn’t really cover the dragnet, the treasure and the pearl. Hmm.
So then the KoH is something hidden that needs to be sought out. That covers the pearl and the treasure. Maybe it’s a combination of different things. Some of these parables could be describing how it is attained (searching: pearl, treasure), some describe how it is perceived (small & inconsequential at first: mustard seed, leaven), and others describe the effects it has in our lives and in eternity (sower, mustard seed, leaven, wheat/tares, dragnet).
Ok, so that makes sense to me. I get the feeling I need to look into this more. This Kingdom thing is the second line in the Lord’s prayer: I need to know what I’m praying for!