WHAT ARE PARABLES?

A culturally relevant story “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth

WHY PARABLES?

Matthew 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear.

• Everyone has ears, but not everyone is willing or wanting to hear the truth (always been the case!).
• Spiritual truths require spiritual discernment which is only possible by the Spirit and Word. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)

CONTEXT

Matthew 13:36-37 36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered…

TREASURES & PEARLS

Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:45-46 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

THE KINGDOM

1.  – the overarching reign of the one and only eternal and sovereign God

2. – All who’ve submitted their hearts and lives to the reign of God—born again (literally “from above”)

•  Are you in the Kingdom of Heaven? (John 1:12-13, John 3:1-21, Titus 3:3-7)

3. But – The future physical reign of Christ in the millennial age

…OF HEAVEN

• •  Not just here and now
  •  Future and forever paradise and perfection
  •  Exchanging the world’s system for the King’s system

…IS LIKE A …

• •  Amazing spiritual truths compared to physical realities and understandable experiences

…TREASURE OR PEARL OF GREAT VALUE

• •  Once in a lifetime find!
  •  Implications of life-changing “wealth”!

What are your top 5 things you’ve gained by being “in the kingdom”?

1.________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

…WAS FOUND

• •  Field – across
  • Merchant – intentionally for (rich, yet still searching)

…SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD AND BOUGHT IT.

• •  Sold all
  • Cost all—obtainable, yet costly (to God versus to you*) o Paid all
  • Possessed all
  • Came out on !!!

*Salvation, and subsequently our invitation into the Kingdom of Heaven, are “free” to us through Jesus Christ. We don’t purchase salvation or kingdom citizenship. They are a “free” gift of God (charity; grace). We are saved by Jesus alone, nothing else. Our part is surrendering allegiance to God, abandoning ourselves to trusting our Heavenly Father, and learning to walk in our new Kingdom’s ways.

TREASURE: “…in his joy he goes…”

• “Joy” is used 64 times in the New Testament! (grace and joy share the say root word: “chairō,” to be full of cheer)
• Chara (khar-ah’): cheerfulness; that is calm delight: joy, gladness1
• The Kingdom of Heaven is better, satisfying, and compelling—not a horrible sacrifice and existence!

PEARL:

• Pearls are meant to be _______________ —making more beautiful
• Pearls are worth ________________
• The Kingdom of Heaven is _____________ and worth _____________ —attractive!!!

True Treasures — Matthew 6:19-21

Seeking [the most important] First — Matthew 6:25-33

Seek & Find — Matthew 7:7-8

MAIN POINT: Jesus desires us to know how important the kingdom of heaven is above anything else!!!

• Are you in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now?
• What does it look like to live here and now with the Kingdom of Heaven in mind?
• How are you displaying your true pearl?
• How’s your joy with your true treasure?
• How can you help those you’re discipling know and grow in what it means to live for the Kingdom of Heaven?