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Matthew
13:24-52
Parables-
The Kingdom Revealed and Veiled, Pt. 2
Charles
R. Biggs
January
2003
Introduction
o Review of last study
o Parables
“reveal” and “veil” the Kingdom of God
o Parables
for Postmoderns-
“All the world’s a stage” on
which God’s story is played out.
o ‘His
Story’ deconstructs us and
holds us all in its narrative grip!
o The
Remainder of the parables are founded upon the ‘Parable of the Sower’ (Matt. 13:3-23)-
Proclamation of the Word and the Kingdom Has Come in Christ!
I.
The Wheat and the Weeds - (vv. 24-30; 36-43)
A.
Experience
of grace- To those who have ears to hear and eyes to see the
Coming of the Kingdom in Jesus!
B.
Exposure
to Wrath and Punishment- A Warning against those who
would ignore the Kingdom of Christ, or
attempt to build their own Kingdom.
o The
main focus is on the future revelation of the King and His People.
o Two
Ages, Two Peoples will exist side by side until the Day of Judgment
o Main
Point: Not the Church, but the World (v. 38)
o At the
same time, it implicitly speaks of the impurity of the visible church: The
Problem of Hypocrisy- No one wants hypocrites in the church. That’s a good thing, yet we fail to
realize we are all “recovering Hypocrites”.
o Matthew’s
congregation to whom he is writing his gospel is probably being persecuted
and attacked by the successors of the scribes and the Pharisees. Much of Matthew’s material seems a
polemic against this group. This
would bring comfort to a congregation being persecuted by the jewish authorities, some who
were members of their own family.
o God’s
Purposes in Persecution, Pain, Picking up the cross against the Sons of the
Evil One- Explains the suffering and evil we see that God allows to come
upon his people
o God
doesn’t want any of his people to perish, but to all come to
repentance (2 Peter 3:9)—so there is a delay of the judgment, but
don’t be fooled! Don’t
say “Where is he? Where is this coming Jesus supposedly spoke
concerning?” - Read 2 Peter 3.
o Today
is the day of salvation! (2 Cor. 6:2ff)
o A
judgment is made on the King of this Kingdom. The Romans and the Jews put Jesus to
death as a common criminal. Barrabbas experienced the grace of the court, Jesus was exposed to the wrath of the court.
o he will return as judge and
king!
II.
The Mustard Seed: the Expansive Kingdom-
(vv.31-32)
o Insignificant
beginnings, unbelievable Ending
o It may
not seem like much. In fact the
preaching of the Kingdom of a crucified Messiah was a stumbling block to
the jews and it was
foolishness to the greeks (1 Cor.
1:20ff).
o Messiah
enters Pilate’s House with a crown of thorns, clothes ripped and torn
to shreds, dirt, spit and blood mingled together on his fine, dark, Jewish
skin. Pilate asks: “Are you a
King?” Can’t believe
this is a king, but His Kingdom is not of this world.
o Patience,
faith as the Kingdom will not be fully revealed until some time passes.
o “confusing character” of Jesus’ initial
coming- cf. Matthew 11 and John the Baptist’s confusion and question.
III.
The Leaven through the bread: the Extensive
Kingdom- (vv. 33-35)
o The
Kingdom extends throughout this present age
An Interesting Turning Point- Read 13:34-35
o v. 35-
“I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world”-
(cf. Romans 16:25-27):
Romans 16:25-26 25 Now to him who is able to
strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has
been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal
God, to bring about the obedience of faith…
o Jesus
was the interpretive key to all things written in the OT Scriptures.
o v. 36:
“Then he left the crowd and went into the house.” Jesus begins a delineation, an early
judgment if you will, by going away from the crowds to privately explain
the parables, as well as to encourage them in light of what he has taught-
-to persevere, to stand firm, to continue by his grace!
IV.
The Pearl of
Great Price and the Treasure: the Expensive Kingdom- (vv. 44-46)
o The
Kingdom is worth all that we have and are…
V.
The Drag Net: the Exclusive Kingdom- (vv.
47-50)
o The
Kingdom is Exclusive for the Elect
VI.
The New Scribes of the Kingdom- (vv. 51-52)- A Final Riddle!
o It is
interesting to note that some historians believe that Matthew’s audience, the congregation to whom he wrote his gospel
were made up of Scribes who had believed upon the Lord Jesus.
o The
Correct Interpretation of the OT because the King has rightly interpreted
the Scriptures for the scribes who studied all their life to know
messiah, yet missed him because they would not allow the scriptures to be
interpreted by the Great Author and King of the Kingdom!
o The
“New Treasures” gave understanding to the “Old
Treasures”. Augustine:
“In the Old concealed, in the New revealed.” Warfield:
“The Old Testament is like a well furnished, yet dimly lit cave where
we cannot see all of the beautiful furnishings until we take the torch
light of the New Testament into the cave to behold with eyes of
faith” (paraphrased).
VII.
Concluding Remarks
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