SEED POWER - Part I

SEED POWER - Part I

As we commence this series, let us prayerfully consider one of the dynamic Kingdom parables of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 13:24-30(NKJV)

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’

This is one of many gospel parables that Jesus utilized to illustrate spiritual truths in a powerful, practical and memorable manner.  So, what is a parable?  It is a natural illustration of supernatural truth.  It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Indeed, it is revelation made simple.

Why did Jesus employ parables in His teaching?  Because there are some things about the character, purposes and activities of God that are so complex and awesome that they defy human understanding.  By sharing truth through simplistic parables, commonplace situations that were universally known and understood, Jesus reduced eternal truth down to its lowest common denominator, thus multiplying comprehension and retention of the gospel message.

In a word, Kingdom truths are so indispensable to the survival and well-being of disciples that Jesus needed to present them in clear, colorful and memorable ways.  Those who listened to the teachings of Jesus were certainly familiar with the law; they had definitely been exposed to the teachings of priests and prophets.  But they had not yet been exposed to the life-changing principles that lie at the heart of the Kingdom of God.

Prior to the start of Jesus’ public ministry, John the Baptist (his forerunner and cousin) proclaimed a foundational message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2)  Once Jesus arrived on the scene, he echoed this mission critical message: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

Thus, Jesus Christ taught the fundamentals of the Kingdom through basic parables, which actually are metaphors, likenesses, examples, comparisons and illustrations.

Matthew, chapter 13, contains many of these Kingdom parables.  Jesus taught: “the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,” (verse 31) or “the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,”(verse 44), or “the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price,” (verses 4-46), or “the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet,” (verse 47), and on and on in other passages of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Simply put, Jesus used these easily understood teaching illustrations so that open-hearted hearers might be exposed to and enlightened by divine truth.  However, there is another dimension to Christ’s teaching methodology.  While parables are an illuminating light to those who would receive the teachings of Christ, at the same time they are an obscuring darkness (a coded and unknowable truth) to those who would oppose Christ and His Kingdom.  Consider this:

Matthew 13:10-13

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.¹² 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.¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 

So quite ironically, parables have a two-fold intent: 1) to bring light and revelation to those who would receive Jesus, and 2) to veil and obscure truth from would be enemies of the cross of Christ.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!