The parables we have studied so far have mainly been about the grace of God. We have also seen the counterpart of that, namely the severity of God. This then led us on to see the importance of obedience to God. Some people do not understand the importance of obedience, because they do not understand the severity of God. There is something else they do not appreciate, and that's the enormous value of the kingdom of God, and the true riches possessed by those who have a place in his kingdom.

The parables that Jesus told, reflect the great value of belonging to the kingdom of God. Nothing is worth having that would rob us of that place. This lesson is about seven such parables.

The seven short parables in this lesson teach us about the very great value of the kingdom of God. They also teach us of the universal nature of the kingdom. This brings us to the fourth and fifth of the seven themes of the parables that Jesus told.

Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 13

The Hidden Treasure

Mtt 13:44

There is a puzzle in this parable. Jesus simply says that "a man found" this treasure. He does not say whether the man found it by happenstance, or whether he was seeking the treasure knowing that it was buried in the field. However the next parable is about a merchant seeking fine pearls. So we have some reason to think that people won't find the kingdom of God if they are not seekers. People need to be like Joseph of Arimathea who was "looking for the kingdom of God (Mrk 15:43).

The treasure in this parable was hidden. Furthermore, when the man found it he hid it again. This does not mean that the kingdom of God is concealed, for indeed it is revealed (Rom 16:25-27). The hiding of the treasure means that when you find the kingdom of God, you must secure it for yourself so that you keep it safe from the thieves and robbers among the devil and his ilk.

The extreme value of the treasure was recognised as greater than all the man's possessions, because he sold them all to buy the field in which the treasure was hid. The kingdom of God has treasure more valuable by far than anything we possess. We should gladly sacrifice everything we possess, if need be, that we might possess the kingdom of heaven.

The man was overwhelmed with joy when he found the treasure. God brings us into his kingdom for this purpose, that we might share in his joy, and that for ever. This world has no lasting joy, but heaven has. That's why we should seek and secure our place in heaven, and not love the things of this world (1Jn 2:15-17).

The Pearl of Great Price

Mtt 13:45-46

This parable is like the one before it. Again a man sells everything he has to buy a treasure he has found. No doubt there were many pearls on offer to this merchant, but he found one far superior to to all of them. The merchant could not resist this pearl, and he sent himself broke to get it.

It might be stretching this parable a bit but I cannot help asking why Jesus chose a pearl rather than a gold nugget or a diamond. It may be that a pearl is a ready made treasure that cannot be improved upon by man. A pearl need not be melted down and purified, nor does it need facets cut upon it so that its glory may be seen. The kingdom of God comes to us already perfect. We cannot improve it in any way, or make it more valuable than it is.

The Yeast

Mtt 13:33-35, Luke 13:18-19

Those who do not make bread themselves may not be familiar with the process of adding a little yeast or sour dough to fresh dough, kneading and proving the lump of dough, and setting it carefully to rise. Even some of us who do make our own bread, do so in an automatic electric machine which we just set and forget, and we do not appreciate the process. It is probably worthwhile taking the trouble to see how bread is made in the old-fashioned manner, the better to appreciate the parable of the yeast.

The leaven or yeast in this parable represents the kingdom of God. The point about the yeast is that it permeated and leavened all of the dough into which it was placed. This represents the universal nature of God's kingdom. It is a world wide kingdom, a kingdom spread through all the earth. The idea is the same as that in Daniel 2, where the kingdom of God is compared to some of the great world empires. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom with no national boundaries.

The figure of leaven or yeast is also used by Jesus and the apostles to represent the very opposite of what it does in this parable. Jesus said, for example, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees" (Mtt 16:6). We observe from this that evil also can permeate the whole world, just as much as can the goodness of God. We have to choose which of these leavens we will nurture, and which we will kill.

The Mustard Seed

Mtt 13:31-32, Mrk 4:30-34, Lke 13:18-19

The mustard plant is one of the largest of the brassicas (the cabbage and cauliflower family). The plant can grow very large, so that even birds might nest in it and find refuge. The seed however, is as small as those of the other brassicas. It is rather amusing that such a small seed can produce such a big plant.

Jesus uses this simple fact to illustrate the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. The kingdom of God (the large plant) grows from the planting of the gospel in hearts of men. The word of Christ from small beginnings can cause enormous growth and have influence attracting people to Christ from far afield. This is represented by the birds coming to nest in the branches.

The Household Treasures

Mtt 13:52

This one-sentence parable evokes the simple image of a man looking into his chest of family treasures --something we all do from time to time. Of course some of our family "treasures" have little value in the outside world, nevertheless they are true treasures. The man in the parable brings out some things that are new, and some things old. The kingdom of God was new in the time of Christ, and he was bringing in a new covenant. However there are timeless and unchangeable principles that have been true since the foundation of the world, and these continue in the kingdom of God. The scribes and other religious leaders were often challenged by Jesus to rethink their traditions. Certainly they held some ancient truths and should continue to hold on to them. However there were new things the Lord was giving them in the gospel, that they should count among their spiritual treasure too.

The Sprouting Seed

Mrk 4:26-29

In contrast to the Weeds in the Field parable we find this little parable that is disarmingly simple, like the parable of the mustard seed which follows it. There are no weeds to complicate this story. The parable of the sprouting seed was mentioned in our introduction to the parables as one easy to tell to a child. You can actually let the child plant some bean or sunflower seeds in a pot or patch. Then let the child wait and watch day by day to see them sprout and grow, and wonder how. How easy to tell the child that God makes them grow, and likewise God's word is like a seed that grows in our hearts to make us good. Blessed is the little one for whom someone does this.

The spiritual nature of the kingdom of God is shown in this parable. The kingdom is of God, not of man. How does the gospel seed sprout in the hearts of men, and cause them to bear fruit for God? It is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Man cannot make the kingdom of God by laying brick upon brick, or by multiplying gold and silver, or by sending ships to Tarshish. All man can do is plant the seed God gives him, and wait for God to make it grow. Man can nurture and husband the sprouting seed, but it is God who gives the increase.

Men build great religious organizations and say, "See! the kingdom of God!" However the kingdom of God is not a man made religious organization. A man might dig himself a garden, and organize it in neat rectangles, and make paths around it. But that is not his crop. His crop is the plants that grow stage by stage until mature for harvest. They grow by the power of God alone. The man has nothing to do with that, except to nurture the process and watch it happen with wonder.

The Dragnet

Mtt 13:47-50

The last parable is about fishing using the art of the dragnet. A long net is set out beyond where fish are feeding, and the ends are pulled toward the shore to encircle the fish. This can be done with small boats, or in shallow water even by men on foot wading. The net is drawn in, dragging the catch of fish with it. Undersized fish mostly escape through the net. The fish that are caught are then sorted, the good which are collected in containers, and the rubbish which is thrown away.

I have watched skilled fishermen in Vanuatu using a dragnet toward evening between shore and reef. This parable evokes an especially strong image for me. "Taem ol man oli sakem net long solwata, oli save pulum i kamso. Nao oli sidaon, oli seraot ol fis, oli putum ol gudfala fis i go long basket blong olgeta, be ol rabis fis, oli sakem" (Baebol Long Bislama). Beyond the reef are the vast reaches of the great Pacific. The fish come from far away places.

The parable looks toward judgment day and touches on the seventh theme of the parables, namely "God looks on the heart." It is the heart and spirit of man that counts in the kingdom of God. When God's angels pull in the great dragnet one day, and the fish are sorted, that is what will distinguish the good from the rubbish --not a man's wealth, not his power and glory in this world, but whether his heart is right with God.

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