In your family, who liked to play practical jokes? Any one joke stand out?
What childhood dream has become a reality for you (example -- learned to play the piano, became a brain surgeon?
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- In the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43 who is the sower? What does the wheat represent? The weeds? The enemy? The Harvest?
- How does this parable relate to Matthew 7:15-20?
- Why does this parable so puzzle the disciples? Why is patience and tolerance toward unbelievers difficult for them (and for us)?
- What does this passage teach about church purity? Divine patience? Human accountability?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- In what way can over-zealous judgment of the world and its evils harm our mission as believers? Where is the harvest field God has placed you?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series: True Story “Parables of
Jesus”
Stories are the language of the soul. We connect with stories and we
remember them. That is why Jesus used storytelling so often to illustrate
deeper truths. His stories, known as parables, were Jesus’ way to communicate
important Kingdom principles. Although the details of these stories were
imagined, the Kingdom principles are not. They are true and eternal.
Title: “Ears to Hear” (Kingdom
Parables)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening
Thoughts: In his life and teachings, Jesus shapes our view of the kingdom of
heaven. The kingdom parables of Matthew 13 give us a vantage point of life
under the reign of Jesus, and confront us with the choice to live as citizens
of his kingdom.
v Finishes the statement:
o
That’s why God
gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth.
§ Gen Z Slang with Brett Hawley
- Bussin’
- The GOAT
- Cap
- Throwing Shade
- Flex
- Bet
===============================================================
Text: Matthew 13:24-52
The Parable of the Weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
===============================================================
Summarize the main story: Describe the
events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v Life in
the Kingdom…
o
Matthew 13:23-20
§ Evil Still Exists
·
Matthew 5:43-45 43 “You have
heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell
you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be
children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and
the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
o
Matthew 13:31-32
§ Good can rise above
·
Trust in God to
work.
·
Example is Joseph
in Egypt. Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it
for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
o
Matthew 13:33
§ Good can overcome evil
·
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.
·
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
o
Matthew 13:40-43
§ End Results
v Pursuing & Possessing the …
o
Unexpected Treasure
§ Matthew
13:44
o
Searched For
Treasure
§ Matthew
13:45-46
v The Importance of the Decision
o
The Sorting is
Coming
§ Matthew 13:47-50
Digging Questions:
·
How will you
respond to God’s “True Story”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is
God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hash tags #Parables #Kingdom #Hear
Sunday sermon link
https://youtu.be/3pw7RQMEELo
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with
some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-52&version=NIV
