ü The
first is unique in that it has no statement like the rest where Jesus says, the
Kingdom of Heaven is like. The first
parable describes something that is true all the time and is not unique to the
time between the two advents.
ü Parables
2-4 relate the Kingdom between the two advents to the world system. Those who are in the Kingdom of Heaven are
living in this sinful world.
ü Parables
5-7 speak of the hope and end result of the Kingdom of Heaven that exists in
this sinful world.
ü The
last provides a conclusion.
Now
let’s consider the three parables in today’s passage (#2-4).
·
The parable of the TARES, 13:24-30. This is another agricultural parable. The weeds are a problem but here we learn
that they are planted by someone else, someone evil. The story ends with what happens at the
harvest.
·
The parable of the MUSTARD SEED, 13:31f. Consider two issues in this parable.
o v32:
Some have noted accurately that the mustard seed is not the smallest of all
seeds. But it was the smallest seed to
the audience Jesus dealt with. It was
smallest of any of the seeds they dealt with as other crop and garden seeds
were larger. The only smaller ones were
for plants that grew wild and thus there would not have been any disagreement.
o v32:
Jesus refers to the mustard plant as a tree which is technically not the case;
it is an herb. But it seems clear He
knows this in that He compares it to the rest of the herbs in the typical
garden. In fact, though some varieties
of mustard plant are quite small, there were some varieties in Palestine which
grew to 12-15 feet in height and became rigid enough for small birds to nest
there.
·
The parable of the LEAVEN, 13:33-35. A woman is preparing a large amount of
bread. She puts leaven into it, which
was common. But there were also times in
Jewish culture when leaven was not to be in the bread or anywhere in the house.
Having read these parables, we will consider their heavenly truths in our next post.
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