The
Mysteries
of the Kingdom
(Matthew 13)
By Pastor Kelly Sensenig
Table Of Contents
The Marked Timing of the Parables ...... 3
The Mystery of the Parables...... 5
The Mysteries of the Kingdom...... 6
The Kingdom of Heaven...... 9
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like ...... 10
The People of the Parables ...... 17
The Three Major Purposes for the Parables...... 20
The Purpose of Illustrating Truth ...... 20
The Purpose of Hiding Truth ...... 21
The Purpose of Fulfilling Prophecy ...... 26
The Facts of the Parables...... 30
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23) ...... 32
The Setting of the Parable ...... 32
The Timing of the Parable...... 33
The Interpretation of the Parable ...... 37
The Sower...... 37
The Seed ...... 40
The Soils ...... 46
a. The Wayside Soil – a hard heart (Matt. 13:4, 19)...... 47
b. The Stony Soil – a shallow heart (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21)...55
1. Emotional Response...... 59
Contemporary Pragmatic Evangelism ...... 63
Contemporary Evangelism Efforts ...... 66
2. No Repentance...... 67
c. The Weedy Soil – a worldly heart (Matt. 13:7, 22)...... 73
Three Kinds of Thorns ...... 74
Cares of the World ...... 74
The Deceitfulness of Riches ...... 75
The Lusts of Other Things ...... 78
d. The Productive Soil – a fruitful heart (Matt. 13:8, 23).....81
The Promise ...... 82
The Product ...... 87
*The Mystery of the Parable ...... 94
The Additional Thoughts on the First Parable ...... 95
The Parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) ...... 97
The Son ...... 100
The Setting ...... 100
The Seed ...... 101
God’s Seed ...... 101
The Devil’s Seed ...... 104
The Story of the Two Seeds ...... 104
The Sabotage ...... 107
The Sleeping ...... 114
The Syncretism ...... 115
*The Secret ...... 119
The Separation ...... 119
1. The Timing of the Judgment...... 121
2. The Angelic Participation in the Judgment...... 122
3. The Results of the Judgment...... 124
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) ...... 131
The Understanding of the Parable ...... 131
The Unassuming Plan of the Sower (“the least of all seeds”) ...... 132
The Unabated Growth of Christianity (“greatest among the herbs”) .....136
The Unnatural Growth of the Seed (“and becometh a tree”) ...... 137
The Undeniable Plan of Satan (“the birds of the air”) ...... 145
*The Unified Mystery of the Parable...... 151
The Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33) ...... 151
The Popular Interpretation of the Parable ...... 152
The Primary Point of the Parables ...... 154
The Patterned Legacy of Leaven ...... 157
Lot and Leaven ...... 157
Israel’s Redemption and Leaven ...... 158
Mosaic Law and Leaven ...... 158
The Leaven of the Pharisees (legalism) ...... 160
The Leaven of the Sadducees (liberalism) ...... 165
The Leaven of Herod (licentiousness) ...... 166
The Proper Interpretation of the Parable ...... 172
The Work of the Woman ...... 173
1. She is Linked to Religion (Rev. 17: 4-5)...... 176
2. She is Linked to Politics (Rev. 17: 2, 15)...... 177
3. She is Linked to Economics (Rev. 18)...... 178
The Meaning of the Meal ...... 182
*The Primary Mystery of the Parable ...... 191
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) ...... 191
The Positive Points of the Parables ...... 192
The Parallels Between the Parables ...... 194
The Period of the Mystery Parables ...... 194
The Popular Interpretation of the Parable ...... 196
The Proper Interpretation of the Parable ...... 196
The Treasure Identified ...... 196
The Treasure Hidden ...... 198
The Treasure Found ...... 200
The Treasure Scattered ...... 200
*The Treasure Mystery ...... 202
The Treasure Purchased ...... 206
The Parable of the Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46) ...... 213
The Problematic Interpretation ...... 214
The Pearl of Great Price ...... 215
The Precious Savior...... 222
The Purchasing Price ...... 226
*The Probable Mystery ...... 229
The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) ...... 231
The Background ...... 231
The Big Picture ...... 233
The Breakdown of the Interpretation ...... 234
1. That Which was Sought (Matt. 13:47)...... 234
2. That Which was Caught (Matt. 13:47)...... 234
3. That Which was Wrought (Matt. 13:48)...... 237
4. That Which was Taught (Matt. 13:49-50)...... 241
a. The Timing of Judgment (end of the age)...... 241
b. The Task of Judgment (separation)...... 244
c. The Terror of Judgment (furnace of fire)...... 248
*The Basic Mystery of the Parable ...... 251
The Treasury of Truth (Matthew 13:51-52) ...... 253
The Final Parable ...... 254
The Teacher’s Question...... 255
The Things New and Old ...... 256
The Practical Points of Application ...... 259
Understanding and Living ...... 260
Learning and Living ...... 260
The Treasure for Living ...... 261
Change and Living ...... 262
Conclusion ...... 262
Chart ...... 264
* Summarizes the mystery of each parable.
The Mysteries of the Kingdom
(Matthew 13)
By Pastor Kelly Sensenig
Years ago the young people used to play the game “Whisper Down the Lane.” It’s interesting how the story changed. Somebody would tell a secret of some kind in the ear of the first person. They could only say it once and then the next person would follow down the line supposedly transferring the same message. However, it’s amazing how the message was changed as it passed down from person to person. The message may start like this: “You have nice ears” and by the end of the line it might be “You have wax in your ears” or “You have floppy ears.” Well, the secrets our Lord revealed have been passed down through the centuries and have not changed their meaning. And it’s these secrets that have special meaning to us who are living in the world today. In this study we are going to learn about the secrets that the Lord reveals to us as His followers. They are called the secrets or “the mysteries of the kingdom” (Matt. 13:11).
Matthew 11-12 are pivotal chapters. Christ’s rejection by the religious leaders of Israel and their commitment of the unpardonable sin was a pivotal point in His ministry and took place about two years before the crucifixion. The leaders of the nation claimed Jesus was performing His miracles in the power of Satan and that He was a demon-possessed lunatic. This particular sin could only be committed while Christ was personally present on earth and when He was performing miracles to authenticate Himself before the nation (see Matt. 12:31-32). Following this warning Christ served notice that the generation of Jews was now under judgment because of the rejection of Him and His claims (see Matt. 12:39-42). The mystery program related to the kingdom was inaugurated as a result of the rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus and His offer of the kingdom. After the official rejection of the nation in chapter 12 (the straw that broke the camel’s back) Christ introduced these mystery parables, which actually became a sign of judgment against the nation for their rejection of Him. This is indicated by the fact that the Jewish masses of people could not understand the parables (Matt. 13:34-35). These parables were spoken on the very same day as the rejection by the nation of the Messiahship of Jesus.
Matthew 13:1-3
“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.”
The movements of Jesus were important (“The same day went out of the house”). This movement out of the Jewish synagogue indicates the intent of Jesus to temporarily move away from Israel and the kingdom plan and initiate another plan prior to the kingdom’s arrival on planet earth. Many Bible students see the house as picturing the nation of Israel and the sea the Gentiles. This is because the sea is many times used to picture the masses of Gentile humanity (Dan. 7:1-3; Rev. 13:1). Thus the Lord’s movement symbolizes a break with Israel and a new plan to save the masses in the sea of Gentile humanity (Matt. 12:21) by a Gospel message that would span to the ends of the earth and be preached among the Gentile nations. Our Lord is leaving the nation of Israel and turning to the world. As we will see, Jesus is now speaking of what will take place in the world until He returns as King. So the parabolic teaching about the mysteries (secrets) of the kingdom was introduced due to the nation’s rejection of Jesus as the Christ. The fact that they were hidden from the Jewish crowds became a sign that God was going to move away from Israel and eventually judge them.
Just prior to His teaching on the mysteries about the kingdom program our Lord signified that He was changing His kingdom program by reaching out to the entire world (Matt. 12:46-50 – “whosoever”). Something was changing concerning God’s kingdom program. Although the kingdom promises of God still remained in place for Israel, the institution of the kingdom was postponed. There would no longer be an offer of the kingdom to Israel but a new program and outreach of salvation to the entire world, which would embrace the masses of the Gentile populace. Something new was in the air! A physical tie united Christ and His mother and brothers. In contrast, a tie of faith united Christ with His disciples and all who put faith in Him for salvation. By these words Christ indicted that He was temporarily setting aside Israel who was physically tied to Him and was starting a new program where all people (Gentiles) could be tied to Him by faith. Israel was being set aside and a new relationship was being instituted with people on the basis of faith rather than on the basis of physical decent or lineage.
After the religious leaders said that Jesus performed His miracles by Satan’s power the character of Christ’s ministry changed. Instead of talking about the kingdom being “at hand” He revealed some new facts about the kingdom in a series of parables. These are called the “mysteries” concerning God’s earthly kingdom program (read Matt. 13:11). Always remember that the “kingdom of heaven” is not a reference to heaven where God’s saints depart at the time of death but to God’s earthly messianic kingdom. The context of Jesus’ earthly ministry revolved around His offer of the earthly kingdom to national Israel. The designation “kingdom of heaven” simply means that heaven will one day rule the earth during the Lord’s earthly reign. It will be a time when God’s will on earth takes place even as His will is established in heaven (see Matt. 6:10).
The Marked Timing of the Parables
The seven parables represent a specific time period since it is indicated that the events stated in the parables will be finished at the “end of the age” (vs. 39, 49). Thus we have a starting and finishing point of a specific time period. This will be a time frame when all the events stated in these parables will occur. The word “until” (vs. 30) has reference of a duration of time – “until” the end comes when the kingdom is established. There is a definite time period involved in the outworking and fulfillment of these parables. The parables of Jesus in Matthew 13 were designed to prepare the disciples for His approaching crucifixion and teach them what would take place on planet earth between the time of His official rejection by Israel and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. The sowing efforts would occur in the “world” (vs. 38 – “the field is the world”) which would be much more extensive than just the local ministry of Christ during His day. Therefore, the sowing and seed program would take place on a worldwide basis throughout the entire age in which we live today (Church age) up to the end of the “age” (vs. 39 - Tribulation Period).
Jesus did not intend to teach a gap of time between the beginning and the end of the harvest period and the fulfillment of these parables. Jesus was simply teaching what would occur in the world then, now, and up to the kingdom’s arrival. This is the natural understanding and flow of Christ’s thoughts in these parables. To sandwich the parables into only two time segments relating to Christ’s earthly ministry and then the Tribulation Period, bypassing the Church age, seems to miss the obvious point that our Lord was intending to make concerning the seed sowing, harvest, and corruption that would occur throughout the world. Jesus is portraying the way it would begin and end without any hint of a gap of time between the beginning and the ending. The parables are designed to teach the course and character of this present age during the King’s absence and until He returns to earth. The parables give a prophetic forecast of conditions on earth during the present dispensation while the Son is seated at the Father’s right hand.
In conclusion, we can then view these parables as covering the period of time between Christ’s rejection by Israel (Matt. 12:14, 24) and His return to earth as the King (Matt. 23:37-39). The time element when these secret events would occur is very important. Many events and conditions would occur on planet earth between Israel’s rejection of the King and the return of the King. Or we might say these events will occur between His rejection by Israel and His reception by Israel at His second Coming (Matt. 23:39). These parables reveal what would happen on earth between Christ’s cross and crown or during the time when the kingdom program was postponed. They show how things are developing now, during the time of the King’s absence. We live in a portion of this period of time known as the mysteries of the kingdom.
Dr. Paul Van Gorder wrote:
“These parables tell us significant secrets about what we may expect during the exile of the King; while He has, as Luke 19 says, “gone into a far country.”
We must remember that the Old Testament saint from their vantage point only knew about two mountains – MountCalvary (the cross) and Mount of Olives (the kingdom). The revelation of the Old Testament spoke of the suffering of the Messiah and the return of Messiah to earth but it did not reveal the events and conditions of the world between these two earth-shaking events. There was an unknown valley between the two mountains that could not be seen. Therefore, the mysteries about the kingdom would reveal and enlighten Christ’s disciples concerning what was going to occur or take place in the valley of time between His crucifixion and Second Coming to earth and during the time while the kingdom was postponed. Jesus was revealing the sacred secrets hidden in the valley between the two mountains (Mt.Calvary and Mt. of Olives).
Dr. Harry Ironside called this time period “The Great Parenthesis.” He meant that a great gap of time would occur between Israel’s rejection and when the kingdom would be established on earth. This great parenthesis of time was addressed in our Lord’s teaching in these mystery parables and would include the time period we are now living – the church age – which has lasted for some 2,000 years. The course of the present age (church age) is outlined in these parables as well as judgments associated with the tribulation age. Jesus is talking about the era of time that would follow the departure of the King and exist until His return to restore the same kingdom. A chart is attached to the end of this study that will illustrate this truth to us in a clear fashion. You may refer to it throughout the course of this lesson.
The Mystery of the Parables
Matthew 13:11
“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
These parables do not portray the kingdom as present on earth in some kind of new spiritual form during the time of the King’s absence as some teach. Rather the parables teach that there will be various events occurring and conditions existing on earth prior to the kingdom’s arrival. The same literal understanding should be given to the term kingdom in these parables. The kingdom has to do with its relationship to earth and the parables simply highlight what is going to occur before the kingdom comes to earth. These mysteries about the Kingdom are both prophetical and dispensational in nature since they describe events that are going to occur in the future before the Kingdom arrives on earth and include dispensational teaching about the Church and Tribulation Period.
“The mysteries of the kingdom”
These parables are called mysteries (Matt. 13:11), which are related to God’s earthly kingdom program, are actually parables that tell secrets! The word “mystery” is sometimes misunderstood. It does not suggest the idea of something that is mysterious and which cannot be known or understood. Rather, the term speaks of something that is hidden (Col. 1:26 – “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations”). This understanding of the word mystery is confirmed by our Lord’s own interpretation.
Matthew 13:34-35
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Now this statement should have caused great interest in the minds and hearts of His disciples. They were hearing those things that no one else had heard in the entire course of earth’s history. What a privilege it was to receive this divine revelation. In the New Testament a mystery is a spiritual truth understood only by divine revelation which was previously hidden or unrevealed in Old Testament revelation. As we are going to see the mysteries about the kingdom are sacred secrets now revealed and known only to those who are on the inside or those who learn from the Lord and obey Him.