Lesson 10-5: The Parable of Heaven

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 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.” (Matthew 13:10-11)

While Jesus was preaching in the world, out of all the stories he said, there were about twenty three parables and hundreds more, which signifies heaven. Jesus uses parables to reveal the mysteries and characteristics of the heavenly message. (Matthew 4:34) This is also the most attracting part of His proclamation. Usually the contents of a sermon would become blurry in a person’s head after awhile, but one will be able to store a clear image of the parable in one’s memory. One teaching might not be able to break through our stubborn mind, but one touching story can relax a person’s mind, thus loosen his defensive attitude.

  1. The Meaning and Purpose of a Parable
  1. Meaning:

According to the parables in the bible, the definition of a book can mean a worldly thing, which has the meaning of heaven. Usually a parable carries the meaning of comparison, and parallelism . It is not a myth or fable, therefore the contents of the parable must consist the following elements. A. it has to be reasonable, and it must relate to our daily lives for example, sowing the seeds, casting the dragnet, hiding the treasure, finding the pearl, the lost sheep, building the house, marriage, banquet, etc… B. A parable consists both the spiritual and secular meaning, therefore both must be explained, so the main idea can be expressed. C. It usually has a main meaning.

  1. Purpose:

a. To make people understand it easily and not forget about it. B. to hide the truth within the parable, so those who are truly seeking the truth can experience what is the meaning in between. (Matthew 13:10-11) c. it can also be used as a way of approaching someone or a way to get the message across when the two parties are having a heated arguments, thus not to enhance the problem. (Matt 21:45-46)

  1. Explanation of the Principles of the Parable
  1. When we interpret the meaning of the parables, it should just be like opening the gate with a key and to take the treasure out from the treasure chest. One should not try to guess its true meaning using his or her knowledge, thus cause misunderstanding.
  1. Must first understand what the will of God is, we should not misunderstood His will. As long as we can understand His main purpose, then can we relate to ourselves.
  2. We also need to read the verse before and after to understand clearly the purpose of using this particular parable. Sometimes we might be able to get the meaning straight from the passage, for example (Luke 18:1-7) is encouraging us that we should not lose heart while praying.
  3. To understand the true meaning of the parable, we must read the passages before and after the verse. Therefore it will not leave us any misunderstanding or misinterpretations in our heart.
  4. The foundation of interpreting the parable should be truth. The truth should never be changed by the parables. Parables are there to help reveal the truth, not to take away its true essence.
  5. When explaining a parable, if we guess too much, it lead to an unclear image of the actual picture, thus causing misleading.
  1. Parable of the Heavenly Kingdom

Matthew Chapter 13 contains a total of seven parables, all of which were spoken by the Lord Jesus in one day. The first four parables were spoken to the crowd on the boat, and the last three were spoken to the disciples after the crowd left. (Matt 13:1-3, 36) The seven parables can be split into two parts: the first four mentions about how the early apostolic church, which was established by the early rain of the holy spirit, changed its essence due to the influences of heresies, traditions and costumes. The last three shall fulfill the prophecy about the latter rain established true church. Even thought these seven parables are short, simple, but it reveals all the secrets, which has been hidden since the creation of the world. (Matt 13:35)

  1. The Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-23)
  1. Contents: When the sower went out to sow, some seed fell by the wayside, some fell on stony places, some fell among thorns, and some fell on good soil, which bear fruits.
  2. Lord’s Interpretation: those seed fell by the wayside represent anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatched it away. Those seed fell on the stony places represent he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulations and trials comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Those seed fell among the thorns represents those hear the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
  1. The Parable of the Wheat (24-30, 36-43)
  1. Contents: after a man sowed good seed in his field, while he is sleeping enemies came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. So when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servant of the owner came and report to him. Owner is afraid to uproot the wheat while gathering up the tares, so he said to the servant to grow them together until the harvest. Then gather those tares and bind them in bundles to burn and gather the wheat into his barn.
  2. Lord’s interpretation: the owner whom sowed the good seeds is our Lord Jesus, the field represents this world, those good seeds represent the God’s children, and the tare represent Satan’s children, the enemy is Satan and the servants are the angels. To put those tares in the furnace to burn means to cast them into fire in hell. To gather those wheat up and store them in the owner’s barn means God will gather all the righteous and they shall be in His kingdom, and they shall shine like the sun. (36-43)
  1. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (31-32)

Wheat is something, which can sustain one’s life, spiritually speaking it is like the truth, which is the salvation. The mustard seed mention here is not of those Taiwanese kind, but rather what Western people use as a spice. It is very spicy and it has no nutritional value. It will not sustain a one’s life, and it can not be compare to the truth and salvation.

  1. Contents: Mustard seed can be consider the smallest seed among the plantation kingdom, but when a mustard seed grows out later in the field, it will become a tree, and many birds came and dwell among it.
  2. Lord’s interpretation: This mustard seed represents truth regards to the heavenly kingdom. As time passes by, it grows into a tree, which means the church expanded rapidly. But Satan works within the church, corrupting the truth, Satan dwells in the church, which does not have the true salvation.
  1. The Parable of the Leaven (33-35)

Even though a mustard has no nutritional value, but at least it can be used as spices when cooking. But leaven is a type of germ, it is not food. During the process when the bread is being made, the carbon dioxide, which result from the process is not something human can breath to sustain one’s life.

  1. Contents: a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.
  2. We usually interpret leaven as sin, hypocrisy, Hershey. Some people think Satan hides leaven within the church, so later on when it leavened, it changes the quality and purity of the church.
  1. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (44)

In the old days, people usually hide their treasures underground. For various reason, they forget where they hid their treasures, therefore it was discovered later on by others.

  1. Contents: kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
  2. The treasure refers to the truth and holy spirit. When people come across finding it, he will sell all his possession for this precious holy spirit and the truth of the heaven kingdom. Just like after Paul came to know Christ, he view all things as rubbish in-order to gain Christ. (Phil 3:8)
  1. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (45-46)

The pearl refers to the truth. (Matt 7:6)

  1. Contents: kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
  2. The pearl represents the previous salvation, the truth. Those seeking the pearl represent those Christian whom are seeking the truth. Many devout Christian switch from religion to religion, studying diligently to find the truth. Finally found it at the true church, then he forsake all that he has in the past, to come to receive this truth and receive the gospel of salvation. (Eph 1:13)
  1. The Parable of the Dragnet (47-56)
  1. Contents: kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every king, which when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
  2. Lord’s Interpretation: drawing the net to the shore refers to the coming of the end time. Angels should come out and separate the wicked from the righteous and cast them into furnace of fire in hell, there they will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Conclusion:

Previously we have already explained clearly the seven parables spoken by Jesus. Use its true meaning to explain the truth, so we can understand even further how other church are being influenced by all these heresies and traditions around them and how the truth church is being renewed by the holy spirit day by day. May we continue to strive forward in our spiritual pursuit after the truth. We must be cautious towards Satan’s work, and firmly keep the word in the bible, be fervent in doing holy work, spread the gospel of salvation and to welcome the second coming of the Lord, so in the end we can be received by Him into his kingdom and to enjoy enter joy and rest with Him.