We believers in Jesus Christ today are living between his two advents.  He personally invaded our planet over two thousand years ago and accomplished his prophesized mission of becoming the spotless suffering servant, the Lamb of God.  He took away the sins of the world and redeemed our planet back from the clutches of the god of this world, Satan.  Unknown to his friends at that time, part of that mission was to be rejected as the king from heaven by his brothers, the Jews.  Thus, his physical presence left the building, so to speak, as he ascended back to heaven.  But, sending his Spirit, his transcendent presence remains with us.  As Paul so poignantly stated, “the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace & joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Romans 14:7).  Before Jesus left, he set up his Kingdom principles, which we have been studying, and he also pictured for us how his kingdom would look and function during the interim prior to his second advent.  It will be at that time he will return in power & great glory as the King of Kings & the Lord of Lords!

The Parables of the Treasure, the Pearl & the Fish

…the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man found, he hid, and for the joy thereof went and sold all that he had, and bought the field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind:  Which when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.  So shall it be at the end of the world:  The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just… Matthew 13:44-49

Jesus pictures the Kingdom of Heaven as a field full of treasure, as a pearl of great price and as net full of both good and bad fish.  Of course, all of us see ourselves as the man buying the field to get the treasure, the merchant purchasing the goodly pearl and the angler catching the good fish.  The treasure, pearl and good fish are of course pictures of Jesus and his kingdom for which we are giving everything away, putting all else behind, so we can pursue our wonderful Lord.  I’ve even heard these parables preached this way from the pulpit.  Aren’t we something!  Going “all in” for Jesus!

Nothing could be further from the truth!  Jesus’ intent in these three parables is not to show our need to give all to receive his Kingdom.  No, he is showing what HE did to establish his Kingdom!  Jesus our Savior is the man who bought the field with everything he had, for he gave everything for you and me on the Cross.  He is the merchant who cashed in all to purchase the pearl of great price.  He is the fisherman who casts his net out into the sea catching both good and bad fish.  We are the treasure, the pearl and the good fish.  How crazy is that.  We are beautiful in his sight, we are valuable to him.  So prized that he would do the outrageous thing that we know he did. 

…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2b

We are the joy!  Being with fallen humans for eternity is what motivated him to sell all and buy the field and the pearl.

An application is screaming at me to share as I consider how our Lord views us.  If Jesus sold everything to buy the field and the pearl, and he did, I need to see all people as the treasure he gave everything for.  I need to appreciate all humans as image bearers of God, as immortals, as more important than anything else!  For this indeed, is how he looks upon us!

Now, these three parables are actually one.  Like a cluster on the vine, they are individual grapes, yet one cluster.  So too, these parables are intimately related.  Let me show you.  In the Bible, when the land is pictured or illustrated, the Author is talking about Israel.  When the sea is brought forth in type, God is speaking of the gentile nations.  In this parable, the field with the treasure in it is the nation of Israel.  Jesus, saw his chosen people as a treasure and sold everything to buy them back.  Our Lord saw us gentile believers as the pearl of great price coming up from the sea, and likewise he went “all in” to buy us to him.   So, we have Jews & Gentiles, making up the Church of Christ, as the treasure and the pearl.  These two gems have populated the kingdom up until this time as we are waiting for the King to return.  But what about the third portion of this parable?  Who are the good and bad fish?  They are the souls who are present at the end of the world as his parable states.  They are the people of the Tribulation age found in the Book of Revelation.  As Jesus taught, the angels will come forth and sever the wicked from the just.  Those who called upon Jesus during those dark days, the good fish, and those who denied him, calling instead upon Antichrist, the bad fish.

Next, we will examine in parabolic form the two kingdoms which have populated the World for the past two thousand years.  That of the Kingdoms of Darkness & of Light.

The Parable of the Wheat & Tares

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field?  From where then has it tares?  He said unto them, an enemy has done this.  The servants said unto him, will you then that we go and gather them up?  But he said, no; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest:  And at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:  But gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:24-30

Here we see the story of the last two thousand years.  Wheat and tares have been growing together in the field.  One plant producing fruit while the other only taking nutrients from the earth. Interestingly, when the blade first appears, they both look similar.  And so it is in our world as we interface and interact with the wheat and tares of this day.  They are hard to tell apart until fruit is produced.  Thus, as we have discussed previously.  We must not judge too quickly for identification.  Could it be possible that when looking for fruit in a person’s life I may be evaluating that soul in a time prior to the fruit bearing forth?  Only God sees the big picture of a person’s life.  He knows who ultimately will be wheat and who are the tares.  Not for us to decide!  Think back to yourself.  You were not always bearing fruit like you are now.  You could have been mistaken for a tare in your earlier days.  Me too!  I thank God for his patience with me.  Indeed, he is ever so gracious towards us.

Let’s break down this parable, which contains so much still future information, with Jesus as our guide.

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:  And his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, he that sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one:  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire:  There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13: 36-43

We see that Jesus and the Devil both are sowing seed in the earth which is pictured as the field.  The wheat are those who are God’s children, those who have called upon Jesus as Lord & Savior.  The tares, those who have not.  We see that, denying Jesus as Lord, stepping over his dead body, so to speak, trampling over his sacrifice for the sins of the world, leads to a person being called a child of the Wicked One!  As a digression, I suspect that if I told an unbeliever that in his present state, he was at risk of being Satan’s offspring, he might be just a little offended!  Nonetheless, that is what our Lord reveals.

Continuing, harvest time is the end of the world.  By that, Jesus means the end of this present age. The time when the god of this world will be judged and cast into the abyss for a thousand years, (Revelation 20;1-3).  It will be the day when Jesus returns as King of Kings & Lord of Lords, (Revelation 19:11-16).  We see the angels as reapers, gathering up both the wheat and the tares, (Revelation 14:14-19).  The tares are cast away, receiving their wish of existence apart from their Creator, and the wheat shine forth brightly in the Kingdom of God.

All of this is spelled in greater detail in the revelation given to John as cited above.  But before we leave this teaching of our Lord, a couple of points need to be gleaned.

First, the tares choose their destiny, it is not forced upon them.  When a person says, my will be done over thy will be done, they are making the same mistake Lucifer initially made.  They are saying, I am the god of my world, not the Almighty.  What leads to that poor conclusion?  Why the greatest of the seven deadly sins…pride!  A person’s pride can blind him from seeing his need for a Savior.  How sad that is!

Secondly, the harvests time of Israel picture prophetically some of God’s plan for our age.  You see, in Biblical Israel we comprehend two harvests, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.  The first harvest was the barley harvest which came in very early, around the time of Passover.  Pertinent to this discussion, the Sunday after the Passover sacrifice was the celebration of the firstfruits, (Exodus 23:16).  A time when the first of the barley harvest was dedicated to God with the promise that he would then bless the rest of that harvest.  Later, at the end of the growing season, in Autumn, the much larger wheat harvest would be reaped.  Now putting this together, the barley harvest was the first resurrection.  That is, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and several hundred other believers on the Sunday after Passover, (Matthew 27:52-53).  Paul in his writings describes Jesus’ resurrection as the firstfruits, (1 Corinthians 15:23), i.e. the barley harvest.  Fittingly, Easter Sunday occurred on the Sunday after Passover, i.e. the Feast of Firstfruits!  Here in our present parable, we see Jesus equating the Hebrew wheat harvest at the end of the growing year with the gathering of believers at the end of this age.  Just as farmers would harvest their wheat in the Fall, the angels will be sent forth and gather those who have called upon Jesus as Lord and Savior during the dark days at the end of the Tribulation time frame as referenced above from the Revelation.

Since our Lord was talking to a Jewish audience when he preached this parable, he did not include the fate of the subsequent Church of God.  Those Jews and Gentiles who have called upon Jesus in our day will be resurrected a short time prior than that great day Jesus is speaking of in this parable.  That resurrection, called the Rapture, is spoken of by Paul in great detail in his letters to the Thessalonians & Corinthians, (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

Continuing on with another illustration of his kingdom, let’s consider how the wheat will be granted entrance into the kingdom.  For they will become like children!

Jesus & the Little Children

And they (parents) brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them:  But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:  For of such is the kingdom of God.  Truly I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Luke 18:15-17 (italics added)

To say this is an important parable would be an understatement!  The entrance to the Kingdom is opened by this door.  I must receive the kingdom as a little child.  What does this mean?

Couple of thoughts for your consideration.  First of all, children do not yet work.  Their parents care for them and they for the most part happily receive and are grateful for their parent’s attention & gifts to them.  So it is with us.  Our Heavenly Father attends to us without regard to any work or effort we add. Entering the Kingdom of God as a child means receiving it as a child.  As a gift, not something to be earned.

A second, related way of looking at this statement of our Lord’s, is to come to the Father as a child.  How does that look?  Well, children are humble, trusting, teachable & dependent.  They do not think evil against other people & they do not seek distinction or authority.  Lastly, children are curious & creative.  These are the characteristics Jesus is alluding to when telling us adults that childlike faith is the way!

Look over the above list.  How is your humility?  Little children, for the most part, do not suffer from the pride of their accomplishments.  Do you realize everything you have done has been enabled by God?  No room for pride in our hearts when you think about it.  How about your trusting?  Is it, “I can do all things” alternating with “I can’t do anything” or is it “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13)?  What about teachability?  Here are two Proverbs to consider when evaluating your teachability.  “He that refuses instruction despises his own soul,” (Proverbs 15:32).  Are you often bothered when your spouse tells you how to do things?  How about, “He that obtains wisdom loves his own soul:  He that keeps understanding shall find good,” (Proverbs 19:8).  Are you seeking wisdom?

Are you dependent or independent?  One of the hallmarks of leaving adolescence and moving to adulthood is that we become independent from our parents.  That being true, we are always children in relation to our Heavenly Father.  It’s a big mistake to distance ourselves from him in a pathetic effort to be free of his guidance.  Think of it this way.  Do you like leaving home without your hand-held device?  Of course not.  You feel as if something is missing.  To an infinite degree, this is what it is like for a created being to try and become independent from his or her Maker.  No access to information, no power, no peace!  I quote Robert Morris from his book “Truly Free.”  To be capable, one must be dependent.

Children do not think evil of others.  The reason is partially due to the other two characteristics it is grouped with.  That is, they are not climbing over each other in an effort to be noticed or to lead.  They don’t seek distinction or authority.  Neither should I.  Better to accept where the King has placed me, realizing that it is only what I do for his glory that has any lasting value anyway.  Nothing I do to elevate myself and my little kingdom will ever succeed eternally.  So, I would be foolish to attempt to live that way.  Once again, like the Beatitudes before, Jesus’ words, which on the surface seem simplistic and impractical, are really the best way to live. 

Lastly, children are curious & creative.  Unfortunately, these two beautiful characteristics of our kids are so often lost as we “grow up.”  What a shame!  It is the curious nature of a child that allows her to seek the Lord while he can be found.  So often, souls come to the Lord in faith at a relatively young age.  How rare it is for a “grown up” for find Jesus.  One reason is that his curiosity has left.  Also, like their Father, children love to create.  The joy obtained from a pre-school project or drawing is one of the reasons children resemble their Creator and will feel very comfortable in that future day in his presence.

Now, before I leave childlike faith, I must discuss some tension that is present because children are so trusting.  That is, in their simplicity they can easily be taken out by false doctrine.  Thus, it is important for the child of God to incorporate the flip side to childlike faith, which is to be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves, (Matthew 10:16).  Don’t be stupid.  Satan is on the prowl and he uses religion if he can to trip up God’s kids.  This is the thing that really upsets our Lord.  Look at his warning to those who would endeavor to stumble one of the little ones who have come unto him;

But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

Interesting to me, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who were crucifying him (Luke 23:34) but he is ready to condemn the one who would keep others from knowing him.  An important understanding.  I don’t want to be the cause of anyone losing their faith!

Next, leaving childlike faith, we should discuss the gifts of talent & time, which God has given us, in light of eternity.

The Parables of the Talents & of the Pounds

The Christian experience can be characterized by the word “done.”  “It is finished” is what Jesus cried from the Cross immediately prior to his death for our sins.  At that moment, the veil in the Temple separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom.  Jesus had opened the way for us to enter into the throne room of grace by his sacrifice in our place, (Hebrews 4:16).  No longer did worshipers of God have to do anything.  The work had been, and continues to be, done! 

But the finished work is so contrary to just about everything else we humans encounter in the world we live.  We are told by Mom & Dad to work hard to succeed.  We are graded in school against our peers and certainly every sport I ever participated in involved besting my opponent.  No free passes in much of our day-to-day work-week.  Some of you are so indoctrinated by this “matrix” of competition and exertion which we are living in that the Christian message of “finished” seems a little far-fetched.  Just a little too easy.  If that is the case, then this section is for you!  For we will see in these parables that Jesus expects us to do something.  Specifically, he expects us to do good works.  He desires that in appreciation for the justifying sacrifice which he accomplished on our behalf that we will desire to offer back good works to him and for his glory.  No, we definitely are not saved by good works, but we are saved FOR good works.

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.   For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

We have the choice to do, or not do, the good works God has planned for us.  But we don’t have to, we “get to.”  And along with getting to respond to God’s love and generosity by walking in service, we are told by Paul, not to mention Jesus yet, that heavenly rewards await as we follow his lead.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ: That every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment Seat was called the Bema Seat in ancient Greece.  It was the awards platform that winning athletes stood upon to receive their Olympic garlands.  There they received glory for their accomplishments of hard work & dedication.

Continuing with the athletic allegory.  If I am on the Super Bowl winning team, I will get a beautiful ring which I will wear proudly for the rest of my life, even if I was injured and didn’t play.  But, if I scored the winning touchdown, well then, I get the glory too!  So too, believers in Christ get eternal life, but the stars who shinned brightly for him in this life get the glory!

You are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon.  But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest:  For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:9b-15

The foundation is Jesus Christ and him crucified, buried and resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  But, after that, we build upon that foundation works which may or may not abide the fire of the Bema Seat.  Paul has taught us that three things will abide, faith, hope & love (1 Corinthians 13:13).  The things we did in this life out of faith, hope and / or love are the gold, silver and precious stones and they will abide and result in our reward.  Things not done in this light are wood hay & stubble and will not carry forward.  For some, rewards will be minimal as jewels were not used on the foundation.  Oh, they will be saved as they have called upon Jesus, but I can’t help but think that regrets will also lead to some tears on that day when crowns are awarded by our King.  Those crowns, which are better than the garlands of the Olympic champions, are called the Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19), Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), Crown of Life (James 1:12), Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4) & Crown of Incorruption (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

As an application.  As I look back upon my life, I initially regret the things I did which were wrong.  But as time passes, what I regret more, is the things I didn’t do, that were right!  In the short-term, we regret the things we did.  In the long-term we regret the things we didn’t do.  What if I was more concerned with missing opportunities than making mistakes?  I want to count the cost, for sure.  But also, I should count the opportunity cost of not doing something!  Don’t fear failure in God’s economy.  Better to “go for it” than not to try.  And unlike the World, were often failure is disciplined by a culture of shame, failure in the spiritual realm will never be when my efforts were born out of initiative & innovation.  As Jonathan said to his armor bearer when considering taking on the Philistine garrison, “It may be that the Lord will work for us:  For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few,” (1 Samuel 14:6).  Indeed, he was and a great victory was obtained because of his willingness to engage.

With that introduction, let’s consider Jesus’ words;

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. Matthew 25:14

Indeed, for the last two thousand years the man, Jesus, has traveled far away, to heaven.  We, his servants, both true and false followers of him were given the goods.  We were all given gifts and abilities of differing degree.  Some are wonderful musicians, others teachers & preachers.  Some are very intelligent and others gifted with a beautiful appearance or impressive physical strength.  Some have multiple gifts and others only a few.  We will see subsequently that all of these gifts, called talents, are given at the discretion of the man, i.e. Jesus.

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  Then he that received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Matthew 25:15-16

Good for him!  He used his God given gifts and abilities and saw a nice return for his master.    That’s what I long to do.  A key in doing this effectively is in busy times to use my gifts moment by moment & in quiet times I want to use my abilities on bigger projects, (1 Kings 5:4-5).  Another strategy, as we will soon see to future rewards in Heaven, is to do something, anything, just get going!  Often, I can be paralyzed into inactivity as I look at all of the mixed motives of my actions.  That’s silly!  Only if I were perfect would I not have mixed motives.  I want to trust God to separate the precious from the vile, (Jeremiah 15:19).  He won’t throw out the baby with the bathwater!   I don’t want to bury my talents.

And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other two. Matthew 25:17

Note that while the first man gained five and the second man only two, they both saw a 100% return on the investment entrusted to them.  They both did good!  One saw the greater, but he was given more.  We will see that when the accolades are given by the master, the reward is the same for both.

But he that received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.  And so, he that received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents:  Behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things:  Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents:  Behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things:  Enter you into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:18-23

This is galactic!  This is going to be reality, it’s not just a nice allegory.  Jesus started out this parable by saying that it pictures activity in the Kingdom of Heaven!  The Lord is telling me not to sit on my talents!  God has chosen to partner with people, with me, to see his will accomplished.  I need to take this very seriously!  

This also shows me, that while I can’t change how much God loves me, because that’s a constant, I can change how much he is pleased with me, (Psalm 16:11).  Again, I want to do the works he has called me to do, the works that he has foreordained for me to walk into, (Ephesians 2:10).

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you had not strawed:  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth:  Lo, have thou what is yours.  His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  You should have therefore put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Matthew 25:24-27

The master was not buying the servant’s excuse of fear.  He saw through that argument noting that it was his wickedness and laziness that led to his inability to receive a return for his master.  Notice also that the master agreed that he expected a return with interest.  That he reaped where he did not sow.  But he did not go along with the assessment of the servant that he was a hard man.  Indeed, Jesus is anything but a hard man!  He is the most compassionate person who has ever lived.  As we have mentioned previously.  In the gospel narrative, sometimes the tone of our Lord’s remarks can be missed.  We should picture the master having misty eyes as he is talking to this third servant, for that is the true nature of our Savior. (2 Peter 3:9).

Next we come to what I call the “law of responding.”  It is a quote given in the gospels, four times to my count, which demonstrates that the Lord will add to my account when I give of my talents or share the word, but will subtract from my account when I don’t do those things.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have in abundance:  But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he has. Matthew 25:28-29

We see that the servant who had gained the most was given even more!  This isn’t preached much, but it should be.  These are Jesus’ words; they are alive with meaning!  This is a secret of life.  Whoever responds, more shall be given.  Whoever does not respond, well, even what he has will be taken away.  Put in practical terms.  God is not going to entrust abilities to people who won’t use them for his glory.  They will fade away while the responder will only grow larger in ability.  In another parable, Jesus uses this same law to show that he who hears & shares the word, metes it out, will receive more revelation, will receive more insights, while the one who does not hear and share will lose even what he once understood.  Let me show you;

And he said unto them, Take heed what you hear (how you hear):  With what measure you mete (give out), it shall be measured to you:  And unto you that hear shall more be given.  For he that hath (hears & shares), to him shall be given:  And he that hath not (hears & shares not), from him shall be taken even that which he has. Mark 4:24-25 (parentheses added)

These words of Jesus come on the heels of his teaching of the sower and the seed.  He is talking about his Word.  If I want to receive revelation from him, I need to pass it forward!

Now, for the sad ending to Jesus’ parable of the talents;

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:30

This servant is a type of an unsaved person, of an unbeliever.  We understand this because he is sent to the place Jesus uses in other scriptures to describe Hell.  By definition, a saved person will respond to God’s goodness with at least of modicum of good works (James 2:19 & Galatians 5:6), for he has the Holy Spirit dwelling within.  While the unsaved servant, by nature of being spiritually dead, cannot really do anything of lasting value; “For apart from me you can do nothing,” (John 15:5).  This sounds similar to Paul’s description of the Bema Seat and the one who only had wood, hay & stubble on the foundation.  But the key difference is, that servant is saved, as he has the foundation, he has Jesus & him crucified.  So, while that servant is saved, he will be a pauper in heaven, as he did not store up any treasure there during his life.  This servant, being wicked & slothful, apparently rejects the Lord’s offer of salvation and thus is sent away from him. 

Next, let’s uncover truths from Jesus’ similar sounding, yet different, parable of the pounds.

He said therefore, a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  And he called ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, occupy till I come…And it came to pass, that when he returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had made by trading.  Then came the first, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. Luke 19:12-13, 15-16

These two parables are both spoken during the last week of our Lord’s life.  The first was given on the Mount of Olives to his disciples after they asked him about the times around his future coming.  This latter parable was given a few days earlier as the Teacher was in Jericho on his way up to Jerusalem for that fateful last week.  We see in this parable that unlike the parable of the talents, where the servants were given differing amounts, these servants are all given the same.  In this distinction is a great understanding.  The talents of Jesus’ first parable represent the differing gifts & abilities that all people receive from the Creator.  But the pounds in this parable represent something very singular.  Since they are equivalent, they represent the equality of opportunity.  Things that everybody is given by God that are exactly alike.  Such as time.  We all are given twenty-four hours each day to work with.  Such as the tithe.  We all are told to offer the first 10% of our increase back to the Provider regardless of whether we are rich or poor.  Such as the gospel message.  It is the same gospel message we are all entrusted to proclaim.  We see that the first servant made excellent use of his equal opportunity as he saw a ten-fold increase of his master’s pound.  Let’s see how he fares.  You can imagine that it will be good!

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant:  Because you have been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.  And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds.  And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:  For I feared you, because you are an austere man:  You take up that which you laid not down, and reap that which you did not sow.  And he said to him, out of your own mouth will I judge you, thou wicked servant.  You knew that I was an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow.  Wherefore then gave not your money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with usury?  And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that has ten pounds…For I say unto you, That unto every one which has (responds) shall be given; and from him that hath not (responds not), even that which he has shall be taken away from him. Luke 19:17-24, 26-27. (parenthesis added)

We see that the first servant was praised and given great authority in the nobleman’s kingdom.  The second servant was given the exact same praise from the master but given less authority.  I suspect that the responsibilities given the two were commiserate with their prior work ethic.  Unfortunately, the third servant, the one who hid his pound, is noted again to be wicked, like the third servant in the parable of the talents.  And like that other servant, he too loses what little he had and saw it given to the servant who produced the ten-fold return of the nobleman’s investment.  Once again, the law of responding is in play in regards to how we use our opportunities of equal time, etc.

These two parables should move us!  They should inspire us to do everything we can to make our lives count.  We want to be relevant.  We want to add to the Kingdom.  We want to make a difference.

Few thoughts to help…

Do for somebody what you would like to do for everyone.  Like Elisha & the Shunammite woman & her son (2 Kings 4:8-37).  He couldn’t minister to everyone in Israel like he did with them.  But, I want to have a circle of people that I really give out to as much as possible.  In other words, minister by the spirit & say “yes” often!  Don’t be like the World and have “no” as your default setting.

Also, take seriously the opportunity to help people and don’t let your limited abilities stop you.  Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish.  Meager supplies mean nothing to the Lord.  Do whatever you can, wherever you are, with whatever is in your hand.  This really speaks to me loudly when I consider the servant given only one talent.  Unfortunately, people with limited gifts sort of “check out” thinking they cannot make a difference.  The drop in the bucket phenomenon being in play.  That is a lie from Hell!  Even folks who are handicapped, elderly or otherwise incapacitated physically can make a difference, for they can pray!  As I’ve heard Pastor Jon Courson tell of advice which he gave to his ninety-year-old father-in-law who was lamenting the inability to finish strong in his present state; “You are there, in that chair, for the purpose of prayer.”  Intercessory prayer is a ministry all of us can partake in. 

So, I hope I have inspired some of you to use your time, talent and finances to further the Kingdom.  You won’t be sorry!

Next, let’s look at another aspect of the present Kingdom, which if understood and applied, will help you to succeed in the things of which we have just spoken.

The Parable of the Sower & the Seed

Behold, a sower went forth to sow: and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth:  And forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But some fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirtyfold.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:3-9

In this we have one of the most well-known of all of Jesus’ parables & teachings.  This story is found in Matthew, Mark & Luke and in all three we are told that it was the first parable in which Jesus explained the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.  We see four types of soil, each with differing capacities to incorporate the seed that the sower spreads.  We will see that these four represent different people groups but also can represent four different stages of an individual’s heart in regards to its receptivity to receive the seed at any given time.

The disciples did not really understand the meaning of this parable and rightly asked the Teacher for amplification.  Here is his reply;

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God Luke 8:11

Indeed, the Word of God is seed, which when planted will producing the saving knowledge of our Savior.  “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,” (1 Peter 1:23).  Along this line, Paul teaches that saving faith comes by hearing the word of God, (Romans 10:17).

Unfortunately, the first type of soil doesn’t incorporate the seed as it is hard and trodden down, not at all prepared to receive the seed.

Those by the wayside are they that hear, then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8:12

Remember, we are living in the middle of a war.  Sometimes people can’t believe because the hounds of Hell are closing their minds.  It is always important to pray for release of the captives whenever sharing the seed, whenever speaking the word to a person.  Also, hard ground needs to be plowed before seed will grow in it.  The spiritual equivalent of plowing the field is to make folks aware of their sin & their subsequent need for a Savior.  People need to understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) before they comprehend their need for a Redeemer. 

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and initially with joy receives it:  Yet hath he no root in himself, but continues for a while:  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. Matthew 13:20-21

This second type of soil initially receives the seed.  In fact, since the stones in the ground generate heat these seed sprout quickly.  This is a type of young believer who we sometimes see going “all in” initially, but unfortunately, he has no grounding in the word, no roots, and thus tends to fall back when the heat of the summer sun arrives.  That is, when the invariable tough times of life occur, this believer can fall away.  The problem isn’t the heat of the sun but the lack of roots going down to where the water in the deeper soil is located.  The antidote for this baby in the faith is to not protect him from the sun but to encourage him to go deep into the Word.  He needs roots.  For the trials of life do one of two things to any person.  They either cause a withering if roots are not deep, or produce growth if those same roots are established.  Thus, it is very important to encourage a new follower of Jesus to press into God’s Word from the very beginning.

We see that this person becomes offended by the word he initially received when trials come.  An offended person has forgotten what our Lord did for him.  He has lost sight of the sacrifice Jesus made to bring him into the Kingdom.  The saving gospel message always needs to be front and center when I undershepherd any new believer because of this common people reaction in our fallen world.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

This third group also hear the word but instead of withering, they are choked and produce no fruit.  Like the rocky soil, they initially receive the word, they are saved if you will, but they end up like the carnal Christian described by Paul as only having wood, hay & stubble to show for their lives.  We see three thorny things that choke out the word sown in this soil.  Cares, deceitfulness of riches & lusts. Cares can certainly be distracting.  They produce anxiety and threaten a person’s faith.  Many times, cares take the form of financial pressure.  They attack people considered less well off.  Contrast that with the deceitfulness of riches.  This idol is seen more commonly, but not exclusively, in wealthy people.  And we understand, it’s not riches, but the lure of riches that is the problem.  The last thorn hits all people, rich & poor alike, that being lust.  We recognize lust to be the passionate desire for something without regard to the harm that will come with obtaining it.  By definition, lust is something shiny and attractive but ultimately harmful.

How do we help these people?  The answer is to get them to look up!  The thorns have placed their eyes here in this world.  We want them to get the vision of Heaven.  The choked believer needs to grasp the reality of heaven and realize that it is not that far away.  As has been said; If heaven is real, and it is, then that’s all that matters!  Talk about heaven often to the carnal Christian who’s living with one foot in the World.

Next, we get to the good part of this story…the soil that produces much fruit! 

But he that received the seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it:  Which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:23

Here we see that the one who produces great fruit, not only hears the word, but he understands it.  He does not let trials and cares distract him from pressing into God’s word.  He takes seriously Paul’s admonition to young Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15).  You see, the Devil can’t take the believer to Hell, but he can prevent him or her from living for Heaven!  The tricks he uses are always the same, distraction & delay.  It’s easy to see that distraction can take my eye off the ball, but how does delay work?  Delay is saying, I’ll get to that later.  Guess what?  Later never comes!  When the Spirit nudges you to spend time with Him, to read the Word, to share with someone a blessing or a gift.  Don’t delay.  Remember, instant obedience is the way to live.  As I said earlier, I don’t do this that well, but that’s the goal!

We see that the one who hears and understands the Word produces varying degrees of fruit.  Fruit is a Bible word loaded with meaning.  Spiritual fruit is what Jesus is speaking of.  As far as I can tell, the New Testament has six references to differing types of fruit which the hearer and assimilator can produce.  Soul winning (Romans 1:13), holiness (Romans 6:22), financial giving (Romans 15:28), fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), good works (Colossians 1:10) & praise to God (Hebrews 13:15).  

Now you may be saying, I don’t see that much fruit in my life.  Well, in Luke’s rendering of this parable, the fruit is brought forth with patience, (Luke 8:15).  That is, it’s a growth process.  The Word doesn’t spring up overnight.  Hang in there, keep plugging away and what has been sown, like a garden, will sprout up in due season.

Let me give you some tips so as to be soil that is receptive to God’s Word.

First, realize that the seed, the Word, is in reality another name for Jesus Christ, (John 1:1) & (Revelation 19:13).  When I take in the Word I’m taking in Jesus, I’m getting to know Jesus, I’m becoming like Jesus.  Not only am I becoming like my Lord, but I am liking him too!  I see how beautiful he is as I take in and treasure his Word.  As the Song of Solomon sings;

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand. His head is as most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven… His cheeks are a bed of spices, as sweet as flowers:   His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh… His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet:  Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Solomon 5:10-16

Indeed, he is all together & he is altogether lovely!  When we get this, when we perceive how our Husband will appear when we see him, well, it should make our hearts leap in anticipated joy!

Next, read the word often and read it expectantly and conversationally.  By this I mean, expect God to talk to you every time you read or hear his Word.  That means, have your device or pen and paper ready.  Write down your impressions so you can meditate later on things he is saying to you.  And converse with him.  Stop often and speak your heart to him about what you are reading.  And be real with him.  He can take it!

Some of you may be thinking, how can I be sure that the Bible is the same seed of which Jesus is speaking?  Doesn’t it have errors & contradictions?  Actually, it’s the differences in the accounts that reveal that collusion did not take place.  If all of the Gospel writers, for instance, had exactly the same perspectives, one would know that some funny business took place in “revising” Jesus’ story.  Also, the scholar of the scriptures notes that there is unity among books and authors.  We don’t see radically different ideas in the men who faithfully wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, (2 Timothy 3:16).  Archeology over time has again and again backed up the scriptures and is well documented elsewhere.  Prophecy is found in nearly one third of the Word.  We serve a God who challenges others to prove him in the area of predicting the future.  No god except the true and living God dares to do such a thing (Isaiah 46:10).  My favorite argument for the veracity of the Bible is that my Lord quoted the hard to understand portions.  Jesus talked about Adam & Eve as if they were real persons and not just representatives of mankind.  He spoke of Noah and the flood as well as Jonah and the whale who swallowed him.  No, Jesus is the center, and if he believed the scriptures, so should I.

Another strategy to see fruit produced in your life is to memorize verses of scripture which impress your heart and then speak forth those words to others exactly as they are written in the Word.  Then watch what happens!  Power will be released.  The Word of God is like a lion in a cage.  When you let it out, it will go wild!  You and everyone who hears it will be blessed, exhorted & encouraged.  Now know though, if you do this, the other team will try and trick you by saying you are unworthy, for indeed you are.  We all are.  But it’s the message, not the messenger that is important.  In fact, the less polished the presentation, the more glory reflects back to the Father when the Word hits it target.  Think of it like the Fed Ex man, he is only delivering the package, it’s about the parcel & not about him.  So, go for it for a blessing!

Lastly, before leaving this parable, fruit will be produced as you meditate upon God’s Word.  To meditate means to chew the cud, to cogitate, to mull over & deeply consider what is being said.  As I actively & intentionally rehearse the scriptures they become part of me with the end result that I receive “the mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor strands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day & night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

Next, let’s consider a parable that presents the flip side of the Kingdom of God.  Instead of emphasizing works we can do for his glory, this parable is all about God’s grace, all about his unmerited, undeserved & unearned favor which he bestows upon us all.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.  And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into the vineyard.  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.  And they went their way.  Again, he went out about the sixth & ninth hour, and did likewise.  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, why stand you here all day idle?  They said unto him, because no man has hired us.  He said to them, go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that you shall receive.  So, when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received a penny.  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house.  Saying, these last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal with us, which have borne the burden of the heat of the day.  But he answered them one of them, and said, friend, I do you no wrong:  Did you not agree with me for a penny?  Take what yours is, and go your way:  I will give unto the last, even as unto you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?  Is your eye evil, because I am good?  So, the last shall be first, and the first last:  For many be called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:1-16

What a story!  Most of us, like the listeners in Jesus’ audience on first impression, do not feel this is very fair.  The workers who labored for the entire twelve-hour workday received exactly the same as the ones who barely had time to pick any grapes at all!  Sort of a raw deal, even though that was the arrangement they had negotiated.  And that’s the point.  One of the ideas of this parable is that it is all about God’s grace.  And grace by definition is not fair!  It is unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor and thus cannot be earned.  It is totally up to the discretion of the giver of grace to determine what he is bestowing.

So, very important for us to not compare blessings with other people.  Grace is not level or equal.  The householder told the other workers that whatsoever was right, they would receive.  Thus, without a specific contract, they were in a position to be joyful when the goodman settled things with them at the end of the day.  You see, the laborers all needed what the householder was offering.  They all needed work.  Likewise, we laborers here in this world all need what the Father is offering, that is, we need salvation!  All of the workers except the first group recognized the offer as a gift, as no contract was really initiated.  The first group had an agreement though.  If they worked all day, they would get a penny.  This pictures the Law.  If a man or woman obeyed the entire Law, then he or she would obtain salvation without God’s grace being needed.  So, another level of this parable is that it typifies the nation of Israel.  As holders of God’s covenant, they are the first workers hired, and the only one with a contract.  In Bible typology a vineyard always has an imbedded meaning to Israel.  The other workers are the Gentiles who come in later, some very late, and yet receive the same blessing, a penny.  Or in the allegory Jesus is presenting, all receive salvation.  Like the Prodigal Son’s older brother, who we will discuss later, the first workers murmured & complained to the goodman.  This is all because they “supposed” they would receive more after seeing the gifts given to the later workers.  Indeed, that would have been the case if works instead of grace were in play.   Of course, they were reprimanded for their jealously, as the householder correctly pointed out that it was completely his discretion as to what he conferred.

We are introduced to another Bible paradox when we are told the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  This certainly has been true for the nation of Israel, as we have seen Israel shrink back since they for the most part rejected Messiah, and the Gentiles, having embraced him, being the blessed group.  At the end of the present age though, Israel will recognize Jesus as Lord, and as Paul preaches, “all Israel will be saved,” (Romans 11:26).  But on a personal level, this also hold true.  So often, in God’s economy of grace we see the late comer receiving a blessing out of proportion to his effort or station.  Again, this is because grace is not a contract.  It’s a gift.  The key for the believer is to not despise the grace of God when it is bestowed to another who may seem less worthy than you.  I want to remember what Jesus did for me, in saving me from destruction, and not worry about anything he does for other undeserving people I may know.  As I read in God’s Word, it is clear that the Giver of Gifts does not like murmuring from his kids, & why should he?  We don’t like it in our children either!  I want to stay away from complaining and just remember how good he has been to me.  I want to recognize that every new day is a gift of God’s grace to me.  I want to unwrap it, I want to embrace it, I want to savor it!

Next, let’s look at two parables of the Kingdom which speak of the Church of Christ and its manifestation in the World over the last two thousand years.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed & of Leaven

Then said he, unto what is the kingdom of God like?  And whereunto shall I resemble it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.  And again he said, whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole lump was leavened. Luke 13:18-21

These two parables were given by the Lord after he was challenged by the ruler of the synagogue after he healed a woman on the Sabbath.  Jesus noted his hypocrisy charging that the ruler certainly would lead is animals out for water on the Sabbath, so why shouldn’t he heal a daughter of Abraham whom had been bound by Satan for eighteen years on the Sabbath?  Of course, the head of the synagogue had no rebuttal to this logical observation.  Our Lord then gave these two parables, which are related, so we, his followers, will not be surprised when we look at the kingdom being established.  Jesus said it would start out small, like a mustard seed but would grow into a great tree.  As we have noted over the past two thousand years, the Kingdom, also called the Church, started like a mustard seed.  Only Jesus and the twelve.  Later, disciples and women were added so that near the day of Pentecost one hundred & twenty were present, (Acts 1:15).  Then on Pentecost, three thousand were added and the growth has never really stopped.  Today, three billion souls on our planet call Jesus, Lord.  But along with this prophesied explosive growth of the Church, Jesus is pointing out something else that is relevant in the context of his recent attack by the ruler of the synagogue.  You see, nowhere does a mustard plant, which is an herb, grow into a tree.  On the contrary, it grows into a five to eight-foot plant, not a large tree big enough to have birds nest in it.  So, we see unusual growth to the Church and we learn that fowls will be at home in it.  Birds (except doves) in Bible typology are nearly always types of evil.  Here is no exception.  Jesus is teaching that evil will take up roost in the Church.  Same with the second parable.  Just as birds picture sin, so does leaven.  It too infiltrates throughout the whole lump just as sin has permeated the entirety of the Church.  Paul, Peter & Jude among others write in their various epistles of the need to watch out for false teachers propagating evil, (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, 2 Peter 2:1-2, Jude 4), for they too, warned of this relationship. The history of the Church is riddled with corruption.  We can look at the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages and its dishonest leadership or the present-day lukewarm church and its prosperity and “culturally correct” gospel and see this to be true.  So, Jesus is teaching that we should not be surprised when this happens.

Matthew reports that these two parables were given by Jesus on a second occasion immediately on the heals of his parable of the wheat & the tares.  We remember in that parable, good and bad also traveled through life together, side by side, until the reapers (angels) were instructed to gather them separately at the end of the Age, which is still to come. So, along with not being startled by hypocrisy in the Kingdom we should instead celebrate the good in the Church.  For as Jesus said to the churches of Revelation 2 & 3 (The sum of which picture the Church in its entirety,) “for I walk in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (churches),” (Revelation 1:20-2:1).  The Church is where Jesus is today.  The Church is where the message of salvation is shouted forth.  The Church is where hospitals, relief agencies, schools and hospitals have flourished.  The Church, where the Comforter resides, is why the god of this World has been held back, as there is much evil that he would love to inflict, but cannot.  When that spirit and the Church depart, at the end of the Age, we will see a time when evil will be unleashed to a degree never before realized, (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

The Old Testament contains a picture that is relevant to how we should look at the Church, despite it many flaws.

When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy the trees there by forcing an axe against them:  For you may eat of them, you shall not cut them down…Only the tress shall you cut down which be not trees for fruit. Deuteronomy 20:19-20

Fruit-bearing trees were not to be cut down.  Only trees without fruit were to be used in a siege.  Likewise, I should not cut down other denominations that seem strange and possibly wrong on some doctrines, when fruit is being produced.  We learn from Paul that the Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), it is a living organism.  And like the body, some parts will be sore & sick from time to time.  When this happens, I nurture that part of my body, I don’t cut it off.  So too, we should give tolerance to the Church of Christ while we are waiting for it to be perfected, in the Age to come!

Lastly in this chapter, we will talk about the parable of the ten virgins and the need for us to be watching & ready during this preamble.  This time when the Kingdom of Heaven is among us as righteousness, peace & joy in the Holy Spirit but still awaiting the return of the King.  In that day, all will be made right.   For then, will be the era when the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea, (Isaiah 11:9).

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  Matthew 25:1

This parable was given as part of Jesus’ Olivet discourse after his disciples asked him about the signs surrounding his return as King of King & Lord of Lords at the end of the Age.  The context of this parable as well as the one of the talents, which we have already discussed, is to be watching and ready.  As Peter so poignantly teaches, we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, (2 Peter 1:10).  In other words, if how I live my life for the next week determined my income for the next ten years, I certainly would be intentional about my actions and not leave things to chance.  So too, this life and how I live & what I believe, is clearly related to future rewards, not to mention personal salvation.  Thus, I need to pay attention to what Jesus is saying here as my future destiny hangs in the balance of my choices.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matthew 25:2-4

This parable is talking about individual salvation.  Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit.  Paul adds that those who hear the gospel of salvation through belief in Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit as the earnest, or proof, of our inheritance until that heritage is fully realized in heaven, (Ephesians 1:13-14).  These words are a sober warning by Jesus, to all, not to delay.  For the words he said to his disciples, he says to all, “whom say you that I am?”  (Matthew 16:15)

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.  Then all the virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Matthew 25:5-8

This perfectly pictures the Jewish wedding ceremony.  At a time only known by the father of the groom, he would send his son with a friend through the streets of the city with a cry and a trumpet sound to announce he was coming for his bride.  The bride, of course, would be waiting and ready for she knew not the day or the hour the bridegroom would appear.  Some of you no doubt are tracking with me, this also is a picture of the Rapture of the Church. For the believers in Jesus are the bride of Christ.  Paul teaches that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and we will be caught up to be with the Lord, (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Indeed, one understanding of this parable is its relationship to the saved of the World meeting the Lord on that awesome day!

But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:  But go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Matthew 25:9

Herein is a great truth.  Salvation is not inherited or conferred.  I must obtain it myself by correctly answering that great question of his; who do you say I am?  God has children, but he does not have grandchildren.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: Matthew 25:10

How wonderful will this be.  I want you to see this.  If you are ready, and you will be if you call Jesus, Lord, then you will go into the marriage ceremony.  You are the bride of Christ.  The intimacy you will experience, I cannot even begin to describe!  David was blown away when the Lord told him he would be related to Messiah, (1 Chronicles 17:16-27).  How much greater will this be?  We are going to be married to him!

Afterward came the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, truly I say unto you, I know you not.  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes. Matthew 25;11-13

This is so sad to me.  For it clearly suggests that once we see him, it is too late to decide our fate.  We must choose before that terrible day.  We have discussed this before, haven’t we?  God makes his presence veiled to a great degree so as to provide us a choice to love him or not.  Seeing him in all of his glory, choice flies out the window as the blinding light of his presence would preclude any ability to love him by our own free will.  Dear soul, today is the day of salvation, choose Jesus.  It is the best decision you will ever make.  One you will never regret. 

So, we end our discussion of many of the parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.  In them we saw Jesus selling everything, giving his all to buy us back to him, both Jews & Gentiles.  We learned that the children of God and the children of the Devil will coexist together until the end of the present age.  Jesus emphasized the need to come to him as a little child and we saw that how we use our time & talent determines rewards we will receive on that great day.  Our response to God’s Word, the seed sown, is how we produce fruit to his glory and we were given a lesson in how God’s grace is doled out.  We learned that the Kingdom as manifested by the Church will grow like a living organism and become sick and injured from time to time needing tending from Jesus, the Head.  And lastly, the parable of the ten virgins reminds us that God only has children, not grandchildren.  We also were given a vision our future marriage feast to the Lord as we contemplate our position as the Bride of Christ.

In our next section, we will visit the words of the Apostle John as he faithfully reports to us those great words Jesus spoke that evening to Nicodemus, “you must be born again.”

Summary:

1. The parables of the man who bought the field with the treasure & the merchant who purchased the pearl of great price are speaking about Jesus & what he did to purchase us to himself.

2. The parable of the wheat & the tares reveals that God has allowed his children and those of the Devil to live together so that those destined to become his children will be given every opportunity to do so. 

3. We come to Jesus as a child in humility, trust, teachability & dependence.  Along with that, as we mature, we leave our childish tendency towards selfishness and learn love.

4. We are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works.

5. Jesus taught that future responsibilities & rewards in Heaven will be determined by how we use our time & talent in this life.

6. The law of responding states that whenever you respond to God, whether in word or deed, you will receive more.  But, when you don’t respond to God, even what you have will be lost.

7. When it comes to ministry opportunities, “If you don’t know, get up and go.”  Say “yes” often.  When it comes to worldly activities, “If in doubt, opt out.”

8.  The parable of the sower & the seed speaks of four different people groups but also of four different ways my heart can be in responding to God’s Word.  I want to guard my heart to keep it fruitful ground, ready to receive, as much as possible.

9. The parable of the workers in the vineyard shows us that God’s grace is not a contract, not earned & not even fair.  It goes above & beyond fair!

10. The parables of the mustard seed & of the leaven predicted the growth of the Kingdom of God as manifested by the Church of Christ.  They also foretold that evil & sin would intermingle with the good.  Nevertheless, Jesus is present in his Church and will cleanse her on that day, not very far away!

For Further Study:

1. Since Jesus gave it all to purchase humanity, how should I view other people?

2. What does coming to God as a little child look like?

3. What is your greatest regret?  Something you did which you shouldn’t have or something you didn’t do but wish you had?

4. What are some things you can do with your time & talent to make an eternal difference in your world?

5. What is some fruit you have seen in your life as you have responded to the seed, God’s Word?

6. What tips would you give others to help them see fruit produced in their lives?

7. What are some ways a person can despise the grace of God?

8. What does being the Bride of Christ mean to you?