Matthew 13:24-52 (What IS the "Kingdom of Heaven"?)

The Parable of the Weeds

 ²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.    ²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
   ²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
   “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
   ²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

 ³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”  ³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
 ³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
   “I will open my mouth in parables,
   I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

 ³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”  ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
   ⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

    ⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.    ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

    ⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 ⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.      “Yes,” they replied. 

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?  That's a very church-y phrase isn't it?  Daniel 2:44 puts it this way when he's talking to King Nebuchadnezzar, (italics mine)
“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever."  Such is the kingdom of Heaven!  When Jesus came, His Kingdom was established on the earth, but it also is in Heaven at this very moment, too.  And we wait for the day when the Lord says "It's time" and He wipes out evil.  It is referred to as "the harvest" in verse 30 above.

So, what's true about the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven according to this chapter?

vs. 24, 37 : Jesus is the one who sowed the good seed, or believers, here on earth. He is the "good guy" in this parable.

vs. 25, 38 : The enemy is satan and the weeds are his followers, be they people or fallen angels, or anything that causes sin.  Satan stays true to his character in that he plants these weeds while people are sleeping, when they aren't paying attention.  He's tricky because he doesn't want us to kill the weeds before they have a chance to grow, too, and try to choke out the wheat.

vs. 27-29 : The owner's servants are angels that follow Jesus.  They are aware of what Jesus intended for this earth -- wheat, or followers of Him.  They ask Jesus if they should go pull all the weeds because they know they are ABLE.  They don't ask Him if they have enough power to do it (because they know Whom they serve), but just if they should.  And Jesus tells them the time is not yet because He doesn't want any of His followers to be uprooted in the process.

vs. 30, 39 : So for now, we grow together on this earth, wheat and weeds.  But at the end of the age of sin, at the appointed time that only the Lord knows, Jesus will send His angels to pull the weeds and burn them in a fire (Hell) and then harvest the wheat and bring it to His storehouse (Heaven).

vs. 31 : The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed.  It's so small!  Don't expect that the Lord's Kingdom will EVER be the "popular" thing.  You will feel out-numbered.  But allow yourself to be planted and to grow roots in the Word, and you will flourish, just as the Kingdom of God will flourish.

vs. 44 : “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."  The same goes for us!  It is a treasure that is hidden.  We need to search for what this Kingdom is and what it looks like.  Once we find it and understand it, we will be full of joy!  So much joy that we will want to participate in His kingdom as much as we can!  It will become our life-line. 


There are a couple more parables in this passage, too.  And quite frankly, I'm not sure how to interpret them with the short amount of time I have to study them this morning.  Please feel free to comment if you have further insight.  But I hope this at least gives you a taste of what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of Heaven.  His kingdom is currently here and active as the battle is fought for human hearts, and so it will also be after the harvest, when we who believe will live with Him forever!  This is a big deal!

His kingdom is now and forever!  Thanks be to God!