Tag: Parables

March 3rd 2024: Gareth Llewellyn

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Matthew 13:44-52

There is a monetary value on things. Each year Forbes produces a list of the most wealthy people. The richest man in the world is worth £173.57 billion. That is what the world aspires to – what we have is what we’re worth. We are worth much more than that. We define value as what we are willing to pay. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. In that moment, stew was more valuable.

What are you worth? Can we place a value upon you? If you live in the UK, you are in the top 15% of the world’s richest people. In Cambodia, Cameroon, Pakistan and Nepal, the national average wage for a year is less than £1500. In Sudan and Somalia it is less than £600 a year. If you are in Afghanistan, it is less than £300.

Socially, our value might be higher than what we have. We may have the respect of others; we might champion social injustices, environmental causes, community work, where people look up to us. What if you need assistance, how does community value you?

What value are you to God?
Jesus tells 3 parables about the Kingdom of God:

  • The Parable of the man who finds treasure buried in a field, who re-buries the treasure and sells all he has to buy the field, knowing that the treasure in the field is worth far more than the field itself.
  • The Parable of the merchant who searches for and finds a rare pearl and sells all he has to buy the pearl;
  • The Parable of the fishermen who, when they retrieve the net, keep hold of remarkable fish and get rid of the dross – those of no value, no worth.

I’ve heard these parables preached separately, but they are a group of three parables. It has often been suggested that they speak of finding Jesus and giving up everything to follow Him. But that is not the context when the three parables are put together. Something else is going on. We can’t be the fishermen throwing stuff away.

How are the parables connected? In verse 47 we read, ‘again.’ There is repetition. A different image is used to say the same thing: the one who is the owner of the field is Jesus, the merchant is Jesus, the fisherman is Jesus. Who is the treasure, the pearl, the fish? His lost people. Jesus is the one seeking. If you’re in Christ, you are the treasure, you are the pearl, you are the fish.

Treasure.
Our treasure is in the field that was owned by someone. Everything in it legally belongs to another man. The finder bought the field, selling everything he had to get it. He bought the field to obtain one treasure.
The field is the world. The treasure is us – those who believe in Christ for salvation. John 3:16. When Jesus died, He paid for those sins of the world. The debt is covered. But this only applies to the person who believes. Jesus joyfully went to the cross because he knew what was at the end of it – your salvation. It should bring joy to our heart. You are his treasure.

Pearl.
People will pay large amounts for something they value. The merchant goes to the jewellers. He knows what he is looking for – pearls. There, he finds the pearl he has been searching for. He gets the price. He goes and sells everything to get it. Here is the doctrine of adoption. It is up to God, in His sovereign choice, to save who He chooses. The merchant gave up everything for the Pearl, the one pearl he placed great value on. See the value Christ has on you.

Christ searches for you. He willingly exchanged all He had to pay for you. It cost Jesus His blood. But more than that, He left the throne of eternity, and came to earth. One day we will find out what heaven is like and never want to leave. Jesus came to be born into shame and scandal, born to a teenage girl. He came into this world to be fed, to learn to walk and talk. He lived righteously. He died for us. He shed all his blood. When they pierced His side, water came out. All His blood had gone. His death paid for your life. That is what it cost Jesus to buy you. You are worth everything. You are worth dying for.

Christian, rejoice! Christ did everything for you. Sinner, realise He gave all for you. Consider the joy that Christ has when we are all gathered in. We are that pearl that he gave everything for.

Dragnet.
The gospel of Jesus is like the net – thrown far and wide. It brings all sorts of people to Jesus. Many seek out Jesus but fall away. People went to him for healing, they saw miracles. They were binge watching miracles. The Bible shows people followed Jesus for all sorts of reasons, but few were following for the right reason. Only those who truly believe are chosen by God. The Kingdom of God is only filled by those whom He has chosen. If you have confessed Jesus is Lord, you are chosen. But there are many who claim to follow Jesus but don’t.

You may go to church, you may go to prayer meetings, you may read your Bible, but are you trusting in Jesus? Ask yourself, ‘Am I truly trusting in Jesus?’ That is all that matters. What have you done with Jesus? You have been purchased at great cost by the blood of Jesus. If you are trusting in Jesus, then you are the treasure you are the pearl, you are the fish.

We are repeatedly told we are of great worth to God. You are loved by God regardless of your circumstances. Lost child of God, know your worth, put your trust in Him, confess your sins. Know your worth. Rejoice in your worth.

March 26th 2017: Ian Middlemist

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Ian March 26th 2017Matthew 13:24-43

We live in a quick fix world, wanting solutions at our fingertips. In Matthew chapter 11 people wanted to know if Jesus really was the Messiah when there were so many being faced. In verse 35 Matthew links the parables to the prophet; we are to know God through the teaching of the parables, ‘This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”’ (Matthew 13: 35).
In this passage we have three parables of encouragement:
in times of trouble (The parable of the Weeds)
when there is little growth (The Parable of the Mustard Seed)
when the good work seems to be hidden (The Parable of the Leaven).

  • The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13: 24-33 & 36-43).

In this parable we see the challenge of troubles. Matthew probably refers to a weed that resembles wheat and is very plentiful today in Israel, the seed of wild rice grasses. The difference between the weed and wheat is only noticeable when they mature. When the servants first notice the weeds they question the quality of the seed. When they are told it’s been planted by the enemy they want to get rid of it. The master wants to restrain the servants, letting both plants grow together. Over time they will be identifiable. Today we have the church against the world. Later Jesus will send His reapers, His angels. Jesus identifies Himself as the sower, the enemy is the devil and the field is the world. Some teach we should welcome all into the church, we shouldn’t be worried about purity, church discipline is not to be thought of too much. This is entirely unscriptural. Jesus teaches how important church discipline is. Jesus says there is to be no immediate judgement. A premature judgement will ruin the crop. God’s way is to have the gospel preached to an unbelieving world whilst the enemy does his work. God has permitted the church and evil to grow together. A harvest will come at the end of the age, when there will be eternal judgement, ‘The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 13:41-42). However, be encouraged, ‘Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.’ (Matthew 13:43).

  • The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13: 31-32): Smallness

The second parable is about the smallness of the kingdom, when there seems to be little growth. The mustard seed is small, we feel ourselves so small, wanting to be bigger. We may look to super churches, wanting our own church to be bigger. However, small things can have a big impact. Jesus encourages His disciples by telling them the kingdom will grow. Size is not important but growth. From small beginnings there is growth, just as Daniel saw the kingdom’s growth to include many nations. Christ’s kingdom is such; we may have small beginnings but there is always growth when you have the Holy Spirit. Here is a living seed, very small, but awakened. It grew. We may feel our days are small, this cuts our desire to preach the gospel, reduces our resolve to move forward. It can narrow our vision, we become satisfied with our smallness. But Jesus says there will be growth. Our God is gracious, be encouraged. He will build His church. We must keep on preaching the gospel, believing others will be saved. Expect growth because Jesus has determined there will be growth. Be encouraged!

  • The Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33) Hiddenness

This parable has caused a lot of controversy; in the Old Testament leaven was associated with evil. Many have taken this parable as corruption of the church, and that a new, pure church needs to be started. However, there is only one church – God’s people redeemed by Christ. The world encapsulates false churches and we must have nothing to do with them. Part of the challenge of living with the weeds is to be discerning. The New Testament church remains under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There will be no corruption of the true church. Biblical symbolism does not always have the same meaning in all circumstances. Look at the context.

Jesus is encouraging His disciples here. In this parable there is a small amount of leaven, of yeast. There is a lack of outward and obvious success. The woman in this parable hid the leaven in the mixture. The word of God is within, we are to hide the word of God in our hearts. We must seek the Holy Spirit deep down in our hearts, keep it treasured. The word of God must change us from within. Don’t be concerned for outward success, seek from within. Is there a work of grace going on in our hearts?

The three parables are parables of encouragement. There is no quick fix, no sweeping away of unbelief. In spite of smallness, Christ’s kingdom will come on earth. None will be able to stop its flow, until the end of the age when there will be righteous judgement.