Nourishment For The Seed

It is our privilege and responsibility to participate in our salvation. We must provide the environment which allows the seed of Christ to grow to maturity. Being born again is not instant. The forgiveness we receive must be reciprocated in all our relationships. The exercise of keeping the commandments lets God know we are serious about going His way. Taking time to listen every day builds the discipline we need to be servants to our Lord. We are not entering the democracy of God. We are entering a kingdom. We have a Lord, if we obey him.

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Ch. 30 - Jesus Teaches the Kingdom in Parables

THE SEED (Mark 4:36-29)

            Jesus spoke another parable, saying:

            “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

A MUSTARD SEED (Matt. 13:31, 32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19)

            Then Jesus, speaking another parable, likened the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows from a small grain into a large plant:

            “Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth. But when it is sown, it growth up, and becometh greater than all hers, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”

LEAVEN (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20, 21)

            Then Jesus compared the kingdom of Heaven with leaven, saying:

            “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

THE HIDDEN TREASURE (Matt. 13:44)

            Jesus spoke another parable, likening the kingdom of Heaven to a hidden treasure.  He said:

            “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field-which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

THE COSTLY PEARL (Matt. 13:45, 46)

            Jesus told another parable to teach his listeners what the kingdom of Heaven is. He said:

            “Again, he 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, as bought it.”

A NET (Matt 13:47-53)

            Jesus likened the kingdom of Heaven to a net, saying:

            “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of 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, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire.  There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

            Then Jesus said:

            “Have ye understood all these things?”

            The people answered:

            “Yes, Lord.”

            Jesus said to them:

            “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”