Vineyard Church North Phoenix | Parables About the Kingdom of God (Part 2)

1. Introduction
2. Parables about the Kingdom of God
1. Matt. 13:31-32 ³¹He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;³²and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
1. The Kingdom of God which will one day fill the earth in power and glory, is here now , but in a different form!
2. Matt. 13:33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened.”
1. This new concept was, instead of the Kingdom of God coming and shaking the earth, the Kingdom of God has come in One who is meek and humble, destined to die, and only has a few disciples (seemingly insignificant)!
3. Matt. 13:44-46 ⁴⁴“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. ⁴⁵Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,⁴⁶and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
1. Eccl. 11:2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.
2. Eccl. 4:9-10 ⁹Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
3. Luke 14:33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
4. Jesus is saying: “No matter what it costs you, buy the Pearl!”
4. Mark 10:17-22 ¹⁷And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’”²⁰And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” ²¹And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²²But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property.

5. Matt. 13:47-50 ⁴⁷“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;⁴⁸and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. ⁴⁹So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous,⁵⁰and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
6. Matt. 7:21-23 ²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
7. “ Buy the Pearl !”
3. Conclusion

(Unless otherwise indicated all Scripture verses are in the New American Standard Version.)