Jesus Explains the
Kingdom of Heaven - What is Heaven?
Matthew
13:44-52
Hidden
Treasure
13:44 "The kingdom of
heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field,
which a man found and hid again; and from joy over
it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that
field.
A Costly
Pearl
45 "Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one
pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he
had and bought it.
A Dragnet
47" Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and
gathering fish of every kind;
48 and 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.
49 "So it will be at the
end of the age; the angels will come forth and take
out the wicked from among the righteous,
50 and will throw them
into the furnace of fire; in that place there will
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 "Have you understood
all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes."
52 And Jesus said to them,
"Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple
of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a
household, who brings out of his treasure things
new and old."
This
is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change
the way we think, and the way we live.
Commentary
by Bob Pardue
What is the Kingdom of
Heaven?
Jesus explained the kingdom
of heaven by parables, or stories the people could
relate to. They understood the principles of
treasures and fishing. Christ broke down each
parable into layman's terms so there was no doubt
they knew what he meant.
Revelation
Jesus reveals to the people
(and to us) what the kingdom of heaven really
means. In Matthew 13:35 he says;
"I will open my mouth in
parables, I will utter things hidden since the
creation of the world."
(Life
Application Bible - NIV)
What is
Heaven?
To summarize these parables,
the kingdom of heaven is more valuable than
anything we can have or own in our lifetime. Should
we be like the man who found the pearl and sell all
we have to buy it?
No, we don't have to
physically sell all our possessions but heaven and
Christ should be something we desire to have. When
we ask Jesus into our lives the treasure is
everlasting life -- Heaven.
The Fish and Net
Parable
A time will come when we are
like the fish in the net. This is the day of
judgment. God will sort out and keep the "good"
people (those who have accepted Christ as Savior
and have been forgiven), and throw away the bad.
This is not easy to say but everyone in the world
who dies will go somewhere, heaven or hell. As for
myself - I want to be in the basket with the "good
fish", how about you?
Love In Christ
- Bob
If you have never made the
commitment to receive the love and life-changing
experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to
read
John 3:16 for more
information.
Verses about the kingdom of heaven are from
New American Standard Bible - Lessons
credited to Life Application Study Bible:
NIV
Bible
Study Verses For Living ...
Matthew
12:38-45 - Pharisees
Demand Miracles from Christ - Asking for
Signs
Matthew
12:46-50 - The True Family of
Jesus
Matthew
13:1-23 - Jesus Explains the Four Souls
Parable
Matthew
13:24-43 - Jesus Explains the Weeds and Mustard
Seed Parables
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