Today I’m going to talk about the kingdom of heaven and Why God spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven in parables.
First I will like to define what a kingdom is.If we can understand how a kingdom works, then it will be easier to understand the parables of the kingdom of heaven.
WHAT IS A KINGDOM
“A kingdom is a governing influence of a king over his territory. Impacting it with his will,his purpose and his intent.Producing a citizenry of people who express his culture and reflect his nature.A kingdom is not a religion or a democracy,or a republic.” Myles Monroe.
In order words, a kingdom is affected by what is in the mind of a king.That is why God says that his thoughts towards us are thoughts of good never of evil.
The kingdom of God should be made up of people who reflect the true nature of God.People are suppose to understand what heaven is like,by our lifestyle,our attitude, and our cultural response. And also by the way we communicate and relate with people.
This is the major difference between a religion and a kingdom.
A religion produces a laid down system of rules that must be followed.
A kingdom on the other hand produces a culture. Or a way of doing things naturally.As citizens of heaven, we are not supposed to beg God for things.
We are to ask for things based on our rights as citizens.
If you can understand the parables of the kingdom of heaven, then you can live and enjoy the kingdom life.
I’m going to be talking about the parables starting from Matthew 13.
That is the parable of the sower.
All of us have heard of the parable of the sower. How a sower went out to plant seeds.
And how the different areas where the seed fell illustrates the different.ways people receive and perceive the kingdom message.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER .
The parable of the sower shows us the different ways people will perceive the kingdom message .
The second essence of the parable of the Sower is found in Mark 4 vs 13 .which states
”Do you not understand this parable ?Then how will you understand any of the other parables.”
This was the first answer Jesus gave to his disciples . When they asked him to explain the meaning of the parable of the sower to them.
The parable of the sower is therefore the summary of the entire kingdom measage.
It illustrates that we are like seeds and seeds go through the process of becoming trees and then bearing fruits that also contain seeds.
It is only when we hear and understand the kingdom messages that we can bear fruit.
That is a summary of the parable of the sower.
That also is the first of the parables we have in the book of Matthew. The other parables has to do with how the kingdom of heaven operates and the characteristics of the kingdom . This has to do with the way we as kingdom citizens should behave in the kingdom of heaven
.And also what we should do to bear fruit in the kingdom ….
WHY SO MANY PARABLES ABOUT THE KINGDOM
The question many ask is- why so many parables about the kingdom?
I want us to see the parables as KINGDOM CONCEPTS OR GUIDELINES.
Remember the Lord Jesus himself said “Seek ye first the KINGDOM OF GOD and his righteousness and all other things shall be added onto you.”Mathew 6:33.
The parables of the kingdom is a way of God telling us step by step ,how to live out the kingdom life.The kingdom concept is far different from the Democratic concept we live by in today’s world.
If your concepts as a kingdom citizen is wrong,your conclusions about a lot of things will be wrong.
All kingdoms have a code of ethics that citizens of the kingdom live by.Every kingdom has laws and principles that create keys to live by.
For instance, when Jesus said “I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”,HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT NORMAL PHYSICAL KEYS.He was talking about having the knowledge of the Authority to gain access into kingdom privileges .
The parables are a sort of constitution governing the way kingdom citizens should behave.These are practical solutions to how to BECOME a kingdom citizen and how to REMAIN ONE.
WHY DID GOD SPEAK IN PARABLES ABOUT THE KINGDOM
Another question people ask is why speak in parables about the kingdom?
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables “Though seeing, they do not see;though hearing, they do not hear or understand.Matthew 13:10-13.
The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom ,is HIDDEN.It is hidden because of its value.
It will take serious effort to find it .And people only put in effort in things that interest them.That is why Jesus said that if one puts in effort to understand the kingdom secrets,more of the secrets will be revealed to them.
If one does not put in any effort due to lack of interest,then even the little knowledge he or she has will be taken away from them.
CONCLUSION
The ability to understand the kingdom parables is the key to living tha kingdom life.
Thats my take on why God spoke about the kingdom of God in parables.
Why do you think that God spoke in parables about the kingdom?
If you have any questions or additions ,please feel free to drop your comments.Thank you for creating time to read to the end.
GOD BLESS YOU.
