so Matthew 13 we're going to pick it up in verse 24
and we're going to read down to verse 43
so last week you remember we looked at the parable of the sower
this week we're going to look at a few more parables together
let's read from verse 24 here hear God's word
Jesus told them another parable
the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field
but while everyone was sleeping his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat
and went away
when the wheat sprouted and formed ears
then the weeds also appeared
the owner's servants came to him and said
sir
didn't you sow good seed in your field
where then did the weeds come from
an enemy did this he replied
the servants asked him
do you want us to go and pull them up
no he answered
because while you are pulling up the weeds
you may uproot the wheat with them
let both grow together until the harvest
at that time I will tell the harvesters
first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned
and then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn
he told them another parable
the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
which a man took and planted in his field
though it is the smallest of all seeds
yet when it grows
it is the largest of garden plants
and becomes a tree
so that the birds come and perch in its branches
he told them still another parable
the kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed into
about 30 kilograms of flour
until it worked all through the dough
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables
he did not say anything to them
without using a parable
so was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet
I will open my mouth in parables
I will utter hidden things
since the creation of the world
then he left the crowd
and went into the house
his disciples came to him and said
explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field
Jesus answered
the one who sowed the good seed
is the son of man
the field is the world
and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom
the weeds are the people of the evil one
and the enemy who sows them
is the devil
the harvest
is the end of the age
and the harvesters
are angels
as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire
so it will be at the end of the age
the son of man will send out his angels
and they will weed out of his kingdom
everything that causes sin
and all who do evil
they will throw them into the blazing furnace
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their father
whoever has ears
let them hear
well let's pray together
as we
look at this passage together
father
would you enable us
to hear
your voice to us today
through your word
and by your holy spirit
that you would give us understanding
not just intellectually
or mentally
with our minds
but that we would truly understand
with our hearts
so that
what we hear
changes us
and helps us to
follow you as we should
so speak to us
and encourage us today
Amen
well Matthew's message
has been very clear
all the way through his gospel
Jesus is God's promised king
with absolute power
and supreme authority
and he's come to establish
an eternal kingdom
you remember back in chapters 8 and 9
we were given a preview
a picture
of what this kingdom
will be like
as Jesus forgives sins
heals the sick
and defeats Satan
Jesus is the
longed for king
who has come to restore
this disordered world
and redeem our broken lives
he's come to undo
the effects of sin
and a world under God's judgment
but despite all these
promotional fireworks
and this introduction
to Jesus
it all seems to have
fizzled out
not much is happening
not many of the crowds
are repenting
and following Jesus
in fact there seems to be
great opposition
to the kingdom
in chapter 10
Jesus warned his disciples
you can follow on screen
I am sending you out
like sheep among wolves
you will be handed over
and flogged
and then in chapter 12
we read that the Pharisees
the religious people
went out and plotted
how they might kill Jesus
what's happened
the kingdom
and we can ask the same question
ourselves
the world
the world doesn't seem
to be getting any better
does it
we're staggering
out of a global pandemic
and we're on the verge
of entering into
a global war
and in the middle
of all of this
opposition
and persecution
against the church
is increasing
living as a Christian
today
is not getting easier
it's getting
harder
so what's happened
to the kingdom
well we need to be able
to listen
to the king
look at verse
24
Jesus told them
another parable
in fact Jesus
will go on to tell
six more parables
all the way through
to the end of chapter 13
a parable
is a practical
story
to highlight
a spiritual
reality
a practical
story
to highlight
a spiritual
reality
so Jesus
uses these
parables
to teach
about the kingdom
of heaven
so again
look at verse 24
Jesus told them
another parable
the kingdom
of heaven
is like
verse 31
he told them
another parable
the kingdom
of heaven
is like
and in verse 33
he told them
still another
parable
the kingdom
of heaven
is like
you see
he uses
these parables
to reveal
to us
what is going
on behind
the scenes
we can turn
on the television
and listen
to the news
we can read
what the political
and social
commentators
are saying
to get
their perspective
to get
their understanding
of what's
going on
in the world
but Jesus
uses these
parables
to uncover
to us
to reveal
to us
what is
going on
from God's
perspective
it's like
he's opening
up a big
curtain
and pulling
it across
and saying
look
come and see
and I will
show you
what is
going on
Matthew
gives us
an example
verse 34
Jesus
spoke all
these things
to the crowd
in parables
he didn't
say anything
to them
without using
a parable
so was
fulfilled
what was
spoken
through the
prophet
I will
open my
mouth
in
parables
I will
utter
things
hidden
since the
creation
of the
world
he says
I will
reveal to
you
what is
really
going on
I'm going
to take
you behind
the scenes
and show
you God's
eternal plan
for his
kingdom
a plan
that's been
in place
since the
creation
or before
the creation
of the
world
what we
are going
to see
this morning
you will
not hear
on your
television
and you
will not
read
Indian
newspaper
we're
going to
see
three
things
about
God's
kingdom
in the
world
today
very
simple
the
struggle
the
surprise
and the
separation
the
struggle
the
surprise
and the
separation
first
the
struggle
in the
kingdom
verse
24
Jesus
told them
another
parable
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
like
a
man
who
sowed
good
seed
in
his
field
but
while
everyone
was
sleeping
his
enemy
came
and
sowed
weeds
among
the
wheat
and
went
away
when
the
wheat
sprouted
and
formed
ears
then
the
weeds
also
appeared
now
it's
very
clear
isn't
it
there's
two
sowers
and
there's
two
crops
there's
two
kinds
of
seed
one
that
produces
wheat
and
another
one
that
produces
weeds
and
Jesus
interprets
the meaning
for us
verse
37
the
one
who
sowed
the
good
seed
is
the
son
of
man
the
field
is
the
world
and
the
good
seed
stands
for
the
people
of
the
kingdom
the
weeds
are
the
people
of
the
evil
one
and
the
enemy
who
sows
them
is
the
devil
now
while
there are
two
sowers
there is
only one
owner
of the
field
one
ruler
Jesus
and the
devil
are not
equal
forces
or powers
who are
fighting it
out and
we're waiting
anxiously to
see who's
going to
win
no the
field
the
world
all
belongs
to
Jesus
he
made
it
and
he
rules
over
all
things
we're
told
in
verse
37
that
he
is
the
son
of
man
now
the
son
of
man
isn't
just
a
different
way
of
talking
about
Jesus
it's
a
title
and
it
comes
packed
full
with
meaning
it
comes
from
Daniel
chapter
7
so
in
your
Bibles
if you
turn
backwards
to
Daniel
chapter
7
chapter
7
I
haven't
got a
page
number
so
if
anybody
does
I
can
call it
out
Daniel
chapter
7
so
the
sower
of
the
seed
is
called
the
son
of
man
why
would
Jesus
refer
to
himself
as
the
son
of
man
well
here
in
Daniel
chapter
7
verse
13
we
have
the
answer
he
has
a
vision
he
says
in
my
vision
at
night
I
looked
and
there
before
me
was
one
like
a
son
of
man
coming
with
the
clouds
of
heaven
he
approached
the
ancient
of
days
that
is
he
is
coming
before
God
and
was
led
into
God's
presence
he
that
is
the
son
of
man
was
given
authority
glory
and
sovereign
power
all
nations
and
peoples
of
every
language
worshipped
him
his
dominion
his
kingdom
is
an
everlasting
kingdom
and
it
will
not
pass
away
and
his
kingdom
is
one
that
will
never
be
destroyed
let's
go back
to
Matthew
13
so you
see
Jesus
claims
this
title
for
himself
he's
saying
I
am
the
promised
son
of
man
make
no
mistake
Jesus
is
God's
king
with
absolute
power
and
supreme
authority
he
rules
over
all
the
nations
and
over
every
leader
he
has
authority
over
every
spiritual
power
he's
the
ruler
of
the
world
it's
his
field
his
kingdom
now
while we
have a
ruler
of the
world
we
would
be
foolish
to
dismiss
the
fact
that
there
is
an
enemy
in
the
world
the
devil
loves
nothing
more
than
to
disrupt
and
destroy
God's
kingdom
you
see
what's
going
on
here
are
two
things
are
happening
simultaneously
we
have
the
good
seed
the
word
about
Jesus
and
his
kingdom
is
being
proclaimed
the
good
seed
is
being
planted
people
hear
the
word
and
in
response
people
repent
and
believe
so
in
verse
38
we
read
that
the
good
seed
stands
for
the
people
of
the
kingdom
they
hear
it
and
they
believe
on
the
other
hand
we
have
lies
about
Jesus
and
his
kingdom
that
are
being
proclaimed
people
hear
this
twisted
truth
and
rebel
and
push
against
Jesus
as
king
end
of
verse
38
the
weeds
are
the
people
of
the
evil
one
and
the
enemy
who
sows
them
is
the
devil
so
simultaneously
all at
the
same
time
we have
on the
one hand
the work
of God
going on
and at
the same
time
the work
of the
devil
going on
side
by side
at the
one time
people are
being rescued
into the
kingdom
and people
remain in the
kingdom of
darkness
and
the
world
and
the
world
of the
devil
are
taking
effect
that's
why
we
experience
both
peace
and war
wickedness
and justice
good
and evil
and it's
what we
see right
now in
the region
of Ukraine
terrible
violence
mindless
war
destruction
and death
the seeds
of the
devil
has taken
root
in people's
life
and they're
in living
a very
disordered
and a
corrupt
way
chaos
and disorder
reign
suffering
and pain
are the
fruit
of the
devil's
work
yet at the
same time
we hear
of great
sacrifice
and service
don't we
there are
churches
and Christian
communities
in the
surrounding
regions
in Poland
and Moldova
Romania
and Slovakia
taking in
hundreds and
thousands of
refugees
feeding
providing
caring
as they
open up
their homes
as they
open up
their church
buildings
to be
places of
refuge
and rest
the good
seed of
Jesus
has taken
root
in people's
lives
and they
are displaying
love and
peace
compassion
and kindness
this is the
fruit of the
work of the
son of man
side by
side
in the
same
field
wheat
and weeds
grow
together
it's why
in the
region of
Donetsk
and Lusank
where the
war has
been raging
since
2014
3,000
people have
lost their
lives
but multiple
people are
coming to
faith in
Jesus
there are
towns and
villages in
that region
that lie
empty
but in that
same area
on the
border
there have
been eight
new churches
planted in
recent years
that are
being filled
of course
the question
we're all
asking is
well if
Jesus is
the king
and he's
the one
with absolute
power and
supreme
authority
why doesn't
he intervene
right now
and end
what's going
on
why does
there have
to be wheat
and weeds
growing at
the same
time
well go
back to
verse 27
and we
will see
the answer
to that
question
the owner
servant came
to Jesus
and said
sir
didn't you
sow good
seed in
your field
where then
did the weeds
come from
an enemy
did this
he replied
the servants
asked him
do you want
us to go
and pull
them up
no
he answered
because while
you are pulling
up the weeds
you may
uproot
the wheat
with them
let both
grow together
until the
harvest
at that time
I will tell
the harvesters
first collect
the weeds
tie them in
bundles to
be burned
then gather
the wheat
and bring
it into
my barn
as we'll
see shortly
Jesus
the king
is going
to return
but until
then
wheat
and weeds
grow together
the gospel
seed will be
sown
and people
throughout the
world and
throughout the
land of
Ukraine
will enter
the kingdom
of heaven
but don't
forget
there's an
enemy in
the world
who will
not give
up the
fight
he's
spreading
his
lies
with
devastating
results
and until
Jesus
returns
the kingdom
of heaven
will be
struggling
with the
kingdom
of darkness
so what's
going on
in our
world
what's
happening
behind
the
scenes
there's
a struggle
between
the kingdom
of heaven
and the
kingdom
of darkness
but second
there's
the surprise
of the
kingdom
while there's
an enemy
at work
sowing seeds
of destruction
and chaos
we need to
know that
Jesus is
the sovereign
ruler
and that
nothing and
no one
can hold
back the
kingdom of
heaven
God is
at work
and the
kingdom is
advancing
in surprising
ways
first
small
beginnings
but
surprising
growth
let's
move on
to verse
31
he told
them another
parable
the kingdom
of heaven
is like
a mustard
seed
which a
man took
and planted
in his
field
though it
is the
smallest
of all
seeds
you know
mustard
seed is
tiny
yet
when it
grows
it is
the
largest
of
garden
plants
and
becomes
a tree
so that
the birds
come and
perch in
its branches
now what a
brilliant
picture of
the kingdom
a small
beginning
but surprising
growth
now think
about that
for a minute
just think
of how
Matthew
introduces us
to Jesus
and his
kingdom
how does
Matthew's
gospel
start
with a
genealogy
of
Jesus
his
family
history
it reads
like a
rogues
gallery
it's
full of
liars
deceivers
murderers
outsiders
pagans
not the
kind of
start
to a
kingdom
that gives
you
confidence
and then
we're told
that Jesus
is born
to an
unknown
teenage
girl
in an
animal
shed
in a
backward
town
called
Bethlehem
not
very
promising
is it
then this
young
Jesus
has to
flee
to
Egypt
to
escape
the
murdering
threats
of
Herod
Jesus
begins
life
as a
homeless
refugee
doesn't
sound
very
hopeful
does it
think of
some of
the scenes
of a
little
child
in
Ukraine
coming
off a
bus
into a
new
land
with
just
a
few
clothes
in
a
bag
would
you
look
at
that
child
and
say
they're
the
hope
of
the
world
well
in
a
sense
when
Jesus
was
taken
to
Egypt
as
a
homeless
refugee
there
in
that
little
child
was
God's
hope
for
the
world
that's
what
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
like
it
has
small
beginning
but
look at
the
kingdom
today
it's
full
of
people
from
all
over
the
world
who
heard
the
good
news
about
Jesus
repented
and
followed
him
verse
32
it
is
like
the
smallest
of
all
seeds
yet
when
it
grows
is
the
largest
of
garden
plants
and
becomes
a
tree
so
that
birds
come
and
perch
in
its
branches
just
as the
birds
find a
home
in
the
tree
so
countless
believers
are going
to find
their
home
in the
kingdom
of
heaven
you
you see
despite
the
struggle
there
is
surprising
growth
but
there's
another
surprise
insignificant
people
yet
surprisingly
effective
look at
the parable
in verse
33
he told
them still
another
parable
the
kingdom
of heaven
he said
is like
yeast
you know
you take
a tiny
little
bit
of
yeast
a little
bit
of
dough
that
the
woman
took
and
mixed
it
into
about
30
kilograms
of
flour
until
it
worked
all
through
the
dough
again
it's
a
thrilling
and
exciting
picture
of the
kingdom
it
starts
insignificant
but
yet
is
surprisingly
effective
as
Jesus
begins
his
ministry
all
he
can
seem
to
muster
together
is
twelve
disciples
none
of them
are very
prominent
none
of them
are well
educated
none
of them
are
influential
in fact
as time
goes on
we see
they're
made up
of
deniers
and
betrayers
when push
comes to
shove
they all
run a
mile
yet
follow
the
story
of
these
disciples
as
they
went
about
their
work
proclaiming
the
gospel
thousands
believed
and
churches
were
planted
just
as
an
insignificant
amount
of
yeast
that
tiny
little
bit
gets
mixed
in
and
through
all
the
dough
and
so
it
rises
and
takes
effect
so
these
insignificant
disciples
are
surprisingly
effective
and the
kingdom
growth
doesn't
stop
there
today
there
are
millions
of
followers
thousands
of
churches
across
every
continent
in
every
nation
and
we
in
this
room
small
as we
are
today
in
number
are
a
living
reminder
that
we
are
part
of
a
surprising
kingdom
now
this
should
encourage
us
yes
the
work
is
small
yes
we
may
feel
insignificant
but
that's
how
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
we
faithfully
sow
the
gospel
seed
so
people
come
to
faith
and
the
church
grows
some
of
you
know
the
history
and
the
story
of
this
church
it
began
with
a
few
people
praying
in
Cork
City
for
a
church
to
start
in
this
town
then
it
widened
to
a
children's
club
in
a
ladies
home
in
her
front
room
and
then
it
expanded
to
a
Bible
study
and
then
to
a
church
the
kingdom
may
struggle
we
may
seem
insignificant
we
may
think
nothing
is
going
on
and
nothing
is
happening
but
there
is
always
a
surprising
and
effective
growth
what's
going on
in the
world
what's
happening
in
God's
kingdom
right
across
the
world
today
there
are
hundreds
of
gatherings
just
like
this
meeting
together
because
of
the
surprising
work
of
God's
kingdom
so
there's
a
struggle
there's
a
surprise
and
then
there's
the
separation
from
the
kingdom
as
the
kingdom
grows
there
will
be
opposition
but
in
the
end
there's
going
to be
a
final
separation
let's
pick it
up
in
verse
39
the
end
of
verse
39
the
harvest
is
the
end
of
the
age
and
the
harvesters
are
angels
as
the
weeds
are
pulled
up
and
burned
in
the
fire
so
it
will
be
at
the
end
of
the
age
despite
the
work
of
the
devil
Jesus
the
son
of
man
is
going
to
bring
about
his
final
judgment
when
he
will
separate
those
who
are
in
the
kingdom
from
those
who
are
not
of
the
kingdom
it's
a
picture
of
the
final
judgment
verse
41
the
son
of
man
will
send
out
his
angels
and
they
will
weed
out
of
his
kingdom
everything
that
causes
sin
and
all
who
do
evil
there
will
be
no
escape
and
no
hiding
all
those
who
reject
king
jesus
and
his
kingdom
will
be
separated
out
those
who
have
refused
to
bow
to
his
authority
will
be
dealt
with
the
weeds
will
be
pulled
up
they
will
be
gathered
together
you
see
the
kingdom
of
heaven
may
face
opposition
and
rejection
today
people
may
laugh
at
the
church
they
may
ridicule
the
name
of
christ
but
when
the
king
comes
with
all
power
and
all
authority
all
those
who
followed
the
lies
of
the
devil
will
be
removed
once
and
for
all
verse
32
they
will
be
thrown
they
will
throw
them
into
the
blazing
furnace
and
there
will
be
weeping
and
gnashing
of
teeth
it's
a
terrifying
picture
of
hell
you
see
separation
from
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
separation
from
God
and
all
his
good
and
beautiful
gifts
it's
an
eternity
without
love
without
joy
without
friendship
peace
it's
a
place
of
perpetual
lies
deceit
and
chaos
and
disorder
it's
life
without
God
you
see
the
king
will
have
the
last
day
he
is
waiting
patiently
but
he
rules
with
absolute
authority
and
he
will
separate
out
the
weeds
but
second
the
righteous
will
be
gathered
verse
43
then
the
righteous
will
shine
like
the
sun
in
the
kingdom
of
their
father
just
as
there
will
be
a
terrifying
separation
there's
going
to be
a
glorious
celebration
the
people
of
the
kingdom
will
be
gathered
together
into
God's
eternal
kingdom
this
is
what
is
going
to
happen
this
is
what
Jesus
is
revealing
to
us
and
who
is
going
to
be
there
in
God's
eternal
kingdom
look at
verse
33
the
righteous
not
those
who've
earned
their
way
in
but
those
who've
obeyed
the
command
to
repent
and
turn
to
Jesus
who
say
I
haven't
got
a
righteousness
of
my
own
I
haven't
got
right
standing
before
God
I
need
it
they
surrendered
and
submitted
their
life
to
King
Jesus
no
longer
are
they
building
their
own
earthly
empires
and their
own
little
kingdoms
they
now
live
to
seek
first
the
kingdom
of
God
they
serve
the
kingdom
of
Jesus
above
all
else
so
picture
it
in your
mind
right
now
picture
the
scene
as
the
king
comes
it
will
be
glorious
it
will
be
like
the
rising
of
the
sun
a
thrilling
and
captivating
beauty
as
the
light
dispels
the
darkness
once
and
for
all
Jesus
will
come
and he
will
gather
in
the
wheat
and
they
will
share
in
his
joy
forever
no
more
wars
no
more
pandemics
no
more
suffering
and
no
more
tears
sheer
delight
amazing
wonder
home
at
last
you
see
Jesus
has
already
come
once
hasn't
he
came
as
the
king
to
save
he
went
to
the
cross
to
die
for
you
and
me
he
took
the
judgment
that
we
all
deserve
and
he
suffered
the
hell
that
I
deserve
for
me
but
one
day
the
king
is
going
to
come
again
for
a
final
time
and
he
will
come
as
king
to
judge
look
at the
end
of
verse
43
whoever
has
ears
let
them
hear
do
you
hear
what
Jesus
is
saying
to
us
he
has
taken
us
behind
the
scenes
he
has
pulled
back
the
curtain
and
helped
us
know
what
is
going
on
in
the
world
and
in
his
kingdom
something
the
news
will
never
ever
tell
you
but
here
he
says
there
is
a
struggle
it
will
be
difficult
it
will
be
hard
but
keep
going
your
work
will
count
the
kingdom
is
growing
and
it
will
continue
to
grow
and
one
day
the
king
will
come
again
and
there
will
be
a
separation
will
you
trust
his
word
will
you
believe
what
he
is
doing
in
the
world
today
have
the
eyes
of
faith
to
see
behind
what
is
going
on
in
the
kingdom
let's
pray
later on
in
Matthew's
gospel
chapter
25
we
read
these
words
just
listen
and
reflect
for a
moment
picture
the
scene
when
the
son
of
man
comes
in
all
his
glory
and
all
the
angels
with
him
he
will
sit
on
his
glorious
throne
all
the
nations
Ireland
Russia
Ukraine
all
the
nations
will
be
gathered
before
him
and
he
will
separate
the
people
one
from
another
father
thank you
that we
do have
a hope
in the
lord
jesus
christ
a hope
that is
beyond
any
military
action
or any
diplomatic
reasoning
there is
a hope
for the
broken
for the
refugee
the
suffering
and the
hurting
there is
a hope
for those
who are
rebellious
and who
are willing
to repent
and turn
and bow
to king
jesus
there is
a kingdom
an eternal
kingdom
with a
glorious
king
who has
all things
and all
peoples
in his
hands
who is
coming
again
and will
put
everything
right
help us
to look
in faith
and trust
you
help us
to live
our lives
with this
eternal
kingdom
in view
knowing
that you
are good
and you
are great
in jesus
name
amen
so we're
going to
sing
together
and
none of
us
deserve
it
and
secured
it
for us
through
his
death
on
his
promise
so we
can
look
forward
in
anticipation
and
complete
assurance
but
when
jesus
turns
Thank you.