According to Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is like many things: a mustard seed, treasure hidden in a field, a net thrown into the sea that gathered fish of every kind, and so on.
Jesus spent a lot of time explaining what the kingdom of heaven was like. The reason for this is that the Jews had an unrealistic expectation of what the kingdom was, and how it was to be ruled. They expected an earthly kingdom that the promised Messiah would rule over and who would lead Israel out of Roman control and back into its former glory days as experienced under King David.
This, however, was not the true nature of the kingdom as demonstrated by Christ through the kingdom parables that he told. Obviously it was important for Jesus’s original audience to understand the true nature of the kingdom which he was sent to establish and it’s equally important for us today to obtain that same understanding.
That being said, in this article we’re going to look at the six kingdom parables told by Jesus in Matthew 13 so that we can understand what the kingdom of heaven is actually like.
But before we can understand what the kingdom of heaven is like, we first have to understand what the kingdom of heaven is.
What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
The kingdom of heaven is the Messianic Kingdom that was prophesied about in the Old Testament. It can be better understood as the kingdom which originates from heaven and it represents the rule of God through the Messiah, to whom the kingdom was given.
The kingdom of heaven is also known as:
- The kingdom of God
- The rule of Christ
- The Millennial Kingdom
- The Gospel Dispensation
- Etc.
All of these terms are used synonymously to describe the same thing. That being said, what the kingdom of heaven is can vary depending on the context in which it is spoken.
For example, when John and Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2, 4:17) they were referring to the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom as prophesied about in the Old Testament (Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:13-14). In Matthew 7:21, however, the kingdom of heaven is understood to be the eternal state. Other times the kingdom of heaven is understood to be the Gospel message which leads one to salvation.
Keeping this in mind will help us understand how the kingdom of heaven is like the things Jesus compares it to, as you’ll see in just a moment.
The Parable of the Weeds
The first kingdom parable of Matthew 13 is the Parable of the Weeds. In verses 24-25 Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.”
Later, starting in verse 36 Jesus explains the parable.
In short, however, what Jesus says is that both good and wicked people will continue to exist alongside one another throughout the duration of the kingdom. Finally, at the “end of the age”, that is, at the consummation of the Messianic Age, the wicked will be gathered and thrown into the “fiery furnace” while the righteous will enter into the “kingdom of their Father”.
The point Jesus is making here is that the establishment of the kingdom of heaven, or the Messianic Age, does not bring with it the immediate dismantling of evil. The fact that Jesus teaches this presupposes that the Jews had perhaps thought that when the Messiah arrived and set up his kingdom, that swift justice would be served upon all those who opposed his rule.
This, however, is not the case as Jesus says that both the wicked and righteous will coexist throughout the duration of the kingdom and only once the end has come will there be a final judgement.
What’s the Big Idea?
Although the kingdom of heaven has already been established, we should not expect that wickedness should cease to exist until the kingdom has reached full maturity. When the kingdom of heaven has run its full course then there will be a day of judgement where the righteous and wicked will be separated and recompensed accordingly.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
In Matthew 13:31-33 Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
That the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed speaks to the manner in which it grows. It starts off small and barely noticeable and eventually grows into something substantial. The kingdom of heaven, which started off with just 12 disciples and a command to win the nations (Matthew 28:18-20) has now grown into a worldwide religion with approximately 2.5 billion people who profess faith in Christ.
What started off as a small and insignificant group of believers has grown substantially over the last 2000 years and will continue to grow until the end of time.
What’s the Big Idea?
The kingdom of heaven doesn’t come all at once nor does it come in ways that can be observed (Luke 17:20-21). It starts off small and grows slowly and gradually over time until it reaches full maturity.
The Parable of Leaven
He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Matthew 13:33
The kingdom of heaven here again refers to the rule of Christ, or the Messianic Age. That it is like leaven speaks to the manner in which it grows and influences every sphere of life. Just as leaven works silently through an entire lump of dough, permeating all of it with its presence, so too will the rule of Christ eventually influence every area of life. The presence of the Gospel will, over time, be noticeable in the effects it produces in the hearts of individuals and societies as a whole.
What’s the Big Idea?
The kingdom of heaven or the rule of Christ will not be inconsequential in our world. That the kingdom has been established and billions of people have come to Christ is proof that the Gospel is spreading and changing hearts and lives for the better. Eventually, over time, the kingdom of heaven will rule over the entire world “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
The “kingdom of heaven” as used here should be understood as the Gospel Message itself which when heard, understood, and accepted, results in the forgiveness of sin, justification in the eyes of God, freedom from the penalty our sins deserve, and eternal life with Christ in heaven – all of which are of far greater value than any material possession we could ever have or hope to obtain.
That the men in the parable sold what they had and bought that which had more value, speaks to the manner in which true salvation occurs. Only when we realize that everything we have pales in comparison to a genuine, authentic relationship with Christ, can we fully receive and appreciate the sacrifice He made for us and the relationship we now have with him.
What’s the Big Idea?
Being part of the kingdom of heaven is of far greater value than any worldly possessions, achievements, or accolades. Only those who count all earthly pursuits as inferior to the worth of knowing Christ can be part of the kingdom both on this earth and in eternity.
The Parable of the Net
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
That the kingdom of heaven is compared to a net which gathers fish of every kind is to say that the kingdom itself will be made up of people from all nations. At the end of the Messianic Age there will be a final judgement at which time the wicked will be cast into the “fiery furnace” and the righteous will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven.
That the net drew in fish that were both good and bad is not to say that the kingdom itself will be made up of both righteous and wicked people, but that both righteous and wicked people will continue to coexist throughout the duration of the kingdom itself.
If it were to mean anything other than this it would be that there will be some who profess to be part of the kingdom but who truly aren’t. The pseudo faith of these people will become apparent at the Final Judgement when they will be cast into the “fiery furnace” along with everyone else who opposed the rule of Christ.
What’s the Big Idea?
The main purpose of the parable is to demonstrate that the kingdom of heaven will be made up of people from all nations and not just those of Jewish descent. At the end of time there will be a Final Judgement where the evil will be separated from the righteous and both will enter into the eternal state – some to everlasting life and some to everlasting flame.