The Kingdom of Heaven | Dr. Mark Rutland
Sunday, September 1
Scripture
Matthew 13:18-50
Key Points
- God's Sovereignty: The Kingdom of God is not a democracy but a monarchy where God reigns supreme, making decisions without needing a consensus.
- Divine Initiative: God founded the Church, which includes both the righteous and the unrighteous. Our role is to evangelize, leaving the sorting to God.
- Inherent Value: Despite your flaws or sins, God sees you as a treasure worth pursuing and redeeming.
- Unique Worth: You are uniquely precious to God, who sought you out, countering Satan's lies about your worthlessness.
- Invitation to Grace: Communion symbolizes God's profound love, inviting you to fellowship with Him intimately.
Introduction
Let's delve into Dr. Mark Rutland's sermon, 'The Kingdom of Heaven.' Jesus frequently employed parables in His teaching, a method that invites us to see spiritual truths through everyday analogies. Most parables begin with a statement like the one Jesus uses "The kingdom of heaven is like . . ." (Matthew 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47). Parables are comparisons by resemblance.
- Discuss how Jesus used parables to describe the multifaceted nature of God's Kingdom. Why do you think he chose this teaching method?
Dr. Rutland explored several parables from Matthew 13 in his sermon. Today, we'll delve into some of these parables to uncover their deeper meanings.
The Parable of the Sower
God is the Sower! He has given us what we need to grow and get close to Him. Pay close attention to the different results that come from the seed falling to the ground:
Matthew 13:18-2318 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Let’s break the passage down. Read verse nineteen again, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”
- How would you define this message in simple terms?
- Can you think of any examples from the Bible where someone heard a message from God or Jesus but didn't understand it?
- Reflect on your own church attendance or Christian practices. In what ways might you be like the seed sown along the path? Are you at a place where you feel you allow the Word to go deep and facilitate change?
Matthew 13:20-21 “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
The “rocky” ground has its ups and downs and it’s so easy to have joy momentarily while up, but not easy to hold onto it when trials are faced.
- What does Jesus mean by "rocky ground" in this context? How does this metaphor relate to someone's spiritual life?
- Why do you think Jesus describes the reception of the word with joy initially but then highlights its short-lived nature?
- What kinds of "trouble or persecution" might modern believers face that could cause them to fall away?
- Jesus mentions that these individuals have "no root." What does it mean to have a root in spiritual terms?
- Discuss instances in the Bible where joy was present in the midst of hardship (e.g., Paul and Silas in prison).
Matthew 13:22 says, ‘The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.’
The “thorny” soil can represent how the wiles of life & wealth can distract us from our real purpose if we allow them to choke out the seed God has provided.
- Why does Jesus describe wealth as deceitful? What might be the deceptions associated with wealth?
- Can you identify any "thorns" in your life that might be choking the Word? What are they?
- What steps can be taken to ensure the Word remains fruitful in our lives despite life's distractions?
- How can community support play a role in helping individuals deal with life's thorns?
As for the “good” soil, are we willing to make the effort to let the Word go deep so we can bear fruit? Verse 23 reads, “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
This parable reminds us that understanding and acceptance are crucial. It's not just about hearing God's word, but about letting it sink in and transform us.
Lord, we pray earnestly for the wisdom and understanding we need to grow in You so that we may fulfill our purpose according to your Will and Word. Amen!
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”.
The field itself wasn’t the most valuable thing, it was the treasure hidden in it. The man was willing to pay any price to get the field that held a treasure. The treasure itself was already ‘provided’ and free but to get at it, there was a cost (the field).
The treasure of salvation is free but there is a cost to following Jesus. Are you willing to give up everything for the Kingdom of Heaven?
- Discuss the idea that while salvation is free, following Jesus has a cost. What might this cost look like in modern life?
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus illustrates the Kingdom of Heaven with the parable of a merchant in search of fine pearls. He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Traditionally, one might interpret this parable to suggest that we, as individuals, are the merchants actively seeking to 'purchase' the Kingdom of God, Christ, or eternal life through our efforts or sacrifices. However, Dr. Rutland offers a profound perspective: we are not the merchant in this story. Instead, God is the one who has made the ultimate sacrifice by giving us His very best—His Son!
In light of these scriptures, the parable of the pearl of great price can be seen as a vivid depiction of God's relentless pursuit of us, His willingness to pay the ultimate price for our redemption, rather than our own quest for salvation. It’s okay to make an analogy to Christ when talking about those passages. Jesus considered us the pearl of great price, so that we would experience him and his kingdom as our pearl of great price!
John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
This interpretation aligns with several scriptural truths that challenge the notion of us seeking God on our own merit:
- Romans 3:11 reminds us, "There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God." This verse underscores human inability to seek God without His initiative.
- Luke 19:9-10 shows Jesus' mission, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Here, Jesus is the seeker, not us.
- John 6:44 states, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." This highlights divine initiative in our salvation.
- 1 John 4:19 affirms, "We love Him because He first loved us." God's love precedes and enables our response.
These perspectives not only deepens our understanding of God's grace but also shifts the focus from our efforts to His divine love and initiative.
- Can you readily accept that the pearl of great price is the body of Christ (church) yet have a difficult time believing you (personally) are a pearl of great price?
- How can genuinely believing that He sought you to ‘buy’ you shift your personal understanding of who you are and what you mean to Him?
Are you ready to stop striving to ‘earn’ His affection and His salvation? The Kingdom of Heaven is of such immense worth that it demands a complete commitment and radical dedication from those who discover it.
Conclusion
Like a valuable treasure or pearl, you are precious to God. It doesn’t matter what dirt or junk you have in your life; God knows how to dig it out! Ask God for kingdom eyes to see the treasure in others, a kingdom mind to understand who you are, and patience to wait for God to sort it all out.
- How can one cultivate a heart that is not just receptive but also retentive of God's Word?
- How can we encourage each other to keep the joy of the Kingdom at the forefront, even when the cost feels high
Prayer
- Close in prayer, asking for grace to live these truths, treasure others, and be patient with imperfections, trusting God to ultimately sort everything out.
Resources
YouTube
Audio Podcast