St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 51, The Kingdom of Heaven: Understanding.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Conclusion of the parables) Part 1.   

The kingdom of heaven is like.  This is the message that Christ has given to his disciples.  He wants them to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like.  He wants them to know the truth of the kingdom.  He wants them to have wisdom of the kingdom.  He wants them to perceive the wisdom of his words that they may convey to others the message of the kingdom.  For they will be the messengers.  They will be the healers.  They will be the miracle workers after Christ has finished his work here on earth.  Theirs is the task of being the teachers to all the world through the message of Christ.

The disciples, therefore must have understanding.  The disciples, therefore must have knowledge.  The disciples, therefore must have wisdom before Christ leaves this earth.  So he gives them stories.  He gives them parables.  He gives them sayings that they may be filled with his knowledge.  He gives them the memories that they may remember his words for all eternity.  Then comes the test.  Will they remember?  Will they reply?  Will they convey the message as it was given to them?  So he asks his disciples, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes."  

And this is our question today.  Have we understood all these things?  Have we understood the meaning of the sower?  Have we understood the meaning of the weeds?  Have we understood the meaning of the net?  Have we understood the meaning of the pearl of great value?  Have we understood the meaning of the treasure hidden in the field?  Christ asks us to understand.  Christ asks us to hear.  Christ asks us know that we know.  For in these parables lies the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  In these parables lies the knowledge of Christ.  In these parables lies the door to our joy and our peace hear on earth.

Christ watched the people as he preached to them.   He saw the state of their minds as he sought to free them from the oppression of the evil.  Yet many were lost.  Many would not perceive.  Many could not understand.  For they had closed their eyes that they may not see.  They had made them deaf that they may not hear.  They had captured their hearts that they were lost in the world and lost to the kingdom of heaven.  Are we the same today?  Are we lost in the world?  Does the world have our eyes blinded, our ears closed, our hearts sealed to the message of the kingdom? 

We are so unaware of the ease with which we are drawn into the world.  We have no understanding of the need to protect our eyes, to protect our ears, to shield our hearts to the attractions of the  world.  We go to movies, we listen to music, we feel in our hearts the things that are given to us that make us feel.  We are drawn into the world without having any understanding of the need to resist.  We have no understanding of the safeguards that must be placed upon our souls to keep the evil one out and to allow the Holy One in.  We are wide open to all that the world offers without any safeguards.  Christ came to give us safeguards.  He came to give us the knowledge of the kingdom that we may have protections for that which is most precious and dear, our souls. 

Yet the world presents an almost irresistible attraction that most will not resist, most will not protect, most will not understand the need to guard against.  And once we travel down the wide path, the door is closed that we may not return to that which we have lost.  The door is closed so that we fall into the dream of the world and are trapped into an eternity of damnation.  Wake up from the world!!  Guard your souls!  Protect what is precious and shut out the evil one from your life that he may not trick you to take the wide path that leads to destruction.  Christ is here for you.  Christ is waiting for you.  The Holy Spirit will walk with you, if you only let him.  Come!  Walk the narrow road and take back what is yours!

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 49-50, The Kingdom of Heaven: The coming Separation of the Wicked and the Just

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the net) Part 2. 

The net will gather all.  The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and when it is full it is taken up and the fish are separated.  The good fish are kept and the bad fish are cast away.  All are captured in the net.  All are brought to shore.  All are separated.  This is the parable that Christ tells his disciples that they may understand the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the separation that will take place.  The wicked will be separated from the just.  The workers of iniquity will be separated from the those who do good.  The fruit will be separated from the weeds and all will be judged according to their works.

Christ tell his disciples that they may know and understand the truth of the kingdom.  He tells them stories and parables that they may have the wisdom of the kingdom.  He gives them knowledge that they may be able to past their knowledge upon those who will follow them.  For they will be the new shepherds.  They will be the new leaders.  They will be the messengers of Christ after his work is finished.  So, he wants them to have clear understanding and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. 

He concludes his parable by telling the disciples of the end times.  He says, "So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.

The prophecy has been spoken.  Time will reveal the truth of its making.  The angels will come and separate but the net will capture all.  Will you be among the just or will you be among the wicked?  The furnace of fire awaits the separation.  Our God is a loving God.  He wants all to be separated into the just.  He wants no one to be put into the furnace of fire.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may understand.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may know.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may have the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  Will you heed the message?  Will you take action today to receive the kingdom?  Find your treasure.  Find your pearl of great value.  Be the good seed that Christ has planted in you.  They all await your search.  They all await your finding.  They all await you receiving that you may have joy and peace here and now, today, on this earth.  For the advodcate waits at your door.  Open and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 45 - 46, The Kingdom of Heaven: The search of Fine Pearls.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the pearl of great price)  

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ continues to tell the disciples about the kingdom of heaven that they may understand truth.  He continues to educate his disciples that they may know the kingdom, that they may see the kingdom, that they may have the wisdom of heaven within themselves to teach others.  For one does not teach what one does not know and Christ wants his disciples to know.  Christ wants his disciples to believe.  Christ wants his disciples to see.  Christ wants his disciples to have wisdom.  For they will carry the message of the kingdom.  They will be the light to shine forth to men.  They will battle the evil in the world and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

The weeds have already been planted and are growing.  The weeds are growing among the good seeds of the kingdom.  The weeds are wrapping themselves around the fruit of the kingdom and choking the life from the fruit.  But Christ brings life to the seeds.  Christ brings nurturing to the good seeds.  Christ brings love to the good seed that they may know truth in the kingdom.  For the good seed searches for truth.  The good seed seeks to know.  The good seed desires to possess the kingdom that is buried deep within them.  Christ tells another parable about the kingdom.  He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.   When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." 

The kingdom of heaven is like.  The good seed seeks the fine pearls.  The good seed seeks the treasure in the field.  The good seed seeks the truth.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks love.  The good seed seeks peace.  The good seed seeks happiness.  The good seed seeks patience.  The good seed seeks humility.  The good seed seeks the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks faith.  The good seed seeks hope.  The good seed seeks justice.  The good seed seeks the riches of the kingdom of heaven.  What do you seek?

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ has given us parables to live by today.  He has given us comparisons.  He has given us a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.  The kingdom is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.  We all seek something in this physical world.  Some seek wealth.  Some seek truth.  Some seek knowledge.  Some seek understanding.  Some seek peace.  Some seek love.  Some seek those things that would satisfy their inner needs and cravings. 

We think that if we just had the good things of life that we would be happy.  So, we seek those things that we think will bring us happiness, i.e., more money, fine clothes, beauty, physical prowess, marketable talents, a loving mate, the typical family, power, influence, etc.  All these things we seek to fulfill our inner needs that we believe will satisfy us.  So, in many ways we too are like merchants seeking fine pearls.  When we find our desired worldly pearls we sell everything to own it.  We sell ourselves to own that which we seek, be it a  well paid position, wealth, power, influence.  All the things that our hearts desire, we sell ourselves to them that we may own them. 

Yet these things are worldly and satisfy only temporarily.  They are like the mist that evaporates when the sun comes out.  Wealth and money buy things but do not buy permanence.  Power and influence are of this world and last as long as we are in it.  All these things are here today and gone tomorrow.  Yet these are the things that we seek to fill our inner needs.  The kingdom of heaven is like.  What pearls do you seek?  Do you seek the pearls of the kingdom or do you seek the pearls of the world?  Do you give all to own the pearls of the world or would you sell all to own the pearls of the kingdom?   Which do you value?