Kingdom Of Heaven

10-16-2009
Kingdom Of Heaven

The Bible is very clear about Heaven and Hell; in that both exist, yet a strange conversation took place that I will never forget involving these to eternal destinations. I was an assistant youth minister at the time when another minister informed me he didn’t believe in Hell. My immediate response was silence, and then absolute shock. I recall asking him something along the lines of, “what Bible are you reading out of?” Needless to say this gentleman lost ALL credibility with me as it pertains to Biblical knowledge and understanding. Though I would love to think everyone goes to Heaven, the Bible is pretty clear there’s only one way to Heaven, faith in Jesus Christ, and not everyone follows down that path. I thank God I’m not the one doing the judging, only the ministering.

Matthew 13 is full of parables describing God’s method at the end of our lives. Matthew 13:33-52 says the following:

33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough."
34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So 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."[b]
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36Then 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."
37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The 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. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

Understanding the magnitude of Heaven is something we can only hope to understand while on earth.

Application:
1. Do you understand the Kingdom of heaven and its significance?
2. Re-read Matthew 13:33-52