The Kingdom of Heaven is Like

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE
TEXT: Selected verses from Matthew

SUMMARY: Parables are best understood not in isolation, but as part of a body of teaching on the nature and priority of the kingdom of God.

I. THE MESSAGE OF THE PARABLES.
A. Parables are Word of the kingdom (Mt. 13:19).
B. Parables Are an Announcement of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:8-10).

1. a new disposition towards national Israel,
2. a new intimacy with His disciples,
3. a new method of teaching,
   C. Parables are a Call to Self-Examination..
   D. Parables are a Display of the Compassion and Elective Ministry of Christ.

II. THE ESSENCE OF THE PARABLES. The parables of Jesus are a presentation of Christ requiring us (1) to acknowledge our own unworthiness for His kingdom; (2) to confess His lordship and His all-sufficient work in the salvation of sinners; and (3) to examine in ourselves whether that work of God has been done in us. Thus,
A. Parables are Gospel, not Morals (Mt. 13:13-16).
B. Parables Conceal as well as Reveal (Mk. 4:11-12).

III. THE PRACTICAL USE OF THE PARABLES.
A. A Problem.
B. A Response.