Parables of the Kingdom

MEMORY VERSE: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” —II Corinthians 5:10

MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43

THE Scriptures present various viewpoints of the kingdom of the Lord. In Isaiah 9:6,7 it is referred to as a “government” which is to extend peace throughout the whole earth. In Isaiah 25:6-9 the kingdom is represented as a great “mountain” in which the Lord will make unto “all people a feast of fat things,” and in which he will “swallow up death in victory” and “wipe away tears from off all faces.” These and other prophecies of the kingdom assure us that it is to be a literal government which will take control in the affairs of man.

Some biblical references to the kingdom relate to those who will be the subjects of that divine government, while others refer to its rulers, of whom Jesus will be the chief. There are also many references to the preparation of the kingdom. One of these is The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, which has been assigned for this lesson.

While Jesus will be the chief ruler in the kingdom, the Bible reveals that a “little flock” is selected from among mankind and prepared to be associate rulers with him. (Luke 12:32) These are referred to in the parable as “the children of the kingdom.” These are the “good seed” planted by the Son of man at the beginning of the age, and those other children of the kingdom who have be en developed throughout the age through their teaching of his words.

The enemy in the parable, the Devil, sowed “tares” among the “wheat.” These are referred to in the parable as “the children of the wicked one.” The children of the kingdom have been those begotten and imbued with the hope of the messianic kingdom as presented throughout the Word of God. The children of the evil one, on the other hand, are those begotten by false teachings concerning manmade efforts to convert and rule the world. These are usually noble people so far as their deportment is concerned. It is simply that their religious activity does not square with God’s plan as outlined in the Bible.

These two groups have grown together throughout the age. They are not the Christians and non-Christians, but true and imitation Christians. Nor do those who are merely imitation “children of the kingdom” realize their true identity. In the “harvest” at the end of the age these two groups are separated, and eventually are seen in their true light. The false are destroyed—not as people, but as tares—while the true “children of the kingdom” “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” In other words, these will become associated with Jesus, the great “Sun of Righteousness.”—Mal. 4:2

The “furnace of fire” in which the “tares” are destroyed is symbolic of the great “time o f trouble” with which the present age comes to an end. We are in the midst of that trouble now, and already the imposing religious institutions of earth are being threatened, and in some parts of the world have been virtually destroyed.

Our memory text has but little relationship to the lesson. According to the Revised Version translation of John 5:24, the Lord’s true people will not come into future judgment with the world. There are many scriptures which indicate that the judgment, or trial period, of believers is in this present life. Through their entire lifetime they appear before the divine judgment seat.

I Peter 4:17 declares that judgment begins with the house of God; that is, with “the children of the kingdom.” The word “judgment” is not limited to pronouncing sentence. It covers the entire period of testing, or trial. Peter wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (I Pet. 4:12,13) When Christ’s “glory” is revealed, and he sits upon the throne of his glory, his true followers will be with him. These will be the “angels,” or messengers, of Matthew 25:31-46. This is another parable of the kingdom, one which applies to the future work of the kingdom.

QUESTIONS

Name some of the aspects of the kingdom set forth in the Bible.

Who are the “wheat” and who are the “tares”?

For what is the wheat being prepared?

What is the destiny of the tares?

When do believers appear for trial or judgment?

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