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NASB | Matthew 13:45 ¶ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 13:45 ¶ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, |
Subject: Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV) Pls Explain |
Bible Note: Hello Kelos, Thanks for asking, I'd be glad to oblige. Well, starting in Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" This is where I believe we Should really start paying attention, and listen to our Lord. He is about to give us the Keys to understanding that which even the Prophets did not have. i.e. "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven," 11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Then He goes on to explain that the reason He spoke in parables was to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. 14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' Now hear is another place to pay close attention this is where it gets important. I believe that He is talking to all His disciples, because we are His disciples too. 16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. Now here in v19 He starts to give us the keys. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. This is in reference to v4, so the [birds] symbolize the evil one, the devil. I'm not going through all of these just this one to show how the birds help us understand the parable of the mustard seed, wherein the birds nest in the branches of a overgrown tree. This gives me a picture of the organized Church, with all its false teaching, like, well, I don't want to mention any but there are plenty that are out there, I don't think I need to point them out. Now lets please skip to v 24, the [tares and the wheat] where our Lord begins to give a series of parables. [emphases are mine] 24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to [a man who sowed] good seed in his field. 31 He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which [a man took and sowed] in his field; Now in this one the keys for understanding are not given in matt 13, but liven is used many times in scripture and it [ALWAYS] means evil. Just so we know to be careful of false interpretation, and how a little bit of false teaching can infect the whole Kingdom. 33 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." Now hear is the clincher, the [man] as used in all the parables that have a man sowing, or, the one who sows, Is the Son of Man. 37 And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 "So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. Notice please just who's kingdom it is. Can we buy His kingdom? 41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of [His kingdom] all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Now take a look at v44 using the key that our Lord gives us on who the [man] is. 44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which [a man] found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. I will ask you now, How do we gain our place in the Kingdom, do we buy it? Or, do we simply believe in the name of the one that Bought us with His Blood? God bless. John |