MESSAGES
What Is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13)
Jesus once explained to his disciples what the Kingdom of Heaven was like (Matthew 13).
Through parables, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is LIKE A TREASURE found by a man. Because it is so good and so deeply desired, the person who finds it trades everything they have for that treasure:
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
But Jesus also taught that the Kingdom of Heaven will be the moment of God's justice — the moment of separation between those who gave up earthly treasures and sought the greatest treasure of all, which is God:
Matthew 13:
41 “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.
49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In another Bible passage, Jesus said: Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Having God in your heart is a foundation, and this foundation helps you overcome temptations and endure the struggles of this world without denying Christ through your actions.
WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE? BECAUSE WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THAT'S WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
WHAT HAS BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU: God, or the things you have achieved — or want to achieve — in this world?
Don't be like the Jews from the time Jesus was crucified, because they heard the exact same message you are hearing today and didn't care about it, despising it and refusing to follow it.
Matthew 13:15 — “For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”
When Matthew 13:47-50 is fulfilled and Jesus casts the net, WILL YOU BE PUT INTO ONE OF THE CONTAINERS?
