The kingdom of God is like...

[Episkopos]

.................a net!

The kingdom of God is like a net. But unlike a regular fishing net it just catches the smallest fish. The big ones just bounce off. Saul of Tarsus sought to enter into the kingdom...to win Christ. So he made himself as small as he could in order to enter in. Even his name change to Paul...meant "small." In a society where bigger is better this is difficult to comprehend. Even leadership in this world is to make oneself big...or great. But in the kingdom it is the one who can be the smallest....who can make himself small...he is the leader. Many will try to become small...but will be unable. The way is just that narrow...the net is just that fine. Jesus made Himself as a servant. The greatest of all is the servant of all. Can we really take the lowest place when we enter a room? Be small! Make yourself small. Like Paul saw it, anything beneficial to us in the natural world should be counted as a detriment to entering into the kingdom of God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I must decrease...

My strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Think back to what you were when He called to you. Not wise or influential. He chooses the small and despised and weak things to shame the wise and strong and to nullify the things that are.

 

[amadeus]

.................a net!

The kingdom of God is like a net. But unlike a regular fishing net it just catches the smallest fish. The big ones just bounce off. Saul of Tarsus sought to enter into the kingdom...to win Christ. So he made himself as small as he could in order to enter in. Even his name change to Paul...meant "small." In a society where bigger is better this is difficult to comprehend. Even leadership in this world is to make oneself big...or great. But in the kingdom it is the one who can be the smallest....who can make himself small...he is the leader. Many will try to become small...but will be unable. The way is just that narrow...the net is just that fine. Jesus made Himself as a servant. The greatest of all is the servant of all. Can we really take the lowest place when we enter a room? Be small! Make yourself small. Like Paul saw it, anything beneficial to us in the natural world should be counted as a detriment to entering into the kingdom of God.

Hmmm... perhaps small to fit through the strait and narrow way [Matt 7:13-14]

 

[amadeus]

@Episkopos
Do you recall these verses?

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19

And then when Jesus first told them to cast their net into the sea:

"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.​

And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." Matt 5:5-6​

That was before Jesus was crucified, but then later after both the crucifixion and the Resurrection:

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." John 21:6

"Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken." John 21:10-11

What was the difference?

 

[Episkopos]

@Episkopos
Do you recall these verses?

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19

And then when Jesus first told them to cast their net into the sea:

"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." Matt 5:5-6​

That was before Jesus was crucified, but then later after both the crucifixion and the Resurrection:

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." John 21:6

"Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken." John 21:10-11

What was the difference?

The way I see this is that God is a God of covenant. We broke the covenant in that we had no power to stop sinning under the law. However under grace, with the justification of life, we now can keep the covenant through His life in us.

 

[Episkopos]

@Episkopos
Do you recall these verses?

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19

And then when Jesus first told them to cast their net into the sea:

"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." Matt 5:5-6​

That was before Jesus was crucified, but then later after both the crucifixion and the Resurrection:

"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." John 21:6

"Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken." John 21:10-11

What was the difference?

There is also the idea of new wine in old wineskins. The new wine makes the old wineskins burst. Jesus was preaching the new and living way of the kingdom life. So when the new wine is poured into new wineskins (hearts)...both are preserved.

 

[amadeus]

There is also the idea of new wine in old wineskins. The new wine makes the old wineskins burst. Jesus was preaching the new and living way of the kingdom life. So when the new wine is poured into new wineskins (hearts)...both are preserved.

Preserved, so that nothing breaks through the bottom or the sides, but at the top overflowing so that we have some to share with those about us who hunger and thirst for that which we have... our abundance in Him!

"And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil." Joel 2:24

"... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

 

[Episkopos]

...a treasure hidden in a field.



“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

We tend to mix up or separate the treasure with the field the treasure is found in. But we can't have the treasure without the field. The treasure is the eternal life. But the field is the spiritual realm where that eternal life is found in.

Does anyone know how to buy the field?

of course people have momentary spiritual experiences or even short term fillings of the Spirit. And this is akin to a visit to a place or even the renting of a chalet for a short stay...as in a vacation.

But the word is telling us...not of just visiting or renting...but selling everything to buy and to remain there. We are to seek first the kingdom of God...not just think of it as a week-end getaway. We are to become citizens of heaven...not just heavenly tourists. As such we need to own land. We need to invest to the degree where nationality and citizenship come into play.

It's about where we put our priorities.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Does anyone know how to buy the field?

Do get what your are saying in your post. But consider...not to distract from but maybe compliment what you have shared and speak of. John 4:35-36 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. [36] And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

gathers fruit unto Life (Luke 11:23) can only be bringing forth fruit of the Spirit of God. Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one ;

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
...the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in “the world”. ...which when a man has found...for joy ...he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.
^ not just the treasure hidden but “the field” ...“the world”.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; [22] Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; [23] And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (2 Corinthians 6:10)

God has done a great thing. Sometimes it is overwhelming what He has done.

 

[Episkopos]

....a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

The new is the spiritual life....the life in the kingdom of God. And this is in holiness...in Christ.

The old is the law of righteousness that is according to God's eternal ways. This is about obedience to the law of God.

In Christ these are BOTH brought together in one. Since we are a body...we need to walk not only in righteousness with God but also with one another.

But we have people taking hold of the new by rejecting the old (modern Christians)....or else remaining in the old by rejecting the new (The Jews and some Christian sects).

But in Christ both are upheld. This goes against the natural mind and requires patience and faith in God so that these may be understood in their context.