The Lord Jesus Christ called His parables “the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven” in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 13), but in Luke 8 they are called “the mysteries of the Kingdom of God”. Which tells us that it is improper exegesis to try to put a difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.
But because they are called “mysteries” it means that they apply to Christendom – what appears to be the Kingdom of God on earth today – but is not necessarily a true representation of the Kingdom of God (since the tares and the wheat are present at the same time). Therefore we need to understand the meaning of “mysteries” in this context.
The Greek word μυστήριον (mustérion) means either that which is hidden and is now revealed, or that which remains hidden to those without spiritual understanding. But it also means that ordinary everyday objects and creatures are used to illustrate deep spiritual truths hidden under them. Yet it also means that Jesus was deliberately hiding His teachings from His enemies, but revealing them to His disciples (and to the children of God, who are within the Kingdom of God).
1. The Parable of the Sower: The field is the world of humanity, and Christ is the Sower of the seed of the Gospel and Bible truth (now through the Church). The various types of soil represent the various types of human hearts and their receptivity to the Gospel. We learn from this that only a small fraction of those who hear the Gospel will be saved, and only a small number of those who are saved will be fruitful. This also ties in with the Parable of the Harvest in the Gospel of Mark, which teaches us that just as a harvest takes time to develop, the harvest of souls and the development and maturing of the saints takes time. It does not happen overnight. Again we have the Parable of the Fig Tree in Mark, which ties into this and points to the future redemption and restoration of Israel after the Second Coming of Christ.
2. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares: This ties right into the Parable of the Sower, since while the Good Sower was sowing good seed, the Enemy of the Sower (Satan) was sowing tares – weeds which appear to be wheat on the outside, but are not on the inside. This speaks of those who are false professors, claiming to be Christians, without the inner reality of the New Birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit. They are to be found in all the churches, but they are not saved.
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed: Illustrates the fact that whereas the Gospel had a very small beginning with Christ and His apostles, Christianity and the Gospel have since spread worldwide, and there is not a single person who has not heard of Jesus (whether they believe in Him or not). The birds of the air are the false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, and false brethren, which are associated with Christianity but undermine it all the time.
4. The Parable of the Leaven: Ties right into the existence of false brethren, who are not saved, but bring sin and evil into the churches. Leaven is always a metaphor for sin, evil, and corruption, and the churches began to be infiltrated with leaven even while the apostles were on earth. The pure Kingdom of God will not have any leaven, but Christendom does.
5. The Parable of Treasure Hidden in a Field: This veers away from what was being taught earlier, and reveals that the true Church, the Body of Christ, which is found within Christendom, is hidden from the view of men. The Church is precious to God and Christ, therefore Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice (a whole burnt offering) for the Church, and God and Christ rejoice in the existence of the true Church.
6. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price: This parable further illustrates the value of the Church to Christ, who says that "they shall be mine when I make up my jewels" (treasured possession).
7. The Parable of the Good and Bad Fish: This is similar to the parable of the wheat and tares, where the good fish are the children of God while the bad fish are the children of the devil. This is also called the Parable of the Dragnet.
We will not be able to understand the apostasy which exists in Christendom unless we see that God anticipated this through the parables of Christ. And since this was all about the true Church and the counterfeit Church existing ide by side, the unbelieving Jews had no idea as to what was being taught here. Even many Christians today do not understand the hidden meaning of the parables.
But because they are called “mysteries” it means that they apply to Christendom – what appears to be the Kingdom of God on earth today – but is not necessarily a true representation of the Kingdom of God (since the tares and the wheat are present at the same time). Therefore we need to understand the meaning of “mysteries” in this context.
The Greek word μυστήριον (mustérion) means either that which is hidden and is now revealed, or that which remains hidden to those without spiritual understanding. But it also means that ordinary everyday objects and creatures are used to illustrate deep spiritual truths hidden under them. Yet it also means that Jesus was deliberately hiding His teachings from His enemies, but revealing them to His disciples (and to the children of God, who are within the Kingdom of God).
1. The Parable of the Sower: The field is the world of humanity, and Christ is the Sower of the seed of the Gospel and Bible truth (now through the Church). The various types of soil represent the various types of human hearts and their receptivity to the Gospel. We learn from this that only a small fraction of those who hear the Gospel will be saved, and only a small number of those who are saved will be fruitful. This also ties in with the Parable of the Harvest in the Gospel of Mark, which teaches us that just as a harvest takes time to develop, the harvest of souls and the development and maturing of the saints takes time. It does not happen overnight. Again we have the Parable of the Fig Tree in Mark, which ties into this and points to the future redemption and restoration of Israel after the Second Coming of Christ.
2. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares: This ties right into the Parable of the Sower, since while the Good Sower was sowing good seed, the Enemy of the Sower (Satan) was sowing tares – weeds which appear to be wheat on the outside, but are not on the inside. This speaks of those who are false professors, claiming to be Christians, without the inner reality of the New Birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit. They are to be found in all the churches, but they are not saved.
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed: Illustrates the fact that whereas the Gospel had a very small beginning with Christ and His apostles, Christianity and the Gospel have since spread worldwide, and there is not a single person who has not heard of Jesus (whether they believe in Him or not). The birds of the air are the false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, and false brethren, which are associated with Christianity but undermine it all the time.
4. The Parable of the Leaven: Ties right into the existence of false brethren, who are not saved, but bring sin and evil into the churches. Leaven is always a metaphor for sin, evil, and corruption, and the churches began to be infiltrated with leaven even while the apostles were on earth. The pure Kingdom of God will not have any leaven, but Christendom does.
5. The Parable of Treasure Hidden in a Field: This veers away from what was being taught earlier, and reveals that the true Church, the Body of Christ, which is found within Christendom, is hidden from the view of men. The Church is precious to God and Christ, therefore Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice (a whole burnt offering) for the Church, and God and Christ rejoice in the existence of the true Church.
6. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price: This parable further illustrates the value of the Church to Christ, who says that "they shall be mine when I make up my jewels" (treasured possession).
7. The Parable of the Good and Bad Fish: This is similar to the parable of the wheat and tares, where the good fish are the children of God while the bad fish are the children of the devil. This is also called the Parable of the Dragnet.
We will not be able to understand the apostasy which exists in Christendom unless we see that God anticipated this through the parables of Christ. And since this was all about the true Church and the counterfeit Church existing ide by side, the unbelieving Jews had no idea as to what was being taught here. Even many Christians today do not understand the hidden meaning of the parables.
