Kingdom of God and Parables

Gods redemptive plan that began with covenant and law in the Old Testament focuses on the
ministry of Jesus Christ. And what Jesus Christ brings in by his obedient life and death is the
Kingdom of God. In fact the Kingdom of God is the central message of Jesus and John the
Baptists ministry.

I.

What is parable? (Fee, Ch 8)

It is a short story that provides immediate points of reference and calls for response. Its like
a joke (be careful, Im not saying the Kingdom of God is a joke). Joke is not supposed to
be explained, but to be instantly recognized. It is not designed to provide knowledge, at least
it is not the primary purpose of parable. It is designed to incite immediate ah-ha response.

II.

Why did Jesus use the parable?

Matt 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables.

If the mission of Jesus was to proclaim the good news, he should have taught it in a clear,
straightforward fashion. Even Jesus disciples did not fully understand the parables (Matt
13:18, 36).

III.
Examples of the Parables of the Kingdom
(1) The parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23)
What is the Kingdom of Heaven like in this parable?
-

(2)
-

IV.

The gospel is proclaimed in the hostile environment (on the path, on the rocky places,
among the thorns, and on good soil).
The gospel is not just to be understood intellectually; it is to be sown in heart. It is to be
heard, understood, and lived out.

The parable of the weeds (Matt 13:24-30)

The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
Wheat and weed are growing in the same field.
The harvested will be stored while the weed will be burned. Meaning?
The harvest is the end of the ageso it will be at the end of the age (Matt 13:39-40)
Urgency of the time

What is the Kingdom?

The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven

Has it come to you?

Does it work in you?
How is the Kingdom related to the end of the present age?

V.

Salvation and Eschatological Nature of the Kingdom of God

Read Luke 17-24

1. Jesus and the Kingdom of God; Eschatological Perspective (carefully read Fee, ch. 7, pp.
145-148)
The following is the rough sketch of Jesus ministry:
(1) Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom as (coming) with his own coming.
(2) He showed the signs of the Kingdom; casting out demons, miracles, accepting
outcasts and sinnersSo, people kept watching him to see if he was the Messiah.
(3) Jesus was (crucified/executed) and the light died out.
(4) Jesus rose from the dead. People saw Jesus resurrection as a new chance. The
disciples thought that now is the time to restore Israel. Acts 1:3-6
(5) But Jesus (ascended) to the Father and sent his Spirit to the world.
(6) The Kingdom or the end of this age apparently had not yet taken place.

What is it that Jesus accomplished during his ministry? How do we understand the
disappointment and frustration from the side of his disciples?

2. Eschatological tension (3 tenses of salvation): see next page

Eschatology means the last thing towards which God is pushing everything
The early church (and we also) lived between the two times- between the beginning of
the Kingdom and the consummation of the Kingdom.
With Jesus as the King and his Kingdom with us, the end time has ( ) begun. With the
power of the King we are justified and because sons, new men, new creation, new self
with eternal self, and temples of the Holy Spirit. But our salvation is ( ) completed.
A good question for each of us is: how do we live with the eschatological tension? The
eschatological tension does not give us fear and uncertainty of our faith or future. (1) It
tells us who we are- we are kingdom citizens and co-heir with Christ himself and (2)
gives us security, peace, and comfort, for the world is in our Lords hands (the message of
the Prophets and Gospels!). Luke 17:20-: the Kingdom of God is within you.
Analogy employed from WWII to explain the eschatological tension: ( ) and ( )
3. Christ makes all things new

What did Christ save?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Christ is coming back to the earth (Matt 24:30, 25:31, Luke 21:27).
Christ will renew all things (note the possible translations of Matt 19:28, Revelation 21:5)
Christ will separate the sheep and goats on the earth (Matt 25:31-46)
The whole creation is waiting for reconciled to God (Romans 8:19-22)
With Christs blood all things were reconciled to God (Colossians 1:15-20)
Heavenly living is down on earth: the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of
heaven from my God (Revelation 3:12)
7. The final state where we will live with new resurrection bodies is the new heaven and
new earth

4. New in Greek NT
Two most common words for new are neos and kainos (TDNT, vol. III, p. 447).
Neos: ( )
Kainos: ( )

II Cor 5:17 he is a new creation; the old has gone.

Eph 4:23-24 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Col 3:10 and have put on the new self.
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
Rev 21:5 I am making everything new!

5. Eschatological nature of the Kingdom of God

- Where is the Kingdom of God and how do we live in it?
- The relationship of the Kingdom with the creation: does God abandon or give up his
creation?
- Making everything new and old covenant: does God abandon his covenant that he
made with the creation?

Matt 19:28
Col 1:15-20

Issues
What will happen at Jesus
coming
How is reconciliation
related to the renewal?

Biblical Teaching

Rom 8:24, Eph 2:8

(past)
I Cor 1:18 (present)
Rom 13:11 (future)
Rom 5:9-10
Rev 21:5
(Isa 65:17)
II Pet 3:10-13
(Ps 97:3)
I Cor 15:42-44
Matt 25:31-46
Col 3:1-4

Tense of salvation?

Meaning of making
everything new?
Meaning of fire?
Is the resurrection body still
a body?
Sheep and goats:
Will our present life be found
in the future Kingdom?
What and where is the
heaven?