Jesus Taught About the Kingdom of Heaven Through Parables

John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom was "at hand" or close (Matthew 3:2). 

Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom was upon us.

• (Matthew 12:28)  "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

The Parables, in His Own Words is one of the ways Jesus taught people about the Kingdom of Heaven. These are the parables that appear only in the gospel of Matthew, and they are all about the Kingdom of Heaven.

• The Wheat and the Tares (13:24-30)
• The Hidden Treasure (13:44)
• The Pearl of the Great Price (13:45-46)
• The Dragnet (13:47-50)
• The Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35)
• The Workers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)
• The Two Sons (21:28-32)
• The Wedding Feast (22:1-14)
• The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1-13)
• The Talents (25:14-30)

The Wheat and the Tares (13:24-30)

• When the wheat and tares grow they look the same, but when they are fully grown they look completely different. Some people are in the church and look like other Christians, but Jesus knows the difference and when judgment day comes Jesus will separate the hypocrites from the Christians. The tares that get burned represent the people who go to Hell and the wheat represents the people who go to Heaven.

The Hidden Treasure (13:44)

• When the man finds the treasure he finds it and the hides it in a field. Then he goes and sells everything he has and buys a field. When he sells everything he has that represents giving up everything you have just to get into Heaven.

The Pearl of the Great Price (13:45-46)

• This parable has the same idea as the parable about the hidden treasure. When he sells everything he has that represents giving up everything you have just to get into Heaven.

The Dragnet (13:47-50)

• The good were put into the vessel and the bad were thrown away. When judgment day comes the Angels will separate the evil from the good and the evil will be thrown into a furnace of fire where there will be whining and gnashing of the teeth.

The Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35)

• Just like the servant who was thrown into prison you will be treated the same way if you do not forgive your brother from the heart.

The Workers in the Vineyard (20:1-16)

• The people who are put on front by other people should humble themselves. They will be the last ones. The people who are humble will be first.

The Two Sons (21:28-32)

• We are all sinners. Some of us are sorry for our sins and repent. Some of us choose to live a life of sin. The two sons show the different attitudes. Those who repent will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Wedding Feast (22:1-14)

• Many people were invited to go to the wedding, but they didn’t want to come. When the man came into the wedding hall he didn’t have a wedding garment meaning he was invited but did not want to wear the right clothing. The Master told his servants tie his hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. Everyone is called to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But we must all enter the same way. Some people want to be saved but only on their own terms.

The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1-13)

• The wise virgins were ready to go to the wedding, but the foolish virgins were not. Be ready for when Jesus Christ comes.

The Talents (25:14-30)

• The Master made the servants who gained more talents and were faithful over a few things rulers of many things. The servant who hid his talent had it taken away and he was cast into outer darkness. Use your talents. The people who use their talents bear good fruit and the people who don’t do not bear good fruit.

Image credits: Jesus: In His Own Words CD Collection by Henry O. Arnold  and Cross GIF.  Content also published Medium.com.