The kingdom of heaven is like unto . . .

Of the seven parables in Matthew chapter 13, the first four are spoken by the seaside, but the last three are spoken privately to the disciples, in the house. The first four relate to exclusively to the kingdom, but the last three anticipate the church which would come into being after the Lord had ascended, and the Holy Spirit had come. Let’s consider a select few of these parables from each of these groups.

The Sower and the Seed, vv. 3-23, is a lesson in evangelism. In this parable, the Lord is showing how the gospel should be propagated in the world, and it is given from the perspective of the evangelist. We learn that the seed - the word - is sown without regard to the kind of reception it will receive. The gospel is for everyone. We also learn that satanic agents will be busy when the seed is sown to snatch it away. Also, to keep us from being discouraged, the Lord shows that we can expect the responses to vary considerably, and it is not for the evangelist to be concerned about results; he must leave that to the Lord. But to encourage, He also tells about good results in fertile soil. All these lessons are invaluable to those involved in spreading the gospel.

We next consider the parables of the Treasure in the Field and the Goodly Pearl. These parables were spoken privately and anticipate the church. Note that in both these parables, the cost to the seeker was that he had to sell all that he had to purchase the treasure and the pearl. And indeed, for the church to be claimed, it cost the Lord everything - even unto death. We read, ‘For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich’, 2 Cor. 8. 9. Note also that in the case of the treasure the whole field was bought to secure it. Such is the scope of the gospel - it embraces all humanity. There is no idea of ‘limited atonement’ here, but the work of the Lord Jesus on Calvary has the potential for the whole world to be saved through faith in that atoning work. It is only refusal to accept the gospel message by faith that will doom souls to a lost eternity.