The Kingdom Just Hits Different

The Kingdom Just Hits Different – Day 2

Matthew 13:24-52 NKJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “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. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

In the Kingdom of Heaven, we do things way differently than everyone else

When we realize that we are not like everyone else, we start to conduct ourselves differently than everyone else. Why? Because the Kingdom just hits different.

In the Kingdom, we don’t trifle with what the world is sowing. We just keep bearing fruit and growing.

In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus points out that there are times that the enemy will sow seeds of an unwanted harvest in your life. The temptation we must overcome is endangering our harvest by focusing on the enemy’s attempts at sabotage.

What Jesus knew, and what the people around Him knew was that wheat and weeds could grow in the same atmosphere, but the fruit they bore made a distinction between them at the time of harvest.

When the weeds were full grown, all they would have to show for their growth is more seeds for more weeds. But when the wheat was full grown, it bent with the weight of the fruit that was on them. 

What is Jesus telling us here? He’s saying, “Don’t sweat that the enemy has come in and scattered his raggedy seeds on the ground you have devoted to God’s harvest. Keep watering. Keep tending. When the time comes for the harvest, it won’t be difficult to tell the difference between that which is light with nothing, and that which is heavy with fruit!”

In the parable of the dragnet, Jesus points out that the net may have all kinds of fish in it, but the angels of heaven are on assignment to sort them out. All may get swept up in the same net, but not all wind up in the same spot.

Jesus is saying to you, “I know the difference between Jezebel and Mary. I know the difference between Judas and John. I know the difference between a tither and a thief. I know the difference between a prayer request and gossip. I know the difference between the faithful and fake-full. I know the difference between compromise and courage. I know…I know! And at just the right time, I’ll sort it out!”

By the way, aren’t you glad He waited until you became a new creation before He started sorting the pile?

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