Truth Streams

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:28
This parable is only found in Mark. It is also the only parable that is unique to Mark’s gospel. It is the second kingdom parable in the second gospel. There are three [...]

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:13
The parable of the ten virgins is a part of what is called the temple discourse. As Jesus departed the temple mere days before the crucifixion, He paused and His disciples gathered around Him. Jesus commented about [...]

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:14
This kingdom parable is a companion to the parable of laborers in the vineyard from Matthew chapter 20. The main thought or the “moral” of the story is given to us in verse fourteen. These are the same words used in the disclosure statement of the [...]

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Matt 20:16
The phrase we read in the first verse of Matthew chapter twenty should arrest our attention. Jesus only uses the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like” when an important concept or overarching theme of the kingdom [...]

“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matt 20:27-28
It is time for us to step outside the parables for a moment to discuss some foundational [...]

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account [...]

“Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt 13:51-52
Doctrine must [...]

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.” Matt 13:47-48
The dragnet is the final of the private kingdom parables [...]

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:45-46
Among the kingdom parables of Matthew chapter thirteen, the pearl of great price stands alone in several respects:

It alone [...]

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matt 13:44
We have come to the “private” kingdom parables. These are the last three parables of Matthew chapter [...]