170 of 365 - Kingdom of Heaven

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field… Matthew 13:24
 
John the Baptist and Jesus both began their ministry preaching, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

In fact, Jesus talked A LOT about the Kingdom of Heaven. It is in the Gospels more than 80 times; a main theme of Jesus’ teaching.

Have you ever stopped to think about it? What is the Kingdom of Heaven? Where is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew shares several parables (stories used to illustrate a lesson) told by Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a seed that was sown. And though the sower and the seed are the same, the soil it falls on is different, producing different results. Jesus, the Word, came in the flesh to sow the seed (Himself) here on earth. The soil preparation and garden tending are in our domain.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a great treasure hidden in a field or a pearl of incredible value. Whether stumbled upon or searched for makes no difference. The difference is in the value placed on it once found; recognizing it is a treasure worth giving up everything to find and keep.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds, but weeds infiltrated the field by the enemy; it is like a net thrown into the sea to catch fish of all kinds. The evil and the righteous exist side by side in the present. The devil and sin still have a place in this kingdom era we are living in, but it won’t last forever.  A separation will take place; a time will come when our decisions here will determine our forever future.
 
Questions: What do you think of when you hear “the kingdom of Heaven”? What do some of these parables tell you about it?