Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Jesus is teaching in Galilee.

Continuing in with stories of planting and growing.

These two parables show the nature of the Kingdom growing despite other influences – the enemy’s own children, and the “other” fish.

Turn to Matthew 13

Jesus gets more specific and detailed about the harvest.

There is a harvest when the good will be separated from the bad.

Parable of the Sower – 4 soils, remember only 1 good soil produces fruit.

1, 2, 3 show influence of enemy 1, enemy’s kingdom influence 2, enemy’s distractions 3.

Continuing in our next parable comes between Sower and last week, growing seed, mustard seed, leaven.

Reading through in context first, then coming back through to understand.

Read

Remember – Kingdom of Heaven is like… - not the man or the sowing but the overall result of the story.

Here is the influence of another sower, another seed, and a different picture of harvest time.

Next are the mustard seed and leaven.

So, the negative interpretation of the leaven could be – woman, hide, leaven, three measures, corruption affecting the Kingdom.

I favor the positive interpretation because of context, but both could work.

v.36 Then Jesus is said to explain the parables to the disciples in private – goes into the house.

Interesting they seem to get the other parables but asked about the weeds.

The Enemy Resists Kingdom Growth

The enemy resists Kingdom growth.

Notice Son of Man is the sower, people of the Kingdom planted in the world.

Enemy – devil – is the other sower, his own seed, people.

Darnel

Picture of darnel and wheat.

Similar looking until harvest.

Darnel roots underground entanglement.

The enemy’s method is imitation, infiltration, false teaching

Let them grow together until harvest.

Damaging to remove the evil.

Because they imitate Kingdom people, may look alike but the fruit/crop is the real proof.

(example of imitation – church, religious, may be evil on outside or may be in the church)

You plant your garden here in the spring.

You are looking for the fruit and vegetables - the harvest.

The Harvest Is Coming

Harvest is end of age.

Harvesters are angels.

Separation of evil from the good.

Second parable – fish in net

Reminder Like a net… - not the net or the fish, but the process and results.

Lake or sea – usually represents all of humanity

When it was full = Harvest.

End of the age.

Fullness of time.

Complete.

Fishermen = angels again.

Again, separating the catch, the harvest.

Next - what happens after the harvest is separated?

Two Kingdoms, Two Destinies.

Parable of the weeds

Explanation of the parable of weeds

Explanation of the parable of the net

John the Baptist said this about Jesus when he was teaching and baptizing.

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, ,

Very similar type picture of the purpose of Jesus.

Two Kingdoms

Kingdom of God, kingdom of the enemy the devil

The righteous and the evil

The good and the bad/worthless

Both growing together in the world.

Two Destinies

Good gathered into barn, containers, shining as the sun.

Also later we’ll see - enter into joy.

Shine as the sun – similar to

Evil - cut down, discarded, burned, blazing furnace, weeping and gnashing of teeth

weeping, wailing, loud.

gritting, grinding teeth as in suffering pain

The destiny of the unrighteous, evil, kingdom of the devil – anyone who does not receive the message of the Kingdom and turn to Jesus – is blazing furnace, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The destiny of the righteous – good soil, grow and produce fruit – is joy and reward in the Kingdom.

Big Idea: The enemy resists Kingdom growth, but the righteous will shine after the harvest.

The destiny of the unrighteous, evil, kingdom of the devil – anyone who does not receive the message of the Kingdom and turn to Jesus – is blazing furnace, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The enemy resists Kingdom growth, but the righteous will shine after the harvest.

The destiny of the unrighteous, evil, kingdom of the devil – anyone who does not receive the message of the Kingdom and turn to Jesus – is blazing furnace, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The destiny of the righteous – good soil, grow and produce fruit – is joy and reward in the Kingdom.

What About You?

Men – you lead your family, your wife, your children, your grandchildren and extended family.

The decision you make to follow Jesus or not, to receiving and living the message of the Kingdom, will directly impact generations.

Sure, each one of us is responsible for our own decisions, but men you lead the way in this journey.

The beauty of the Kingdom is that, even if we have made a total wreck of our lives and destroyed everything, even if we got caught in the enemy’s traps and addictions, Jesus is still ready to forgive and to restore your heart and life.

Are you willing to lay it all in His hands and allow Him to transform you?

I’m new here, just 3 months as your pastor.

But I’m not naïve.

I’m not blind.

I know you have struggles and temptations and the enemy is trying to draw you away.

I know, because even after 21 years of full-time service, I’m not perfect and I still have struggles.

The key is to daily give them to Jesus.