First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Lord’s Day February 1, 2004 Anno Domini

Matthew 13:24-30; 34-43

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Things hidden will be uncovered. We must wait patiently for the complete removal of the wicked and their corruption. We must wait patiently for the glorification of Christians.

  I.  The sons of the kingdom of heaven are sown in the world.
 

      A.   Jesus explains the kingdom of heaven through this parable.
     

      B.  Yet the Lord speaks about the world, v. 38.
     

      C.  The sons of the kingdom are in the world.
     

      D.  The sons of the evil one are in the world too.
     

  II.  The nature of the kingdom of heaven: sowed, attacked, guarded,
growing, producing, reaped.
 

      A.  The kingdom does not simply appear in a flash. Mt 4:17; 10:7.
        

      B.  People enter the Kingdom of heaven. John 3:3; Mt 4:17; Mt 5-7; Mt
7:24; Mt 7:21.
     

      C.  The kingdom of heaven brings inimitable blessings to its
subjects. Mt 11:5, 28; 12:28.
     

      D.  The kingdom grows like a field that is sown.
     

      E.  The kingdom is watched over and protected with great wisdom.
     

   III. The Lord is training us to patient faith and confidence in his wise
rule.
 

      A.  The servants are troubled by the evil they see and want to take
the situation in hand quickly.
     

      B.  The Son of Man has the kingdom well in hand.
     

      C.  The Lord is not teaching about church discipline, but about the
troubling situation of wicked people thriving even as the kingdom grows.
     

      D.  We are to wait for the brightness of glory, and the fire of
judgment. Daniel 12:1-4.
     

      E.  This parable must speak to each of our hearts: what is your
standing in the Lord’s field?
     

Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl.Div., Ph.D.

pastor@reformedprescambridge.com phone: 617.864.3185