Full Transcript for 177: Those Ominous Birds (Walking with Jesus Series, #039: Matt. 13:31-35)

message fare throughout the church age? 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:56.240 Which we know is about 2,000 years. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.480 We're near the end of it, we believe. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:03.360 And frankly, it's not a glossy prediction from Christ. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:06.079 He doesn't say, oh, it's going to be great. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:13.839 It's going to increase, increase, greater and greater, and more and more will come into the kingdom inheritance understanding. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.759 No, it's not like that at all. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:25.279 Now we've already examined two parables previously in this chapter: the parable of the four soils and the parable of the wheat and tares. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:41.199 You remember the parable of the four soils taught that many will reject this message of kingdom inheritance, some will receive it for a time and later forsake it, and a few will receive it and become fruit bearing. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:49.120 In the parable of the wheat and the tares, we learn that Satan will counterfeit the word of the kingdom message. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:55.519 And so we understand in part why Christ's prediction is not a glossy one. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:04.720 Today we're going to understand two more parables: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leavened bread. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:15.199 These two parables taken together explain what will happen to the word of the kingdom message, or I like to call it the kingdom inheritance message, means the same thing. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:23.439 Jesus and John the Baptist called it the gospel of the kingdom, which simply means the good news about the kingdom or kingdom inheritance. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:33.519 But these two parables together will explain what will happen to that message over the course of the church age and what the result will be by the end of the age. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:41.439 Jesus starts out the parables in this chapter with the words, the kingdom of heaven is like. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:46.240 So we know this isn't about the gospel of saving grace. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:51.839 This is about the kingdom of heaven, in particular the offer of kingdom inheritance. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.120 Now, in order to correctly understand these parables, we need to keep in mind what this term means. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:04.319 Kingdom of heaven or kingdom of the heavens is a more literal translation. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:08.000 We need to understand what it means and how Christ is using it in these parables. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:14.079 As we learned in previous messages, the kingdom of heaven is not heaven per se. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:16.800 That's not what he's talking about here. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:21.199 It's not about possessing eternal life and going to heaven when you die. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:31.120 As is so commonly interpreted that way, but that's what most evangelicals think it is, but that's not what it is, according to the context. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:35.600 You have to keep scripture in its historical grammatical context. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:45.600 The kingdom of heaven has to do with the millennial kingdom, not the new heaven, new earth age, or what some call the eternal state. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:58.240 By the way, I was thinking the reason why so many think that the kingdom of heaven is heaven is because they don't even think there's going to be a millennial kingdom. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:59.600 There are millennials. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.080 Some throughout history have been post-millennial. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.559 There still are post-millennialists today. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:07.120 They don't even believe there's going to be a millennial kingdom. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:13.360 But even those who do believe there will be a millennial kingdom, many of them don't see this as referring to the millennium. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.879 They think it's talking about heaven, which again it's not. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:27.039 The kingdom of heaven is New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven in the end times and hovers over earth during the millennial reign of Christ. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:37.120 And we see a hint of this way back in the book of Genesis when Jacob saw a ladder between heaven and earth in his dream. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.360 And then we see it in the New Testament when Jesus was talking with Nathanael. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:45.600 And remember, Nathanael was an Israelite in whom is no guile or deceit. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.840 In other words, he was an upright man. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:57.440 Jesus told him, Nathanael, you will see the angels of heaven ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.840 So again, a ladder or stairway image between heaven and earth. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:20.480 So the kingdom of heaven, I said it's New Jerusalem, it's the heavenly ruling headquarters of the Messianic kingdom, and it will be populated in the kingdom era only by Jesus and his faithful bride, which is comprised of faithful believers from all ages. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.559 Certainly the church age, but what about faithful believers from Israel? 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:25.360 Sure. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:34.399 We know from Matthew 8, 11, and 12, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob will be there, and probably a host of others who are faithful in the Old Testament. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:45.120 According to Old Testament prophecy, Israel has been promised rulership over the Gentile nations in the earthly messianic kingdom. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.799 That's a given. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.000 And they've not fulfilled this prophecy yet. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:56.399 Because the nation first needs to repent and reconcile with Jehovah before the promise can be fulfilled. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:05.840 But we do believe that's the primary, or at least one of the

primary purposes of the tribulation is to bring national Israel to that point of repentance. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:13.600 But at Christ's first coming, he offered the nation something new that was only a mystery in the Old Testament. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:22.080 And that's why they're called the mysteries of the kingdom parables in Matthew 13, because these were not known in the Old Testament. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:26.879 At least this concept of inheritance was not known, inheritance in the heavenly realm. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:34.559 Jesus offered to Israel the privilege of ruling together with him in the heavenly New Jerusalem, which I said is the ruling realm. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.120 However, there are spiritual qualifications. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.840 The inheritance is not automatic. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:47.679 Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached, repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:56.080 In other words, turn from your sins, return to fellowship with Jehovah God, if you want to inherit a place in his new Jerusalem. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.840 Folks, this is not the gospel of grace by faith alone. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:05.840 This is the gospel of the kingdom, the good news about how to inherit a place in the heavenly ruling realm of the kingdom. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:11.279 Sadly, the religious leadership of Christ they did not see the need to repent of their sinful ways. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.240 They stubbornly refused Christ's offer. 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.440 Tragic. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:19.679 And so at that point, Jesus began speaking in parables. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.559 And there's a real line of demarcation here. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:34.080 Matthew 12 is where the religious leaders, the Pharisees mainly, referred to Jesus doing miracles, casting out demons, referred to him as a satanic worker. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:37.919 That he did it in the power of Satan, not in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.279 And thus they blasphemed Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.360 And that was the end. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:13:05.279 Jesus essentially had made the decision, most commentators would say in Matthew 12, that the offer to Israel nationally is going to be taken off the table and given to another ethnos is the Greek word, meaning ethnic group or nationality, nation. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:10.399 And we know that to be the predominantly Gentile church of Jesus Christ. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.639 We are that ethnos. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.679 But we would have to bring forth the fruits of it. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:20.639 In other words, just as Israel had to qualify to inherit, so we have to qualify to inherit. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.159 It's not automatic. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:34.320 But Jesus began speaking in parables specifically for the purpose of revealing truth to truth seekers while concealing truth from truth rejectors. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.879 And the content of these parables is the word of the kingdom. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:45.200 That's specifically stated in Matthew 13, 19, when anyone hears the word of the kingdom. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.960 And the other bookend at the end of the chapter is verse 52. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:52.639 He's talking about matters concerning the kingdom of heaven. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:14:06.559 So this whole chapter of seven parables is about how the kingdom of heaven message or offer would fare, how it would do during the church age. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:18.320 When Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like, he is using parables to explain certain aspects of the kingdom of heaven, such as, what are the qualifications for inheriting the kingdom? 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:31.840 And by the way, we're going to see this one illustrated later, for example, when we go to the parable of the talents, the parable of the pounds, the parable of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son, we're going to see this question answered. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:37.360 And another question, how will the good news of inheritance in the heavenly kingdom be received? 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.799 We already saw that in the parable of the four soils. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.320 What will Satan do to oppose it and pervert it? 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.840 We saw that illustrated in the parable of the wheat and the tares. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:53.279 How will the word of the kingdom teaching fare in the present church age? 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:58.399 We're going to see that today in these two parables of the mustard seed and the leavened bread. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:03.759 What will happen to those who reject it, and what will happen to those who accept it? 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:10.799 We've seen part of the answer to these last two questions already, but we're going to see more in future messages. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:16.639 So as we go through parables over the teaching ministry of Christ, we're going to see all these questions answered. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:24.159 Now let's hone in our attention, given that foundation, to the next two parables here in Matthew 13. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.080 We look first at the parable of the mustard seed, verses 31 and 32. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:48.240 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. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:53.200 Now, mustard seeds, in case you're not familiar, they're tiny. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.960 They're rather minuscule. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:58.320 But when they're planted, they grow rather quickly. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:03.600 The kind of mustard plant that Jesus has in mind is common in the

Middle East. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:16.639 Typically, they're shrubs that typically grow to about four feet in height, give or take, but under right conditions, with enough water and so on, they can grow to heights of 15 to 20 feet. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:22.960 And in that sense, they become a tree of sorts, at least compared with a four-foot-high bush. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.639 However, the mustard tree, it's very stemi. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:32.320 It's not like a tree with a big, massive trunk, you know, that grows up and has massive limbs. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.320 No, it's a very stemy tree. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:40.960 More like our butterfly bushes, if you're familiar with those, than an oak or a pine. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.799 So when you think tree, don't think of a big, you know, hardwood or something like that. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:49.840 No, it's more like a real stemmy bush, but it can get quite tall, 15 to 20 feet. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.120 Now the details about the tree are not all that critical. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:17:05.680 Jesus' point is that a tiny little seed, about the size of the head of a ballpoint pen, grows into a large evergreen plant up to 20 feet in height. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.440 And it happens rather quickly. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.720 Here's the point. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:15.839 That is how the word of the kingdom will progress in the earliest stage of the church, the church age. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:29.680 From a tiny seed, so to speak, the word of the kingdom preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus and later the apostles spread quickly and characterized Christianity in the first century apostolic church. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.640 So the early church knew this message. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:35.359 The early church largely embraced this message. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:39.359 Yes, there were enemies who opposed it and so on, Judaizers for one. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:46.480 After Jesus and John, the message then was spread by the twelve apostles and the seventy. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:50.480 Then a few years later, you remember the apostle Paul took it to the Gentile world? 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.839 Same message. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.720 So it started very small, tiny. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:01.200 The word of the kingdom, though, spread rapidly and became a fast-growing tree of sorts. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:07.200 And the first century apostolic church was well taught in this doctrine. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.119 In fact, Paul taught it everywhere he went. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.079 We know that from the book of Acts and the Epistles. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:23.119 However, something ominous is introduced into this parable, kind of like a dark cloud hanging over the Word of the Kingdom doctrine, seeking to destroy it. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:27.759 And what hint in the parable do we have of this looming evil? 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.640 Yes, those ominous birds.

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:35.200 I love birds, they can be very beautiful. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:40.720 My daughter bought me a bird feeder that sticks to the window. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:46.640 My office is on the first floor, and right outside the window is a bird feeder. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:50.000 And I love it when the birds come up and eat the seeds. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:50.880 But you know what? 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.559 They do that to mustard seed pods too, as we're gonna see. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.400 And in this sense, they're ominous. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:02.079 You know, the birds that we look at today, you know, there's no ominous aspect to it, but there isn't this parable. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:07.119 As I said earlier, many tend to interpret this parable in a gospel sense. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:16.000 And what they suggest is that the fast-growing mustard plant symbolizes people getting saved in the early church. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:24.480 And then the early church taking off and growing throughout the church age, so that today it's mighty in size and its branches spread throughout the entire earth. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.680 In fact, the birds of the air come to lodge in its branches. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:35.039 They say that suggests the blessing that the church of Jesus Christ is to all who find refuge there. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.119 But I believe that's based on incorrect assumptions. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:48.720 For the context of these parables, first is not how the gospel of grace or even the church fares in the church age. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:56.240 We've already seen it's the word of the kingdom, the message of kingdom inheritance, how that's going to do over the course of the church age. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:02.960 And as I said earlier, the gospel of initial salvation by grace through faith is not the focus of these parables. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:07.200 Now that's an important message, too, but it's not what these parables are about. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:10.240 Nor is that the focus of the gospels. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:15.039 For that matter, it's not the predominant focus of the New Testament. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:23.839 The predominant focus is believers growing by grace so that they can be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:32.000 Here in Matthew 13, especially, the kingdom of heaven is in focus, and the word of the kingdom specifically. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:43.359 So starting out like a tiny mustard seed of teaching from the mouth of Christ, John the Baptist, the word of the kingdom spreads rapidly, becomes like an overgrown bush. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:58.640 Incidentally, I think it's interesting that Jesus does not describe it like a tree that he would have been familiar with, like a fig or a sycamore tree, which are hardier, more stable like our hardwood trees. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:03.039 Of course, there's a reason why Jesus uses the mustard tree imagery. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:12.079 Not only does it grow quickly, but the stemy, overgrown, evergreen bush, the mustard tree, is not going to remain strong for very long. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:16.240 It's going to be overcome, as we shall see. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.720 And so Christ's imagery is quite appropriate. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.960 And we would expect that of Jesus, right? 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:29.839 In the Middle East, it's common to see birds perching in the branches of the mustard tree, eating the seeds out of the seed pods. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.240 They're real slender, bean-like. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:35.440 Well, the birds sit up in the trees and eat the seeds. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.880 Well, you can use your imagination what this is talking about. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.519 The seeds represent the word of the kingdom. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:46.640 The birds represent the working of Satan to destroy the message of the kingdom. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:22:03.119 It would be inconsistent in this context to say the birds, in the first parable, the parable of the soils represents the wicked one eating up the seeds of the word of the kingdom that are sown on the wayside, but in This parable, they portray something good and positive. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.599 That doesn't make sense. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:08.640 It's not consistent. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.960 And it would be confusing. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:15.119 You mean the birds are evil in the first parable, but they're good in this parable? 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:15.920 No. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.519 That's not correct. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.119 The birds are evil. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:22.880 Picturing the evil one working to destroy the message of the kingdom. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.880 That's exactly what has happened. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:32.079 Satan wants to keep children of God from becoming fruit-bearing sons of the kingdom, sons to glory. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.079 Call it daughters if you want. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:39.920 Referring to people who are believers who are on the pathway of sanctification. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:42.720 They're cooperating with God in their life. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.920 So many Christians do not cooperate with God. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.400 They want to do their own thing. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:56.960 Well, they're not on the pathway of reward and inheritance in the coming kingdom, but you are if you're on the narrow path that leads to life. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:05.680 So Satan tries to do everything he can to keep us from becoming fruit-bearing, mature sons to glory. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:10.400 And his plan is foiled when believers embrace the word of the kingdom message. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:16.640 Can you imagine believers hearing this message and they catch it and they get on fire for God and start living for him? 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.920 Changes things.

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.119 Satan doesn't like that. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:24.319 So when that happens, he resorts to plan B, the planting of tares. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:32.240 He's going to do everything he can to stop the sons of the kingdom from progressing and bearing fruit. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.079 He wants to trip us up. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:43.759 He wants to disqualify us from becoming inheritors by embracing his false teaching and luring us to live licentiously or legalistically. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:56.720 Thus, the parable of the mustard seed illustrates how the word of the kingdom is going to be widely taught and received in the early church, like a quick growing mustard plant we showed you. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:00.720 But Satan will come along to destroy this work of God. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:06.400 He's going to eat up the teaching, so to speak, and he's going to make it ineffective. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:12.960 And that goes right into the next parable: the parable of the leavened bread. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.440 Look at verse 33. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.880 Another parable he spoke to them. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:34.000 Now the commentaries on this passage typically fall into one of two interpretation schools. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:36.319 And I'm going to give you a sample of both. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:39.440 There's the positive school and the negative school. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:47.119 Now here are some examples of the positive school of commentary on this parable of the leavened bread. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:57.839 One commentator says, this represents the working of the gospel in the heart of a saved person so that believers are made completely new creatures. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.359 Okay. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.200 I don't see that. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:09.279 Another commentator says, the leaven illustrates the spread of the church and the effectiveness over time in spreading truth in this present age. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.880 And that one's very common. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:19.599 Some reformed commentators take this so far as to suggest that the church will take over the world and will usher in a golden age. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:24.319 That's the views of Amillennialism, postmillennialism. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:40.079 But even some premillennial dispensationalists like us hold to this school, claiming that the leaven describes the advance of righteousness in the actual thousand-year kingdom, but not in the present age. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.720 Dwight Pentecost held that view. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:47.279 So that's the school which views the leaven as having a positive effect. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:54.079 Now, there is a school that views the leaven in the scriptures as negative. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.160 And I take that approach. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.200 It's always negative. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.599 Leaven is always negative in the scriptures. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:06.000 And so the parable speaks of the pervasiveness of leaven within the church, they would say. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:12.720 The leaven representing unbelievers who profess salvation, but they're actually unsaved counterfeits, kind of like the tares. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.480 Now, I don't agree with that. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:17.440 But that is one of the negative views. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:30.400 So that the leaven is negative, not positive, but it represents unbelievers in the church who have a corrupting influence, and they're like unsaved counterfeits. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.839 That's their view. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:35.119 Leaven, of course, is what we call yeast. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:37.680 Let's see if we can find out the correct answer here. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:44.960 And yeast, you all know, is a substance added to bread that pervades the entire loaf and causes it to rise. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:51.440 Leaven is always used in the Old Testament scriptures to typify corruption. 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.440 Let me give you a couple examples. 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:58.480 Leaven was forbidden from being burned on the altar in the sacrificial grain offerings. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:04.400 In the New Testament, Jesus said, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:06.000 Well, that doesn't sound good. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:09.200 If I'm going to beware of it, it has to be bad, right? 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:19.519 There's no doubt in the minds of the Jews listening to Jesus that the leaven in this bread is negative, not positive. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.160 I mean, their whole culture. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:28.720 They could use leaven at times, by the way, but when it was used as a type or a picture, it was always in a negative sense. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:32.640 Well, in this context, the leaven is erroneous doctrine. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:37.599 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a woman baking bread. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:40.799 And she takes three measures of meal, she needs it. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:44.240 If you've ever made bread from scratch, you know how to do this. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:50.319 And she folds some leaven or yeast into the loaf and then sets it aside. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.079 And what does that yeast do? 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:55.599 It slowly pervades the entire loaf. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:58.000 You know what Paul said in the New Testament? 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.519 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:05.039 Well, that's just a scientific principle. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:11.680 Now, on the heels of the three previous parables, the leaven then can only have a destructive purpose. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.119 It can't be positive. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:23.279 In the parable of the four soils, the birds eat up the seeds, and the seeds represent good teaching of Jesus regarding

kingdom inheritance. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:30.960 In the parable of the wheat and tares, Satan interjects counterfeit teaching alongside the good teaching of Jesus about the kingdom. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:44.799 The tares, we believe, as we talked in the previous message, are those Christian leaders especially who have been unwittingly blinded by Satan to embrace and teach the counterfeit message. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.400 What do I mean by that? 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:55.279 Well, downplaying the doctrine of rewards, claiming that all saints are overcomers, everybody's going to get a participation trophy at the judgment seat. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:58.960 There's nothing negative at the judgment seat, you know, that kind of stuff. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.039 That's a counterfeit message. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:07.440 That's keeping people back from going all the way in maturity so they can hear well done at the judgment seat. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:20.960 In the parable of the mustard seed, the one we just looked at a moment ago, the birds which represent corruption lurk in the branches of the tree, and they're ready to wreak havoc and destruction on the success of the word of the kingdom. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.440 How? 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.920 They eat all the seeds out of the pods. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:27.759 Well, Jesus uses that as an image that everybody would understand. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:31.519 The seeds represent the teaching about the kingdom. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:42.720 The birds are evil workers of Satan, and they're snatching up all the seeds they can get so that it doesn't make it to the hearts and minds of believers who need to hear it. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:45.200 Now, is Satan successful? 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.119 Well, yes, terribly so. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:50.319 And that's what this fourth parable demonstrates. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:30:04.240 The counterfeit message of Satan, here represented by the leaven, is for the purpose of stopping the effectiveness of the word of the kingdom message and stopping sons of the kingdom from bearing fruit. 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:07.359 He's just going to eat up all the seeds. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:09.039 It's not going to prosper. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:16.400 The end of verse 33 says, till it was all leavened. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:22.640 And this has been the result of Satan's working throughout the church age. 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:28.160 Now we know this can't apply to the church because there are a lot of good churches around still. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:31.279 The whole hasn't been leavened. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:42.559 But I'll tell you what, a tiny, tiny percentage of those good churches preach this doctrine or teach this doctrine of kingdom inheritance. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:49.759 We are now living at the end of the age when virtually the entire loaf has been leavened. 00:30:51.119 --> 00:31:04.000 So, in other words, the word of the kingdom message has been almost entirely corrupted here now at the end of the age by the presence of the corrupting leaven, which is the opposing message. 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:15.279 Or to use the mustard seed, the birds eating up the seeds, to use the other parables, you know, the tares, the seed sown on the wayside with the birds eating it up, and so on. 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:21.200 We are now living at the end of the age when virtually the entire loaf has been leavened. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.920 Where is the word of the kingdom being taught today? 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:29.839 Can you name five churches where this truth is being taught? 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:34.960 Now I can because I happen to know some other preachers that teach this. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.240 Thank the Lord for them. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:39.920 Two come to mind immediately because I go to their conference every year. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:42.720 And I happen to know there are some others out there. 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:45.200 So I could probably come up with a list of at least five. 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:49.519 Can you name five pastors or Bible teachers that hold to these truths? 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:55.680 But we could list hundreds of churches that do not believe or teach the word of the kingdom. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:32:03.519 And in fact, we could probably list dozens if we studied it long enough who actively oppose it. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.920 What a tragedy. 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:10.480 But I remind you, Jesus predicted this would happen. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:28.720 From the era of the early church, with the word of the kingdom taking off like a mustard tree, great, incredible growth, to the end of the church age, the age we live in now, the Laodicean church era. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:38.400 Wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked is the description of the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter 3. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:41.759 The message has become almost completely leavened. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:52.559 And I'm not just talking about churches, but churches that teach this truth are so few anymore, and they're becoming fewer and fewer. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:56.400 And the Church of Jesus Christ is anemic because of it. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:00.319 Oh, yes, there are many that hold the fundamental Bible doctrine. 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.519 I'm thankful for that. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:04.160 But there are virtually none. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:11.440 You know, we could count them on probably a hand or two that hold to the word of the kingdom, and by that I mean the ones we know of. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:19.359 Now I'm sure there are more than that, that the Lord knows, all across America, but they are very few and far between. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:26.480 I constantly have people contacting me via emails, and they'll ask, I've been asked this numerous times. 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:31.440 Do you know of a good church in my area

that teaches kingdom inheritance truth? 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.920 No, sir, no ma'am. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.960 I'm sorry I don't. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.480 Not anywhere near you. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:41.119 I know of one in Tennessee, I know of one in Florida, I know of one in Georgia, I know of one in North Carolina. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:43.440 Hint, hint, that's our church. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.039 And I'm sure there are others. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:48.319 I just don't know of them because they're so few and far between. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:56.000 Commentator Arlen Chitwood, name you recognize, he passed away just a few months back. 00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:10.159 In his book, The Mysteries of the Kingdom, he points out that it does not matter whether we are speaking of liberal churches or fundamental churches, quote, in relation to the word of the kingdom, one segment is just as leavened as the other. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:15.039 Neither proclaims the message, and neither will have anything to do with it, end quote. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:19.840 This corruption even began while Christ was still on the earth. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:24.880 The Sadducees of Christ's day, who are the liberals, they didn't believe it. 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:33.039 The Pharisees of Christ's day, who we would probably call the fundamentalists, or they certainly were legalistic, they wouldn't have anything to do with it. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:36.800 They had the attitude, we're Abraham's descendants, we don't need that stuff. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.760 We don't need to repent. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.639 Repent? 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:41.360 We obey the Mosaic law. 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.800 Yeah. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:48.800 Well, they both rejected it, and they were the national leaders of Israel, which meant that the nation rejected it. 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:52.800 And those two groups were worlds apart in their theology. 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:56.400 But they both were united in rejecting this truth. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:58.000 And that's what Arlene Chit would say. 00:34:58.159 --> 00:35:09.039 It doesn't matter if they're liberal or they're conservative, if they're an evangelical church that is preaching the initial gospel of saving grace, they're probably not going to be preaching this truth. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:17.039 And this ought to break our hearts, on the one hand, but on the other hand, it's a little bit comforting to know that we're not crazy, we're not out on some limb. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:19.360 Jesus predicted this would happen. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:29.280 We are believing and teaching and embracing the same word of the kingdom truth that was taught by Jesus and the disciples in the first century. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:35.599 Characterized by the rapid mustard tree-like growth in their era. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:37.199 Not in ours. 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.280 Satan got into the mix. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:47.199 By the end of Paul's ministry, near the end of the book of Acts, the sinister element could be seen rearing its ugly head. 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:52.159 I want to read for you a few verses from Acts chapter 20. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:54.079 These are the words of Paul. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:58.960 He's speaking to the elders at Ephesus when he's ready to depart from them. 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:03.199 And here's what he says, Acts 20, verses 28 through 32. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:15.039 Take, therefore, heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, they were pastors, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:20.639 For I know this that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:24.000 Now they might have been attacking other doctrines as well. 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:26.480 There was a lot of legalism going on. 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:32.559 But they were also attacking this one full force, because this was the main message Paul preached. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:40.960 Verse 30 also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:47.280 Therefore, watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:58.320 So now, brethren, I command you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up notice and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:02.719 So it's pretty clear what Paul was talking about. 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:07.760 These wolves are coming in and they're snatching away your inheritance. 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:10.639 Don't let them, Paul says. 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:12.960 Sure it broke his heart. 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:19.039 I wonder if it break his heart all the more if he could see what was happening in the year 2026. 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:37.840 The insidious working of Satan to destroy the word of the kingdom message had already begun in Paul's day, and through the centuries Satan has so counterfeited and perverted this message to the point that the entire church of Jesus Christ is now poisoned with respect to the word of the kingdom. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:42.159 The leaven has pervaded the whole lump, or just about so. 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:47.119 But again, it's a comfort to know that Jesus predicted this would happen. 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:52.480 Now it's still disheartening, but at least I know I'm not crazy. 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:56.159 The Bible teaches it! I'll never back up from that. 00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:59.360 It's just not well received because Jesus said it wouldn't be. 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:01.039 So don't lose heart. 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:04.960 Keep believing and teaching the word of the kingdom, and you will inherit the kingdom.

00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:16.800 Now, incidentally, in case you're wondering, the error, as I already said, was creeping in by the end of Paul's ministry in the middle of the first century, probably in the 60s A.D. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:29.039 By the time of Constantine, in the early fourth century, the church, as you know, under Constantine, had partnered with the world and largely left off this message of the kingdom. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:45.199 Shortly after Constantine, Augustine came on the scene, and by the time he died in the early 5th century, he had so muddied the theological waters on the doctrines of salvation and sanctification that it was hardly taught thereafter. 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:56.000 His theology, are you aware, became the template for the Roman Catholic Church, which plunged the church into spiritual darkness and continued for centuries. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:09.039 We all know about the Protestant Reformation just 500 years ago, but even the Protestant Reformers hailed Augustine as their theological hero, and Reformation theologians do today. 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:11.840 Hail Augustine, of all people. 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:33.599 Satan hijacked the Reformation, and he ensured that the doctrine of sanctification would be forever muddled by having the Reformers insist that sanctification is mutually inclusive with salvation and justification in their doctrine of perseverance. 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:36.559 In other words, you can't have one without the other. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:44.559 So if a person has been saved, then they are going to be sanctified, and they are positionally righteous. 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:47.920 Therefore, all believers are inheritors. 00:39:48.159 --> 00:40:03.039 Through this damnable doctrine, and yes, I said damnable, for that's what it is, this damnable doctrine that came out of the Reformation, Satan put a stranglehold, a death grip on the word of the kingdom teaching. 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:06.800 And that's the state in which we find ourselves today. 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:13.760 Virtually nobody believes that saints must qualify to inherit the kingdom of the heavens. 00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:15.440 They think it's automatic. 00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:23.760 Virtually nobody believes that children of God must bear fruit by the grace of God if they expect to rule together with Jesus. 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:29.440 Virtually nobody believes in the possibility of negative reward at the judgment seat. 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:36.239 And as a result, the love of many has waxed cold. 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.320 And the church is more licentious than ever. 00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:47.119 And you can read about that downward spiral in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:50.320 God deliver us from the leavening of Satan. 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:53.760 May Tri-City Baptist Church be an exception. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:57.519 May we not be as the Laodicean church. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:03.599 Wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked, may we be mature as sons to glory. 00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:07.440 Now to that end, Christ makes you an offer, and I'm going to close with this. 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:10.320 It's Revelation 3, 20 through 22. 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:15.199 Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:21.199 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me. 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:31.440 To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:35.519 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:45.840 By the way, verse 20 is not about Jesus knocking on the heart's door of unbelievers saying, Let me in, I want you to invite me into your heart to be your Savior. 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:50.400 That terminology is not found in the scriptures, and he's not talking to unbelievers. 00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:57.599 He's talking to the churches, to the believers, and to you and to me. 00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:59.519 He says, Open the door. 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:03.119 I want to have fellowship with you. 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:17.599 And if you overcome through Christ, I will give you the privilege of sitting with me on my throne, just as I overcame, and sat next to my father on the throne. 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.880 Pay attention. 00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:22.159 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says of the churches. 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:25.599 I want to be an inheritor. 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:27.119 Jesus invites me to. 00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:30.159 He invites you to, right there in Revelation chapter 3. 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:33.519 Will you open the door of your heart and mind to him? 00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:36.480 Will you listen to the Spirit of God? 00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:45.280 I urge you, beware of those ominous birds that are out there all through Christianity. 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:52.800 You know it's sad, but there are plenty of ominous birds in the unbelieving realm, but that's not even what this is talking about. 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:55.360 It's talking about ominous birds in the believing realm. 00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:58.000 Believers who are corrupt in the message. 00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:00.559 Let's not fall prey to that. 00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:08.800 Let's rise above it by the grace of God and live for Him that we might be found worthy of an inheritance.