The seven parables of Matthew 13, called by our Lord, "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:11), taken together, describe the result of the presence of the Gospel in the world during the present age, that is, the time of seed sowing which began with our Lord's personal ministry, and ends... [ Continue Reading ]
MYSTERIES A "mystery" in Scripture is a previously hidden truth, now divinely revealed; but in which a supernatural element still remains despite the revelation. The greater mysteries are: 1) The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:3). (2) the mystery of Israel's blindness during this... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPHETS The Old Testament prophets saw in blended vision the rejection and crucifixion of the King (see "Christ, sacrifice,) (Genesis 4:4); (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 10:18) _ and also His glory as David's Son. (_ See Scofield) - (Zechariah 12:8), _ but "what manner of time the Spirit of Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:2). _... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLE This parable (Matthew 13:24) is also interpreted by our Lord (Matthew 13:36). Here the "good seed" is not the "word," as in the first parable (Matthew 13:19); (Matthew 13:23) but rather that which the word has produced. (1 Peter 1:23); namely: the children of the kingdom. These are, provide... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER The gathering of the tares into bundles for burning does not imply immediate judgment. At the end of this age (Matthew 13:40) the tares are set apart for burning, but first the wheat is gathered into the barn. (John 14:3); (1 Thessalonians 4:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER PARABLE The parable of the Mustard Seed prefigures the rapid but unsubstantial growth of the mystery form of the kingdom from an insignificant beginning (Acts 1:15); (Acts 2:41); (1 Corinthians 1:26) to a great place in the earth. The figure of the fowls finding shelter in the branches is d... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER PARABLE That interpretation of the parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33) which makes (with variation as to details) the leaven to be the Gospel, introduced into the world ("three measures of meal") by the church, and working subtly until the world is converted ("till the whole was leavened... [ Continue Reading ]
WORLD Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind". (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 4:8). _ KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:2). _... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVIL Satan. Greek, "diabolos", means "accuser". See note, (Matthew 16:23); (Genesis 3:1); (Revelation 20:10). (_ See Scofield) - (Revelation 20:10). _ ANGELS (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 8:20). _ ANGELS (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _ KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:2). _ THEM WHICH DO SIN (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:23). _... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN The kingdom does not become the kingdom of the "Father" until Christ, having "put all enemies under his feet," including the last enemy, death, has "delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" (1 Corinthians 15:24); (Revelation 20:2). There is triumph over death at the first resurrection... [ Continue Reading ]
HID The interpretation of the parable of the treasure, which makes the buyer of the field to be a sinner who is seeking Christ, has no warrant in the parable itself. The field is defined (Matthew 13:38) to be the world. The seeking sinner does not buy, but forsakes, the world to win Christ. Further... [ Continue Reading ]
PEARLS The true Church, "one body" formed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12). As Israel is the hid treasure, so the Church is the pearl of great cost. Covering the same period of time as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church; (Romans 16:25); (Ephesians 3:3); (Ephesians 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN The parable of the Net (Greek, "sagēnē", "net") presents another view from that of the wheat and tares of the mysteries of the kingdom as the sphere of profession, but with this difference: there Satan was the active agent; here the admixture is more the result of the tenden... [ Continue Reading ]
END OF THE consummation of the age. (Matthew 24:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES Son of Alphaeus. (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 4:21). _... [ Continue Reading ]