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The Bible Says
Following is a current quotation: "The Vatican official, Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, head of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Science has started a Judas Iscariot rehabilitation campaign. Vatican scholars have stated that Judas did nothing wrong and that he was simply a disciple who was misunderstood! Brandmuller said, 'It is time to see the disciple, Judas Iscariot in a more sympathetic light.'" Concerning Judas Iscariot the Lord Jesus said, "The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born." (Mark 24:21).
Our Christian terms are at times slightly confusing to some people. From the way some of these terms are expressed in the Bible there are three phrases that are on first sight identical. 1. Kingdom of Heaven The kingdom of heaven is what mortal beings see when they consider the things of God. When one talks about the "church," people see a building - a denomination - a local congregation. Pictured in their minds may be a noisy congregation, shouting and waving their hands in ecstasy! -- or they be thinking of a pious congregation in a elaborate cathedral! In either case those people may be truly worshipping the Lord from the depths of their hearts, or they may be putting on a religious demonstration. The "kingdom of heaven" includes both groups and more besides.
The following explanation is taken verbatim from THE PILGRIM BIBLE, Matthew 6:33. "There is a distinction between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. While the kingdom of heaven has to do with an earthly sphere and is organic and visible, the kingdom of God reaches to all those in all the universe -- angels, Old and New Testament saints now in glory, born-again believers living on the earth - all who voluntarily acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as the rightful King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
-- unquote. Peter had just confessed Christ as the "Son of the Living God" -- Now Jesus declares "Upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Jesus is the immovable "Rock" of Luke 6:48. All Hell is arrayed against it; but can never destroy His Church. 1. The Parable of the Sower.
"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces; some a hundred-ford, some sixty some thirty."(Matthew 13:18-23) If we would understand this parable, we must first decide "Who is the Sower? Where did He plant the seed? And who watered and cared for the growing garden? Jesus, Himself, sows the seed. He may have helpers but if He did not plant that seed, it will never grow. Where is the seed planted? -- In the human heart. Jesus understands us better than we understand ourselves, and better than we understand our neighbor. Moreover our lives will then produce “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.” Praise God! (continued next week).
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