Many of the Parables start with "The Kingdom of Heaven is like.........."   And many of them end with this statement, "Whoever has ears, let them hear."  When His disciples ask Jesus why He spoke in Parables He replied, " “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."  and followed that with some text from the Old Testament;    “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." 

 

     There are four Parables that refer specifically to judgment time, a time that each and every person will face.  First let’s look at the Parable of the Sower.  That one where the seed fell on, the path, the rocky places, shallow soil and good soil.  In His explanation to His disciples Jesus explained; 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  This clearly show that the Kingdom of Heaven is for those that hear the Word and understand the Word and keep it in their hearts.

 

      The Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24 shows that even though the devil has infiltrated God's people, they will be dealt with at judgment time when they will be separated out based on what is within their hearts, the weeds being bundled and burned and the wheat gathered into Heaven's Barn.

     The Parable, Drawing in the Net is also like the Kingdom of Heaven, where the net is cast out into the sea, and gathered every kind.  When the net was full they gathered it in.  They separated the good into their boats but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 

        The Parable of the Sheep and Goats; Matthew 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  This is the one where Jesus talks about helping others;  35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ .......40 “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Then, to the goats on His left He will say depart from me,  you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. because they did not feed and clothe the hungry, welcome the stranger or visit the sick or imprisoned.   He said to them, 45  ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

 

     So in conclusion, when we read the Bible, we need to first ask God for the wisdom to understand what we are reading.  That is the start of letting the Word of God settle in our heart.  Than we do need to be consistent with our Bible reading.  Work towards the goal of daily Bible reading, it can soon turn into a set routine. Review your schedule to see where you have unproductive time that could be put to better use. The more you study God's Word the more He will allow you to understand.

 

I pray that the curiosity of the Bible will pull you to a routine that will fill your mind and heart with the Truth of God's Word.