The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew chapter 13

And yet as simple as His explanation is, would you believe that the knowledge He reveals to us is still hidden to this very day "like a fig" from the multitudes of Christianity!

Do you know why Christ spoke in parables? Do you know what it means to have "eyes to see and ears to hear"? It is imperative that you do, else with closed eyes and clogged ears you will not be able to see nor understand the "eight parables" of Jesus Christ concerning the Kingdom of God in this pivotal 13th chapter of the great Book of Matthew.Furthermore it is written in Mark 4:13 that if you do not understand the parable of the sower, which we will begin reading in this study, then you will not be able to understand any of Christ's parables! That means that the Book of Life shall remain a mystery to you and you shall remain "unfruitful". Yes, it is that important, even a matter of spiritual life and death that you understand this parable.

Mark 4:13
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Matthew 13:1
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Also, in as much as the subject of Christ's teaching in this 13th chapter of Matthew has to do with "hearing His voice", the Word of God, the opening phrase to this most important chapter, "The same day", sets the time frame and places emphasis on "Today", even this same day! Let's read what the Psalmist wrote concerning "Today":

Psalm 95:7-11
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

[8] Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

[9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

[10] Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

[11] Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Matthew 13:2
And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

[3] And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

parabole, par-ab-ol-ay', Greek 3850; from Greek 3846 (paraballo); a similitude ("parable"), i.e. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage :- comparison, figure, parable, proverb.

One more note on parables for the deeper student. If you are familiar with the primary preposition "para" and the primary verb "ballo" from which the compound word "parable" is formed, you will "see" that a parable is a "casting" "alongside of" or even a casting from above... like being cast from a higher or parallel dimension... spiritually speaking that is.

So Christ has now begun to speak in parables saying: Behold, a sower went forth to sow;.

Sowing seed by hand from a sack is sometimes called broadcasting. Smith's Bible Dictionary gives the following description under the heading "sower":

"The operation of a sowing with the hand is one of so simple a character as to need little description. The Egyptian paintings furnish many illustrations of the mode in which it was conducted. The sower held the vessel or basket containing the seed in his left hand, while with his right he scattered the seed broadcast. The "drawing out" of the seed is noticed, as the most characteristic action of the sower, in (Psalms 126:6) (Authorized Version "precious") and (Amos 9:13)..." (Smith's Bible Dictionary).

[4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

[5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

[6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

[7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

[8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold*, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

And there you have the results of the broadcast! The question then is, "What happens when the seeds of His Word are received into your mind?" Does it fall upon deaf ears, void of understanding? Do you "hear" His words but are just too busy trying to make a living or put out fires to take the time to study His Word? Or... do you have "ears to hear"?

* Note: Some might find it interesting that "100" as in hundredfold in Biblical numerics denotes "election of grace".

Matthew 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[10] And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Romans 11:8
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

That does not mean that God does not love those who do not seek Him to do His will. On the contrary, it is precisely because He does love them that He speaks to them in parables, lest they should see and hear and become accountable to the point they could commit the unpardonable sin, the penalty of which is to follow the son of perdition into the lake of fire.

Matthew 13:12
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

[13]Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

The following verses quoted from the Book of Isaiah (6:9-10) explain why it is God has placed that spirit of slumber upon them by speaking to them in parables which the blind cannot perceive.

[14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

[15] For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Again, it cannot be emphasized enough that it is because of the love our Father has for His children that He has allowed their eyes to be glazed over whereby the spirit of slumber (stupor) has come over them. For it is their ignorance of His Word that actually serves as a cloak of protection lest they begin to see and understand to the point of accountability and find themselves in the spiritual position of being able to commit the unpardonable sin.

However, the eyes of those who do "see" and the ears of those who do "hear" shall be blessed indeed. Do you want to be blessed?

[16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

[17] For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

And now with the understanding of the importance and knowing what it takes to have ears to hear, are you ready to "hear" Christ explain the simplicity of the parable of the sower?

Matthew 13:18
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

[19] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

[20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

[21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Matthew 13:5-6 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: [6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

[22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.

[23] But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:8-9 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. [9] Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Now get ready to test your eyes and ears because next [starting in #2530} we are going to learn the incredible "Parable of the Tares" in which the meaning of the Greek word for "seed" used so far in this 13th chapter is going to change from "speiro", meaning to sow or receive seed, to "sperma" which means... yep, that's right... "sperm"!

But do not worry for after Christ has spoken the parable in public, His disciples will go to Him privately, seeking wisdom and understanding with their ears to hear, and He will explain the simple meaning of the parable.

And yet as simple as His explanation is, would you believe that the knowledge He reveals to us is still hidden to this very day "like a fig" from the multitudes of Christianity!

Jesus Christ told His disciples that He spoke in parables for two reasons.

Jesus Christ told His disciples that He spoke in parables for two reasons (Mat. 13:11):

(1) To simplify and make easy to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples, those who discipline themselves in His Word.

(2) To hide the mysteries of the kingdom from those who do not seek Him and therefore do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear.

So if you are ready and have your eyes open and your ears to hear on and in place, then we are all set to learn one of the great mysteries of the "kingdom of heaven" which begins with a parable spoken from the mouth of the Lord. Hear ye! Hear ye!

Matthew 13:24
Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

[25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Tares: A noxious plant, of the grass family, supposed to mean the darnel. It grows among the wheat everywhere in Palestine, and bears a great resemblance to it while growing - so closely that, before they head out, the two plants can hardly be distinguished. The grains are found, 2 or 3 together, in 12 small husks, scattered on a rather long head. The Arabs do not separate the darnel from the wheat, unless by means of a fan or sieve, after threshing (Mat. 13:25-30). If left to mingle with the bread, it occasions dizziness, and often acts as an emetic. ("Smith's Bible Dictionary", A. J. Holman Company, pg. 301.)

[26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

That is why it is written: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Mat. 7:20)."

The bearded darnel (Lolium temulentum) is a poisonous grass, almost indistinguishable from wheat while the two are only in blade, but which can be separated without difficulty when they come into ear (cp. mat. 13:29, 20). ("Davis Bible Dictionary", Baker Book House, pg. 759.)

[27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Jesus Christ will now "put forth" (paratithemi)  two more parables (another* parable) concerning the kingdom of heaven (i.e. the plan thereof) before He sends away the multitudes unto whom He is speaking! Let's dig up the Greek word translated "put forth" and understand what precious truths (food) these parables are that He entrusts to His disciples.

put forth, paratithemi, par-at-ith'-ay-mee, Greek 3908; from Greek 3844 (para) and Greek 5087 (tithemi); to place alongside, i.e. present (food, truth); by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection) :- allege, commend, commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before.

These next two parables give us additional insight into how the kingdom of heaven works and what to expect.

[31] Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

Ezekiel 31:5
Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.

[6] All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.

Matthew 13:32
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

woman, gune, goo-nay', Greek 1135; probably from the base of Greek 1096 (ginomai); a woman; specially a wife :- wife, woman.

Nevertheless, the plan is that God uses His elect among the wheat (in all three measures, in all earth ages) to bring forth the knowledge of His Word. Interestingly enough, Christ called the sons and daughters of these last days who would see the visions of the prophets and teach them (Acts 2), who are also those same servants who comprise the church of the brothers and sisters (Philadelphia, Rev. 3) along with Smyrna (Rev. 2), "seed" when He quoted the 22nd Psalm while hanging on the cross:

Psalm 22:30-31
A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

seed, zera`, zeh'-rah, Hebrew 2233; from Hebrew 2232 (zara`); seed; figurative fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity :- × carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing-time.

[31] They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Matthew 13:34
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them:

[35] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Here is that Psalm.

Psalm 78:1
Maschil of Asaph.
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

[2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

[3] Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

[4] We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

[5] For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

[6] That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

[7] That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, butkeep His commandments:

[8] And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Let us return to Matthew 13 and notice what happens next as Jesus sends the multitude away and goes into the house. Only those eager-to-hear-and-hungry-to-know-His-Word disciples, His family, follow Him "into the house" and ASK HIM to "explain the parable of the tares of the field"! The multitudes were dismissed and they went away probably saying something like, "Wasn't that a lovely sermon today?"

Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

So if it "feels good", DO IT! And Eve took hold of the tree (asherah) and "Did it"!

It was prophesied in Psalm 78 from which Jesus Christ quoted in Mat. 13:35, that He would open His mouth and speak in parables and utter (pour out) things which have been kept secret (hidden) from the foundation of the world. Do you know what the "foundation of the world" is?

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Here is your documentation from the Book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, He created it not in vain (tohu), He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

It is amazing that even the knowledge of the first earth age, to which both the fossil records of the dinosaurs, etc. and geology itself positively attest, is also not commonly taught nor understood by most of those ministers and preachers who claim to represent Christ, and therefore the Word of God. 

Live Link to- The Age of the Dinosaurs

Though it may appear a little too "scholarly" for some, nevertheless because of the importance of this subject matter, please find below some excerpts from appendix 146 from "The Companion Bible", Kregel Publications, concerning "The Foundation of the World", i.e. the "katabole kosmos".

The Noun, katabole, occurs in Matt. 13:35; 25:34.  Luke 11:50.  John 17:24.  Eph. 1:4.  Heb. 4:3; 9:26; 11:11.  1Pet. 1:20.  Rev. 13:8; 17:8; and the corresponding Verb (kataballo) occurs in 2Cor. 4:9.  Heb. 6:1; and Rev. 12:10.

A comparison of all these passages (especially 2 Cor. 4:9, and Rev. 12:10) will show that kataballo and katabole are not the proper terms for founding and foundation, but the correct meaning is casting down, or overthrow.

Accordingly, the Noun katabole, derived from, and cognate with the Verb, ought to be translated "disruption", or "ruin".

The remarkable thing is that in all occurrences (except Heb. 11:11) the word is connected with "the world" (Gr. kosmos. Ap. 129. 1), and therefore the expression should be rendered "the disruption (or ruin) of the world", clearly referring to the condition indicated in Gen. 1:2, and described in 2Pet. 3:5, 6.  For the earth was not created tohu (Isa. 45:18), but became so, as stated in the Hebrew of Gen 1:2 and confirmed by 2Pet. 3:6, where "the world that then was by the word of God" (Gen. 1:1), perished, and "the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word "were created (Gen. 2:4), and are "kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment" (2Pet. 3:7) which shall usher in the "new heavens and the new earth" of 2Pet. 3:13.

"The disruption of the world" is an event forming a great dividing line in the dispensations of the ages.  In Gen. 1:1 we have the founding of the world (Heb. 1:10 = themeliou), but in Gen. 1:2 we have its overthrow.

This is confirmed by a further remarkable fact, that the phrase, which occurs ten times, is associated with the Preposition apo = from (Ap. 104. iv) seven times, and with pros = before (Ap. 104. xiv) three times.  The former refers to the kingdom and is connected with the "counsels" of God; the latter refers to the Mystery (or Secret.  See Ap. 192) and is connected with the "purpose" of God (See John 17:24.  Eph. 1:4.  1Pet. 1:20).

Ample New Testament testimony is thus given to the profoundly significant fact recorded in Gen. 1:2, that "the earth became tohu and bohu (i.e. waste and desolate); and darkness was on the face of the deep", before the creation of "the heavens and the earth which are now" (2Pet. 3:7).

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One point we would like to emphasis in all of this is that if something (like truth) has been hidden from your eyes all of your life and in its absence you have believed something different along with the majority (multitudes), then would not the truth of the matter perhaps seem unusual or strange to your ears once it has been revealed? Of course it would at first... until you realize it makes more sense than the traditional teaching you grew up with. Remember too that Jesus Christ said in Mat. 24 and Mark 13 that the majority of Christians would be deceived in these last days by the "many" who would come in His name claiming to be his ministers.

Let us now return to Matthew 13 where we find that Jesus Christ has just sent the multitude away and has entered into the house where His disciples, those hungry "students" who seek to know and understand Him, have come to ask Him to please EXPLAIN the Parable of the Tares. Take notice that even they did not quite understand the Parable of the Tares.

Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

Here then is Christ's explanation of the parable of the tares:

Matthew 13:37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

[38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

This doesn't seem all that difficult, does it?

Then why is it this has been hidden from so many... even from the beginning?

It is because most preachers try to spiritualize and "spin it" away instead of understanding  that there is NO SYMBOLOGY in the explanation of the parable! In other words, "the world" is not representative of something else!  It means that "the world" is just that, "the world".

It means that "children" are "children" and "the devil" that sowed the "sperma" is "the devil", Satan himself.

Let's finish Christ's explanation and then we will go to the beginning and read about the "seed" (sperma) that was sown.

Matthew 13:40
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Matthew 13:41
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Let's go to the beginning of this earth age where one of the "greatest cover-ups" of all time took place... in the fig grove of the garden of Eden. Of course God has allowed the cover-up to take place for it is part of the "stupor", the spirit of slumber, that has fallen over the eyes of our people.

However, if you will open your ears and "hear His voice" and seek His wisdom instead of holding fast to the traditions (traditional lies) of men, then you can be His disciple (student of the Word) and He will unlock the things that have been hidden for so long, the mysteries of the kingdom of God!

Just go to Him, to the Word of God, and ASK for wisdom and knowledge and He will give it to you. James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

A Christian should know that one of Satan's most effective and subtle tools in covering up the truth of God's Word is to take that which is expressed figuratively and cause people to take it literally, and vice versa. And since it is of such extreme importance to understand what happened in the beginning of any book in order to place that which follows in proper context, you can be certain that Satan has worked real hard on the first few chapters of God's Word to make sure it is misunderstood thereby throwing people off track, by covering up his own tracks from the very start.

In other words (and never forget this):

If you do not know what really happened in the first few chapters of Genesis and especially in garden of Eden you will never truly understand the rest of God's Word.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words", so let us "see" a visual of the typical "fairy tale" Satan would have the "little children" believe happened in the garden:

The narrative at the bottom of the picture reads:

"Adam and Eve were told by God not to eat apples from a certain tree in the garden. An evil serpent tempted Eve and she and Adam both ate the forbidden fruit. Because they disobeyed God, they were forced to leave the Garden of Eden."

Keep in mind that what you are about to read and hear may be so completely different than this illustrated "tradition" handed down by the churches for many generations that it might "set you on your heels", which is a figure of speech meaning it might astound you. So do not say we didn't warn you!Of course, if you are willing to believe fairy tales like the one in this picture then perhaps you can believe some reality which actually makes much more sense than such nonsense.

First of all, would it surprise you to know that the word "apple" is not even mentioned anywhere in the Book of Genesis? Check it out for yourself. You see, Satan wants you to believe that the "forbidden fruit" Adam and Eve partook of was literal fruit just like an apple. This is a prime example of taking that which is used figuratively to be the literal thing (or place or person) that it used symbolically to graphically depict something else.

Figures of speech are so overlooked in God's Word that I'm sure if we were to read in the New Testament that the apostle Paul "got into hot water" that there would be churches teaching that in order to be in good standing among their members you would have to "get into hot water" yourself. That would be Satan's literal interpretation akin to what he has done with the serpent of Genesis! Of course there would be division and disagreement among the denominations and "scholars" as to what temperature actually constitutes "hot" as opposed to just "warm" and how much hot water a person should actually get into, i.e. should one step into hot water just up to his knees or waist or should one become totally immersed in hot water. And if you looked up the word "water" in any Greek dictionary it would certainly mean H2O, like rain. Yet the phrase he "got into hot water" has absolutely nothing to do with water! It is a figure of speech which means he "got into trouble"!

Maybe this hot water scenario sounds a bit ridiculous to you but you should just see some of the ludicrous things churches teach and have their people do because of their ignorance of His Word. Do you not think Satan would be laughing his fool head off at watching Christians getting into pools of "hot water"? Well guess what? He is laughing his fool head off at Christians who think Eve was deceived by a snake who talked her into eating an apple from a fruit tree!
Good grief Charlie Brown!

You see, the word "serpent" is simply one of the symbolic names of Satan that describes him according to his low-life character. He is also called the dragon, the little horn, the vile person, the son of perdition, the antichrist, the Devil, Satan, Lucifer, the morning star (Isa. 14), etc. Spiritually speaking, he is a "snake" alright! He is a sneaky, no-good, low-down, yellow-bellied, lying, conniving "serpent"! Rev. 20:2 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." In fact, Satan is the original "Spinmeister", the father of lies and cover-ups! But you know what? He is also the most beautiful and charismatic individual you will ever encounter, a charming one indeed! You can read all about this highly intelligent glistening one, "perfect in beauty", in the 28th chapter of Ezekiel.

Ok, then what about the fruit and the trees? They are symbolic, remember? Trees are used throughout the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, to symbolize people. God's elect are called "Cedars of Lebanon" because the roots of the cedar go as deep as the tree is tall and therefore those trees cannot be easily shaken or uprooted.
Jesus Christ is symbolized by the "Tree of Life" and the Vine, the branches of which bring forth good fruit.
And Satan is symbolized by the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" and he and his branches bring forth corrupt and evil fruit which we are NOT to EAT.

And so depending on what kind of "tree" you are determines what kind of fruit you produce.

Remember again the words of Jesus Christ:

Luke 6:43
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

[44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Here is what your Father says:

Hosea 14:8
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

[9] Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

So let's go to Genesis and see what happened in the garden.

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

That old serpent has perpetuated a lie, a tradition, about the "snake" and the "apple" long enough. Do not let him have the victory any more! Again, it is his diabolical plan to deceive a Biblically ignorant people, "because it ministers to the acceptance of his lie, the hiding of God's truth, the jeers of the infidel, the opposition of the critics, and the stumbling of the weak in faith." (Companion Bible, appendix 19, last paragraph.)

And you know what? This original "spinmeister" is exceptional unlike any other in that he has been able to convince just about the entire Christian world that "he did not have sex with that woman"! However, those who are in the know have his "number" and know better than to believe his lies and cover-ups.

By the way, the apostle Paul also refers to this "serpent" in the garden in 2 Cor. 11:3 where he explains that Eve lost her virginity to the serpent and likens it to losing one's spiritual virginity in these last days:

2 Cor. 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

serpent = ophis  of'-is Strong's #3789
Probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan:—serpent.

beguiled, exapatao, ex-ap-at-ah'-o, Greek 1818; from Greek 1537 (ek) and Greek 538 (apatao); to seduce wholly :- beguile, deceive.

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (All the trees/people in the garden, but not Satan)

touch = naw-gah'  Strong's #5060
A primitive root; properly to touch, that is, laythehandupon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication to reach (figuratively to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.):—beat, (X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

[5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Note: If a person gets really filled with the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good an evil he or she can become an arrogant condescending liberal politician or preacher or whatever who believes he or she can also determine in his or her own "godly wisdom" what is best for other people (of lesser intelligence). Of course what is good for others would obviously have to exclude God's Word, any reference of which must be stricken from the halls of justice and any and all government and public institutions, especially those schools where the children go to learn. Armed police and drug sniffing dogs are man's "wise and knowledgeable" solutions instead of teaching those nasty "Thou shalt not" 10 Commandments.

[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,

... she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

But why in the world did they now "know they were naked"? You will find it is because of the SHAME they have brought upon themselves, for disobeying God, yes, but in a much more perverted way than biting bad apples.

"And they sewed FIG LEAVES together, and made themselves aprons." Do you suppose these were itty bitty little aprons that they sewed together to cover their mouths because they just ate a bad apple? How stupid the traditions of men! Learn to think for yourself and stick to God's Word, not the traditions of men.

[8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Let us now see what judgment was made by our Father:

Genesis 3:14
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

seed, zera`, zeh'-rah, Hebrew 2233; from Hebrew 2232 (zara`); seed; figurative fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity :- × carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing-time.

Again, God is talking about progeny, children, the same thing Christ was talking about in Mat. 13!

Matthew 13:38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Now, notice the sentence of "sorrow" (travail) related to child birth that Eve receives because of what she has done.

Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Note: Much of today's study is excerpted from the study titled "Parable of the Fig Tree", which is available in its entirety on this site. Log unto (Live Link) to-Parable of the Fig Tree

Have you ever wondered why it is that Cain is not listed in Adam's genealogy in chapter five of Genesis?

The answer is real simple if you have eyes to see the "hidden things" Christ revealed in the Parable of Tares. You "see", it was the plan of God for this flesh age that the promised "Seed", Jesus Christ, would come forth through Adam and his wife Eve.  Of course Satan knew that was the plan and so he cunningly entered in and tried to destroy the woman through whom Messiah would be brought forth by planting his own seed (sperma), the result of which produced the "tares" beginning with Kayin (Cain). Remember, it is written that you must understand the Parable of the Sower in which Christ reveals things hidden even from the "foundation of the world", else you will not be able to understand any of His parables. And it is through the Parable of the Tares that we know that Cain was not of Adam's seed but rather of the seed of the wicked one which is precisely why Cain has his own "seed line" listed in chapter four of Genesis while Adam's "seed line" is listed in chapter five beginning with Seth. In fact, the name "Seth" means appointed or substituted for God raised him up in Abel's stead because Cain murdered Abel, his half-brother who was Adam's first and unly son! Furthermore, when you examine and compare the two separate genealogies you will discover that the names are very similar just as the "tares" look and appear like "wheat" to most Christians who do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear the simplicity of the Parable of the Sower.
 

Then too, from the garden of Eden throughout the Old Testament and into the New we can read example after example where Satan tried to destroy the seedline through which Jesus Christ would be born.

Even as soon as Genesis chapter six we see Satan's evil ploy where he sent his fallen angels (Nephilim) to intermarry with the daughters of Adam to destroy the chances of the "Seed" being born. That union between the angelic "sons of God" and the flesh "daughters of Adam" produced giants and it came to the point where only eight descendants of Adam were left in the land to carry on the seedline through which Messiah would come.  Those "eight" were Noah and his family who remained "pure blooded" because they had not intermixed with the fallen angels. (See appendixes 25 & 26 in the "Companion Bible", Kregel Publishing.)

Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

generations, towledah, to-led-aw', Hebrew 8435; or toledah, to-led-aw'; from Hebrew 3205 (yalad); (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figurative) history :- birth, generations.

Of course ultimately, Satan's murderous children who are "of" their father Cain (Kayin), called "Kayinites" or "Kenites" and who are NOT of our brother Judah, would bring about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ even while claiming to be of the good "seed of Abraham"! And you know what? To this very day Satan's children claim to be "God's chosen people" and "of Abraham's seed" and most Christians who are "blind" to Father's Word believe their lies to be true. They even believe the lie that our brother Judah was responsible for the crucifixion when it was actually the son's of Cain! Let's read the discourse in John 8:33-44 between some kenites, i.e. sons of the Cain, as they try to "pull the wool over the eyes" of Messiah to cause Him to believe that they are of Abraham's seed.

Notice that Jesus Christ doesn't buy into their pack of lies and so neither should you!

John 8:33
They answered Him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

[37] I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

[38] I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

[39]They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

[41]Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

[42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me.

[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

[44]Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

You "see", it was Cain who was the first murderer, right? And these are the descendants of Cain to whom Christ is speaking! The question is, are you familiar with the "tares" today who claim to be of Judah (by heritage, i.e. by "seed") but ARE NOT? Only two out of the 7 churches in Rev. 2 & 3 know who they are in this final generation. They are the Church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:9) and the Church of Philadelphia (Rev. 3:9).

Rev. 2:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Don't you believe it?

Rev. 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Now let us return to Matthew 13 and learn "Again", "Again", and "Again" adding to our knowledge and understanding of what the kingdom of heaven is like unto (See structure below). To this point in the Parable of the Sower we have learned about the plan of the kingdom of heaven and how that plan works! We have learned about the sowing of the tares by enemy noting who they are, how they operate by roosting in the branches, and the fact that Christ told us to "leave them alone" and let them grow until the harvest. We also learned how God's elect are used in the three earth ages to bring about the filling up of the whole, i.e. the three measures of meal. So as we read these next few parables, keep in mind that there will ultimately be a division and a separation between the tares and the wheat, between that which is good and that which is wicked, between that which is clean and that which is unclean.

Matthew 13:44
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Then too as the saying goes, like father like son! One who loves and serves our Father with both eyes to see and ears to hear knows in his or her heart that in this "field" wherein we "walk under the sun" there is simply NOTHING of more value than the treasures and riches to be found in the Word of God. For we know that ALL the treasures of knowledge and pearls of wisdom even from "the foundation of the world" are hidden in the parables, in the words of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who is our joy. You "see", if you are part of the king's dominion, the kingdom of heaven, then you are like this!

Col. 2:2-3
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

[3] In whom are hidall the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Matthew 13:45
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

[46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

So be wise and prudent with the greatest treasure of knowledge and priceless pearls of wisdom that one can ever find in this world. And remember Christ's teaching in Matthew 7:6 to "give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." You see, swine will take your precious pearls and trample all over them in an attempt to rob you of your wealth and richness. Let have them their evil spirits and wallow in their filth for we know that which is unclean shall be completely separated from that which is clean, even as the next parable explains.

[47] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

[48] Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Matthew 13:49
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

And so it is written that at the end of the Millennium the final separation shall take place and all that is wicked shall be consumed in the lake of fire. That will be when the second death takes place, the perishing of the wicked souls along with the wicked one himself (Rev. 20:10, 21:8).

[50] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[51] Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

To the Multitudes

1. Parable of Broadcasting the Seed

2. Another parable, the "Tares"
3. Another parable, the "Mustard Seed"
4. Another parable, the "Hidden Leaven"

5. Again parable, the "Hidden Treasure"
6. Again parable, the "Pearl of Great Price"
7. Again parable, "Net Cast in the Sea"

Matthew 13:52
Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 13:53
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence.

[54] And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

[55] Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

[56] And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

[57] And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

offended, skandalizo, skan-dal-id'-zo, Greek 4624; ("scandalize"); from Greek 4625 (skandalon); to entrap, i.e. trip up (figurative stumble [transitive] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) :- (make to) offend.

[58] And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

How about you?

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:43)

... to be continued.