Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5.

Our next chapter, Matthew 13, is a series of examples of what the kingdom of God is like: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” v. 3-9. His disciples asked Him to explain 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. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ (Deuteronomy 29:4). In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Isaiah 6: 9,10). But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When 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. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someonw who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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. 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. 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.” v. 11-23. But can we see? We can’t understand kingdom spiritual truth without Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. He helps us as we open our hearts and minds to His teaching – our open hearts representing good soil ready to receive. Another parable and always the seed sowed is good seed and yet an “enemy” comes after sowing weeds. The meaning Jesus gave: “The One who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” v. 37-43. Still more parables comparing the kingdom to the smallest of seeds, the mustard seed, that when grown becomes a sheltering tree; and of yeast that though small compared to the flour yet permeates the whole dough; like treasure hidden in a field; and like a fine pearl of great value; like a net thrown into the lake gathering all kinds of fish that will be sorted, v. 31-33, 44-50. And this…Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” (Psalm 78:2). And then Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth. When Jesus had finished these parables, He moved on from there. Coming to His hometown, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. v. 53-58.

Creator God is the kingdom. His teachings are good seed and will be sown in this world that is broken by lies and the deceit of the evil one. And there is good soil too! There are hearts that have been broken and abused by others, and hearts that have done the breaking and abusing. And every heartache and brokenness points to the bereft and barren way of lies we have believed and want no longer. We realize our need for our Creator who has never lied to us and every moment of need has been there for us. And like those tender new plants, we turn toward the truth of His love and begin to grow. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5. As we turn to Him, He will heal us. He is the only One who can! The Good news of the Kingdom of God!