The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew 13:11, Sermon by Father.Mungamuri Devadasu - The Bible Mission

 

 The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 13:11

Dear Friends, c May the Lord grant you insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven through today’s Word meditation! Amen.

The matters of the Kingdom of Heaven, the truths concerning the Church, many profound teachings in the Bible, and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be comprehended by the worldly mind. Such people neither understand nor accept these things. Why? Because worldliness rules their hearts. They do not grasp divine matters, nor do they care to, and since they do not use the wisdom given by God, they remain spiritually blind. This is evident even in Isaiah 6:10, where it appears that God Himself has shut off their ability to perceive, leaving them without the heart to accept. Therefore, we must understand that God looks at the heart. That is why Jesus told Judas Iscariot, “What you are about to do, do quickly”—because his heart was already determined for betrayal. Romans 1:24 explains that God gave them over to impurity. There are spiritual truths that cannot be understood through knowledge alone; such things are discerned only through faith in God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “By faith we understand.” Thus, faith is more powerful than intellect. Even in the time of Christ, those who read the Scriptures and saw Him in person questioned, “Is this not the son of Mary? Is He not Joseph’s son?” They said, “Can a prophet arise from Nazareth?” and judged, “If He were truly a prophet, wouldn’t He know this woman is a sinner?” Because of such questions, they stumbled. They expected the Messiah to overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom, to grant them authority and power. When that did not happen, they became offended and rejected Him. Yet did not the Lord say, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of Me”? John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, “Are You the One who is to come?”—and they received assurance. In the same way, had the Jews genuinely sought the truth, they too would have received confirmation. Mysteries are not revealed to everyone, nor are they necessary for all. If someone rejects the mysteries of Christ even after they are clearly explained, it is better to stop explaining and not engage in arguments with them.

 

1 Timothy 4:13–14 reveals that there is a gift by which the mysteries of faith can be known to believers, while others lack the capacity to understand them. The Lord Himself spoke truths that some could not grasp. How can those who have dismissed and rejected Him claim to have understood?

 

In former times, certain matters were called “mysteries,” and though some of those are now revealed, books like Song of Songs, Revelation, and certain prophecies still remain mysteries. Yet, when we spend time in the Lord’s presence, He reveals more to us. Even today, those who walk closely with Him will have the mysteries of the Kingdom unveiled to them. The disciples understood many things because they dwelled constantly with Jesus. How blessed we would be if we could do the same! We must grasp the truth of His words: “To him who has, more will be given.” Just as teachers delight in instructing students who are eager to learn, the Lord reveals more to those who hunger for truth. But to those who are uninterested, He withholds revelation. He even said, “From the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” This means that those who do not use their gifts may have them taken away. Yes, the gift itself can be removed. We see in 1 Kings 22:21 that God permitted a lying spirit to enter someone—because the person opened himself to deception.

 

If we humble ourselves before God, He will give us His wisdom and every necessary gift. In earlier generations, certain mysteries were not revealed even to prophets—not because of their lack of faith, but because those revelations were not needed at that time. Jesus said in Matthew 13:16–17, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see…” Many prophets desired to see what we see, but were not given that privilege. Therefore, the revelation of mysteries depends on the timing, the need, and the heart's posture before God.

1. Objections Against Christ, the Bible, and the Church

Many people raise objections regarding Christ, the Bible, and His Church. Concerning Christ, some claim He was merely human and deny His divinity, saying, “If He truly had power, why didn’t He come down from the cross?” Regarding the Bible, they scoff at supernatural accounts: “Can a serpent speak?” “Did a donkey talk?” “Did fire truly fall from heaven at Elijah’s prayer?” Using such examples, they argue that the Bible is not divine. Concerning the Church, they ridicule the disciples as uneducated fishermen and criticize that today’s Christians are mostly common people. Through such criticisms, they unknowingly forfeit the blessings that come through knowing Christ, understanding the Scriptures, and being part of the Church.

2. Questions Arising from Unbelief

Many also question God’s justice and power: “Why didn’t God destroy Satan long ago?” “If He is loving, why does He remain silent while people suffer?” These questions, born of unbelief, cause people to lose their share in divine truths. Scripture warns of those who hear but fall away, showing that rejection of the Word results in the loss of spiritual inheritance. We must understand: those who refuse to hear are outside divine favor. If they repeatedly reject the truth, we should not waste our valuable time on them. However, if they return with genuine interest, we should teach them according to their hunger and willingness (John 3:20; Hebrews 6:1,8).

3. Free Will, Responsibility, and the Mystery of Rejection

Judas Iscariot fell away. Likewise, some Christians may fall today. But does that mean the Christian faith is false? What about the eleven who remained faithful? Esau failed to repent—not because God didn’t want to bless him, but because his heart was not prepared. God desires to bless everyone, but He cannot bless those who are unwilling or unready. Cain opposed God and walked away from His presence—not because God drove him away, but because Cain chose to leave. People ask, “Why didn’t God give Cain a repentant heart?” Others wonder, “If Judas hadn’t been born, how would Christ have died? Didn’t he do God’s will? Then why wasn’t he forgiven?” Such questions are the mysteries of unbelievers, but to believers, they are easily understood by faith.

4. The Principle of Spiritual Receptivity

Jesus said, “To him who has, more will be given; from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” This reveals a principle: those who value and use their spiritual gifts will receive more, while those who reject or neglect them will lose even what they were given. Paul teaches that unrepentant individuals should be handed over to Satan—not all, but “some” (1 Timothy 1:20). Therefore, we must not grieve excessively over those who willfully reject truth. Even in Hades there is instruction—judgment is followed by understanding. After teaching the parable of the sower, Jesus began revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:16–17). These mysteries are not hidden from all, but only from those who resist faith.

The Parable of the Sower – A Spiritual Reflection

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus illustrates the different kinds of responses to the Word of God through four types of soil. The first seed was eaten by birds and thus did not bear fruit—these birds represent Satan, who snatches the Word away before it can take root. The second seed sprouted but withered quickly because it fell on rocky ground. The rock here symbolizes the evil nature within man—hardness of heart that prevents lasting growth. The third seed grew, but thorns choked it, and it bore no fruit. These thorns represent worldly cares and distractions.

From this, we understand that we have three major enemies:

1. Satan,
2. the flesh, and
3. The world.
   Among these, the flesh—our own inner nature—is often our most dangerous enemy, for it lives within us.

The first three parables were spoken by Jesus publicly to the crowds, while the remaining were spoken privately to the disciples in a house. In total, Jesus gave four parables to the public and three to the disciples. The parable of the rocky ground was gladly heard by the crowds, but those who received it soon withered in the sun, symbolizing the many Christians today who begin their spiritual journey with great enthusiasm, but soon fade.

Where Does the Problem Lie?

When spiritual zeal fades, we must ask: Where is the fault? Is the problem in the Word that was preached? Is it in the hearing of the Word? Or is it in the nature of the person who received it? Certainly, there is no fault in the seed. Therefore, when a Christian's enthusiasm declines, they should not blame the pastor, the church, or even God.

Bearing Fruit in Different Measures

Some produce 30-fold, others 60-fold, and a few 100-fold. That does not mean those who bear 30 or 60 are fruitless. Each one bears fruit according to the measure of grace and preparation in their lives. Those on rocky ground must first remove their hardened nature. Those among thorns must understand ahead of time that trials and distractions will come, and be ready to overcome them.

Spiritual Responsibility

Preachers must never neglect to teach about these three enemies—Satan, the flesh, and the world. Every church contains believers who fall into these four categories of soil. Whether they hear or refuse to hear, whether they accept or reject—our task is to proclaim. As we learn from the seed that fell by the wayside, our responsibility is to sow, and the listener’s responsibility is to receive and be transformed.

The Lord’s Own Teaching

This parable was personally taught by the Lord Jesus. Those with good soil will surely bear fruit, though the quantity of the fruit may differ—and that’s okay. What matters is that fruit comes forth. It is also remembered that:

• Those who bear 30-fold represent earthly salvation,
• Those who bear 60-fold represent general salvation, and
• Those who bear 100-fold represent the heavenly reward of the New Jerusalem.

Among the seeds that were sown, the first seed bore no fruit at all—it was entirely unfruitful. The second seed began to grow and showed a little sign of life, yet in the end, it was also fruitless. The third seed too appeared to grow, but due to thorns, it bore no lasting fruit—therefore, it too was unfruitful. Only the fourth seed produced a harvest of fruit, and in it we see three levels of yield: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. This reveals that even among the saved, there are three spiritual tiers of fruitfulness.

Those who fail to understand this truth are like the ones along the path in the parable—the “way-side” hearers. This shows how crucially important it is to understand the parables. Because they did not understand, they remained entirely unfruitful.

Therefore, every person must make use of the wisdom God has given. Understanding and applying the message of the parables is not just helpful—it is essential for bearing spiritual fruit and entering deeper levels of maturity in the Kingdom of God.

The Parable of the Weeds – A Reflection on the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:24–30)

To explain the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Lord Jesus spoke seven parables in Matthew 13. Each of these parables can be prophetically connected to the seven church periods in the Book of Revelation. In the Parable of the Weeds, the Sower is none other than Jesus Christ, and the good seed represents the Word of God. The good seeds are the righteous, while the weeds (tares) are evil people—planted by Satan to hinder the work of God's Kingdom. These ungodly individuals live among the righteous, often appearing like true believers outwardly—by name, practice, or appearance—but inwardly they are agents of harm and confusion.

Satan strategically sows such people among genuine believers within the Church. These tares are often difficult to distinguish, and so believers ask: "Why doesn’t God remove them immediately?" But the answer is found in the Lord’s wisdom—if the weeds are pulled up too early, the wheat may also be uprooted. Therefore, they are allowed to grow together until the time of harvest.

The Order of Judgment: Three Phases

The Lord explains that at the end of the age, a three-step process will occur:

1. Binding the bundles – This refers to the separation of the unrighteous from among the righteous.
2. Gathering the wheat into the barn – Symbolizing the gathering of the Bride (Church) during the rapture.
3. Burning the bundles – Represents the final judgment at the end of time.

These three stages should be remembered as a divine order: separation, preservation, and destruction. The weeds are the unrepentant and false believers; the wheat are those who have genuinely accepted salvation.

Spiritual Carelessness and Satan’s Work

The parable notes that the enemy sowed the weeds while men were sleeping. This illustrates how Satan works while the servants of God are spiritually careless or negligent. When the Church is not vigilant, false believers creep in unnoticed. If we attempt to uproot the tares prematurely, we risk harming the genuine believers as well. Therefore, the Master permits them to remain until the appointed time.

First, the weeds will be gathered and set aside, and then they will be burned. But before this, the wheat must be gathered into God’s barn—the Church must be taken up (raptured). This shows that the Bride will be removed before the final judgment. The tares, symbolizing the unrepentant, will be cast into hell at the final judgment.

Application to Church History and the Smyrna Church Age

This parable is prophetically linked to the Smyrna church era in Revelation. During that time, some claimed to be Jews but were not, and they infiltrated the church. Likewise, in today’s churches, there are nominal Christians who remain even after the true believers are taken at the coming of the Lord. This parable teaches us a valuable truth: even God’s servants do not fully understand all mysteries. Only those to whom it is revealed—like the angels—can discern the true condition of a person’s heart. This is why we must not rush to judge others. Judgment is reserved for the end of the age.

Sequence of God’s Plan: From Mustard Seed to Multitudes

The mustard seed represents the New Covenant, which began with just two individuals, expanded to twelve disciples, then to seventy evangelists, and later included 120 believers in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Following that, three thousand were added. Thus, the Kingdom of God has grown progressively, and the Lord continues to gather His people into it, according to His divine order and timing.

Parable of the Leavened Dough – Matthew Chapter 13

The leavened dough symbolizes false doctrine.

1.      The leaven of the Pharisees refers to lifeless religious rituals devoid of true spiritual life and power.

2.     The leaven of the Sadducees represents teachings that deny the resurrection, angels, and the unseen realm.

3.     The leaven of the Herodians stands for a compromised doctrine that teaches union with the world and self.

These three kinds of false teachings entered the Church during the era of religious reformation. Though they existed earlier, they became more visible as the Church developed. Since the Bible came into public revelation during the reformation period, the entire Church must come under correction; however, it has instead split into different branches.

The major branches are:
(1) The Roman Catholic Church
(2) The Greek Orthodox Church
(3) The Protestant Church

The “three measures of good flour” refer to these. Though the original flour was good, the leaven that entered corrupted it. Can these three branches ever become one unified Church again? As new years come, new branches also emerge. Due to varied doctrines, the Church today has split into many missions.

Once leaven mixes with good flour, can it be separated again? No—it cannot. The woman who brought the flour symbolizes the “Bride,” the name given to the group of true believers. Even the group of false teachers is symbolized as a woman—namely, a corrupt woman.

The leavened dough is something that has been hidden. What does this mean? It means false doctrine is concealed within the good flour in such a way that it is not easily identified as false. Each group claims, “Our doctrine is true.” They also say, “So-and-so’s doctrine is false.” Because these people act as judges, these “teachers” will continue till the end. Likewise, the leavened dough (false teaching) will also remain till the end.

Only through the appearance of the Lord will good and evil be clearly distinguished. Even now, if all the missions were to ask the Lord sincerely, He would reveal the truth. But do the churches ask in that manner? No, they do not. Some say, “Since it is already written in the Bible, why should we ask again?” But don’t we ask Bible teachers to explain the meaning of Scripture? Then why should we not ask the Lord Himself?

The Hidden Treasure – What Does It Mean?

From Adam to Abraham, many hundreds of years passed. During that time, the Jewish nation remained hidden. Eventually, this hidden people was revealed, and from among them, the Savior of the world was born.

The ten tribes of Israel were taken into captivity and have not returned to this day—they are still hidden. They will reappear at the appointed time. The Jewish people are especially dear to God; they are His treasure. But when Christ came, they did not accept Him. As a result, they were scattered among the nations and now remain hidden in various countries.

In the end, during the seven-year tribulation period, the Jewish people will turn back to the Lord. At that time, it will be as if the hidden treasure has been found. The parable presents it as if someone found a treasure—what does this mean?

When the nations were multiplying, Abraham appeared before God from among them. God did not search specifically for Abraham, but as the nations grew, Abraham was found by God. God left the others and chose Abraham. From Abraham, the Jewish people emerged.

Just as the man in the parable rejoiced upon finding treasure, so did God rejoice upon finding the Jewish people. From among them came patriarchs, teachers, kings, prophets—and ultimately, the apostles. For the sake of this nation, the Lord Jesus Christ died.

In the parable, it is written, "He sold all he had and bought that field."
“All he had” refers to the Lord’s own precious blood;
“Sold” means He poured it out;
“Bought” means He redeemed.

Although the Israelites were God’s own people, because of their sinful lives, they had become sold to Satan. So, God's people ended up in the hands of the enemy. When something we own is in another’s hands, how do we get it back? By paying a price—even at a loss, we would redeem our possession. We are God's possession, yet because of sin, we became Satan's property. To redeem us, no earthly wealth or price is sufficient—only the blood of Christ can do it.

The saying "He purchased the whole world with His blood" is deeply true—and it includes the Jews as well.

In the Book of Acts, it is recorded that one prominent Jewish leader was told by God: “It is better that one man die for the nation.”

In the parable, it is written that He bought the field. The “field” represents the world. When a farmer buys a field, don’t the trees in it also belong to him? Likewise, since Jesus purchased the world, all the people in the world belong to Him.

The historical act of Jesus redeeming people with His blood begins with the history of the Jews. Later, reading the Bible shows us that He bought the entire world. God’s works will be revealed in time. This parable clearly shows that the Jews are God’s special people. But this truth is not understood by the world. That is why Jesus spoke this parable privately to His disciples while in the house.

May the Bridegroom—our Lord Jesus Christ—reveal these deep mysteries of His heart to you and correct and prepare you in this present day. Amen.

This message was preached by Father Devadasu in Rajahmundry on 22nd August, 1943.

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