Matthew 13:44-50 The kingdom of heaven is like . . .
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 7, 2019, Matthew 13:44-50
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Understanding the Text) This is Matthew’s parable section still. He has grouped all of Jesus’ parables that are in this book in one section. Thus, I doubt that Jesus told all these parables at the same time, especially starting with the parables in these verses because the other parables have a narration portion. However, I’m not sure that the others were even spoken during the same sermon.
(Revelation of God / Understanding the Text) Jesus seems to have given the same message in multiple ways in order to get people to listen. The treasure and the pearl have the same theme which is that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable that we are happy to give up everything to get it. A lot of times, Christians look back at sin with longing and feel like they have sacrificed a lot to lead Christian lives. These parables give the message that anything we give up is worthless compared to the joy of having the kingdom of heaven.
(Understanding the Text) It’s interesting that Matthew groups parables with similar messages together, yet he separates the parable of the wheat and tares from the parable of the fish even though they have a similar message. Maybe, this says that for Matthew the importance of the parable of the wheat and the tares was the growing together, not the harvest while the importance of the fish is the sorting. These parables are about the kingdom of heaven, so the sorting may specifically refer to people who claim to follow Jesus. God throws out the net and many are drawn into the church; however, many who come in refuse to be transformed by the Spirit. They cherish their sinful selves. Those who value Jesus are the good fish.
It’s always the angels who separate them out. I know I’ve been told/have read that at the second coming the angels will gather God’s elect from the four winds and meet Jesus in the air. I’ve also read/heard that there are recording angels who place all our deeds in the heavenly record. I wonder which events this refers to (or maybe it refers to the whole process).
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to reflect on the joy of being part of the kingdom of heaven more. That means reflecting more on the joy of knowing You and being in relationship with You. I pray to know You better and to love You more. I pray that You will live in me and transform me into Your image so that I can be treasured. I want to treasure You and know that You treasure me. I also want to be connected to others in a loving relationship, but I know that I am horrible at loving others, so I need Your help with that.