The “word of the kingdom” (Matt 13:19a) has become a matter of great
confusion. As with any subject of Scripture, the flaws are alwaysfound in
the hermeneutical method being used to interpret various passages. We know,
and have confidence, that the text of Scripture is completely free of error
(Ps 19:7-10; 2 Tim 33:16-17), so our only other conclusion about the
confusion that has ensued is that it is due to a user error. Therefore,
there are three areas that must receive our attention so that we can
proceed with a biblical understanding of Jesus’ teaching in the parables of
Matthew 13. They are:
The Contemporary Understanding of the Kingdom
The Nature of the Kingdom in the Gospels
The Nature of the Kingdom in the Church Age
While these considerations are not exhaustive, they should help to clear up
some of the confusion that often surrounds the subject of the kingdom…