The Kingdom of Heaven
(Planting Seeds and Bringing Forth Fruits)
[source: Christopher Sunami at Kitopedia]
Matthew 13:31-33 (Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-21)
The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the largest of herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and lodge in its branches.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman mixed into three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened.
Matthew 13:44-46
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, so that when a man found it, he sold everything he had to buy that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking costly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold everything he had to buy it.
Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but are ravening wolves on the inside.
Matthew 7:16-20 (Luke 6:43-44)
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? In the same way, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore you shall know them by their fruits.
Matthew 12:33-34
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Oh generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?
Matthew 13:52
Then said he to them: “Every religious scholar who has been instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like a householder, who brings forth from his treasure house things new and old.
Luke 6:45 (Matthew 12:35)
Therefore a good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart.
Luke 6:46
And why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” yet do not do what I say?
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but only he that does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done wonderful works?
And I will answer: “I never knew you: leave me, you workers of iniquity.”
The House on the Rock - Matthew 7:24-27 (Luke 6:47-49)
Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them is like a wise man which built his house on a rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock.
And every one that hears these saying of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house and it fell, and great was its ruin.
The Talents - Matthew 25:14-29 (Luke 19:12-26)
The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his servants, and entrusted them with his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his abilities, and immediately embarked on his journey. Then he that received the five talents went and traded them, and earned five additional talents. In the same way the servant who had had received two talents also gained two additional talents. But he that received one dug a hole in the ground, and buried his lord’s money.
After a long time the lord returned, and took account of his servants. And he that received five talents came and brought the additional five talents, saying: “Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, see how I have also gained five more.”
His lord said: “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
He that had received two talents also came and said: “Lord, you entrusted me with two talents, see how I have also gained two more.”
His lord said: “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Then he who received the one talent came and said: “Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man. You harvest what you did not plant, and gather up what you did not throw down. So I was afraid, and buried your talent in the earth. Here, you have what is yours.”
His lord answered: “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I harvest what I did not plant and gather up what I did not throw down. Therefore you should have at least put my money in the bank, and at my return I would have received my own with interest.
“Therefore take the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. For unto every one that has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that does not have, even what he has shall be taken away.”
John 10:37-38
If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe in me. But if I do, believe in the works, even if you have not believed in me, so that you might know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Luke 13:6
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and looked for fruit and found none. Then he said to his gardener, “Behold, I have looked for fruit on this tree for three years. Cut it down, why should it waste the ground?”
And the gardener answered: “Lord, let it alone this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, all well and good, but if not, then after that you shall cut it down.”
Matthew 13:3-8 (Mark 4:3-8, Luke 8:5-8)
Behold, a farmer went forth to plant. And when he planted, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and ate them up. Some fell upon stony places, without much earth, and sprung up immediately, because the earth was shallow. But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and withered away because they had no roots. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.
Matthew 13:19 -23 (Mark 4:13-20, Luke 8:11-15)
The seed is the word of God. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the adversary snatches away what was planted in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
He that received the seed in a stony place, is the one who hears the word with joy, but does not have root in himself. He endures for a while, but when tribulation or persecution arises he abandons his faith.
He that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word, but the cares and lusts of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he that receives seed in the good ground is he that hears the word and understands it; which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keeps it, and bears fruit; and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 21:43
Therefore I tell you: The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation that brings forth the fruits.
John:15:1-8
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Dwell within me, and I within you. As the branch cannot bear fruit unless it dwells within the vine, no more can you bear fruit unless you dwell within me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He that dwells within me, and I within him, brings forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. If a man does not dwell within me, he is cast forth as a withered branch, to be gathered, cast into the fire, and burned.
If you dwell within me, and my words dwell within you, you shall ask what you wish, and it shall be done for you. This is how my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be my disciples.
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