The Sower, Mustard Seed, Wheat and Tares, Pearl of Great Price...how should we understand the parables of Matthew 13? Pink views them as prophetic in nature and writes, “[T]he thirteenth chapter of Matthew... is, from the standpoint of prophecy, the most important chapter of all the New Testament. There is much in God's prophetic program which must necessarily remain dark until the parables of this chapter are thoroughly mastered. At present they are much misunderstood and misinterpreted.” In discussing the seven parables, Pink suggests that the first four give us the external view of the history of Christendom, while the last three address that which is internal or spiritual.
“The term ‘kingdom’ refers, directly, not to territory but authority, not to a locality but to sovereignty.” (source)
“This was a severing o£ fleshly ties: it denoted the Savior’s break with Israel: it announced that henceforth He would only own as His kinsmen those who did the will of His Father which was in Heaven.” (source)
“The Lord Himself there designates the seven parables ‘mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.’” (source)
“The reasons why the preaching of the Word does not produce a spiritual harvest in all who hear it are, first, the natural hardness of man’s heart and the resultant opposition of Satan; second, the superficiality of the flesh; third, the attractions and distractions of the world. These are the things which produce barrenness, and they are recorded for the Christian’s learning and warning. Thus too are the servants of Christ instructed what to expect, and informed what it is which will oppose their labors—the Devil, the flesh and the world.” (source)
“First of all, most of the ground upon which it fell would prove unfavorable: the hard, shallow, and thorny soils were uncongenial to productiveness. Second, external opposition would be encountered: the birds of the air would come and catch it away. Third, the sun would scorch, and that which was lacking in moisture at its roots would wither away. Only a fractional part of the Seed sown would yield any increase, and thus all expectations for the ultimate universal triumph of the Gospel were removed.” (source)
The widespread circulation of his writings after his death made him one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century.
—Iain H. Murrary
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David Anfinrud
10/5/2021
Allen Haynie
1/15/2017