Why All the Confusion in Christianity?

I. The Purpose of the Parables

A. To teach truths by using the method of comparison
1. The meaning of the word "parable"
a. "Placing side by side; cast along side of; or comparing"
B. To handle the different responses to His Person and work
1. Revelation for the positive ones - Matt. 11:25-27; 13:9-12, 16-17, 34-37
2. Concealment to the negative ones - Matt. 11:25-27; 13:13-16, 53-58
C. To reveal the different aspects of the kingdom
1. The reality of the kingdom and the heart (sower) - Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23
2. The problems related to the appearance of the kingdom (tares, mustard seed, big tree, leaven and dragnet) - Matt. 13:24-33, 47f
3. The value of the kingdom and the church (the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price) - Matt. 13:44-46

II. Understanding the Outward Appearance of the Kingdom

A. The tares (false ones) - Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
1. New Testament examples of tares
a. Grievous wolves - Acts 20:29-30
b. Divisive and deceiving men - Rom. 16:17-18
c. False apostles - 2 Cor. 11:13-14; Rev. 2:2b
d. False brothers - 2 Cor. 11:26; Gal. 2:4-5
e. Dogs and evil workers - Phil. 3:2
f. Enemies of the cross - Phil. 3:18-19
g. Blasphemers - 1 Tim. 1:19-20
h. Opposers - 2 Tim. 4:14-15
i. Persons of bitterness - Heb. 12:15
j. False teachers - 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 10-22
k. Antichrists - 1 John 2:18-19
l. False prophets - 1 John 4:1
m. Heretics - 2 John 7, 9-11
n. Unnoticed men - Jude 4, 8-16, 17-19
B. The mustard seed and big tree (abnormal development) - Matt. 13:31-32
1. The difference between an herb and a tree - Gen. 1:11-12
2. Changing the nature of something - 1 Cor. 11:13-15; James 3:10 f
3. Examples of the big/great tree with birds
a. Babylon in the Old Testament - Dan. 4:10-12, 20-22
b. Babylon in the New Testament - Rev. 18:2-5
4. New Testament examples of abnormal development
a. Uniformity of practice - Rom. 16:17-18
b. Emphasis upon personalities - 1 Cor. 1:10-12; 3:3-9, 21-23
c. Appearances and comparisons - 2 Cor. 10:7, 12-18
d. Work based on pleasing man - Gal. 1:6-10
e. Emphasizing other things rather than Christ - Col. 2:8
f. The great house - 2 Tim. 2:20-22
g. Centralization and hierarchy - 3 John 9-11
h. A worldly church - Rev. 2-3
C. Leaven (evil influences) - Matt. 13:33
1. New Testament examples of leaven
a. Teaching - Matt. 16:11-12
b. Politics - Mark 8:15; cf. Mark 3:6; 12:13; Luke 13:31-32
c. False appearances - Acts 5:1-11
d. Money - Acts 8:18-23
e. Legalistic teaching - Acts 15:1, 24
f. Grouping according to preference - 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:3-4
g. Evil brothers - 1 Cor. 5:1-13
h. A different gospel - Gal. 1:6-9; 5:9
i. Wind of teaching - Eph. 4:14; Heb. 13:9
j. Impure brothers - Phil. 1:15a, 17
k. Religion and tradition - Col. 2:8, 18, 20-23
l. Presumptuous persons - 2 Thess. 2:2-3
m. Teaching differently from God's economy - 1 Tim. 1:3-6
n. Teachers lacking experience - 1 Tim. 1:7; 6:3-5
o. Ascetic teachers - 1 Tim. 4:1-3
p. Worldly talk - 2 Tim. 2:16-17, 20-22
q. Inaccurate talk - 2 Tim. 2:18
r. Empty and shallow persons - 2 Tim. 3:5-9; Heb. 12:16
s. Favoritism - 2 Tim. 4:3-4
t. Unruly, lazy persons - Titus 1:10-14
u. Controlling and domineering persons - 3 John 9-10
v. Clergy-laity system - Rev. 2:6, 15
w. Authorized corruption - Rev. 2:20-24
x. Abominations and unclean things - Rev. 17:4-5
D. Dragnet (mixture) - Matt. 13:33
1. New Testament examples are the same as tares

III. Revelation Concerning the Value of the Kingdom and the Church

A. The treasure hidden in the field - Matt. 13:44
1. God's original purpose for the world - Gen. 1:26-28
2. God's redemptive purpose for the world - John 3:16; Col. 1:14-18
3. The treasure in the church - 2 Cor. 4:7; 1 Cor. 3:9-12; 1 Pet. 2:5
4. The treasure in the New Jerusalem - Rev. 21:18-20
B. The pearl of great price - Matt. 13:45-46
1. The church produced by Christ - Eph. 5:2, 25-27
2. The value of the church - Matt. 16:16-19
C. The ministry that knows the mysteries - Matt. 13:11, 51-52
1. The meaning of a New Testament mystery
a. Something outside the natural mind - 1 Cor. 2:7-9
b. Something known only by revelation - Eph. 3:3
c. Something revealed in Scripture - Rom. 16:26
d. Something faithfully ministered - 1 Cor. 4:1-2