Introduction

Good day to all! Today, we delve into Matthew Chapter 13.

Lately, I have received messages from individuals who, whilst searching for Bible study materials online, have remarked that other resources seem rather unreliable. However, they find the Bible study materials on the Chinese Mingding Destiny website to be more aligned with their understanding. Studying the Bible is not significantly different from reading any other book. Yet, many dissect the Scriptures into fragments, reading individual passages in isolation. The result is a failure to grasp the author's intended meaning, whilst simultaneously attributing meanings that the author never intended.

This fragmented approach to Bible study often involves citing Hebrew and Greek, expounding on the meanings of individual words. However, if this deviates from the author's intended message, such study becomes meaningless. Allow me to use an analogy: A fully assembled car functions normally when the driver inserts the key, steps on the accelerator, and starts the engine. But if the car is dismantled, with wheels, engine, and parts scattered all over, does it still constitute a car? Can it still function properly? An object only holds meaning when viewed as a whole, not when dissected.

God Gathers Treasures into the Kingdom of Heaven

The study of Matthew Chapter 13 is not difficult. By integrating the themes of this chapter, one can discern Matthew's intended message: God seeks to gather treasures into the Kingdom of Heaven.

This theme is patently obvious. Who would willingly fill their home with junk? I have a friend who, when inebriated, loses his sense of self and brings garbage cans and flower pots from the street into his living room. Upon waking the next morning, he exclaims, Who brought all this filth into my house? Indeed, no one willingly brings rubbish into their home.

A person's home's cleanliness often reflects their spiritual state. A penchant for hoarding junk at home frequently indicates demonic influence. I once visited a home where garbage bags were strewn everywhere, on windows, tables, and the refrigerator. The occupant believed he would eventually use these bags and, thus, hoarded them. Such a situation leads to only one conclusion: the home is under demonic control.

The theme of Matthew Chapter 13 is that God gathers treasures into the Kingdom of Heaven. However, some believers in the church today collect both what God desires and what God rejects into the Kingdom of God. Can this be pleasing to God? This is not God's will!

Again, 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. (Matthew 13:44-46)

This passage can be confusing. For example, many assume that the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure that we acquire by selling all we possess. This interpretation is untenable. When have you ever seen someone sell everything to buy the Kingdom of Heaven? We must clarify what this passage truly means. In essence, from the initial sowing of seeds to the parable of the wheat and tares, the entire narrative is intrinsically linked to the gathering of treasures into the Kingdom of Heaven.

God Redeems His Treasures at All Costs

This passage speaks of God's quest, throughout heaven and earth, to find individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Samuel, Moses, and others. God regards them as priceless treasures. This interpretation makes sense. Our God sells all that He has, His most precious Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us! How could we possibly redeem the Kingdom of Heaven? It is more fitting to say that God redeems us! This resonates deeply with me!

O God, I desire to be a treasure in Your eyes. O God, show me how to be a treasure in Your sight. Indeed, determining who is considered a treasure and who is deemed as rubbish in God's eyes warrants careful consideration.

It is disheartening when Christians read the Bible without knowing whether they are treasures or not. How does one determine if they are a treasure? A thorough study of the Bible from beginning to end is necessary. The stories of those whom God considers treasures, such as David, Joseph, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are worthy of contemplation.

Reading Genesis from beginning to end reveals two dividing lines: one represented by Cain, the other by Abel. Abel pleases God and is a treasure in His eyes; Cain is rubbish in God's eyes and is cursed.

Some may disagree with this assertion, arguing that Cain killed Abel. How could a treasure of God be killed? However, you should not be perplexed by this, as the Jews killed Jesus. Know that those who kill are unlikely to be treasures. Those who are killed, willingly dying for the Kingdom of God and remaining steadfast until death, are undoubtedly treasures in God's eyes!

Those Who Bear Fruit Are Treasures

Scarcity increases value; things found everywhere are not treasures. For example, a handful of dirt is worthless if sold as a treasure. However, a very large pearl is undoubtedly a treasure. Why? Because pearls are rare.

Therefore, I aspire to be a treasure in God's sight. Treasures are uncommon, and being a treasure requires distinction. What is this distinction? Obeying the will of my Heavenly Father. How does one obey the will of the Heavenly Father? Faith is the foundation; without faith, this path cannot be traversed.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying:A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:1-9)

Jesus’ explanation:

Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. (Matthew 13:18-23)

The principle is simple: those who do not bear fruit are not good. Only those who bear fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold are regarded by God as treasures and gathered into His Kingdom. This is the parable of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Comprehending this is slightly challenging, as those without faith cannot understand it. However, those who understand it will bear fruit.

Recently, someone messaged me, saying that they heard a preacher online claim that miracles and wonders no longer exist, that they ceased after the time of the Apostle Paul. The person messaging me did not accept this view. Coincidentally, the preacher who spoke online visited their church. After the sermon, they approached the pastor and asked why miracles and wonders no longer occur. The pastor replied, They just don't! Their theological logic is that the Bible is complete, so miracles are no longer necessary.

How many are demonically oppressed in this generation? We carefully read the Bible; then it was necessary to cast out demons, now it is no longer necessary to cast out demons? This is a strange logic. Jesus said, You must imitate me, and the things that I do you must also do. What Jesus did, we do not need to do now? That doesn't sound right. But many understand that rationale, but they cannot understand the logic spoken in the Bible.

The Kingdom of Heaven Resembles Jesus

Therefore, we must understand one thing: God sows seeds in the ground, and the ground is us. The seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven are sown in our land, so what kind of fruit should we bear? We must bear fruit like Jesus. If you bear the fruit like Lao Tzu, like Mencius, like Confucius, then that is not the seed of Jesus. Sow melon get melon, sow beans get beans, the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven are sown in us, bearing a hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold, must bear the fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven.

What does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? The Kingdom of Heaven is like Jesus. Jesus said, If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. So shouldn’t the fruit we bear resemble Jesus? Should we rely on the Spirit of God to cast out demons? Rely on the Spirit of God to cast out demons, and the Kingdom of Heaven descends. This is my interpretation. Some say, Be a good person and do good deeds. I know some friends who were monks, and I think some monks do better than Christians, but our fruit is not comparable to monks, because the Kingdom of Heaven is incomparable to this.

Therefore, we must know that Matthew is talking about the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven, the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven must have the genes of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the genes of the Kingdom of Heaven must be at least like Jesus. Jesus is the incarnation of the Word, we hear the Word, the Word is the seed, and then it bears a hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold, the truth is actually very straightforward. Even with such a straightforward truth, some people just don't understand. If you don't understand, how can you bear thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold of fruit?

Do we have the ambition today to do greater things than Jesus? Jesus said that you must do greater things than what He did! Jesus traveled all over Galilee, Samaria, and Judea, today we must do greater things than Jesus did! Jesus preached in Israel and Palestine for three and a half years, today we must do greater things through the Internet, bearing thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold of fruit.

God's Kingdom Cannot Collect Garbage

We have heard the truths of the Kingdom of Heaven, but we still do not know that God wants to bring treasures into the Kingdom of God, then what do you do?

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:19-22)

This is very straightforward, but if you have the concerns of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, it will be difficult to understand. For example, some people say, Can believing in the Lord be eaten as food? This is unbelief, and those who do not believe cannot understand, and it is useless to tell them anything.

What kind of people can bear fruit? Only those who believe can bear fruit. We must know that those who bear fruit can enter the Kingdom of Heaven; those who do not bear fruit cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What does God want to do with those who do not bear fruit? God sometimes seems to be speaking in riddles, making people seem to understand, but not quite.

Jesus answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13)

There are two kinds of people in front of Jesus: one kind of people is you, the other kind of people is them; Jesus tells you to know, not to let them know. If people's eyes are on the world, they do not believe, and they become them. Even if the truth is spoken very plainly, they cannot understand; if a person's eyes are on heaven, they believe and become you. You are treasures, they are garbage, and the treasures are brought into the Kingdom of God, and the garbage is burned.

Our church is built according to God's standards. We serve people, but we must keep treasures in the church. Some people do not understand our practices and question why we do not keep those who leave the church. What is the use of keeping a lot of garbage in the church? Jesus does not call people back either, we must imitate and emulate Jesus.

Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ But he said, ‘No, because while you are pulling up the weeds, you may uproot some of the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. (Matthew 13:24-30)

Some people think that the church collects wheat and weeds, that's not it! In the world some belong to wheat, some belong to weeds. Wheat can yield thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold of fruit; weeds cannot yield anything, such difference is very large. We must be careful not to collect weeds into God's church, but to collect wheat into God's church. Because the church is the body of Jesus Christ, the church must be holy, united, and have combat effectiveness, this is the key. It is not weeds and wheat growing together, we are keeping the good stuff in the vessel.

Jesus further explained:

**Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field. He answered, The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels,

====输出开始
## The Lord Jesus Wants Disciples Who Pay the Price

**Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)**

Peter should have pondered these words written by Matthew. **Jesus wants disciples who pay the price, not just a group of believers!** Matthew was astute; he understood that the Lord Jesus desired disciples of high standards. Many think the church Peter established was good, but after reflection, I find it lacking because there was no screening process. So many people entering the church brought corruption! The Lord Jesus wants disciples; He does not want rubbish.

Consequently, Pharisees infiltrated Peter’s church. Peter’s status in the church—whether he was voted out, forced out, or left on his own—he lost his position as the leader. Later, he even lost his title as an apostle to the Gentiles. Initially, God raised Peter to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter was the first to preach the gospel to the Gentiles! He was also the first to have Gentiles filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues! But later, God gave this position to Paul.

As soon as Peter saw those who came from James, he began to act hypocritically, and he would tremble even more if he saw James. There's a deep story behind this. You need to examine the Bible. Peter formed the habit of being pretentious. If Peter had properly screened those entering the church at that time, gathering those who yielded a hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold, and rejecting those who did not bear fruit, the church would not have become so chaotic.

In the Book of Acts, there is a story where someone made an offering, and Peter said that the Spirit of God revealed he had withheld money. The person died on the spot. Then his wife came, denied withholding the offering money, and also died on the spot. If we consider it carefully, Luke's writing is excellent; the average person cannot discern the slight derogatory tone. God works through us, but as the church in Jerusalem developed, it became a gathering place for Pharisees. The Pharisees were rampant within, so much so that Paul mentioned them in many of his epistles.

Peter said, “It is not right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” Since they were devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word, how could he be afraid of someone from James's group? This seems a bit problematic! I suspect James was paying Peter's salary! If James was paying Peter's salary, and James's people saw how Peter was interacting with the Gentiles, they would report to James, and Peter would be fired!

## The Church Should Not Only Pursue Numbers, But Treasures

So, today, we all need to consider whether the church pursuing numbers is a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's not a good thing. Later, I raised the requirements for the brothers and sisters in the church very high. I would rather have fewer people than more, but those few must have the appearance of the kingdom of heaven, capable of bearing good fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. **The church should pursue treasures in God's eyes, not just numbers.**

When Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew, he probably saw the state of the church and, remembering Jesus' teachings about gathering treasures into the kingdom of God, he felt deep emotion. Brothers and sisters, ponder this carefully. If the church is full of children of the evil one, how can the church be built up?

I once met a pastor whose church was somewhat like an old folks' home. When we met, he hugged me and cried. He and his wife made dumplings for the elderly brothers and sisters in the church, but the old folks said, These dumplings are terrible; can you make some abalone-filled dumplings? How expensive would abalone be! The pastor and his wife weren't wealthy, and the couple cried! He asked me, Do you have this kind of thing here? I thought about how to comfort him. I said no, they don't cook abalone dumplings for me, but I've already forgiven them. (I'm joking; I don't need people to cook abalone dumplings for me.)

What I mean is, in the church, you can't gather all the tares into the kingdom of God; you can't gather the children of the evil one into the kingdom of God; and you certainly can't gather those who hear the word but, because of worldly anxieties and the deceitfulness of wealth, the word is choked and cannot bear fruit. What are you gathering them for?

I've seen many stories in the church circle. One day, I went to a seminar at another church and sat there listening. A pastor went up and cried, with tears and snot, because the members of his church had sued him in the legal department. After several years of investigation, he was very upset and developed anxiety. After listening, I thought, God! Forgive me, I don't want to be that kind of pastor!

Those who want to eat abalone dumplings, didn't he bring them in himself? **If the church accepts everyone, how can it not be chaotic?** Some people think I am quite assertive, but I am not assertive; I just have high standards for God's word. We don't lack people, we don't lack money, and we don't lack time; we only lack God. I believe that as long as God is willing to be with us, God will lead us, and won't all problems be solved? The power of God is manifested, and what God does among us is incredible. My prayers are posted on the website, and many people are healed!

Why is this happening? Because I have understood the Bible; it is to build God's glorious church, which has infuriated the devil. But many people don't agree with me, saying, Why don't you want these kinds of people? Actually, it’s not that I don’t want them, but they must be treasures! And I don't dare to judge if they are a treasure, so I leave it to God to judge.

When our church casts out demons a lot, we find an interesting thing: when we can't cast out the demons on a person, that person will definitely stay in the church. When we can't deal with this kind of demon, this demon will wreak havoc in the church. Later, as we cast them out, we can cast out the demons on this person. At this time, people have two choices: either the devil takes them away, or the person is released.

Think about it carefully; this is actually God at work. If this person is taken away by the devil, isn't that a good thing? **Building God's glorious church is simple; it doesn't pursue numbers, but whether it is a treasure, whether it is a pearl of great price.** Therefore, I think some pastors suffer those sins, really deserve it! Who told you not to read Matthew 13 chapter? And even if you read it, did you really understand it?

In Chinese Mingding Destiny, only leave God's treasures. Some people say to me, If you require so high standards, can the church be built up? People will be required to leave! Does building a church really need to look at numbers? No need! Later, I gave him an example. I said, For example, Peking University and Tsinghua University, you want to enter, but they don't want you! So many people are in line, only the qualified can enter. Peking University and Tsinghua University didn't just fail, they are famous. So we must understand that God's will is to build the church on the top of a pyramid, where the whole point is full of treasures, but the devil is furious.

**Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(Matthew 13:47-50)**

Someone said, This is how it will be at the end of the age, but now is not the end of the age. Don't think that the end of the age refers to the final end. In fact, those thrown into the furnace are the final end. Doesn't the Bible say that now is already the end times? When the Bible was written, it was already the end times, and now it is even more the end times.

**We must pick the good ones into the vessels and throw away the bad ones.** Why did Jesus say this? It is to let us know very clearly what God's will is. If we gather everything into the church, what will the church become? Is that called doing the will of my Father in heaven? Our Father's will is for us to be able to build the body of Jesus Christ on earth, and if the body of Jesus Christ is full of garbage, what are you building?

Don't think that just because there's a church sign hanging that it's a church, and just because there isn't a church sign hanging that it's not a church. Because the church must be the body of Jesus Christ, we must constantly lead the brothers and sisters on the path of holiness. How can we do this? Faith is the key!

## Without Faith, There Is No Way to Receive God's Grace

**Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miraculous things there because of their lack of faith.(Matthew 13:54-58)**

Faith is the key; the righteous will live by faith. If people don't believe, even if they see Jesus doing all kinds of things, it will be difficult to make them believe. In fact, whether people believe or not determines what Jesus wants and doesn't want. But because people are unwilling to believe, Jesus didn't do many miraculous things in Nazareth. Actually, there were many people there who also needed Jesus, many who were sick and oppressed by demons, but they could not receive God's grace because they were not treasures in God's eyes. **If people don't have faith, they are letting themselves down, terribly.**

Today, we must choose to have faith no matter what. Even if your faith is only as small as a mustard seed, it will surely grow into a towering tree. If a person's faith is like a mustard seed, it can surely move mountains.

**He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”(Matthew 13:31-32)**

In fact, if the word of God's kingdom is like a mustard seed and is planted in us, it can grow into a towering tree. If a person's faith continues to grow, then his faith can surely move mountains.

**He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”(Matthew 13:33)**

Our faith will grow in us and change our whole person. The whole dough will rise. Because of time constraints, we can't speak so thoroughly about faith today, but everyone must know that Matthew is saying that God's kingdom wants treasures. God wants to gather treasures into His kingdom. What kind of people are treasures? Those who bear fruit. How to bear fruit? You must have faith to bear the fruit of faith.

**And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.(Mark 16:17-18)**

If people believe in God's word and carefully keep and do their Father's will, they will surely build God's glorious and holy church, and they will surely imitate the way of Jesus Christ. If people carefully keep and do God's word, they are not only people who cast out demons, but they also have grace and mercy from God, and they have love from God. Because the love of the Father is a powerful weapon for casting out demons, and casting out demons can bring the kingdom of God.

## Summary

Are you a treasure or rubbish? Are you the you Jesus referred to, or the they? Today we have to ask ourselves! If worldly desires and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, then what are you? You have to ask yourself! Today, having heard God's word, we are constantly growing in God's word and then bearing fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold. In the future, God will surely gather us into His kingdom because we desire to be people who are pleasing to God in Jesus Christ and achieve Mingding Destiny.

May God bless everyone!