The Questions Jesus Asked Part 12

This week in our Questions Jesus asked series we are looking at an awesome question in Matthew 13:51 “Have you understood all these things?”

Matthew 13:44-51 (NIV)
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 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. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.

I love the question and I love their response. Have you understood all these things? Yes! Really! I think they are still struggling with “who is the greatest” and no one wants to admit they don’t completely understand what Jesus means with the parables. Let’s dig into the idea of the now and not yet once again, because it is so important that we grasp this reality but it takes a while to sink in.

We have been saying that the parables, are about the kingdom of God, which we said the other week was the rule and reign of God. It was inaugurated when Jesus came the first time and will be consummated when He comes again. As a believer you are already in the age to come, but we still deal with the present evil age.

The Present Evil Age

Galatians 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead– 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

A lot of translations say “evil world” instead of “evil age” which has caused a lot of problems. The word in the Greek is “Aion” which is best translated age. The word for world is “kosmos” and is not being used here. So we are dealing with an evil age not an evil world.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV)
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

This verse demonstrates that the evil one is the (little g) god of this age. The character of this Age is evil, reflecting the (little g) god of this age, the evil one.

Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

This present evil age is in direct conflict with another age which in the Bible is referred to as the age to come.

The Age to Come

Ephesians 1:21 (NIV)
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

The age to come will witness the consummation of God’s kingdom, the restoration of everything that has been destroyed because of the fall.

Mark 10:29-30 (NIV)
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

That is all great news for the future. But what about right now? How are we rescued from the present evil age?

Galatians 1:4 (NIV)
4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Jesus rescues us by the power of the “Age to Come” which has projected itself in Christ into the “Present Evil Age” so that we may be delivered or rescued. The “Age to Come” is still future, but because of Jesus’ inauguration of the Kingdom at the cross, we may taste now the power of the “Age to Come”. Another way to say it would be that in Christ, the power of the “Age to Come” has penetrated this “Present Evil Age”. A taste is not the whole banquet, but a taste is real. It is more than just a promise, it is an actual experience.

Hebrews 6:5 (NIV)
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,

We are living in a tension between the two ages. In Christ, we live in a tension between the now and the not yet. Have you understood all these things? We will be talking more about it this weekend at Keys Vineyard Church. Make plans to attend in-person or watch online.

Steve Lawes is a church encourager and the lead pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.