Jesus described the kingdom of God using parables. We may have expected visions of life in heaven, or stories of divine encounters on earth. But what all these parables have in common is an end point.

• A seed that becomes a harvest – Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:13-20, Luke 8:11-15, Matthew 13:36-40, Matthew 13:31-34, Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:30-34, Luke 13:18-19
• Yeast that works through the dough – Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20-21
• A treasure that’s found and bought – Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45-46
• A net that brings up a catch of fish – Matthew 13:47-50
• A master returning to settle accounts – Matthew 18:23-34, Matthew 25:1-12, Matthew 24:45-51, Mark 13:35-37, Luke 12:35-48
• A landowner looking for results – Matthew 21:33-41, Mark 12:1-8, Luke 20:9-18, Matthew 20:1-16
• A wedding banquet to attend – Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24, Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is coming in its fullness, and we need to be ready. He makes his point clearly at the end of several of these.

• Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life
• There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth
• your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish
• Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour
• there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
• He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites
• If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping
• does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows
• taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit
• Therefore consider carefully how you listen
• kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others
• Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness
• not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet

These are the stories Jesus chooses to explain the kingdom. The end is coming for all of us, and it really matters that we’re ready.