There are seven Kingdom Parables in Matthew 13, seven letters to churches in Revelation 2 and 3, and Paul wrote letters to seven churches during his ministry. This study explores the correlation among those three groups of seven.

Taken together they are both prophetic and homeletic. 

• Introduction and Parable of the Sower

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  The seven Kingdom Parables in Matthew 13 correlate with the letters to the churches in Revelation. They also correlate with Paul's letters to seven churches. This introduction also includes the Parable of the Sower.

• Parable of the Weeds

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  The parable of the weeds in Mat 13 describes a church having both sons of the Kingdom and sons of the evil one mixed in the same field. It is only during the harvest that the two are separated. This correlates with the letter to Smyrna in Rev 2 where the believers are persecuted by members of the Synagogue of Satan. It also correlates with Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.

• Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven

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  The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven both speak of the bureaucratic church; organizations that have grow so large that there are lots of places where evil can dwell. These parables correlate with the letters to Pergamum and Thyatira in Revelation and with Paul's letters to the Corinthians and Galatians.

• Parable of the Hidden Treasure

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  The parable of the hidden treasure correlates with the letter to Sardis and with Paul's letter to the Romans. The image is of a dead church which still has a few hidden people who are faithful. The exhortation is to return to the basics of the faith.

• Parables of the Pearl and the Dragnet

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  The parable of the pearl corresponds to the church at Philadelphia and the dragnet to Laodicea. While the letters to the churches are for all churches and all times, Laodicea is especially pertinent for the western church today. It speaks to cultural Christians who attend church but are otherwise flowing with the surrounding culture; Christians who don't want to rock the boat.