Bible Quiz: The Kingdom of God

1) More often than not, Jesus put his lessons in the form of parables - short stories that illustrate some moral or spiritual truth. In the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:1-9, Jesus tells of a farmer planting his seed. We can visualize a farmer with a seed bag over his shoulder, grabbing handfuls of seed and casting it out over the land. Some of the seed fell on fertile ground, but other seed fell in places where it could not grow well.

What did the seed that fell on rocky or stony areas represent?

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but do not understand it.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, understand it, and put it into action.

Those people who receive the message of the kingdom of God with joy, but do not have the courage to persevere through trouble, peer pressure or persecution.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but who let the worries of life and the lure of wealth become more important in their lives.

2) What did the seed that fell among thorns represent?

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but do not understand it.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, understand it, and put it into action.

Those people who receive the message of the kingdom of God with joy, but do not have the courage to persevere through trouble, peer pressure or persecution.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but who let the worries of life and the lure of wealth become more important in their lives.

3) What did the seed that fell on good ground represent?

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but do not understand it.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, understand it, and put it into action.

Those people who receive the message of the kingdom of God with joy, but do not have the courage to persevere through trouble, peer pressure or persecution.

Those people who hear the message of the kingdom of God, but who let the worries of life and the lure of wealth be more important in their lives.

4) In the Parable of the Pearl, why did Jesus compare the kingdom of God to a pearl?

The Word of God is like a "pearl of wisdom."

The kingdom grows in people's hearts, like a pearl grows in an oyster.

Like a pearl in the sun, the kingdom is a shining light.

The kingdom, like a pearl, is of great value.

5) In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, why did Jesus compare the kingdom of God to a treasure hidden in a field?

We may stumble upon the kingdom unexpectedly.

The kingdom is worth more than all a man's possessions.

A diligent search is needed to find the kingdom.

Like finding a far away field, a long spiritual "journey" is required to find the kingdom of God.

6) In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, in Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus tells a story of a farmer who planted a wheat field. In the night, an enemy came and planted weeds to try to take over the field and spoil the crop. The farmer's servants wanted to pull the weeds, but the farmer said, "No, ... let them grow together until the harvest."

Who did the farmer represent?

God

Jesus

John the Baptist

Jesus' disciples.

7) Who did the enemy represent?

The devil

The Pharisees

The Romans

Those people with evil in their hearts.

8) What was the point of the Parable of the Mustard Seed?

The kingdom of God is the "spice of life."

Like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a huge tree, the kingdom will also grow large.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - the rarest and most valuable of seeds.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - the largest and most beautiful of seeds.

9) Why did Jesus compare the kingdom of God to yeast or leaven?

Yeast was considered a symbol of power.

Yeast was considered a symbol of purity.

Like yeast in dough, the kingdom will grow from a tiny beginning to encompass the entire world.

Like yeast turns grape juice to a fine wine, the kingdom will transform the world.

10) In the Parable of the Dragnet, in Matthew 13:47-50, Jesus tells of a fisherman who let down his net and caught all kinds of fish, good and bad. Who do the bad fish represent?

Satan and his angels

The Pharisees

The wicked

The Romans