Passport to Paradise:

Entering the Kingdom of Heaven

A Thesis
Presented to the
Department of Literature
University of Santo Tomas
College of Nursing

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements in
Lit 101
World Literatures

Ariadne Louise S. Floresca

III Nur 3
May 2015

ii

DEDICATION

This research study is dedicated to all those who are in need of assurance with their
faith. It is for those who have forgotten the value of their salvation and the price paid
for its issuance. It is for those who continuously struggle with living with temptation
and seem to have lost all acknowledgment about being saved. It is for those who have
questioned and continues to question why God allowed certain things to happen in
their life, where He might, how He can be found, and how His promise can be
attained. These questions are often the reasons why we drift away from Him.
Therefore, through this research study, I am hoping to engage all those who fall in
any of the category above into a discussion that will lead them back to their renewed
faith and hope for salvation.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all I would like to thank my family for their utmost support and
guidance. They have been with me from the beginning of my journey and have helped
me grow into the person I am today. Without their teachings and without the values
they have instilled in me, I would not have the idea to come up with this research
topic.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our literature 101 professor,
Dr. Elmer C. Hibek, without whom none of this would even happen. Thank you sir,
for coming up with this kind of project so that I may be able to enhance and broaden
my writing skills.
Furthermore, I would also like to acknowledge the support of my friends who
have urged me into completing this research paper. Thank you for enduring sleepless
nights with me. I am thankful that God surrounded me with people like you.
And of course, I am forever grateful to the Lord Almighty; without whom I
will not be alive today. He is my refuge, my strength and my constant reminder that
life is full of hope. He has provided me with everything I needed for this research
paper. I thank Him every day for the give of knowledge, wisdom and life. He is the
center of all things; who was and is and is to come.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ....... i

Dedication .... ii
Acknowledgement ... iii
Table of Contents ........ iv

I. THE PROBLEM
A. Introduction .................................................................................................1
B. Hypothesis.....................................................................................................2
C. Thesis Statement............................................................................................2
D. Objective of the Study..................................................................................2
E. Statement of the Problem..............................................................................3
F. Significance of the Study...............................................................................3
G. Limitation of the Study.................................................................................3
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE....................................................................................4
III. SYNOPSIS..............................................................................................................8
IV. ANALYSIS PROPER............................................................................................10
V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Summary.....................................................................................................16
B. Conclusion...................................................................................................16

C. Recommendation................................................................................17
BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................18
Bibliography of the Author....................................................................................20
Curriculum Vitae.....................................................................................................21

CHAPTER 1
A. Introduction
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
As human beings we are bound to search for the meaning and purpose of
our lives. Often, we tend to cling to anything that might make even the slightest
sense in order to justify our being alive. This is where faith comes in; according to
the Merriam-Webster dictionary, faith is the complete trust or confidence in
someone or something. In a Christians case, it is in God that we entrust the
answers to all our mind-boggling questions that encompass our being.
More often than not, living a Christian life takes a toll on a person because
we always compare our lives with others who have not been walking in faith.
Those people tend to believe in false freedom and cling to false happiness. Living
the Christian life means to seek eternal joy in the presence of God. Although, it
does not necessarily mean that by walking with God and having a relationship
with Him would exempt us from having to go through trials in life. In fact, to have
a stronger and more concrete relationship with God, we must go through all kinds
of challenges. This will help mold our spiritual walk with God as we come out
stronger and more anchored in Him. Through hardships, we are able to seek and
value His love and compassion even more.
Seeking His love means seeking His kingdom as well. The Kingdom of
heaven is continuously offered to us by means of the grace that God is blessing us
with. And we have to bear in mind that this grace has been bought with a price,
and that is the death of Jesus on the cross. By His death with have been saved with
grace. That is the ultimate gift that God could offer us. And in order to attain that,
we must set ourselves free from the chains of materialism, pride and sin. We must
be humble enough to accept that without Him, we are nothing. And without His
grace, we can never attain salvation.

B. Hypothesis
God has proven that He is loving and merciful by continuously
accepting us each time we have our short comings. He continues to offer His
kingdom to us together with the promise of salvation. However, He has also
proven that as God, He can also be jealous. In the same way, he is also a God
of justice and righteousness. And that when the time comes each of us will be
judged accordingly to what we deserve.

C. Thesis Statement
Our God is a jealous God. He implores that we will have Him in the
center of our lives and live according to His ways. He implores us to seek Him
and His kingdom so that we may be able to find the true meaning and value of
life. And that is to love and serve Him and eventually be with Him in His
kingdom as He fulfils His promise of eternal life. Yet, He is also a very loving
and merciful God. He allows us room to sin and He acknowledges our
imperfections in the same way that He acknowledges that we have the
opportunity to improve and change. And even if we sin, He readily forgives us
and our fellowship with Him is not destroyed. However, our failure to repent
on the time of His second coming will lead to His judgment. Since He is a just
and righteous God, He will judge us according to what we deserve based on
how we lived by and accepted His offered grace.

D. Objective of the Study

The objective of the study is to discover the meanings behind the
chosen parables and how it can be related to a persons everyday life. It aims

to redirect a persons path back to righteousness so that they may be worthy to

find and enter the kingdom of heaven. It aims to answer questions about
seeking God and His offered truths.
E. Statement of the Problem
1. What is the value of the Kingdom of Heaven? Is it casually or easily seen?
2. How is the Kingdom of Heaven seized? How could it be made personal?
3. How is the Kingdom of Heaven related to joy?
4. What do these parables teach about human accountability and divine
patience?
5. What does it say about good and bad people coexisting? Who then can enter
the kingdom of heaven?

F. Significance of the Study

This study is significant for the deepened understanding of Gods
message of good news as written in the Scripture. The understanding of these
parables is imperative for the spiritual and emotional growth of an individual.
As we go through life, we are bound to search for our meaning and purpose.
Keeping our spiritual state of being in good condition is important to ensure
that we are living a life of morality. This paper would be useful in
understanding Gods plan and desire for us as His children. The Bible offers
numerous parables so that we may see and appreciate His good news in a
whole new context. This study can also be used to realize how our faith and
spiritual state can influence our perception and behaviours in life.
G. Limitations
This study only tackles 3 Parables in the Gospel book of Matthew. The
central themes of these parables are finding and valuing the kingdom of
heaven and realizing who the only ones are worthy to enter it.

CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The parables of Jesus embody much of his fundamental teaching. They are
quite simple, memorable stories, often with humble imagery, each with a single
message. The parables were simple and memorable enough to survive in an oral
tradition before being written down years after Jesus death. Most Bible scholars say
that Jesus parables appear only in the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and
Luke).
Jesus trained the disciples to be laborers in the harvest and warn men about the
coming judgment. He says here that the disciples are now like a householder who
dispenses supplies from his storehouse to meet peoples needs. If someone needed
clothing, food, or care, the householder gave it to him.
The householder was also wise enough to dispense both old and new things,
sothat the old things didn't ultimately become useless. He was a wise steward of
everything he possessed. The disciples are now householders with a storehouse filled
with both old and new things. In other words, they knew the Old Testament and knew
about the mysteries of the Kingdom. They could not only teach about the Old
Testament and Jewish tradition; they could dispense the new mysteries of the
Kingdom. They now knew more than the Jewish scribes. All that the scribes knew
was the Old Testament. But the disciples had knowledge of both old and new things
in perfect balance. God had called and trained them, and now wanted them to spread
their knowledge.
According to Fuellenbach in 1995, the kingdom is so central to Jesus that it is
said that Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, not himself. Through these actions
Jesus demonstrates what the Kingdom is and how materializes itself already. The
kingdom encompasses everything. It aims at the transformation of all human reality
including the whole of nature.

Today, we are to proclaim the same message that the disciples were to
proclaim: The people of the world are destined for hell unless they accept the gift of
life from God through Jesus. Jesus trained the disciples to be laborers in the harvest
and warn men about the coming judgment. He says here that the disciples are now
like a householder who dispenses supplies from his storehouse to meet peoples
needs. If someone needed clothing, food, or care, the householder gave it to him. The
householder was also wise enough to dispense both old and new things, so that the old
things didn't ultimately become useless. He was a wise steward of everything he
possessed. The disciples are now householders with a storehouse filled with both old
and new things. In other words, they knew the Old Testament and knew about the
mysteries of the Kingdom. They could not only teach about the Old Testament and
Jewish tradition; they could dispense the new mysteries of the Kingdom. They now
knew more than the Jewish scribes. All that the scribes knew was the Old Testament.
But the disciples had knowledge of both old and new things in perfect balance. God
had called and trained them, and now wanted them to spread their knowledge.
Furthermore, Schillebeeckx, as cited in Fuellenbuac, mentioned that the
experience of the Kingdom is important in another position. The freedom to accept
that despite sin and guilt we are accepted by God; The freedom to be able to live in
this earthly world without ultimate despair about our existence; the freedom to
commit ourseves disinterestedly for others in the confidence that such dedication is
ultimately decisive and significant; and that the freedom to accept experiences of
peace, joy and communication and to understand them as manifestations, however
fragmentary, of the saving presence of the living God.
The kingdom, according to Luomanen in 1998, the kingdom is a gracious gift
from God, who comes with unconditional love to seek out humankind and to offer
ultimate salvation to all. The Kingdom cannot be brought about by the faithful
adherence to the Law, as certain rabbis believed; nor can it be forced into the present
by armed violence, as the Zealots thought. It is a gift from God which people can only
receive in gratitude and awe. God is coming towards us as unconditional love,

seeking communion and intimacy. Since it is a gift of love, the only concrete
description can be in terms of symbols and images.
Today, we are to proclaim the same message that the disciples were to
proclaim: The people of the world are destined for hell unless they accept the gift of
life from God through Jesus. It is the heart and spirit of man that counts in the
kingdom of God. When God's angels pull in the great dragnet one day, and the fish
are sorted, that is what will distinguish the good from the rubbish --not a man's
wealth, not his power and glory in this world, but whether his heart is right with God.
It's for those who have ears to hear and will remain inscrutable for those who don't.
His disciples approached Him in private, and in private Jesus told them about the field
of the world, the good seed of the sons of the kingdom, and the two sowers.
According to Beasly-Murray in 1986, it is self-evident that the kingdom
of God, Gods rule in judgment and salvation is one. The kingdom that comes in
Jesus is the kingdom of God promised for the end of the times. That is the theme of
his parables of the kingdom. However difficult it may have been for some of his
contemporaries to believe, Jesus was proclaiming that the promised saving
sovereignty of God was operative even as he spoke. He was thereby proclaiming
himself to be the representative and mediator of the kingdom of God; the saving
sovereignty of which the revelation is coming in the not-distant future. The word of
the kingdom come in Jesus is bound up with his role in the kingdom, and so the
recognition of his function in the kingdom is bound up with confession of allegiance
to him.
Furthermore, according to Blomberg in 1992, the passages speak of
individuals who are least or greatest in Gods kingdom. Those who practice and
teach Gods commands are great in the kingdom while those who break them and
teach others to do likewise are least. Whoever humbles himself is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven; unless you change and become like little children, you may not
enter the kingdom of heaven. So the criterion for greatness is precisely the criterion

for entrance. Moreover, those who seek most strenuously to preserve justification by
grace may lead professing believers to think they are saved when in fact they are not.
Grace will have been preserved- but not justification. God assures salvation only to
those who presently believe in Jesus as Son of God.

CHAPTER 3
SYNOPSIS

1. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

In this parable, a man finds a buried treasure. As soon as he realized that it was
indeed treasure, he immediately hid it back where he found. To his joy, he then
proceeded to sell all of his possessions in order to buy the land where the treasure
was buried. When he was in possession of the land that was the only time he
recovered and exposed the treasures.

2. The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13: 47 50)

This parable depicts how a fisherman went out to a lake to catch fishes using a
regular dragnet. Upon casting the net, it was immediately filled with fishes of all
kinds. To his delight, he waited until the net was completely full and then he set
out to shore. There he placed the net aside and started sorting out the fishes he
caught. The good fishes, he put into buckets while the bad fishes, he threw back
into the sea. This parable was compared to those who may enter the kingdom of
heaven; when the time comes, Jesus declared that angels will come down to
separate the bad fish from the good fish that is the bad people from the good.
And only those who have been good may be able to enter the kingdom of heaven;
whereas those who have been bad will suffer immensely.

3. The Parable of the Weed and the Wheat (Matthew 13:24 30, 36 43)

For this parable, the kingdom of heaven was compared to a field of wheat that
a good farmer has sewn. It is said that while he was asleep, the enemy went to his
field and showered seeds of weed. So during the time when the wheat was
supposed to sprout, weed sprouted with it. Then, the owners servants came to ask
him for assurance that he had sewn good seeds of wheat, the servants were startled
and confused as to why weeds started growing with the wheat. They asked if they
should pull it out so they could allow the healthy wheat to grow. The owner
immediately ordered them not to take the weed out, saying that that was the work
of the enemy. He explained that if the servants were to take the weed from the
wheat, the wheats roots might also be taken with it. He then ordered the servants
to allow the weed to grow with the wheat until harvest time. Furthermore, he
included in his instructions that the weed should be tied up and burned while the
wheat should be collected and taken to him.
In the latter part of this chapter, Jesus explained this parable to the disciples saying
that He is the one who had sewn the good seeds, which stands for those who are
worthy of the kingdom of heaven and that the world is the field, and the weeds are
the those who are products of the devil. The enemy is the evil one, and he will
always find ways to corrupt the good seeds; but in his coming, he will ask his
angels to separate the good seeds from the corrupted ones so that the good seeds
may be able to enter the kingdom of heaven while the bad ones would live in
suffering and be tortured extremely.
Without repentance, we will be cast out from the rest and live in agony and shame.

10

CHAPTER 4
ANALYSIS

A. The value of the kingdom of heaven and its tangibility

In all three parables, the kingdom of heaven is depicted as the one with the
highest value; that it is even bigger than any belongings any man could posses. In
the first parable, the man sold everything he owned to buy the lot where the
treasure was hidden. In the same way, the kingdom of heaven is so precious that, if
necessary, we should easily be able to trade in all our possessions to attain it. Much
like in the second parable, the value of the kingdom of heaven is seen as the
fisherman separates the good fish from the bad; he could have just easily taken all
of the fishes and sold them all for greater profit. But the kingdom of heaven is
much more valuable than whatever he will gain from selling all kinds of fish. By
the fishermans decision of separating the good from the bad, he was willing to
sacrifice that portion of profit for a much bigger gain. And finally, the last parable
emphasizes the greatness of the kingdom of heaven by means of its inscrutability.
The good seeds represent the kingdom of heaven, and even though evil beings try
to destroy it, the kingdom will remain holy and pure. Its roots will remain intact.
This adds to its glorious value. Nothing can be compared to the glory of the
kingdom of heaven, it is priceless and rich beyond any comparison and at the same
time, it is incorruptible, undefiled. It is and will always be eternal.
However, just because the kingdom of heaven is basking in splendour does
not make it out of reach and out of sight. In the first parable, although the treasure
is hidden, it is not concealed. This is Gods way of imploring us to seek Him. This
is also true for the second and third parable. The Lord has provided us with
everything we need to seek and find Him; He has provided the fisherman his
dragnet, and the farmer his field. The kingdom of heaven is within our sights, if we
desire to see it.

11

B. Seizing the kingdom of heaven and making it personal

In the first parable, we can see that the man found the treasure and
sought out ways to make it his own. In the second parable, the fisherman also
acted upon owning the fishes he caught, while in the third parable, the farmer
claimed his crops. Likewise, we can relate this by looking at the situation this
way; a person or an object can be under the possession of a higher authority
but he or it is not necessarily part of that authority. The kingdom of heaven is
domineered by God and even though we accepted Him, it doesnt make his
kingdom personally ours. In order to make the kingdom of heaven personal,
one must understand first the value of it. As discussed above, the value of the
kingdom of heaven is priceless, and it is offered to us. However we fail to see
how much the kingdom values and so we tend to run towards material things
that value less. To seize the kingdom of heaven means to break free from our
bondage with material possessions. Like the man who sold his belongings, and
the fisherman with the bad fish, and the farmer with the weeds; they have
freed themselves and went to acquire the most precious possession of all. The
deal is this: that man should give up everything they have for everything He
has.

C. Joy in the kingdom of heaven

The parables all ascertain one main goal, and that is finding and
entering the kingdom of heaven. One might ask, so what happens when we
enter it? What then? The kingdom of heaven cannot be considered that
valuable without a certain aspect that gives it value. In this case, it is the
fulfilment of the promise of salvation. However, most people are oblivious of
the value of salvation. This is evident in the first parable where the merchant
had to dig for the treasure. It might have been an ethical issue that he had to
sell His possessions to attain the treasure. On the other hand, it was evident

12

that he had felt immense joy upon seeing the treasure, that it implored him to
sell his possessions. Similarly, the price of living a Christian life is often
questioned by others. They do not realize why Christians worship and honour
God and why it is imperative for them to willingly accept His grace. For
Christians, seeking, finding and eventually owning Gods grace is equivalent
to attaining eternal joy. Because of this overflowing gratefulness, Christians
now have the desire to share it with others through their good works. Thus,
good works are results of appreciating Gods gift of salvation in the form of
entering His kingdom in heaven.
Furthermore, together with the promise of God that those who accept
Him would have eternal life in His kingdom is another promise that those who
are finally with Him in paradise can no longer feel anything but joy. There will
be no suffering in His kingdom, no pain, no sadness; seeking, finding and
accepting His invitation of salvation means that you will now live under Gods
promise of eternally perfect joy.

D. On human accountability and divine patience

The kingdom of heaven is like the mirror of a persons life in such a
way that it is a reminder that we should reflect on our lives and our actions
constantly. Every action a person makes is an indication of how he sees and
values the kingdom of heaven and the promise of salvation. It is imperative for
men to realize that their actions, was based on their decisions as dictated by
their conscience.
As we take a look in the second parable, notice the use of the term
dragnet; a dragnet is a large net that goes beyond where fishes may be
feeding and is used to encircle all the fishes. In context, the dragnet is like the
kingdom of heaven that moves mysteriously throughout the world. As the net
touches the back of the fish, it advances forward, further than the net. It does

13

not think about how the net is catching up, it just relishes in what they seem to
believe as permanent joy and freedom. In the same way, when the God, through
the Holy Spirit, knocks in a mans life, his initial reaction is to move away, not
wanting to accept the responsibility of being a child of God. Men do not wish
to be accountable for their actions and abuse their so called freedom in
fulfilling their own desires. But the Lord truly is persistent, and so He continues
to tap the back of men; although as He does this, the men also tend to move
further and further away. Still, there will come a time when they are enclosed in
the dragnet of the kingdom of Heaven and there will be no escape. This is
where the price comes in, those who have been moving away from the touch of
the kingdom of God will be separated from those who willingly accepted it. In
the moment when the fisherman reaches shore, he separates the good fish from
the bad ones, like separating those who accepted from those who rejected. The
former will be entering the kingdom of heaven while the latter will be cast out
flailing to die.
This is also true with the third parable; the wheat that have been
corrupted will be separated from the wheat who remained faithful and strong to
its roots. Notice how the farmer did not order the weeds to be taken out
immediately. It is because the farmer cared for the foundation and roots of the
wheat grass. He was confident enough that as it will grow, it will not be
corrupted and the weeds will be easily taken out. During harvest, the weeds
whose aim is to corrupt the healthy wheat will be burned. In the same way,
those people who influence others negatively and fail to repent will be judged
in such a way that they will be cast out, tied in bundles and burned to death.
Due to a prophecy such as this, human accountability becomes
imperative in a persons life. People are responsible for their actions; and
whatever their decisions may be, they should be ready for the reaction it will
cause and the consequences that will follow. However, being human beings,
people tend to skip the accountability part of their actions and continue to sin

14

even though they are aware that it does nothing to glorify God. Nevertheless,
the kingdom of heaven does not cease to demonstrate divine patience. In both
parables, the farmer and the fisherman wait until their harvest is ready before
separating them. In the same way, for the sake of conversion, God tolerates
men for their shortcomings. It might be surprising to know that even the most
notorious, deadly, poisonous weed (person) can be converted into pure, holy
wheat.

E. On the coexistence of good and bad and on who can enter the kingdom of
heaven

Now due to the high stature of the kingdom of heaven, not everyone is
given the opportunity to enter it. The worthiness of a person to enter His
kingdom is determined by God alone. In the first parable, the man who had
sacrificed his belongings and possessions had been deemed worthy to acquire
the treasure that is salvation in the kingdom of heaven. However, in the second
and third parable, this now is explained thoroughly
First, let us first differentiate the second and third parable in terms of its
take on good and evil. In the parable of the weeds and wheat, Jesus talked
about how good and evil can coexist; on the other hand, the parable of the
dragnet emphasized the separation of good from evil. Then again, both
parables similarly warn about the pains of hell.
As seen in the second parable, all kinds of fish were caught in the
dragnet; it is the same as saying that all kinds of people will be touched by the
kingdom of heaven. Evil and good alike have the same opportunity to enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only if evil will convert itself into good. Moreover,
in the third parable, it had been evident how evil corrupts goodness. This now
is where a persons spiritual foundations matter the most. If their roots are
intact in the soil, evil weeds can only but try to defile them, and fail.

15

This will lead us now to believe that good can coexist with evil but
with great caution not to be engulfed by wickedness. If people would allow
themselves to be consumed by evil, then they must be ready to face the
consequence of living in the burning flames of hell. This might seem to be a
difficult task to those who are far from the Christian life; false freedom often
leads to false happiness, and this insatiability will ultimately lead to sin.
Finally, because the kingdom of heaven is holy, pure and righteous, all
things that are anything but these are not welcome to enter it. As discussed in
the previous question, the kingdom of heaven is undefiled; therefore nothing
that may defile it may enter it.

16

CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 SUMMARY

This research paper aims to shed light on the true value and meaning of
the kingdom of heaven. Its goal is to answer certain questions pertaining to
seeking Gods kingdom and the ultimate prize upon entering it; that is salvation.
With the help of three parables: Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Parable of the
Dragnet and Parable of the Wheat and Weed, and with the support of the
different reviews cited, the kingdom of heaven had been proven to be priceless,
incomparable and undefiled. And that in order to find it, one must seek it wholeheartedly, and understand its true meaning in order to make it personal and as
well as be willing to sacrifice all in order to attain it.

5.2 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Jesus has spoken through parables in order for the lay
people to understand what He is preaching about. The 3 parables in this study
have proven that the kingdom of God is indeed priceless and incomparable, and
that it can only be seen by those who are willing to sacrifice all his possessions
and who search for it willingly. Also, the parables have proved that the kingdom
of heaven can only be seized if one breaks free from his bondage from material
possessions and sin. It also proved that the only way to make the kingdom of
heaven personal is if one has full understanding of its value and the essence of
entering the kingdom of heaven. Furthermore, the kingdom of heaven is
proportionally related to joy in the sense that the kingdom of heaven also
promises true salvation. This truth will produce overflowing joy that people
will now be grateful to share with others. However, every action a person does

17

will produce an equal reaction and will always be followed by consequences

whether good or bad. This makes human accountability highly important so that
we may be able to accept the responsibilities that come with living a Christian
life. Nevertheless, even if we constantly sin, God is willing to tolerate us. He is
patient enough to stand by us for the sake of our conversion. Lastly, since sin
cannot be totally eradicated from a persons life, evil and goodness is proven to
coexist to an extent that the good should never let evil consume their roots and
make them stumble. One must keep holy in his ways so that he may be able to
enter the kingdom of heaven. His purity will then now be accepted in the
kingdom that is equally pure in nature.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend that future researchers would start to focus on the other
four Kingdom of Heaven Parables in the book of Matthew. I also recommend
exploring on the other gospel books for more and different parables; like the
gospel book of Luke and Mark. I also recommend that future researchers would
shed light on all or most of the symbols used in each parables. I also recommend
a section wherein they could apply it on real life scenarios.

18

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.St. Matthew. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 01:40, May 20, 2015,

fromhttp://www.biography.com/people/st-matthew-9402679.
2.Ahl, D. (2012). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from

http://swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Parables/12.pdf
3.Ahl, D. (2012). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from

http://swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Parables/13-16.pdf
4.Ahl, D. (2012). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from

http://swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Parables/41.pdf
5.http://swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Parables/index.htm
6.Graham, R. (2004). Retrieved May 15, 2015, from

http://www.simplybible.com/f675.htm
7. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/october/subversive-kingdom-

parable-of-wheat-and-weeds.html
8.Luomanen, P. (1998). Entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Druck Partner

Rubelmann.
9.https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Z3wiMn3Y-

I4C&oi=fnd&pg=PR10&dq=the+kingdom+of+heaven+parables&ots=hmC5Guz
KQN&sig=HPzuoK1CIdYAKAKpczX21coLg8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=the%20kingdom%20of%20heaven
%20parables&f=false
10.

https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WY1LAwAAQBAJ&oi=f

nd&pg=PA1&dq=the+kingdom+of+heaven+parables&ots=8hUAAUePDH&sig=
qE8tit6Fzyv7tBs3TzGUFe7deIU&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=the%20kingdom%
20of%20heaven%20parables&f=false

11.

Beasley-Murray, G.R., (1986). Jesus and the kingdom of God. British Library

Catalouging, United States of America

12.

http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/35/35-2/JETS_35-2_159-

172_Blomberg.pdf
13.

http://biblehub.com/matthew/6-33.htm

14.

https://www.google.com.ph/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=OD9eVeKqKcb98weys4CoBw&

gws_rd=ssl#q=meaning+of+faith

19

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR

Matthew, also called Levi, son of Alphaeus and brother of the other apostle James,
was one of the 12 apostles called by Jesus Christ to follow Him. He is known to be
the tax collector in Capernaum prior to his calling.
Matthew is speculated to have remained in Jerusalem for 15 years after the first
coming; he went to become a missionary. He went to Persia, Ethiopia and Egypt
following the news that Christian leaders who travelled through these places were
successful in their mission.
He started to write the Gospel of Matthew in 70 CE around Palestine due to the
increased number of Jewish faithful.
He is the patron saint of tax collectors and accountants. His feast day is celebrated
every 21st of September.

20

CURRICULUM VITAE

ARIADNE LOUISE S. FLORESCA

Unit 1959 Sun Residences Tower 1, Brgy. Sta. Teresita,
Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City
09274359120
ariadnefloresca@gmail.com

Age: 20
Birthday: August 2, 1994
Birthplace: Sampaloc, Manila
Religion: Born Again Christian
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF

Tertiary
NURSING

Espaa, Manila
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
June 2012 Present
Secondary

DON QUINTIN PAREDES HIGH SCHOOL

Lanzones cor. Anonas, Proj 2 Quezon City
Year Graduated: 2012

Elementary

ST. MARYS COLLEGE QUEZON CITY

Mother Ignacia Ave. Quezon City
Year Graduated: 2006

RECOGNITIONS
Tertiary
Thomasian Nursing Youth Ambassador and
Ambassadress 2015
Ms. Inspiring Beauty
Secondary

Journalism

Valedictorian A.Y. 2011 2012

Honor Student A.Y. 2010 2011
Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee 2012
2011 Regional Level - Division of City Schools

21

Press-Conference (Newspaper Layout) 4th Place (The

Guardian)
2010 District Level - Division of City Schools
Journalism
Press-Conference (Feature Writing, English Category)
2nd Place
2010 District Level - Division of City Schools
Journalism
Press-Conference (Editorial Writing, English Category)
th
9 Place
Ms. Teen Asian College 2012
1st Runner-Up
Primary

Outstanding Award in Music and Arts A.Y. 2005

2006
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
Tertiary

Vice President Internal Huwarang Mag-aaral ng Bayan

(Scholarship and Youth Development Program)
A.Y. 2014 Present
Secretary Huwarang Mag-aaral ng Bayan
(Scholarship and Youth Development Program)
A.Y. 2013 2014
Class President University of Santo Tomas: College of
Nursng
A.Y. 2012 2013

Secondary

Student Coordinator for Internal Affairs

Don Quintin Paredes High School A.Y. 2011 2012
Vice President Junior Graftwatch Unit
Don Quintin Paredes High School A.Y. 2010 2011
Public Relations Officer Center for Excellence in
Leadership Training: Department of Education A.Y.
2011 2012
Editor-in-Chief The Guardian
Don Quintin Pareds High School A.Y. 2011 2012
Feature Editor The Guardian
Don Quintin Paredes High School A.Y. 2010 - 2011

22

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Member and Participant Scholarship and Youth Development Program,
Huwarang Mag-aaral ng Bayan 2012 Present
Worship Leader Youth Division, Christ Commission Fellowship 2014
Present