May 28, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 13 (NIV)
The Parable of the Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.……Continue Reading
Matthew 5-13
It occurs to me that Jesus wanted everyone to enter the kingdom of heaven, but he wanted them to comprehend it fully. The parables express physical, earthly truths that everyone should understand, in order to correlate that truth to spiritual matters. Not that he spoke in riddles, but plain language, knowing, expecting them to connect the dots.
What do I make of this? Those who think, will get the point. Those choked by their distorted view of the Father simply won’t get it. It takes comprehension to become a believer, a realization that an invisible kingdom exists, without a physical presence. Simple enough for the kids to get it! -reb
Scriptures answered my question, as to why miracles were a great part of Christ’s ministry.
Matthew 9:6 “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”
Jesus demonstrated he has the authority of God as his Son to forgive sins. Quite easy to say with the lips, but you cannot know for certain if the sins were REALLY FORGIVEN [EMPHASIS MINE]. These are the words of a charlatan! But if the charlatan said, take up your bed and go, well, that is definitely impossible. God is the Creator, only he can heal. So that the audience will know Jesus is God, the very Messiah, he leveraged his power and authority, which he had before the world began, to reverse the curse of Adam on this man. Jesus says their is a spiritual healing you need, more than physical. -reb
Matthew 13 Jesus was using parables to teach. In verses 10-16 he explained why he spoke in parables he said it had been given to some people to know the Kingdom of Heaven but not all will know the truth “though all will hear not all will understand” because they aren’t spiritually awake to get it. There will be some Blessed to see the truth and honestly seek God’s will.
Tapping off on Dennis’ comments Matthew 11, what kept me from coming to Christ? If salvation is so simple, what blinded me?
Thinking back, I knew I had sin problems, but was otherwise a good citizen, and rather good in my estimation. I did not think I was “sick” enough to take drastic measures to devote myself to Christ, a “physician Oh, I knew that I’d have to dedicate my life to Jesus if I believed and confessed him. I wasn’t willing to do that, I wanted to live free and undisturbed from God. There was no high regard for God, or my sin.
Dennis is right, salvation is simple, but the implication is very serious to those who confess Jesus. What I didn’t fully understand, before Christ, was that all that heavy yoke of sin and doing good was not my yoke at all; and like David before Goliath, the battle against the old self is God’s battle. I’m not sure if my narrative makes the point. Looking at these passages, I see myself as they naysayers, Pharisee, priest of Jesus’ day. I think many are like that today. This helps me to know how to speak to the unsaved stranger. -reb
Matthew 13
Thank you for your Word, Lord.
Matthew 13
”“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”“
Matthew 13:47-50 NKJV
The Kingdom of Heaven is an earthly kingdom that will contain the wicked and the righteous (even with Christ as king).
The kingdom of God is within you. It cannot be taken by force. It is spiritual and those in it are secure, not “working” to prevent expulsion.
”Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.“
I Corinthians 15:50 NKJV
”This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”“
John 3:2-8 NKJV
Actually all of John 3 talks about the kingdom of God as a spiritual kingdom.
Matthew 13: So many wonderful messages in these parables! Also, Pastor, here is where Jesus’ brothers and sisters are listed for those who say He was an only child. I think we discussed this during our discussion recently.
Yes it is and yes we did!
These are amazing parables that Jesus taught. Jesus gives the reasons why He speaks in parables to the people. Matthew 13:15 { For this people`s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.} But just to be sure that His disciples understand; He speaks to them in plain speech. He even asks them if they understand. As believers; we are to be as His children planting seeds to all that we see telling them about Jesus. That is our part while God will draw people to Himself by the word of God. Their hearts will be convicted of their sins and turn to Christ or they will hardened their hearts and reject God. This is where a person`s free will is for God wants all men to repent and get saved. Romans 10:13 { For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.} The disciples understand what Jesus just taught them but a thought came to mind about one of them. After hearing Jesus teach and do many miracles and cast out demons; Judas Iscariot still doesn`t become a believer but instead betrays Jesus. He even had the privilege of preaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons in Jesus power. But he hardened his heart and sought for power. When he thought that being with Jesus wasn`t what he thought it would be; he abandoned ship. The chapter ends with Jesus not being able to do many works in His own country because of unbelief. Jesus limits Himself because of unbelief of the people. This would include His own brothers and sisters. From their perspective; they must had loved Him but for Jesus to say that He is the Son of God; He must be confused. They knew that He loved them and that He always did what was right; even helping to provide for them after Joseph passed away. Jesus was the oldest male child and with that came responsibility. This is just conjecture on my part. But we know that Joseph is never mentioned as being around and Jesus is mentioned as the carpenter`s son. So Jesus would have learned that trade from His earthy father. God bless.
Again Jesus speaks to meet people where they are, to reach people that are ready and not to push people away that are not. Each parable shows us the importance of faith and knowing and having a personal relationship with God because there will be temptation, opposition, and troubles that will arise. Here on earth we walk alongside those that do not have a heart for God, we must be prepared at all times not to stray away and at the same time to stand up in defensive of God.
Each parable makes this known but even more so it makes it clear that we have an awesome God that considers us a pearl of great price and has paid that price for each of us!
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Once you understand the things of God and imagine the things the parables point to, they are pretty clear and understandable. But to those who do not believe, they appear as nice stories or are confusing in their meaning. Matthew makes clear that that is what the prophets warned about. But what a clear description of the different ways to respond to the truth of God the parade of the sower is. What kind of soil will we choose to be? And the main themes that come from the rest is that God is intentional about drawing people to the kingdom, but there is always a corrupting influence that puts a wrench in it, draws people away and these are the ones that are finally rejected. The kingdom is also a growing, multiplying and valuable kingdom and we are wise to risk everything to be a part of it.
And isn’t it sad that sometimes it is those who knows us the most reject us the most as well? We are just this or that to them. They knew us before God touched our lives or the Spiritual gift in us developed. But if it happened to Jesus, when it happens to us, we are in good company….
Matthew 13
“The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” I’m looking forward to the day! Thank you Jesus for making it possible.