Matthew 13: 24- 52   Matthew records 6 parables that Jesus presented.. all focused on the "kingdom of heaven".  Matthew tells us in verse 35 that Jesus spoke in parables as prophesied in Psalm 78.. to "utter things hidden since the foundation of the world." Psalm 78 is a recount of all that God did for Israel.. all the ways He had guided them.. in spite of their unfaithfulness.  It is a reminder of the unbelief and rebellion of God's people who did not keep their covenant with Him and forgot all the wonders that He performed before them.  It also speaks of God's choice of the tribe of Judah and of David His servant.

Each of these parables is a comparison of the kingdom of God to a familiar thing or event. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a field, Jesus tells them, where good seed is planted, but the enemy comes and plants "tares" alongside the good plants. The master allows both seeds to grow.. but at the harvest.. the tares will go in the fire and the good wheat is brought into the storehouse.  Jesus explains this parable to His disciples in verses 36-43.  "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age."  There is coming a day when all those who are evil will be gathered and "cast" into "the furnace of fire.. " But, the righteous will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." 

The kingdom of heaven is also like a mustard seed.  It is small, but it will grow until it is a large tree capable of providing branches for the nests of the birds. 

It is also like leaven that is hidden but still affects all the meal it is added to. 

It is like a hidden treasure or a precious, valuable pearl.. worth more than anything else of value. 

The kingdom is also like a "dragnet cast into the sea".. Both good and bad fish fill the net, but when brought to shore the bad are thrown out and only the good are kept. 

Jesus asks His disciples if they have understood His parables and they say that they do.  These are a "treasure" for those who are disciples of the kingdom of heaven. 

At our Wednesday night prayer meeting we are studying a book about  prayer based on A W Tozer's writings. We talked last night about anticipating "acute troubles.. temptations.. and Satan's attacks" by being "prayed up"... abiding in Christ through His Word and in prayer so that when these things occur we can stand firm.  I was thinking that perhaps Tozer was a little negative.. talking about Satan always on the attack.. but this passage makes me think again.. The tares are right here among us.. the bad fish right alongside the good.. we need to remember that we are not immune from their influence.. that there are  "sons of evil" living in our world and we need to be abiding in Christ so that we can recognize them ...The kingdom of God is more valuable than any temptation that Satan throws at us.. any fiery dart headed towards our hearts..any distraction that the world provides.. and he will use his "sons" for these evil purposes. 

Father, give us ears to hear. May we seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and nothing else.. for it is more precious than any pearl, any treasure, yes.. than anything this world affords. Give to us the grace to understand and to abide in your Word and in Jesus Christ our Lord. Deliver us from the evil one and fill us  with the Spirit of God we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Matthew 13  "On that day Jesus went out of the house, and was sitting by the sea."  When the crowd began to gather, Jesus moved onto a boat and began to speak.. telling parables.  The disciples questioned Jesus about this, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"   His answer is striking.. "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted." 

Jesus explains that He spoke in parables "because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."  The Lord quotes the words of Isaiah who was sent by God to speak to the people of Israel.. knowing that the people would refuse to listen.. "You will keep on hearing but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing but will not perceive; for the heart of the people have become dull..." 

The multitude that came to Jesus had been given every opportunity to believe.. but they wanted more. Only those who were willing to follow Jesus fully would be given more.. granted understanding of the Truths that Jesus was presenting in the form of parables.  The others would not. 

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see and your ears because they hear.." We must not take this for granted!  It is God who has granted us ears to hear and eyes to see.. the "mysteries of the kingdom.."

This first parable helps us to understand this... "Behold the sower went out to sow.. "  We know this well.. some seed fell on the hard ground and was immediately eaten by the birds.. Jesus compares this to times when the word of God is given and "the evil one snatches it away.."  This person doesn't understand the Word and cares nothing about it. 

Some seed "fell upon the rocky places".. This person hears the word and "receives it with joy".. but there is no root so it is only temporary.. and it will not live. 

Some seed "fell among the thorns".. This seed produced a little before it was choked out by the weeds. This person heard and received the word.. but didn't tend his heart.. worries and lies and the things of the world were more important.. so the little that was produced died before it could be useful. 

Only the seed that fell on ""the good soil" would yield a crop.. This represents the person who "hears the word and understands it who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.." 

It is not just hearing the Word.. which in itself is vital.. but understanding the Word that makes a person fruitful..  Isaiah said that when we truly "see with [our] eyes and hear with [our] ears.. and understand with [our] hearts"  we will return to the Lord and be healed. 

So how do we do it?  How do we gain understanding? How is it "granted" to us?  It goes back to Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit.. " It starts with admitting our poverty of spirit.. mourning our sins.. seeking righteousness and finding mercy. It is seeking God with all of our heart and leaning not on our own understanding.. but acknowledging Him in all our ways and allowing Him to direct our steps.  God promises that if we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him.  Our "roots" must go deep into Jesus so that we can survive the storms and the troubles and the temptations of this world. So that we can "bear fruit ".

Father, thank You for granting us ears to hear and eyes to see the grace that You have poured out on all who will believe in Jesus Christ and are saved.  Let our lives bear fruit as we abide in the True Vine, Christ Jesus our Lord.  We ask this in His holy name. Amen. 

 Matthew 12:38-50  The scribes and Pharisees wanted to see "signs"..  they had seen miracle after miracle, yet they were not satisfied, so they tested Jesus again.  But.. Jesus would not play their games.  "An evil  and adulterous generation craves for a sign.. " 

There was only one sign that Jesus was willing to give.. "the sign of Jonah the prophet."  They all knew the story of Jonah.. that he spent 3 days in the belly of a whale.  Likewise, Jesus told them, "the Son of Man" will spend 3 days and nights in "the heart of the earth."  Even when this sign was fulfilled.. they still would not believe.

Jesus makes two more statements that should have spoken to the hearts of these men.. 

"The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgement and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold something greater than Jonah is here." 

And.. "the Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgement and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold something greater than Solomon is here." 

Jesus compared "this wicked generation".. a generation that sought signs.. that refused to repent.. that failed to seek God.. to a demon-possessed man.. once delivered.. and again overcome with more wicked spirits so that he "becomes worse than the first".   Wickedness increases without repentance and belief in the Truth.  It was true in that day... and it is true in our day. 

Matthew adds on an interesting account at the end of this encounter with the Pharisees and scribes.  The mother and brothers of Jesus came to see Him.  At this time His brothers did not believe in Him as the Messiah.  Jesus was well aware of this. "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"  He asked.  Not those of the flesh.. but.. "Stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ' Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father, who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.' "  It is those who are born again.. who have come to Jesus and who have received Him as Lord and Savior.. who have been made whole by the blood of the Lamb.. who are adopted into the family of God and call Him Father.. we are His brothers and sisters and mother.  Amazing Grace!

Father, we come to You through the amazing grace found in Jesus Christ our Lord.  We ask that You lead us in truth and righteousness.. We pray that we will know the One who is greater than anyone or anything else.. the One who calls us brothers and sisters.. because You have taken us into Your family. Have Your way in us today, Lord. God of peace.. sanctify us entirely.. preserve our spirits, souls and bodies.. complete and without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ... for You are faithful and You will bring it to pass. ( I Thes. 5:23-24)  Praise the Lord! Amen. 

 Matthew 12: 22-37  Jesus delivered a demon-possessed man "who was blind and dumb".  This man was unable to see Jesus and unable to ask for help. But.. after he met Jesus he was able to speak and see.  The pain and suffering caused by demonic forces seemed so rampant in the days of Jesus on earth.. and we know that it is still true in our day.. although we don't recognize it as readily as we probably should.  The multitudes were amazed at what Jesus did.. but the Pharisees called it the work of "Beelzebul". 

Jesus responds to the Pharisees with three points:

First, their accusations are illogical.  Using reasoning, Jesus explains that Satan could not cast out himself.  His kingdom would not stand with such actions.  Also, others who cast out demons would be in the same category that they were trying to place Jesus.. what would they say about that? 

Secondly and more importantly.. Jesus says, " But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."   The point that they were missing is the Presence of the Holy Spirit.. who bound "the strong man.. "   Jesus warns the Pharisees that they were entering into dangerous thinking.. they were guilty of "blasphemy against the Spirit".. a sin that would not be pardoned.  To be against Jesus was one thing.. but to "speak against the Holy Spirit"  was something much more serious.. "is shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come." 

The third truth that Jesus tells the Pharisees is that their words were revealing their hearts.. they spoke evil.. therefore their hearts must be evil.  A good man would produce good words.. just like a good tree produces good fruit. But, an evil man.. with an evil heart could only "bring forth what is evil".. like a bad tree would produce bad fruit.  

"And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned." 

Father, help us to guard our hearts and to guard our words. Fill us with Your Spirit.. of truth and wisdom, understanding and strength.. help us to exalt the Name of Jesus with our hearts and with our mouths.. to be "with" Jesus and never.. ever.. against Him.  We call upon this wonderful Name.. the Name of Jesus.. King of kings and Lord of lords.. asking that His life will be made manifest in us and Your Name be exalted in all the earth. amen. 

Matthew 12  Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain when the disciples picked off some of the grain and ate it.  What a stir that caused!  The Pharisees jumped right on it and complained to Jesus.  But, Jesus wasn't upset about it at all.  He gave them two examples.. 

David and his army were hungry and ate some of the consecrated bread from the tabernacle one day.. and they were not condemned even though this would have been a great trespass against the Law.  Also, every Sabbath day the priests in the temple worked.. they worked really hard offering the sacrifices for that day.. they were not condemned either. 

Jesus said, "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here."  The One who is the "Lord of the Sabbath" gave them a greater mission than defending their idea of Sabbath law.. "I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice.. " not condemnation.. not prideful legalism... not harsh judgements. 

As they went into the synagogue the Pharisees had another test for Jesus.. would he heal on the Sabbath?  There was a man with a withered hand.  A hand that kept him from working.. from providing for his family as he desired.  All Jesus did was say, "Stretch out your hand!"  And when the man did so it was instantly  restored to normal.  Jesus didn't even touch him. He just showed compassion. He showed that He valued that man more than anything else.. especially more than the approval of the Pharisees. 

Jesus had no problem with healing all those who followed Him that day. He was fulfilling the words of Isaiah. "Behold My servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased.. "  All He did was according to the Father's will.. pleasing the Father and revealing the Father's love for all people.

Father in heaven, how thankful we are for You.. the Almighty God who cares more for people than for any religious sacrifice.  You gave Your Beloved Son to show us the greatest example of compassion and love that the world could ever know.  He is greater than any temple, greater than any prophet or any king.  He is Lord of all and the Lord who is my Lord and King.  Hold me closer to Your heart Lord that I might learn to live a life of compassion and kindness every day.  Be exalted and glorified in Your people who live for You in this way.. in compassion and love.. for the sake of Your holy Name.  Amen.  

 Matthew 11  John the Baptist is in prison.. perhaps discouraged.. wondering why things weren't turning around.. after all the Messiah has come!  So, he sent his disciples to go see Jesus.. to ask Him if He really was the "Expected One".  Jesus answered John's inquiry this way.. "Go and report to John what you hear and see;  the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.. and blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me." 

The "Expected One" turned out to be different than what John expected. Jesus has a way of doing things that are far different than what we think He will. He goes far beyond our expectations!  Did John think that Jesus would just become King of the world and that would be that?  We kind of wish it was that way...  But, Jesus came to do something much greater.. He came to meet the greatest needs of mankind so that we can be ready for His Kingdom to come. 

Jesus told the crowd that John was "more than a prophet".  He was God's messenger.  He was "Elijah". Why were they drawn to him.. why did they go out into the wilderness?  What did they expect John to be?  What did they expect the Messiah to be?  They criticized John.. They criticized Jesus.. because neither of them were what they expected them to be.  "Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." Or as the Message says it, "The proof is in the pudding"!  Look and listen, Jesus told the disciples of John.. look and listen He is telling the multitude.  See what Jesus did.. not just what you expected.. but what actually happened. 

How do I practice this in my own life?  Do I also have expectations about what Jesus is doing or will do in my life.. that are not being met the way I think they should be?  Am I willing to stop making it about what I want.. and look and listen to what He is actually doing? 

Lord, my King and Master, have Your own way.. I am weary and heavy laden and I need Your rest. I take Your yoke.. to learn from You. Thank You for sharing Your life with me.  I need You so. Help me to look and to listen.. to see You.. the real Messiah and Lord.. the Son of God.. the King of kings.. who leads me to the Father and reveals Him to me.... O praise the Lord!  Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus! Amen. 

 Matthew 10:1-15   Jesus chose 12 men to be His disciples.. His students.. His friends.  He called them to follow and they chose to leave everything else behind to go with Him.  Now, Jesus sends them out to do the works He prepared them for.. "He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness." (v1) 

These 12 men were each unique in there own ways.. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen, but their personalities were quite different.  We know little of Philip and Bartholomew, Thaddeus and the other James or Simon the Zealot.  We know Matthew was a tax collector and Judas Iscariot was the betrayer.. and Thomas was the doubter..  but we don't know much else about them.  Yet, these men would all play a significant part in the kingdom of God and the furtherance of the gospel. 

They all went out. They all preached the good news.. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."  They all healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and cast out demons. They all gave freely and took nothing in return. They all blessed those who received them and shook the dust off their feet when they were rejected.  They went out.. with the Words of Jesus ringing in their ears.. "Beware... " 

Discipleship is not for the weak of heart.. it is for those who are willing to be "poor in spirit".  Willing to lay it all down for Jesus. Willing to trust that God the Father cares for you more than He does the sparrows. ".. do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.. "  The most precious song that we can sing is "His eye is on the sparrow.. so I know He watches me.. " How is it that we forget this so easily? 

Discipleship means living for Jesus.. confessing Him before men.. putting Him before anyone or anything else..  laying down Your life.. taking up your cross and following Him through whatever the day brings.  Whether we are accepted by others or rejected.. it doesn't matter. Whether we live or die.. even that does not matter.. What does matter is that we are found in Him.. enduring until the end!  Let us be found faithful..in the big things and in the small things.. like giving a cup of cold water to one who needs it. 

Father in heaven, You call us to  a life that we are not capable of living.. unless You live in us by Your Spirit.. fill us and keep us walking in the way, the truth and the life that Jesus gives. It is in His name we come. Amen.