The First Reason: The Believer Receives Spiritual Understanding (vv.10-11)

Transcription

1 Introduction The chapter began with the setting of the parables and now Jesus gives us the reasons for the parables. In the parable of the soils and the sower Jesus reveals that the condition of the human heart made it necessary for Jesus to speak in parables. Remember a parable is a story about something familiar in order to explain something unfamiliar (see Wiersbe; New Testament Outlines; p.51). In this passage (vv.10-17) Jesus gives the human reason. The Lord Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 to remind the disciples that the people had grown dull, hard, and blind. By speaking in parables Jesus would excite the curiosity for those who truly cared and who really wanted to know the truth. But Jesus was also hiding the truth from the rebellious. It makes no sense to cast our pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6). The parables reveal truth to those who care and conceal truth from those who don t. Again this serves as a fulfillment of what Jesus said in Matthew 11:25-26; I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Later Jesus will also include a divine reason (vv.34-45) and fulfill Psalm 78:2. The truths in Chapter 13 had been kept hidden or secret from the foundation of the world; they were a mystery hidden from the people, but now revealed. A mystery in the Bible is something previously concealed, but now revealed. A truth hidden in the past but now revealed by God s Servant. It is not found in the Old Testament except in type, symbol or shadow (see Eph. 3). In our last study by way of introduction I gave four reasons why Jesus uses parables to teach; (1) The condition of the heart determines its receptivity to truth. (2) Those who receive truth act upon it and receive more truth. (3) Those who reject the truth will lose what little they possess. (4) We must respond to the truth. The First Reason: The Believer Receives Spiritual Understanding (vv.10-11) Matthew 13:10 (NKJV)10And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables? The disciples are concerned that the people might miss the message! Why do You speak to them (the people) in parables? Why use veiled language? Explain your methods. The Bible teacher has to be concerned about whether or not the teaching is being understood. How is the study being received? Are people listening, understanding and growing? The Lord Jesus provides hope and insight for every Bible teacher. Remember the problem was not with the sower or the seed but the soil! The same preaching that turns off the unbelieving crowds turns on and stirs up the honest seeker and searcher the person interested in getting to the truth. 1

2 11He answered and said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. It is important that we understand both the timing and the term; the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. In the future Jesus will return to the earth and occupy the throne of His father David in what some theologians and Bible teachers call the Millennial Kingdom. Here the reference is to our present earthly Kingdom absent Jesus in the flesh. It is the Kingdom Now on the earth absent our King. Warren Wiersbe writes: The kingdom of heaven is a mixture of good and evil, true and false, It is not the church. The church is in the kingdom of heaven, but distinct from it. The kingdom of heaven is equivalent to our term Christendom. It is made up of all who profess allegiance to the King, whether in truth or pretense (See Wiersbe s New Testament Outlines; p.52). I think that s right. In the chapter the kingdom begins with the sowing of the Word during Christ s earthly ministry and continues into our present and concludes with the coming of Christ. The parables give us a sneak peek of coming attractions God s program and Satan s opposition in this present age. The Lord Jesus imparts spiritual understanding to the believer. Why would God reveal Himself to the unbeliever? I am going to suggest to you that God does reveal Himself to the unbeliever in Christ so that the unbeliever might believe! The person who draws near to God, seeks intimacy with God through the Lord Jesus Christ receives spiritual understanding. How can a person say I want to know more about God and yet refuse friendship and fellowship in Christ? Jesus puts it plainly; it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. And what are some of these mysteries? Basic Christian beliefs. The incarnation and virgin birth of our Savior (see Matt.1:16, 1:23). The sinless life of Jesus on the earth, which in part secures for us ideal and perfect righteousness. The death of Jesus on the cross for sinful man (Matt. 27:26-56). We could spend the rest of our lives meditating and rejoicing in His sacrifice and our redemption. What about the intercessory work of Jesus at the right hand of the Father even now (Heb.3:1)? The presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer (John 14:16-21). What about the revelation that we live in a reality that contains both a material world and a spiritual world (Matt.6:9). What about the mystery of man s sinful and dead heart (Rom.3:9-19; Eph. 2:1-3). What about the mystery of the church both local and universal (Matt.13:1-52); and the future resurrection (1Cor.15:51)? What about the future destruction of this present world and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth a pure and perfect universe (2 Peter 3:10-13)? What makes the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? They must be revealed by God! Man cannot discover these things apart from the revelation of God given by God through His Word and the Lord Jesus Christ. Can the unbeliever hear the 2

3 truth about these mysteries and even contemplate their truth? I think the answer is yes. But the unbeliever does not believe these mysteries are true evidenced by the absence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in their lives! The Lord Jesus told His disciples But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you (John 14:26). Paul said, Now we have received, not the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (see 1 Cor.2:12-13). The Second Reason: The Seeker And Achiever Receive More! (v.12) 12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. The Lord Jesus gives another reason; the true seeker the true believer the one who receives these mysteries and believes them receives more. The unbeliever and the make-believer receive less and less. We have pithy little sayings that reflect this truth; the early bird catches the worm. In the natural realm people are rewarded when they start early stay late; we reward energy effort results production. And what about the believer who longs to know more and have more of Jesus? And what happens to the lazy, the complacent, the non-worker, the unfaithful? I read a simple formula: Perspective + initiative = success. Perspective - initiative = lost opportunity Initiative - perspective = nothing. The source cited said; By perspective is meant the ability to see, envision, dream, understand. It is the ability to see clearly; to envision opportunity; to dream dreams; to look through. It is a person who has the capacity to dream dreams and envision visions and see what is necessary to reach that vision. It is the capacity to measure the importance of the vision and the steps to achieve it in all its relationships, Very simply, it is a person with a vision who can measure its importance and who can see its various parts (The Preacher s Outline & Sermon Bible; Matt. 1; p.303). It went on and defined initiative as the ability to act at the right time; not simply act but at the right time. Therefore the person has perspective (see opportunity) + initiative (acting at the right 3

4 time) = success. Perspective (seeing opportunity) minus initiative (failing to act at the right time) equals lost opportunity. Initiative minus perspective equals nothing (the person simply acts over and over and over begins a project abandons a project begins another project abandons yet another project over and over and winds up with nothing. Why? Because he or she lacks perspective (read vision). And what does all this mean for you and me? The person who has God s perspective who shares God s vision (about the gospel and Jesus and truth and life and love) and God s energy (Spirit) will achieve and have what God desires in their lives! What do you really want in your friendship and fellowship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ? The passage is a great encouragement and a dire warning! In what sense? For the person who is diligent and faithful, steady, toiling, hard-working, persevering, consistent a person who both begins and finishes will grow and be rewarded. The person who is lazy, idle, complacent, inconsistent, close-minded, empty headed, empty hearted; self-satisfied, self-indulgent, purposeless, selfish, slothful, a late-sleeper will shrink struggle, and eventually receive what they have worked for nothing. That thought is defined and expanded in this very next reason! The Third Reason: The Unbeliever And Make-Believer Refuse To Understand (vv.13-15) 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In this third reason we are given three things! The Lord Jesus speaks in parables so that the unbeliever and the make believer will lose more and more! Note: Deliberate 1. The unbelievers rejection is willful deliberate! 2. The unbelievers rejection was determined (prophesied see Isa.6:9-10). 3. The unbelievers rejection is described This not simply ignorance or misunderstanding or confusion. The unbeliever sees and hears and yet refuses to really open up her eyes or her ears. There is a kind of willful refusal to understand. Why? Why would a person deny their own eyes and ears why act with such profound disregard for facts, evidence, revelation? Jesus says; the hearts of these people have grown dull in the Old King James waxed gross! In the original language the statement reads 4

5 the people s hearts have grown fat (overweight). What does that mean? In the ancient culture as well as the modern culture if you eat and eat and gain weight if you have a steady diet of selfishness and sensuality then you are spiritually overweight. The unbeliever does not want the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to interrupt their life style of selfishness and selfindulgence. Even the answer that Jesus gives is a kind of parable! The unbeliever s sensuality lust self-indulgence is motivated by a desire to be happy to satisfy self. This sensuality is rooted in worldliness and wickedness lust for the things of this world (1John 2:15-16) and deception by Satan (2 Cor.4:3-4). 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. Prophesied In Isaiah 6 King Uzziah had died and the throne of Judah was vacant. And so Isaiah looks up turns to God for help and comfort and in a time of great sorrow and mourning experiences a fresh vision of God. He sees the throne of heaven occupied by Jehovah. Isaiah sees the Lord High and lifted up (vv.1-4) but also sees himself his own sinfulness and wickedness (vv.5-7). This causes Isaiah to look around and to tell the people what he saw. Isaiah 6:9-10 are quoted six times in the New Testament; Matt. 13:13-15; Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, John 12:40, Acts 28:25-28, Rom.11:8 making a total of 7 references in the Scripture. What in the world? Does God deliberately blind people and condemn people? That is not what the Bible teaches or is saying! What the Holy Spirit is saying is that the Word of God has an effect on the sinner it hardens and blinds the sinner who will not yield who refuses to listen who fails to surrender! Like the sun beats down on clay or mud and it hardens the same sun melts the ice and snow the sun that melts wax hardens clay. In John 12:40 they would not believe (v.37); therefore, they could not believe (v.39); and thus they should not believe (v.40) and so sealed their own doom! Isaiah the servant of God was told to tell the people what he saw and it was the people s job to respond! How long should I preach and therefore produce these tragic results? Isaiah asks and the Lord replies; Until I am finished with My judgment on this land the Lord says. Isaiah saw the Lord and saw Himself and saw the need. The person who willfully rejects God and ignores prophecy (the Word of God) experiences a kind of judicial blindness and rejection by God. What does God have to say to the person who is willfully blind they choose to cover their eyes plug their ears hold their nose and reject God s loving message concerning Christ? Obstinate unbelief constant sin continual rejection leads to a judicial blindness rejection by God and judgment by God. 5

6 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness...for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections...god gave them up to a reprobate mind (Rom.1:24, 26, 28). Described How does Jesus describe the reprobate? They harden their hearts. They deafen their ears. They close their eyes. They deny what they see. They refuse understanding. They fight conversion they reject healing! And now we know. The problem is not the sower (Jesus). The problem is not the seed (the Word of God). The problem is the soil (the human heart). People harden their hearts. Close their eyes. Cover their ears. Sorry Pastor. I fell asleep. Sorry Pastor. I wasn t listening. Sorry Pastor. I am not interested in what you have to say. The Fourth Reason: The Believer Receives The Truth And Experiences Blessing (vv.16-17) 16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; What about the person who wants to see and hear? There is blessing! What do those blessings include? Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible Did I mention confidence? Assurance? Did I mention healing? Privileges? What is it that you get to see and hear? 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. What is Jesus saying? The New Testament Saints are more privileged than the Old Testament believers! The entire book of Hebrews is a hymn to the superior ministry of Jesus. We see Jesus (Hebrews 2:9). We hear Jesus. The great desire of the saints in every generation was to see God and know God and hear from God without the filters and restrictions. The prophets and righteous men and women wanted to live in the day of the Messiah. Abraham had to wait. Moses had to wait. Isaiah had to wait. Elijah had to wait. But these disciples were living at the crossroads of human crisis and God s Christ. They would witness the Messiah. They would see His miracles with their own eyes and hear His speech with their ears. Conclusion I invite you to see Jesus. To hear Jesus. The gospel invites the sinner to experience; Acceptance for the unworthy (see Eph. 1:6) Blessing for the cursed (Gal.3:13) Cleansing for the polluted (1 John 1:7) 6

7 Deliverance for the captive (2 Cor.1:10) Enrichment for the poor (2 Cor.8:9) Fullness of pardon for the guilty (Luke 7:43) Grace for the prodigal (Luke 15:22) Heaven for those who deserve hell (Col.1:13) Inheritance for the beggar (1 Peter 1:3-5) Joy for the miserable (Luke 2:10) Kiss of welcome for the wanderer (Luke 15:20) Life for the dead (John 5:25) Might for the feeble (Rom. 5:6) Nearness for those who are far away (Eph.2:13) Open doors for the undeserving (John 10:9) PEACE for the enemy (Col. 1:20) Quietness for the troubled (Luke 7:50) Righteousness for the unrighteous (2 Cor. 5:21) Salvation for the lost (Eph. 2:5) Truth for the untrue (John 14:6) Union for those who are severed (Rom. 11:17) Virtue for the depraved (1 Cor.6:11) Welcome for all (Rev. 22:17) Ok I am going to admit that X was a hard one! What can I say? extra for those who have less or inclusion for those who have been X-t out? And what about Y? Yes to all who will admit their sin and long for love (Matt. 5:37) Help me with Z. Zeal for the things of God (Rom. 12:11). 7