Kingdom Focused
Notes
Transcript
Today we are starting in Matthew chapter 13. We will work our way through the entire chapter over the next several Sundays, seeing what Jesus is teaching us about God’s kingdom. We will be looking at what it means to be Kingdom Focused. The last few message from myself and Bro. Bobby will also help us to have a better understanding of God’s Kingdom they will all tie together because they are a part of how we live our lives as God’s children. Our study of God’s kingdom is going to be done in Matthew chapter 13 where we see several parables that Jesus used to paint a picture of God’s kingdom. As we begin our study of God’s Kingdom we are going to need to understand a couple of things, 1)what is God’s kingdom 2) what are parables.
What is God’s Kingdom?
What is God’s Kingdom?
How do we define God’s Kingdom, or the kingdom of heaven as seen in Matthew. Kingdom focus is very prevalent in Jesus’ teachings. We must keep in mind that there are two aspects of God’s kingdom. There is the here and now, which Jesus ushered in. But there is also the aspect of the not yet, a future aspect of God’s kingdom to come int he future. A time when Christ returns and rules an reigns.
What is a parable?
What is a parable?
A parable is a form of teaching that presents the listener with interesting illustrations from which they can draw moral and religious truths. As we will learn from the text Jesus uses parables for two reasons, to reveal and to conceal. We are starting out this morning after the parable of the Sower. Bro. Bobby preached a message on this parable and I would encourage you to go back and listen to it, you can find it on the church’s Facebook page. But just a brief summary. The seed is the Gospel, God’s word. It is broadcast on the path this is those who do not understand the word and it is taken away from them by satan. Then the seed on the rocky ground are those who hear the word, but have no foundation or root, and it falls away in times of persecution because of the Word. Then the seed among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this world choke it out. Then the one on good soil, they hear the word, and it bears fruit.
Why parables
Why parables
Today we have two points we are going to look at 1) The Question and 2) The Answer.
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Question
The Question
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
Here we see the question the disciples asked Jesus. Through Jesus teaching in parables the disciples realized that not all of the people were getting the message and they wondered why. Why would Jesus not be crystal clear to everyone listening. Jesus gives them their answer in the following verses.
11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
We see here a balance of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Jesus answers them “to you” to His followers God’s children the privilege of understanding is given. There are privileges that are reserved for God’s Children and not everyone else. “Secrets” refer to a secret that is revealed-the kingdom- specifically the tact that the kingdom is here now. Many had the misconception that when Messiah came His kingdom would displace the rulers of the time-in this case the Romans-, but Jesus makes the point that the kingdom did come through Him. But it was different His kingdom didn’t crush the rule of men, but the rule of sin and death in men’s lives. Because of the hardness of their hearts some do not see the truth of Jesus teachings. they hear, but do not really hear. Without faith in Jesus we cannot see, and it s God who opens our ears and eyes. For those outside the kingdom they understand the proactive claims, but are unwilling to accept it. Remember in our relationship with Jesus communication is key, which involves our listening to Him. and how does He communicate with us through His word.
12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Here we see what could be categorized as Gospel growth. What a person has or does not have refers to true insight that leads one to except Jesus and His kingdom. So, for those ho have accepted Jesus teachings and have a relationship with Him, more will be given, more of His teaching, and more responsibility.For those who do not have a relationship- a true saving relationship- what little understanding they do have will be taken away, or as in Luke 8 “thinks they have”. What they claim is only superficial. I mentioned Gospel growth earlier- when the gospel is spreading there will be those ho truly accept the seed remember the “good soil” and those who only accept the seed on the outside remember the “path”, the “rocky ground” and the “thorns”.
18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
The Answer
The Answer
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Jesus parables cause those who have a relationship with Him to desire to learn the understanding. They long from more “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”, but then there are those who do not see. The hidden aspect of the parables is both the cause of and the response to the people’s unwillingness to follow Jesus. they were only there to get and not to give. they only had a superficial understanding due to their lack of faith in Jesus. They had blinders on, and could not fully see, they had their ear plugs in and could not fully hear. This limited their understanding.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
Here Jesus points to Isaiah 6:9-10. The people that Jesus was teaching were acting the same way as the nation of Israel in Isaiah’s time, thus fulfilling what Isaiah spoke.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
What Jesus speaks of in verses 14 and 15 can be seen as God’s judgment for their lack of faith. Their unbelief caused them to be blinded to the truth of His words. It can also be seen as an act of God’s mercy so their condemnation would not increase.
16 But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear.
God’s children are blessed because they see the truth of God’s word. It is through their relationship with Jesus that they are able to see, and hear.
17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The disciples were living in the age of fulfillment of the OT promises. Many of God’s people had longed to see this day.
Kingdom Focused
Kingdom Focused