THOUGHTS ON THE PARABLES

Satan has been known to use some distinctive ploys…here are a few:

1. False teachers who lie and contradict God’s Word.

2. Fear of what others will think.

3. Pride,…that binds one to sin, the need for salvation and the further need for sanctification, and cultivates the desire to compromise.

4. Telling oneself, “I’m not so bad,” or “I can help myself.”

5. Doubt

6. Prejudice

7. Stubbornness

8. Procrastination

9. Love of the World

10. Love of sin

The superficial hearer eagerly embraces the message of salvation with great emotional excitement but in reality the acceptance is shallow. They NEVER count the cost, they NEVER repent of sin…remorseful, maybe…but true repentance indicates a willingness to leave sin and go the other way…toward godliness. They NEVER die to self…self and self gratification stays in the front of the mind, and whenever trial comes, they escape into their sin and their old life, and the old life in part is doing or working things out for yourself instead of waiting for God, and His BEST for your life. And this is not too difficult, because they never really turned from it! Sadly, this type of person fills our churches…and THINK they are saved because they are active and zealous for the church…they are rarely consistent, the “feelings” have changed but not the heart…that rocky, hard place below the surface of the heart that was never penetrated by the Gospel. And with the stresses of life, they fall away in despair.

The worldly hearer (such as the Rich Young Ruler), are those who hear the Word taught, even agree, but are in reality very worldly. The Gospel cannot take root in this heart! It cannot root or grow because their first love is for the “things” of life and they see these things as having more meaning to them, than spiritual things. Tragic, but true. They find they must work for them and work hard…but that’s not God’s plan…He offers a gift, but we must take it, and at times, give up the tangible for the spiritual. This kind of person works too many hours to give God any quality time, spend their money on “things”…entertainment and fine dining, fitness, exotic vacations, to “get away from it all,” definite wants but not needs. Their life is full of thorns and weeds. In the end they must choose, their love for worldly things or identification with Christ which is true cross-bearing…the two cannot co-exist. Genuine faith will turn away without a second thought, from anything that puts a strain on the relationship or fellowship with God.

The receptive hearer is the one who hears the Word, and understands…the only barrier to salvation is unbelief! Good soil accepts Christ on HIS TERMS,  hearing, understanding, bearing fruit…the maximum amount of fruit can be born by the heart of obedience you show forth. Obedience is the key to a fruitful life, and is very pleasing to God.

Matthew 13:31-52… The mustard seek and yeast seem to us that Jesus was saying that in spite of great opposition, the “kingdom” would grow abnormally…false growth…room in it for wheat and tares, (the darnel of the middle east could not be told from real wheat until after the harvest), outwardly giving a false picture of expansion. The leaven is an inward thing…false living and false being…clearly present today and I’m sure in many ages past.

Matthew 13:44-45… The treasure is the nation of Israel, (Exodus 19:5; Psa 135:4;) it was put here to being glory to God…it failed! There are many who teach that Jesus died for all in order to save Israel, (John 11:51; Isa 53:8). Due to their rejection, they have suffered judgment and seeming destruction but in God’s sight, they are “hidden”…and will be revealed yet in a future time, with great glory. God sees Israel as His Treasure and  will one day establish her in her glorious kingdom.

Matthew 13:45-46… The pearl represents the church. Today the church, the Body of Christ, is made up of gentiles and believing Jews, (Ephesians 2:11) Unlike most gems, the pearl is a unity…it cannot be carved up like a diamond or emerald. The church is a unity, (Ephesians 4:4-6) even though here on earth there is division. Like a pearl, the church is a product of suffering. Christ’s suffering made possible her existence. A pearl grows gradually, so does the church and so do we as members of the Body. And as the pearl grows underwater where it cannot be seen, so the growth of the true church cannot be seen clearly.

Matthew 13:47-50… the net or dragnet is pretty evident…fishermen throw out the net and it drags along the bottom and gathers what it will. Even so, the church gathers “what it will,” believers and pretenders, and God Himself will do the separating.