Ears to Hear pt.2

Parables

On that Day -> v.3 He spoke many things in Parables

Something Changes

Matthew 13:34 “All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.”

Mark 4:33–34 “With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.”

John 16:25 ““These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.”

What are the Parables about?

Kingdom of Heaven

Body of Believers (Church)

The eternal Davidic Kingdom (Christ is King)

The Kingdom of Heaven is like...

Salvation

What must one do to inherit the Kingdom?

How can I become an heir to the throne?

Who is included in the Family of God?

There’s a mysterious element

Who hears the teaching?

Who can understand what Jesus is teaching?

Claim: God is sovereign over our destiny.

Why do You speak to them in Parables?

Read Text

Matthew 13:11 “Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

LG Crowd of Yous and Theys - Division of

Matthew 12:48–50 “But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And 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.””

To you: Disciples - Matthew 10:32–34 ““Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

To them: Matthew 12:24 “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.””

Demonic Civil War?!

The Unpardonable Sin

Matthew 12:30–32 ““He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

Matthew 13:12 ““For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

For Understanding :

The more you understand, the more fruit (good works) you produce, the more treasure in heaven you store, more faith is produced, more love (for God and Neighbor) is expressed (The Fruit of the Spirit)

But also for those who do not have:

Will spiral out of control (For if God is not your Master… who is?)

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:19–21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 13:13 ““Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven

Saved by Grace alone

Through Faith alone

In Christ alone

As revealed in Scripture alone

To the Glory of God alone

Judgment for those who cannot understand that.

Judgment for all of those who reject that.

Judgment for all who rebel against that offer.

Great Mercy in mystery.

Those who cannot understand, will be less culpable on The Day of Judgment

Isaiah

Isaiah 6

Understanding the Mysteries of the Kingdom are necessary unto salvation?

The Lord chooses who’s heart to turn toward Him?

It is an act of mercy to withhold revelation of judgment?

Is that fair?

Is then my rebellion my fault?

Paul : Why hasn’t all of Israel responded to the Gospel??

Romans 9:9–24 NASB95

For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Our Position

Matthew 13:16–17 ““But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly 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.”