Have You Heard?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Some of you may like to take up certain hobbies that involve discovering interesting finds. Maybe you like to go antique shopping. You may like to go to yard sales and see what treasures you might find. Some of you may even have a metal detector and you scour the ground looking for precious things.
While you may have found some valuable items in your searching, here are some of the wildest and most prosperous finds people have come across using a metal detector. These are life altering discoveries.
Staffordshire Hoard: In 2009, Terry Herbert discovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork in a field in Staffordshire, England. The hoard contained over 4,500 items, including sword pommels, helmet cheek pieces, and garnet cloisonné jewelry, valued at around $4.3 million.
Derrynaflan Hoard: Unearthed in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1986, this 8th-9th century hoard included a silver chalice, bronze strainer, and other priestly objects, worth approximately $9.2 million.
Grouville Hoard: Found on the island of Jersey in 2012, this massive coin hoard contained around 70,000 coins dating back to 50 BC, with an estimated value of $5.77 million.
Mojave Nugget: In 1977, Paul Tysen discovered one of the largest gold nuggets ever found on American soil in California. The nugget weighed over 156 ounces and was valued at around $300,000 at the time.
Generated by Copilot 2/15/25
I suppose if you want the big money, you better move to England or Europe!
Now, despite the value of all of these discoveries, and they are certainly worth millions, you could combine them all together and you still would not have anything worth the insurpasable wealth of the treasure Jesus spoke of that was hidden in the field.
The value of the gospel makes these discoveries seem more antiquated than an over priced penny. (note: the penny currently costs more to produce than it is worth in value - 2025)
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”
52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
pray
In the 1800s this country experienced what is known as the Gold Rush. The reason so many moved out west was to make a better life for themselves and to hopefully strike it richer than Yukon Sam.
There were reports of people who had gone out west and found troves of gold. Once the word spread, people loaded up their wagons and moved to Beverly.
Well, I supposed it went something like that. The key thing is they heard word of the value of the riches they could make and that word changed the course of their lives. They took action.
This morning, I want to move you to action. I want to give you some news that will hopefully alter your future.
1. Have You Heard God's Word? (v.51)
1. Have You Heard God's Word? (v.51)
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”
The whole section of these parables that Jesus has been teaching on has to do with hearing the Word, or the Gospel and the affects that it produces.
Jesus circles back to the first parable and asks His disciples if they themselves have understood what He has taught.
Do you care about understanding God’s Word when you hear it preached or taught?
When you read your Bible, how important is it for you to understand what you read? Do you tend to read and move ahead without understanding?
2. Have You Treasured God's Word? (v.52)
2. Have You Treasured God's Word? (v.52)
52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
A Good Host
Master of the House = steward
People would bring out of their treasures gifts for their guests
Jesus is telling the disciples that they are now going to become the teachers and scribes.
They are to bring out old and new.
Jesus taught the Old Testament
Jesus explained how He fulfilled it
Jesus gave new teachings and new revelation that had not previously been known
We don’t come up with new revelation. The Cannon is closed.
How important is it for you to pass on your faith to others?
Do you have any relationships where you are actively doing this?
Have you prayed and asked God to show you someone that you can instruct?
Teach What You’ve Received
We only have to teach what we have received, but we should not just delight in the “old treasures” we already have, but seek to gain “new treasures” as we grow in our learning.
Every lesson we receive is a treasure from God.
3. Have You Rejected God's Word? (vv. 53-58)
3. Have You Rejected God's Word? (vv. 53-58)
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
Have any of you ever moved away and come back home? How was that? Did you feel out of place?
That can happen with churches too. I’ve been a very active part of the churches that I have been blessed to be a part of and some of those congregations seem so different when you’ve gone off and come back several years later.
The same thing can happen to houses and neighborhoods you once lived in.
In this case it wasn’t that the geography or building styles had changed. It was the reception of the people.
Entertained By Jesus
Jesus comes into town and teaches in their synagogue. The people are astonished at His words and impressed by His authority.
You might say that they were entertained by a good sermon, but it did very little to change their hearts.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
The problem the people had was that they had become to familiar with Jesus.
Look at the next verse.
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
They knew Jesus and His family members. Jesus had grown up there.
Something to note here. There are some gnostic gospels that claim to give an insight into Jesus’ childhood growing up. They claim Jesus did some crazy miracles like turning his friends into goats and then back to boys again as they danced around Him.
None of these are true, and here is a passage that helps us realize that. The people had never seen Jesus do a miracle. Jesus didn’t start performing these signs until it was His time. When His ministry was inaugurated after He was baptized by John in the Jordan, Jesus performs His first sign, or miracle, at the wedding feast in Cana.
So these people had never seen Jesus do anything like this before, but now they see Him clearly performing these miracles, and yet they wouldn’t see the sign or believe what Jesus said.
Have you become to familiar with the things of God?
Do you take for granted what God is doing all around you?
Are you guilty of coming to church and listening to the message and being “astonished” by what you hear, but it never really penetrates into the soil of your heart to change you?
The sad part of this encounter is what happens next.
57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
The Response of the Crowd
The Bible says the crowds took offense at Jesus.
Some debate whether this account is the same as Luke 4 where they seek to thrown Jesus down the cliff
They were not neutral regarding Jesus
You and I cannot remain neutral when we hear the message Jesus preaches.
Judgment Pronounced
Jesus pronounces judgment on them and quotes a familiar proverb.
In fact, Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah these words in Isaiah 53:3
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Sadly it was not just the people who rejected Jesus. Even many of Jesus own family members could not understand at this point.
5 For not even his brothers believed in him.
Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus would be divisive. He said
14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Jesus is either a sanctuary to you or a stone of offense.
Conclusion
The people would not accept Jesus from His own hometown and they would not tolerate His claims of being the Messiah.
The text says they were offended at Him.
Let me ask you this morning how your response might different.
Are you offended by the exclusive claims Jesus made about the gospel?
Does it bother you that Jesus said He is the only way to the Father and to eternal life?
Does it bother you that Jesus demands your absolute loyalty to Him and His kingdom?
Some of you this morning are “astonished.” You are entertained by the words God has for you in the Bible.
You really like the parts about how God will bless you, but the sacrifice part makes you squirm.
Some of you, sadly, are offended by Jesus.
While it may seem like you can remain neutral for a season, you will ultimately either grown towards Christ or rail against Him. You can’t stay in the middle.
If you are not offended by Jesus, and you have received His words, let me give you some good news.
Jesus said,
6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Today if you will receive Christ, He will be the greatest blessing you can ever receive.
Your life won’t get easier, but your future will be secure.
Are you offended by Jesus?
Have you heard the Word that He has given to you?
