Do You Understand?
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Open your Bibles to Matt 13:51
One announcement Christmas Party next Wednesday
Ugly sweater
White Elephant gift
That’s next week, but for tonight and more importantly, let’s focus on the Word.
Tonight we come to the end of our series that we have been calling ‘A Rock of Offense’ Matt 11-13
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.”
Intro: According to a quick Google search, there are over 100 different English translations of the Bible. Now, have you ever wondered why there are so many Bible translations?
That is, if the Bible is the perfect Word of God, (and it certainly is), then why do we have so many different versions of it? Why do we have the ESV, NIV, NASB, KJV, NLT, CSB and many many others?
To fully develop the answer to that question, we would need to take a deep dive into the history of the Bible.
But in short we all should know that the Bible was not originally written in English. The OT was primarily written in Hebrew and the NT was written in Greek And as such, there is no perfect translation of the Bible. Different Bible translators have different goals… but for the sake of tonight’s Scripture, and sermon, I want us to understand this. Even though the Bible is best understood in it’s original language, those who do not understand Hebrew or Greek will not be able to read the Bible. Therefore, we have the need for English translations of the Bible.
Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn Hebrew or Greek. In fact, there is a great benefit to doing so when it comes to being a student of the Scriptures.
But for the sake making the Scriptures known who do not know Hebrew or Greek, we spend our time reading English translations of the Bible simply because English is the language that we are able to understand.
For hundreds of years, many people did not have access to Bible translations in their own language. But throughout the history of the church, the people of God have taken seriously the work of translating the Bible in to the common language of the people, because apart from understanding the Word of God, the Scriptures will not be able to save anyone.
Seriously, we could read the Bible in Hebrew and Greek all day long… but if the hearer don’t understand what is being said, then the Word of God will not have any effect on the heart of that person.
The famous reformer, Martin Luther, recovered the gospel through much study of the Word of God… at the time, the Bible was primarily accessible only in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, so for him to understand and study the Word, he had to first learn these other languages. But Luther did not want to keep this knowledge of the word to himself. So Luther undertook the extraordinary work of translating the Bible from the original language into German, so that others would also be able to come to a saving knowledge of God through and understanding of the Scriptures.
So it is of us today as well… we must not be satisfied to simply have a knowledge of the Word of God. And By knowledge, I mean, we cannot just have the word memorized… what we need is to know what the words mean.
This is what we see in tonight’s text: remember, Jesus has been teaching parables, and the meaning of these stories hid the truth of the kingdom from those who sought to kill Jesus. But Jesus’ parables have rich meaning that we must seek to understand. Jesus’ disciples certainly understood this.
Remember earlier, after many of the parables, Jesus’ own disciples did not understand the meaning of his parables…
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”
And following that, Jesus went on to explain the meaning of the parables… but for those who did not understand, Jesus said,
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.”
So at the end of his parables, Jesus asks his disciples this crucial question;
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”
For our sake tonight, I want us to all ask this same question of ourselves. Do we understand all these things?
Do we understand the parables that Jesus taught?
Do we understand the mystery of the kingdom of heaven that Jesus has revealed?
Or to put it plainly: Do you understand the gospel?
1. We must understand the gospel.
1. We must understand the gospel.
This should not come as any surprise to most of us. Yet some of us do not understand the gospel. Others of us think that we do, when in fact we do not. And still some of us remain content in the state of confusion regarding the truth of God’s Word.
Why must we understand it?
Jesus makes it clear to us
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.’
In other words… if you understand the gospel in your heart, then you would turn to Jesus and receive the forgiveness of your sins, and everlasting life with him in his kingdom. This seems to me to be sufficient reason to desire an understanding of the gospel. But Jesus has already given us more motivations that should drive us to seek understanding.
Parable of the sower - the one who understands it will bear much fruit and they will endure to the end
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
In other words… do you want to be rid of sin in your life? Then seek to understand the gospel. For through your understanding you will endure… that is, you will not wither or be choked out like those who lack understanding. But instead, you will bear an abundance of good fruit of righteousness in your life.
And look one more time at the great benefit of having an understanding of the gospel.
Parable of the weeds - those who understand the gospel will be saved from the coming wrath of God
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Those who have understand the gospel will be saved…
How can you tell if you understand the gospel?
Parable of the pearl & treasure - you will give up everything to obtain this one treasure
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
You will find a greater treasure than all the other things of this world… some of you have a head knowledge of the word… but that knowledge has yet to be a true understanding that plumbs to your heart and actually changes your affections.
So how can you know if you understand the gospel? There is a change in what you see as valuable.
For further demonstration to see if we actually understand these things, consider the parable of the sower yet again.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
How much knowledge must we have to understand these things?
Must we know all the secrets of the Lord? Must we have a fully understand all that the Scriptures say? Must we be able to have an answer for every question, or a defense to give to every skeptic?
It wouldn’t appear so… in a later parable, the Peter remain confused, and so they ask Jesus about the meaning of his teaching:
15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?
Do we need a perfect understanding of the gospel to be saved by the power of the gospel? No… certainly that isn’t the case. For even the Apostles themselves still lacked some understanding. But this does not mean that they did not understand the message of the kingdom that Jesus taught here in Ch 13.
Listen to Paul’s words to the Philippians:
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Now, do the Philippians sound like they have a knowledge of the gospel? They certainly do. But Paul continues and says;
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
He describes here a desire for them to grow in love, and knowledge, and discernment… I take this to mean that they will grow in their understanding of the gospel.
So how much knowledge must we have?
Do you know know that you are a sinner who deserves to die?
Do you know that Jesus Christ is the only one who can save you from your sins and death?
If you know those two things, then I believe you have have a knowledge of the gospel… Or as we hear from we read in Acts 16:30-31
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
It’s not a exhaustive understanding of the gospel and profound faith that is needed for salvation.
But it’s not just a knowledge of the doctrine that saves… it’s a knowledge and understanding that goes into your heart.
If you don’t know what I mean by that, then you likely do not understand these things.
But our understanding of the gospel does not need to be exhaustive.
Consider the simple expression of faith…
25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
So the question remains; Do you understand these things?
If so, good and well. But if not, what should you do?
What must we do if we do not understand the gospel?
We do what the disciples themselves did… we ought to go to Jesus and ask him to be our teacher. We should pray and ask him to open our eyes so that we might understand.
And know this,
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
So we ought to ask the God to give us his Spirit so that we might understand that which the Word says.
And whatever else we do, we must not be content with a lack of understanding.
Some of us open our Bibles only to close them minutes later. And when asked what you read, you have nothing to show for your time.
If in your time in the Word, you do not understand what you read, then you ought to ask the Lord for understanding, and then you ought to read it again. And don’t you stop doing that until the Lord gives you understanding.
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.”
2. Those who understand the gospel are able to bring out both the old and the new.
2. Those who understand the gospel are able to bring out both the old and the new.
Now, bring out both the old and the new might seem rather vague. But there are two ways in which I want us to understand this.
Old covenant, and the new covenant.
Those who understand the gospel will have be able to bring out of his heart that which the Old Covenant truly means in light of that which has been revealed in the New Covenant.
That is, we will be able to take the Old Testament Law, and understand it to only be a foreshadow of what was to come in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Remember this of Jesus Christ:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
and again,
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
So it is of those who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We don’t look at the perfect lamb who was slain on the alter in the place of our sins and then go back to the old Law of sacrifices to be pardoned for sin… instead you rightly recognize that the sacrificial system was but a foreshadow of the final sacrifice that Jesus would made on the cross for our sins.
Those who understand the gospel won’t need to go on wondering what dimensions of an Ark to build in order to survive the coming judgment of God that will utterly wipe out the wicked. Instead we will understand the only way we can survive the coming judgment it to be in Christ rather than in a boat.
If we understand the Gospel, we don’t need to wonder why God would ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac to demonstrate his love for God. For in the gospel, we understand that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.
We could go on throughout all that is found in the Old Testament, but if we understand who Jesus is, then we will be like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is Old. That is, we will understand who God is, not only through the Law, but we will know more fully who God is through Jesus Christ.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
But that’s not the only way we should understand what it means to bring out the new and the old.
Those who understand the gospel go back to old revelation and they will also seek new revelation.
Consider again the prayer of Paul for the Philippians
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
It’s not that the Philippians are to grow out past the gospel… rather Paul whats their knowledge to grow to be deeper and deeper. Even today, after having spent many years studying the Bible and having known God for many years, I am not done learning more about the gospel, and I am far from being done learning more about the love of God.
Consider Paul’s rebuke to the Corinthians.
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
Oh that we would not remain as infants… but instead may we grow in Christ and bear more and more good fruit in our lives as we grow in our understanding of the gospel.
So too, the blind man that we read of earlier had just the smallest beginning of faith.
25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
But the blind men did not just stop in his learning at this stage.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Oh that we too would find Jesus day by day and continue to learn more about him. And as we grow in our knowledge and understanding, may we to grow in faith and may our love of God grow. This will drive us to ongoing worship of the one who is worthy of all praise.
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.”
3. Those who understanding the gospel must share the gospel.
3. Those who understanding the gospel must share the gospel.
Jesus calls his disciples scribes that have been trained for the kingdom of heaven.
When most of us think of a scribe, we likely have in mind a person who’s job is to write… but that’s not all a scribe was in Jesus’ day. A scribe was a learner and teacher of the Word of God.
A scribe did not learn just for the sake of their own understanding. Rather, a scribe learned so that he could then show his findings with others who would learn from him as well.
This is further demonstrated by the rest of 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.”
These disciple/scribes are likened to a master of a house who brings out treasure…
Understand, a master of a house was responsible to care for all the other servants in the home. And he brings out this treasure, why? For the good of the rest of the household.
What Jesus is teaching here is rather simple? Do you understand these things? If so, go and teach others what you have learned.
27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
The point of Jesus parables what not for his teaching to remain hidden to just the 12 disciples. Jesus intended his teaching to be spread throughout the world.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So the question remains for us tonight;
Do you understand these things?
If not, then do not be content with your life until you understand the Gospel of the glory of God as it has been revealed in Christ Jesus.
Do you understand these things?
If so, then continue to grow in your knowledge of the Glory of God.
Do you understand these things?
If so, be sure you share what you know with those who have yet to understand.
Let’s pray.