2 - Why Parables?
The Kingdom Is Near • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
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Recap
Last week started our series on the parables of Jesus called The Kingdom Is Near
Light Our World
Salt and Light = Character and Good Works
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
First, What is a parable?
Story, riddle, word picture
More than just a sermon illustration -
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
All of the parables give us a picture of the Kingdom
As we go through the parables, we are going to learn Kingdom values, principles, living.
Background
Background
Jesus teaching crowds - climbed into a boat and began speaking in parables
Matthew 13 starts with the Parable of the Sower (seeds or soils)
We will look at that parable in a few weeks. What Jesus said after this important parable is just as important. In some ways it directly reinforces the parable, but it also gives us an understanding foundational to grasping the purpose for all the parables.
Matthew records that the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
Luke’s record has the disciples asking for the meaning of the parable.
Turn to Matthew 13:10-17
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 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. 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. 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. 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.”
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.’
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 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.
Fulfill Prophecy
Fulfill Prophecy
Matthew said that Jesus spoke in parables as a fulfillment of prophecy
Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable, so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.
Direct quote from Psalm 78:2
Mysteries hidden since Creation
New revelation that Israel had not previously known
Israel thought they had the prophecies figured out and knew what to expect.
Imagine what the generations past pictured in their minds when they heard the prophecies of a coming King in the line of David who would rule the world from David’s throne.
Israel = chosen people. Messiah = King over all the world with Israel as chosen. All enjoy benefit of the kingdom. All other nations thrown off and defeated. Outward compliance with law/rules proved worthiness.
How much are we like Israel today? Christians? Americans?
Are our hearts as hard as the Israelites’ hearts were?
Jesus said He spoke in parables because the hardness of their hearts was a fulfillment of prophecy.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
Israel rejected Isaiah’s message then, and Israel is rejecting Jesus’ message here.
Divides Listeners into “you” and “them”
Divides Listeners into “you” and “them”
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.
You = Disciples; Them = all the other listeners, rebellious
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.
Kind of like saying, “Use it, or lose it”
vv. 14-15 condemning “them”
Who has, more given
Who has not, it is taken away
Other listeners do not see, hear, or understand
Jesus was not being exclusive for the sake of pushing people away.
Grammy - cross you off
Speaking in parables could also be a way of protecting them from further condemnation as they would continue to rebel against Jesus.
We will see these concepts again in later parables. Jesus dividing the you and them.
Hides Kingdom secrets from rebellious
Hides Kingdom secrets from rebellious
Before this, Jesus mostly spoke plainly.
People understood, many offended, rejected His teaching, religious leaders looked for an opportunity to silence Jesus.
Jesus begins hiding the secrets of the Kingdom in plain view
For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and
understand with their hearts,
and turn back—
and I would heal them.
The people are already not seeing, hearing, or understanding because they don’t want to.
They are condemned already.
Matthew 13:12 even what he has will be taken away from him
Are we like that? Have we stopped listening? Do we have our eyes clamped shut?
Child covering ears “not listening”
Reveals Kingdom Mysteries to true disciples
Reveals Kingdom Mysteries to true disciples
He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.
First answer - doesn’t this sound caring?
True Disciples are those who seek Jesus with eyes and ears open
“Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.
True Disciples are those who not only seek, but are given understanding.
And True Disciples are those who live what they learn.
Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
The amazing blessing of the first Disciples is also our blessing
For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Can you imagine the prophets having a picture of what was to come, the Messiah, the Kingdom.
We have been given an amazing blessing.
Big Idea: Jesus taught in parables to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom to true disciples.
Big Idea: Jesus taught in parables to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom to true disciples.
What About You?
What About You?
Are you a true disciple?
Do you want to hear?
Do you want to see?
Do you want to understand?
What are you going to do with that knowledge and understanding?
You will be responsible for what you see and hear and know. You must do something with it.
God is good. He loves us. He wants us to pursue Him.
Ask, Seek, Knock Matthew 7:7
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Song
Prayer
Prayer