James 1:21b (msg) In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
Let’s not think of the ever popular drought tolerant Xeriscape (Zi-ra-scape) because of our water situation. Let’s picture lush Garden-of-Eden-Scape.
3rd major section of Mt. 8 parables.
Western Texts calls it the Parable of theSower. Eastern, Parable of theSeed. But its actually the Parable of theSoils (4 diff soils. 4 diff results)
What soil type currently represents your response to God & His Word?
What can you do for your heart to become the kind of soil Jesus is looking for?
PARABLE OF THE SOILS(1-9)
THE SETTING (1,2)
Jesus leaves the house He was in, in Capernaum, & walks down the block to lake Galilee.
Crowds were at epic proportions (& superficial followers multiplied).
So they place him in a small boat, & push him out a little ways. The Galilean shoreline became His parish & the boat His pulpit.
PARABLE OF THE SOILS (3-9)
Sowing seed in bible times:
The farmer carried a large bag of seed on his donkey. Then he would fill hisleather bag that he would carry under his arm.
* Unlike many countries today where the soil is prepared before the planting takes place, the seed would be scattered widely & then plowed in.
This is not the parable of the Careless Gardner. (person just throwing seedeverywhere haphazardly) No, it’s intentionally throwing the seed all over,then tilling.
A footpath often times cut across his field which the public would use. As the farmer would scatter his seed some would always land on this.
The birds would be quick to score a free meal. Often times large flocks would often follow the farmer. [Like theseagullsif you’ve ever been Deep Sea fishing]
Rocks were under the soil& couldn’t be seen,thusno depth of earth.
Many thorn bushes were present. The native farmer would use these in the summer for outdoor fires for cooking meals.
So, he wouldn’t have gotten rid of all of these weed/bushes.
So, this is not wastefulness or inefficiency on behalf of the sower, but it is an illustration of the grace of God.
God’s message, God’s seed is forall,butnot everyone will receive it.
Remember, It is not the sower or the seed that is the problem...but the soil.
A PARABLES PURPOSE(10-17)
Because of the superficial followers & antagonists…he hides the meaning.
They can not get it with only their own understanding.
SPECIAL PARABLE Mk4:13 Do you not understand this parable? How then will u understand all the parables?
This parable holds the key to all others.
IN GENERAL (3)
Παραβολή -Para/alongside;ballA/to throw or cast.
So, a parable is a story that comes alongside a teaching to help us understand its meaning. Parables are truth in picture form.
The kingdom of God is like a seed...a wedding feast…a treasure, etc.
Each clue unveiling the once mysterious kingdom [mystery=previously unknown, now revealed]
A parable gets the listener deeply involved & compels them to make a personal decision about God’s truth & his/her life.
On the surface, a parable seems like harmless story, but in time it explodes w/ powerful meaning.
It acts as a mirror & a window:
It’s a mirror that forces us to look at ourselves.
It’s a window through which we see God & His truth.
Jesus explained the kingdom, not by giving a lecture on theology, but by paintingpictures that captured the attention of the people & forced them to use their imaginations& think.
Now He’ll show them how to interpret a parable.
SOILS EXPLAINED(18-23)
3 DEFINITIONS [sower - word - soil]
The Sower (18) - Here Christ, but any believer who shares the Word of God w/ others.
Sow Plentifully: 2 Cor.9:6 Whoever sows generously will also reap generously
Sow Passionately: Ps.126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
Sow Patiently: Gal.6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
The Word=The Seed. The gospel is always a fruitful seed as to its power, but not as to its produce.
Like seed the Word of God is alive & is able to produce spiritual fruit.
But the seed must be planted & cultivated before that harvest can come.
Seed is fruitful…there is an orchard in an apple; there’s a forest in an acorn.
The Soil = is the human heart. Let’s look at the 4 hearts described…
[1] SUPERFICIAL HEART (19)
The Superficial Heart has a Lack of Understanding.
It may not be some gross sin in their life but simply no interest in God whatsoever.
Or they’re busy...no time for contemplation.
Or they might not be hostile to the gospel...just simply disinterested.
Soil becomes hard when too many feet, hooves, wheels tread upon it.
Don’t recklessly open your heart to all kinds of people & influences.
Prov.4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Hard hearts must be plowed up…which can be pretty painful.
Hosea 10:12 NLT Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.
Did the Lord have to plow up some things in your life to get your attention right before you got saved?
Pray for your friends who have hard hearts; And for your own hearts when you go through calloused times.
The Superficial Heart has a Lack of Understanding.
[2] SHALLOW HEART (20,21)
The Shallow Heart has a Lack of Depth.
In much of the land there is a 2-3” thin covering of soil over a limestone bedrock.
This is an emotional hearer - Easily swayed by a tender appeal, a goodsermon, or a sweet melody.
This person lives on impulses, impressions, intuitions, instincts, & largely ontheir circumstances.
They joyfully accept God’s Word, but do not really understand the price that must be paid to become a genuine Christian.
They are like the fish that leaps out of the water with great energy,…but it would be foolish to conclude that he has left the water forever.
In a moment the fish is swimming again as if it had never left the stream. The water is still his home, sweet home.
They’ve only been brushed by Christianity.
You might see great enthusiasm for days, weeks, months; but when the sun of persecution or difficulty comes out,enthusiasm wanes & the joy disappears.
A dazzling profession of faith, but then when something unexpected comes into their life they abruptly fall away.
I believe this is where so many of the enemies of the faith come from.
Man is pretty good at counterfeiting religious feelings.
The Shallow Heart has a Lack of Depth.
[3] SHARED HEART (22)
The Shared Heart has a Lack of Weed Killer.
They need a good dose of Round Up.
The Lord desires our whole heart. Ps.119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart.
Not a divided heart like the girl to which a young man proposed to. He said, “Darling, I want you to know that I love you more than anything else in the world. I want you to marry me. I’m not rich. I don’t have a yacht or a Rolls Royce like Johnny Brown, but I do love you w/all my heart.” She thought for aminute & then replied, “I love you w/all my heart, too, but tell me more aboutJohnny Brown.” (that’s asharedheart)
This heart receives the Word, but does not truly repent & remove the Weeds out of his or her heart.
See a gardener must not only love flowers & fruit, but also...Hate Weeds.
(22) Unfruitful? - Fruitless Christians is an oxymoron.
Lk.8:14 adds …and bring no fruit to maturity. (it never ripens)
Maybe you’ve had this on a fruit tree at home? [little, stunted, sour fruit]
The 1st 3 hearts produced nofruit.
3’s A CROWD
Cares of this world – worries of this present age.
Deceitfulness of riches – deceptive lure of wealth.
The desire for other things(Mk4:19) whatever takes place of the Word in your life
Miscellaneous things can become the cause of spiritual strangulation.
The lust for stuff is a stealthy thing that enters your house a guest, then becomes a host, & then a master.
The Shared Heart has a Lack of Weed Killer.
3 FRUITLESS HEARTS
So far the3 fruitless heartswere influenced by3 different enemies:
Superficial Heart – The devil himself snatches the seed.
Shallow Heart – The flesh counterfeits religious feelings.
Shared Heart – The things of this world smothers the growth/prevents a harvest.
3 ugly enemies we still face today :(
[4] SUCCESSFUL HEART (23)
The Successful Heart doesn't Lack...Understanding,Depth,orWeed Killer.
These are true believers…evidence a changed life; they evidence fruit in their lives.
Gal.5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is (1st group of 3 are the inner attitudes, sourced in God) love, joy, peace; (2nd the relational qualities, expressed to others) longsuffering, kindness, goodness; (3rdly, personal qualities, that guides indiv. conduct) faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Not all true believers are equally as productive.
Experts say, that tenfoldis anaverageharvest,thirtyfoldisgood,sixtyfoldis excellent, one hundredfold is amazing.
But every genuine Christian will evidence some fruit.
The Successful Heart doesn't Lack...Understanding,Depth,orWeed Killer.
Example in Jn.4 of the women at the well w/Jesus had a progression of all 4hearts.
Superficial (vs.9) How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?
Shallow (15) Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.
Shared (20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.
Successful(29) Come see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?
What soil type currently represents your response to God & His Word?
What can you do for your heart to become the kind of soil Jesus is looking for?
Saints, by grace, liberally sow the Word of God to all who you meet.
Let God take their Core Samples. He’ll sort out the alluvium/colluvium of their hearts. You just keep sowing/sharing His precious Word.
James 1:21b Msg In simple humility, let our gardener, God,landscape youwiththe Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
I would like to start with something pretty funny. 2 weeks ago when I shared about the parable of the Soil, I made an emphatic statement, some called this the parable of the Seed, some the parable of the Sower butI liked best the parable of the soil...becauseit’sabout the 4 diff soils of the heart.
It was brought to my attention by my friend Mike, that he heard me read in the parable itself that Jesus called it the parable of the Sower in 13:18. So in conclusion...I believe Jesus was right...andI was less right :)
These parables now outline...Gods Program & Satan’s opposition to it.
The kingdom (the realm ruled by God) begins in the OT & is designated by 2 things: the people of Israel& the land in which they lived.
The kingdom in the NT begins with the sowing of the Word in Christ’s day and continues to the endof this age.
The kingdom of God/Heaven in Mt.13 is in mystery form. It does not refer to the earthly kingdom of Messiah but rather to the kingdom here on earth duringthe King’s absence.
The kingdom of heaven is a mixture of good/evil, true/false [wheat/tares; dragnet good/bad fish].
It is not the church. The church is in the kingdom of heaven, but distinct from it.
The kingdom of heaven is equivalent to our term Christendom. It is made up of all who profess allegiance to the King, whether in truth or pretense. WEONT
The kingdom isthe rule of God; the church is a society of men. The churchis the custodian of the kingdom (we’ve been given the keys to the Kingdom).
So the church proclaims the good news of the kingdom, and those who come into the church begin to experiencethe blessings ofGod’s rule in their lives.
The future reign of God breaks into the present (it is already here) and yet, it is not here fully.
Therefore those who believe in Christ will begin to experience something of what God’s final kingdom reign will be like: we will know some measure ofvictoryoversin, over demonic opposition, and over disease.
Eventually, Jesus will return and His kingdom reign will extend over all creation.
So each parable given by Jesus exposes a little bit more of His kingdom.
Picture coming into this sanct this morning, & sitting in the pitch black. Slowly the lighting person takes 1 slider at a time & slides it up, exposing what has always been on the stage, but previously had been hidden...now revealed.
Today we are going to look at 3 oppositions to the Kingdom.
1st Satan tried to oppose the kingdom by trying to snatch the Word from Heart’s (parable/Sower). If that doesn’t work he goes to plan B...Can’t beat em join em.
Satan is the great counterfeit, the great imitator, the great imitation. [read 13:24-43]
I wish in vs.36 they would have ask for these 2 to be interpreted also.
Some interpret these as positive growths of the kingdom (saying, both have small beginnings but spread until its dimensions were astonishing). Many others as interpret it as abnormal growth.
The Mustard plant in Palestine produces a large plant, but not nec a Tree. If birds normally represent evil then again both good & evil are represented in the kingdom.
Leaven is found 98 x’s in scripture & every time it is a symbol or linked w/evil.
It had to be removed from the Jewish homes during Passover.
It was excluded from almost all Sacrifices.
Jesus used it to picture hypocrisy, false teaching, & worldly compromise.
Paul used Leaven to picture carnality in the church, also as false doctrine.
Sin is like leaven - it quietly grows, it corrupts, & it puffs up.
Maybe the Mustard Seed - warns, watch out for the outward expansion of the Kingdom. [When the kingdom starts to go to the birds]
Maybe the Leaven - warns, watch out for inward development of False Doctrine & False Living.
Maybe the point of both parables is that the mighty kingdom everyone was looking for could issue from apparently obscure beginnings...like Jesus and his few disciples.
The kingdom might begin in obscurity, but it would culminate in glory.
WHEAT & WEEDS-False Christians(24-30; 36-43)
Again Jesus uses the same figure of a sowerbut it has a diff twist.
We have 2 planters,2 plants, 2 plans, & 2 prospects (as Dr. Jeremiah said, in his study bible).
The main point to the parable of the wheat & the weeds: God permits the righteous and wicked to coexist in this age, and tells what we should do about it, and then eventually what He will do about it. He will separate the wicked from the righteous. Judging & destroying the wicked, while harvesting & protecting the righteous.
And both sides will realize as Toby Mac sings, This is not atest, its thereal thing.
TARES AMONG WHEAT
Since Satan can’t uproot plants(true Christians), he plants counterfeit Christians in their midst.
(24) We have the right Man, sowing the right seed, in the right field, then leaving the field to the care of His servants.
Good Seed - (24,38) Sons of the kingdom. Believers (not the Word like last parable).
Christ is sowing true believers in various places that they might bear fruit.
(25) Sleepy Servants - Note the evil one came in...when the believers were sleeping.
Know this for sure, Satansleeps notwhen men are slumbering.
Tares (ziZania) the bearded darnel (typically known as darnel, poison darnel, darnel ryegrass, cockle)
Mentioned only here in Mt. It is the Lolium temulentum. It bears the closest resemblance to wheat till the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. It grows plentifully in Syria & Palestine. Easton’s Bible Dict.
Tares/bad seed - These are Satan’s counterfeit, to the true Christians. They are professingChristianity but are not true Christians.
Historically the 1st 300 yrs Satan tried persecution to destroy the church.
10 Roman Emperors killed thousands of saints, but like the children of Israel down in Egypt, the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied & grew.
In 313 AD Satan changed his plan w/an edict from Constantine, Christianity was adopted as the National Religion. [Satan joined the church]
Satan seems to try to counterfeit everything.
Counterfeit Christians - 2 Cor.11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
Counterfeit Gospel - Gal.1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Counterfeit Righteousness - Rom.10:1-3 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes fromGod and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's rt.
Counterfeit Church - Rev.2:9 I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Counterfeit Christ - Anti-Christ. 2 Thes.2:1-12
(25) He went his way - Many declare Satan doesn’t exist - he’s a mere myth.
Satan is not omnipresent, but this he cunningly turns into an advantage, for he can do more by his absence than by his presence.
(27) How then does it have Tares? - The question is a confession that they had been asleep. Notice the Owner had not slept, He knew who did it. Indeed, he who watches overIsrael will neither slumber nor sleep. Ps 121:4
(28) An enemy has done this - We can name a number of people, but the worker behind the scene is the Devil himself.
We can blame Charles Darwin for his undermining creation. Or, Friedrich Nietzsche(a) in his promoting his God is dead slogan.Or, David Hume who gave 1 of the most fundamental attacks on Natural Theology.Or, Immanuel Kant who believed A knowledge of God is impossible.But ultimately, the Devil is the one behind the scene.
Do you want us to go & gather? - NO! Here this church. Our task is not topullup the False,butto plant the True.[how about:you love em, let God judge em]
Hasty disciplinarians have often cast out the best & retained the worst.
Now is the time of Growing. Grow on! Are you? Is your fruit showing white grain or no grain?
(30) Time of the Harvest - End of the age.
We don’t know when the end of the age is, but we do know it is drawing nearer.
The Reapers - The Angel Executioners will one day be employed & do the work correctly, efficiently, universally, & finally.
(40-42) Burn them - No words can be more suggestive of certain destruction.
Not only the outwardly wicked, but the false pretenders, the mock wheat shall be removed.
There fate is fire, the most terrible of punishments, Yet this won’t annihilate them, for there will be wailing & gnashing of teeth.
Furnace of Fire - whose smoke goes up forever & ever, Rev.14:9-11.
Yes there is a hell & some are going there. Sorry Universalists all will not be saved.
(30) Gather the wheat into my barn - What a peaceful tone after that last statement.
All gathered, all recognized as the Lord’s grain, all housed in His storehouse.
He who does not believe that God will cast unbelievers into Hell will not be sure that he will take believers into Heaven. (Spurg)
(43) Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Dan.12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Recap:
The hindrance - Satan opposes the work of God in several ways:
He snatches the Word of God from hearts, or smothers the seed with worldliness, or scorches the shoots with persecution. [parable of the sower]
If he cannot overcome the Word, he plants false Christians (children of the devil) wherever the Lord plants true believers. [parable of wheat/weeds]
Many people are going to hell, not because of gross overt sins, but because they have a false righteousness apart from faith in Jesus Christ.
He sits in the branches of Christendom & influences what goes on. [prbl mustard]
He plants false doctrine that deceives people. [parable of the leaven]
The method - Satan’s chief method of opposing God is through imitation. Hepreaches an imitation gospel, establishes imitation churches, plants imitation Christians, etc.
The task - True and false will grow together until the end, and God will separate them. Our job is not to try to clean up the world, although we should do all we can to better society. Our job is to plant the Word in hearts and let God plant us in places where we can bear fruit for His glory.
Stay awake - While we sleep, Satan works. A sleeping church is an opportunity for Satan to plant false Christians (Prv.24:30-34). It is important that we stay spiritually awake (Rom.13:11-14).
(43) He who has ears to hear, let him hear - are you listening?
How to watch the Olympics: Remember the ancient Games were common knowledge in the 1st century, just as the modern Olympics are today. Everyone knew about the Olympics. Paul writes, Everyone who competes in the games, exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1Cor.9:25NASB
Paul basically says, I want you to transpose the temporary struggles andtriumphs of the Olympic Games onto a different level of reality - the level of spiritual life and eternity and God.When you see the athletesrun, seeanother kind of running. When you see them boxing, see another kind of boxing. When you see them training and denying themselves, see another kind of training and self-denial. When you see them smiling with a medal around their neck, see another kind of prize.
Do the same as you watch the games in RIO, see what God will show you & share with you...if you have ears to hear. [98’ Christ the Redeemer, in every picture]
They are very Short. Jesus paints them w/only a few strokes of His verbal brush.
He was speaking to men of sight, but now moves (indoors) to the men of faith.
Now to encourage & assure the men of faith so they will be strengthened, heartened, confident & equipped for all their service. (partially, G.Campbell Morgan)
These twin parables teach the same general lesson, namely, the incomparable worth & the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God.
Yet, as with even identical twins, each is noticeably individual.
The twin truths: the costliness of the Treasure/Pearl & the delight of the Purchaser.
Slide10 Hendrik Van Loon wrote of this world, “Ours is a 5th-rate planet,revolving around a 10th-rate sun, in the forgotten corner of the universe.”
But, Jesus assures us that this world is the object of His concern, and one which Hepurchased for the manifestation ofHis glory.Herbert Lockyer
Slide11 HIDDEN TREASURE & THE TREASURE HUNTER(44)
A. Definitions: [since Jesus didn’t interpret, we have come up w/many interpretations]
Field = World, this habitable globe, His kingdom reign.
Slide12 The kingdom of God isthe reign of God.It isthe saving reign of God.It is the saving reign of God that is partly present and partly future.
And it is the present and future saving reign of God and of Christ.Piper
Treasure = redeemed/church/you & I. A man/the Purchaser = Jesus.
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Purpose of buying the field was to own the treasure.
Slide13 The Field, the world. For God so loved the world, but not for the
planets sake. And not just for 1 nation. And not just for the elite, rich, &powerful. But He reached out to: the unlovables (Lepers). To the people who detested him (Manasseh). To the ones that had been too busy for Him (like Matthew the tax collector). To those who were too rich for God (Zacchaeus). Even to those who were working directly against God (Saul).
Slide14 For God so loved a sinful world. Every race. Rich & poor. Powerful & powerless. Male & female. Democracy’s & Dictators. Israel & Istanbul. Abusers & defenders. Those trafficked & their traffickers. And yes both Democrats & Republicans (ok I’ll say it...even Trump & Hilary supporters).
For God so loved a sinful world. For...the treasure out of that world.
Slide15 Charles Wesley Hymn: Amazing love. How can it be That thou, my God, shouldest die forme.
The gospel is not whatwecan do for God,butwhatHedid for us!
R.C.Trench, Archbishop of Dublin said, The Oriental custom of the day was that Rich menwould divide their goods into 3 parts:
Slide16 One they would put into Commerce for their support.
One they would put into Jewels which might be easily carried.
The 3rd they’d Bury.
Interesting, these next 3 parables speak of burying a Treasure, finding a Jewel, & next week Commerce by fishing.
Slide17 This man plowing/digging in a field (not his) seemed to turn up a treasure chest.
Maybe the picture of a peasant who, while working the field of a wealthy landowner, found the treasure but covered it again lest the landowner claim it for himself.
Ever find a treasure? (out somewhere? in an old attic? at a garage sale? on Pinterest?)
Collecting coins as a kid.
I once bought boxes of books from an old pastor retiring...all because I wanted the 10 vol. set of Kittels (just give me $100 for all. TDNT, worth $200)
Treasures are still found:
Slide18a A Shepherd boy throwing rocks in Nov/1946. (Finding the Dead Sea Scrolls)
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Slide18b/c This May a Treasure trove was found in ancient sunken cargo ship off Israel. A couple of divers in the ancient Israeli port of Caesarea brought up some items from the seabed, leading to the discovery of bronze statues, coins & other artifacts that went down with a cargo ship 1,600 yrs ago.
Also 44 pounds of coins bearing the images of the emperor Constantine.
Slide18d Just 3 months ago a Priceless treasure found off Florida coast in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Global Marine Exploration Inc. found 3 ornate bronze cannons & a marble monument w/the Coat of Arms of France on it from 1548
Slide18e He sold all He had - He parted w/all He had. [we didn’t buy our lives into the kingdom?]
Phil.2:7 Emptied Himself (divested Himself of His visible Glory).
Only of the outward & visible manifestations of the Godhead. God may changeform, but He cannot cease to be God.
When He was to return to the Father what did He ask for back? His Glory, He once had, Jn17:1-5.
He became a beggar, even though, of himself, & up to this point, He was Rich.
Slide19 When the Lord purchased the world, was he looking to own another Planet? No, He wanted the treasure which was buried in the world. He Wanted You.
IV. Slide20 THE MERCHANT & HIS EXPENSIVE PEARL(45,46) valuable, priceless
The former parable, the man discovered by accident the treasure in the field. But in this parable the merchantman was seriously & deliberately searching for flawless pearls. It was the business of his life. [the treasure was found...the pearl was sought]
Slide21 Def: Merchant = Jesus. Pearl = redeemed/church/you. Purchased = by Jesus on Calvary.
The Merchant - 1st note,the kingdom of heaven was like(not a pearl)butamerchant.
The term used here, merchant, had the primary meaning of one who travelsabroad (by ship) to acquire his wares. Bible Sense Lexicon, Logos
He specifically was a wholesaler as distinguished from a retail dealer.1
It portrays Jesus then as one who was a connoisseur & knew all about pearls.
Whole Bible (51)New Testament (17)Gospels Only (5)Individual Books (10)
Verses 1-23
Verses 24-43
Verses 44-46
A. These next 2 Parables are Similar:
A. Definitions: [since Jesus didn’t interpret, we have come up w/many interpretations]
And it is the present and future saving reign of God and of Christ. Piper
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planets sake. And not just for 1 nation. And not just for the elite, rich, & powerful. But He reached out to: the unlovables (Lepers). To the people who detested him (Manasseh). To the ones that had been too busy for Him (like Matthew the tax collector). To those who were too rich for God (Zacchaeus). Even to those who were working directly against God (Saul).
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IV. Slide20 THE MERCHANT & HIS EXPENSIVE PEARL (45,46) valuable, priceless