Parables… vs. 1-3 /10-17

• 1^st – New teaching… vs. 1-3
  • Large Crowd… vs. 1-2
    • On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
    • And great multitudes were gathered together to Him so that He got into a boat and sat…
    • And the whole multitude stood on the shore!
    • Having finished with the PHARISEES and SCRIBES – Jesus went outside…
    • He sat down by the Sea of Galilee – and a HUGE crowd gathered around Him…
    • In order for the ALL the people to be able to LISTEN – Jesus got into a BOAT – Luke 5:3
    • The water would AMPLIFY His voice [no speakers] allowing the people on the SHORE to hear!
  • Telling Stories… vs. 3
    • Then [Jesus] spoke many things to them in parables!
    • Jesus previously had given in depth teachings – SERMON on the Mount – Matthew 5-7
    • But here He begins to use a NEW technique called PARABLES….
    • PARABLE [παραβολή] – a simple STORY with a deeper SPIRITUAL meaning…
    • These STORIES were commonly used by Jesus in the ministry [over THIRTY]!
    • The PARABLES are found in all THREE synoptic gospels [none in John]
    • Luke – has the MOST [28] along with the MOST unique [15]
    • Matthew – in next with [24] with [11] of them being unique…
    • Mark – has the LEAST [10] with only [1] of them being unique!
• 2^nd – Purpose of Parables… vs. 10-12
  • Why Change… vs. 10
    • The disciples came and said to Him: Why do You speak to them in parables?
    • The DISCIPLES [μαθητής] were CONFUSED – why did Jesus change His teaching style…
    • WHY has He previously EXPLAINED the truths of Kingdom to the people…
    • But NOW He was using these STORIES – that they assumed had a DEEPER meaning!
  • Asking Questions… vs. 11
    • [Jesus] answered and said to them: Because it has been given to you to know…
    • The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven – but to them it has not been given!
    • The ANSWER – because ONLY the disciples could KNOW [γινώσκω] the MYSTERIES of God…
    • God wanted to GIVE [perfect] them the ANSWERS – but NOT the others…
    • This was NOT because the DISCIPLES were special – they were certainly not SMARTER…
    • The ONLY difference between the CROWD and the DISCIPLES – was QUESTIONS…
    • The MULTITUDES walked away thinking Jesus had given them farming advice [seeds]
    • But the DISCIPLES stopped to ask what Jesus meant – so they got to hear the TRUTH!
    • The mark of a true DISCIPLE of Jesus – is NOT the one who understands everything…
    • It is the one who ASKS because he does NOT understand – QUESTIONS are good…
    • If we have a hard time understanding the Word of God – ask QUESTIONS…
    • Jesus will take the time to explain the Word so that we do understand!
  • Adding and subtracting… 12
    • For whoever has – to him more will be given – and he will have abundance.
    • But whoever does not have – even what he has will be taken away from him!
    • ANYONE [ὅστις] who is HUNGRY for God – those who want to GROW…
    • Because they are SEEKING Jesus – Jesus will [future] give them MORE [abundance]
    • But ANYONE [ὅστις] who comes to LISTEN – yet does not GROW…
    • Even what little they have – Jesus will [future] take away from them!
    • Jen used to have a GARDEN – and was quite frustrated with many of the plants…
    • She weeded and watered – yet most of them REFUSED to bear any FRUIT…
    • But there were a couple of plants that did GROW – encouraging her to keep trying…
    • So she stopped fighting the FRUITLESS plants – and instead focused on the FRUITFUL ones!
    • Jesus is a good GARDENER – and He is looking for FRUIT from our lives…
    • The more we HUNGER and desire to GROW in Him – the more He will give to us…
    • But those who are NOT bearing fruit – will end up with NOTHING!
• 3^rd – The Test… vs. 13-15
  • Hiding Truth… vs. 13
    • Therefore I speak to them in parables – because seeing they do not see.
    • And hearing they do not hear – nor do they understand!
    • That is why Jesus used PARABLES – so people would NOT understand…
    • They could SEE Him – and LISTEN to what He said…
    • But the PARABLE would HIDE the TRUTH from them!
    • This is why PARABLES are some of the most DIFFICULT passages in the Bible to interpret…
    • Unless Jesus gives us the EXPLANATION [like the Seed and Sower]
    • Then we have NO idea for certain what the PARABLE means – they HIDE the truth!
  • Hard Heart… vs. 14-15
    • In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled which says:
    • Hearing you will hear and shall not understand – and seeing you will see and not perceive.
    • The hearts of this people have grown dull – their ears are hard of hearing – their eyes closed.
    • Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears.
    • Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them!
    • The question we have to ask is WHY would Jesus want to HIDE the TRUTH…
    • The answer came from the PROPHET – Isaiah 6:8-10
    • God asked who would go for US – Isaiah told the LORD – here I am send me…
    • But he was being sent to a people who would NOT believe…
    • They would SEE the miracles – they would HEAR the message…
    • But they would NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] understand and believe…
    • Because their HEARTS were HARD – and that caused [hiphil] their ears and eyes to CLOSE!
      
  • Pass or fail…
    • The PARABLES were a TEST – to check and see where the HEART was…
    • If the people SAW and LISTENED – but did NOT ask QUESTIONS…
    • It meant their HEART was HARD – and they could not receive the TRUTH!
    • I am blessed to teach the Junior and Senior High chapels at Trinity school…
    • One of my favorite classes every year is the Bible Week Question and Answer…
    • The students can ask ANY question about the Bible – and we answer them…
    • I love it because it gives me a chance to see where the HEARTS of the STUDENTS are!
    • It is easy to come to CHURCH – sit down and LISTEN…
    • But the question is does the WORD of God get in – do we UNDERSTAND…
    • Do we really HEAR – do we really SEE – do we TURN [subjunctive] from our SIN…
    • So that God can HEAL [רָפָא] us – give us NEW life…
    • QUESTIONS are the TEST – to see if our HEART is HARD or HUNGRY…
    • Therefore we should always want to KNOW – and GROW – by asking QUESTIONS!
• 4^th – Blessed eyes… vs. 16-17
  • Blessed are your eyes for they see – and your ears for they hear.
  • For assuredly 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!
  • [ἀμήν] – there were MANY prophets and godly men…
  • Who WISH they could have SEEN and HEARD what the DISCIPLES did – but they did NOT…
  • All of the men of the Old Testament were looking forward to Jesus…
  • And it was the DISCIPLES who finally got to SEE [indicative] and HEAR Him!
  • The nation of Israel heard the WORD of the Lord when Moses came down form the mountain…
  • But it did NOT save them – they were NOT allowed to go into the PROMISED land!
  • Hebrews 4:2 – “The gospel was preached to us as well as to them – but the word which they heard did not [help] them – not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
  • The MULTITUDES also heard the PARABLES – but of a hard heart they did not KNOW Him…
  • Therefore being BLESSED is NOT just about hearing – it is about BELIEVING!

• 2^nd – Seed and Sower… vs. 3-9 / 18-23
  • Answering the Parable … vs. 3 / 18
    • Therefore hear the parable of the sower!
    • Having told the disciples WHY He used PARABLES…
    • Jesus goes on to EXPLAIN this PARABLE – listen [imperative] to the meaning:
    • The SEED – represents the WORD of God – Mark 4:14
    • The SOWER – represents the LORD or anyone who spreads the WORD of the LORD…
    • The SOIL – represents the HEARTS of those who HEAR the WORD…
    • It the focus of the PARABLE – because there are FOUR kinds!
  • 1^st – Hard Soil… vs. 4 / 19
    • Not Understanding…
      • When anyone hears the word of the kingdom – and does not understand it!
      • The FIRST soil is the WAYSIDE – the hard packed dirt of a road…
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who HEARS the WORD of God [kingdom] – but does NOT understand [συνίημι]
      • What they do NOT understand is WHY they need to be SAVED!
      • To be accepted by God – we must be HOLY [קָדוֹשׁ] – Leviticus 19:2
      • What does it mean to be HOLY – perfect – never sinning even once…
      • The problem is we are NOT perfect – Romans 3:23
      • And the penalty for not being perfect is DEATH – Romans 6:23
        
      • God gave us the LAW [613 commands] to show us we are NOT good…
      • So that we would UNDERSTAND we need to be SAVED – we need Jesus – Galatians 3:24
      • Salvation them comes through faith in the FINISHED work of Jesus – Ephesians 2:8-9
    • Wicked one…
      • Then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 
      • This is he who received seed by the wayside!
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who HEARS they are a SINNER – and needs to be SAVED…
      • But does NOT believe it – if they convince themselves they are a GOOD person…
      • Then the [birds] satan [πονηρός] comes and SNATCHES [ἁρπάζω] away the WORD…
      • Because the HEART of that person is HARD – so the SEED could not penetrate it!
      • Most people THINK they are a GOOD person [compared to others]
      • Therefore they do NOT think they NEED to be SAVED…
      • This makes their heart HARD towards the Gospel – and the WORD cannot get in!
  • 2^nd – Rocky Soil… vs. 5-6 / 20-21
    • No Roots… vs. 20
      • He who received the seed on stony places.
      • This is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
      • Yet he has no root in himself – but endures only for a while. 
      • For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word immediately he stumbles!
      • The SECOND soil is the STONY ground that does not have much topsoil…
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who HEARS the message of the Gospel – and immediately receives it with JOY…
      • The SEED is able to grow – but there is no ROOM for it to form ROOTS…
      • And when the SUN comes up – they quickly DRY up [καυματίζω] and wither…
      • The TRIALS [θλῖψις] that come in life – cause [passive] them to be STUMBLED [σκανδαλίζω]
      • Because they do NOT understand the reason for SUFFERING!
      • The Gospel is NOT a message of an EASY life – it is about an ETERNAL perspective!
    • Trust in God…
      • II Corinthians 1:9 – “We had the sentence of death in ourselves – that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.”
      • Because when hard times come – our first reaction is to look to depend on ourselves…
      • But God will turn up the HEAT – till we can no longer handle our problems…
      • So that we would learn NOT to trust in ourselves – but instead trust in God!
    • Strength in Weakness…
      • II Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient… for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
      • Because we like to THINK we are STRONG – that we can handle any problem…
      • But it is in our WEAKNESS that we find true strength…
      • When we realize we are WEAK we learn to depend on the STRENGTH of God!
    • Deep Roots
      • A tree that has never had to face a BREEZE – will have SHALLOW roots…
      • But a tree that faces the WIND – will have DEEP roots – and will NOT fall over in the storm!
      • Because when UNDERSTAND the reason for trials – we have DEEP roots…
      • We be unmovable – unshakable – grounded in our FAITH in Christ…
      • But if our focus in NOT on the eternal – we will not UNDERSTAND the reason for TRIALS…
      • And we will FALL away – give up on Jesus – because we did NOT have DEEP roots!
      • Colossians 2:7 – “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him – so you will grow in faith – strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.” [NLT]
        
  • 3^rd – Thorny Soil… vs. 7 / 22
    • Double Minded…
      • Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word.
      • The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word. He becomes unfruitful!
      • The THIRD soil is the ground that is full of THORNS that compete with the WORD…
      • The CARES of this life [μέριμνα] – meaning to be DIVIDED…
      • People who think about HEAVEN – but are also consumed by the WORLD!
      • James 1:8 – “A double-minded man – unstable in all his ways!”
      • I have met so many believers who are miserable – they are tossed about like waves…
      • The problem is they think the WISDOM of the world has something to offer them…
      • Therefore they are miserable in the Lord – because they are confused by the world…
      • But they are also not happy with the world – because they know too much about the Lord…
      • They are miserable wherever they go – they CANNOT stand – because they are divided!
    • Deceitful riches…
      • The DECEITFULNESS of riches – the LIE that MONEY is the answer…
      • They do NOT understand that we cannot serve TWO masters – we must CHOOSE – Luke 16:13
      • Because these things will CHOKE [present] out the FRUITFULNESS of a believer!
      • King Solomon tried everything looking for happiness – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
      • But he learned instead it was ALL vanity – like chasing after the WIND!
      • Looking for happiness – answers to life in this world – is chasing the WIND…
      • It is not about chasing something that is hard to catch – there is NOTHING there to catch…
      • The LOVE of money – CARES of this life – only get us into trouble – I Timothy 6:9-10
    • Be Content…
      • Hebrews 13:5 – “Be content with such things as you have.”
      • Instead we need to UNDERSTAND we should be CONTENT – with whatever we have…
      • Because God has promised to give us EVERYTHING we NEED – Luke 12:31
      • When we came into this world – we had nothing…
      • And when we leave – we are going to take absolutely nothing with us…
      • So why do we waste time trying to get things that do not last – Ecclesiastes 5:15
      • When the only thing in life that really matters – is knowing Jesus!
    • No Fruit…
      • There is NO question that the HARD soil represents someone who is NOT a saved…
      • It also seems likely that the STONY soil is NOT talking about a believer…
      • Because only those who ENDURE to the END will be saved – Matthew 24:13
      • But what about the THORNY soil – what happens if there is NO fruit!
      • Jesus tells us that if we ABIDE in Him – we will bear much FRUIT…
      • But if we are DIVIDED – if we are DECEIVED by money…
      • If we do NOT abiding in Him – then we will NOT bear FRUIT!
      • John 15:6 – “He is cast out… and they gather them and throw them into the fire.”
  • 4^th – Good Soil… vs. 8-9 / 23
    • Understands…
      • He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it!
      • The FOURTH soil is the ground that is GOOD [καλός]
      • What makes it GOOD – is the person UNDERSTANDS [συνίημι] the WORD!
      • The GOOD soil understands they are a SINNER – and NEED to be saved…
      • The GOOD soil understands the reason for TRIALS – and has deep ROOTS in Jesus…
      • The GOOD soil understands we cannot have a DIVIDED heart if we want to be FRUITFUL!
    • How much Fruit…
      • Who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold – some sixty – some thirty!
      • The RESULT of being GOOD soil – is we will bear [indicative] a fruit…
      • Which brings us to TWO final questions – FIRST how much fruit…
      • Good soil bears fruit – some 100 fold – some 60 – some 30…
      • How do we know how much FRUIT we should have!
      • Luke 8:15 – “Keep [the Word] and bear fruit with patience [μένω].”
      • A branch does not choose how much fruit grows from it…
      • It just makes sure it is connected to the TREE – and FRUIT will come! 
      • The FRUIT is not up to us – our part is just the HOLD onto the WORD [Jesus]
      • As we ABIDE [μένω] in Him – He will decide what FRUIT to bring through us!
      • Psalms 1:3 – “[A tree] that brings forth its fruit in its season.”
    • How to Understand…
      • SECOND – how do become GOOD soil – how do we UNDERSTAND the Word!
      • After the resurrection of Jesus – He met two men walking on the road to Emmaus…
      • They did NOT understand why the Jesus had to die on the CROSS!
      • Luke 24:45 – “Jesus opened their understanding [συνίημι] – they might understand the Bible.”
      • Jesus opened their understanding [συνίημι] – because they were walking with Jesus…
      • It is as we are walking with Jesus – that He opens our UNDERSTANDING…
      • He makes our hearts good soil – so that the Word bears fruit!
    • Listen… vs. 9
      • He who has ears to hear – let him hear!
      • To which Jesus finished with a final command [imperative]
      • Anyone who has EARS – make sure to LISTEN to the WORD!
      • I am NOT a farmer – my niche is more in technology…
      • But I can remember teaching this PARABLE when we were in Himamaylan…
      • To a bunch of FARMERS this all made perfect sense!
      • No matter where someone is TODAY – there is HOPE…
      • If we have a HARD heart [wayside] – then we need to BREAK up [plow] the soil…
      • If we have a STONY heart – then we need to pull out the STONES…
      • If we have a THORNY heart – then it is time to do some WEEDING…
      • Because as any farmer knows – there is no such thing as GOOD soil…
      • There is just DIRT that needs to be prepared so that GOOD seed will grow…
      • LISTEN – God is telling us to prepare our hearts – if we are willing to LISTEN!