Matthew 13
Jesus taught from a boat verse 1- 2
The same day went Jesus out of the house – and sat by the seaside
and great multitudes were gathered together to HIM
SO THAT HE went into a ship – and sat
and the whole multitude stood on the shore
First parable: Different soils verse 3- 9
AND HE spoke many things unto them in PARABLES – saying
BEHOLD – a sower went forth to sow
and when he sowed some seeds fell by the wayside
and the fowls came and devoured them up
Some fell upon stony places – where they had not much earth
and forthwith they sprung up
BECAUSE they had no deepness of earth
and when the sun was up – they were scorched
and BECAUSE they had no root they
withered away
Some fell among thorns – and the thorns sprung up
and choked them
But others fell into good ground – and brought forth fruit
some an hundredfold – some sixtyfold – some thirtyfold
Who has ears to hear – let him hear
Disciples questioned being taught in parables verse 10
And the disciples came and said unto HIM
Why speak YOU to them in parables?
Jesus answers their question verse 11- 17
HE answered and said to them
BECAUSE it is given to you to know the MYSTERIES of the
kingdom of heaven – BUT to them it is not given
FOR whosoever has – to him shall be given
and he shall have more abundance
BUT whosoever has NOT
from him shall be taken away even that he has
THEREFORE speak I to them in parables – BECAUSE they seeing see
not and hearing hear not – neither do they understand
AND in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah –which says
By hearing you shall hear – and shall not understand
and seeing you shall see – and shall not perceive
FOR this people’s heart is waxed gross
and their ears are dull of hearing
and their eyes they have closed
LEST at any time they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and should understand with their heart
and should be CONVERTED
and I should heal them
BUT blessed are your eyes – for they see
and your ears – for they hear
FOR verily I say unto you
That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see
those things which you see – and have not seen them
AND to hear those things which you hear
and have not heard them
Jesus interprets first parable verse 18- 23
Hear you therefore the parable of the sower
When any one hears the word of the kingdom – and understands it NOT
THEN comes the wicked one and catches away that which was sown in his heart
THIS is he which received seed by the WAYSIDE
BUT he that received the see into STONY places
the same is he that hears the word – and anon with joy receives it
YET has he not root in himself – BUT endures for a while
FOR when tribulation or persecution arises
BECAUSE of the word
by and by he is offended
He also that received seed among the THORNS is he that hears the word and the care of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word – and he becomes unfruitful
BUT he that received the seed into the GOOD GROUND is he that
hears the word – and UNDERSTANDS it
which also bears fruit and brings forth
some hundredfold – some sixty – some thirty
Second parable: Wheat and weeds verse 24- 30
Another parable put HE forth to them – saying
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed
good seed in his field – BUT while men slept
his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat
and went his way
BUT when the blade was sprung up – and brought forth fruit
THEN appeared the tares also
SO the servants of the household came and said to him
Sir – did not you sow good seed in your field?
from whence then has it tares?
He said unto them – An enemy has done this
The servants said unto him
Will you then that we go and gather them up?
But he said – Nay
lest while you gather up the tares
you root up also the wheat with them
Let both grow together until the harvest
AND in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers
Gather you together first the tares
and bind them in bundles to burn them
BUT gather the wheat into my barns
Third parable: Mustard seed verse 31- 32
Another parable put HE forth unto them – saying
The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed
which a man took – and sowed in his field
which indeed is the least of all seeds
BUT when it is grown – it is the greatest among herbs
and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come
lodge in the branches thereof
Fourth parable: Leaven verse 33
Another parable spoke HE unto them
The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven – which a woman took
and hid in three measures of meat – till the whole was leavened
Jesus never taught without parables verse 34- 35
All these things spoke Jesus to the multitude in parables
and without a parable spoke HE not to them
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophet – saying
I will open MY mouth in parables
I will utter things which have been kept SECRET
from the foundation of the world
Disciples asked interpretation of second parable verse 36- 43
Then Jesus sent the multitude away – and went into the house
and HIS disciples came to HIM – saying
Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field
HE answered and said unto them
HE that sows the good seed is the Son of man
the field is the world
the good seed are the children of the kingdom
BUT the tares are the children of the wicked one
the enemy that sowed them is the devil
the harvest is the end of the world
and the reapers are the angels
AS THEREFORE the tares are gathered and burned in the fire
SO shall it be in the end of this world
The Son of man shall send forth HIS angels
and they shall gather out of HIS kingdom all things that offend
and them which do iniquity
and shall cast them into the furnace of fire
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth
THEN shall the RIGHTEOUS SHINE forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father
Who has ears to hear – let him hear
Fifth parable: Treasure verse 44
AGAIN the kingdom of heaven is like to treasure hid in a field
the which when a man has found – he hides
and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field
Sixth parable: Pearl of great price verse 45- 46
AGAIN – the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man
seeking goodly pearls
WHO – when he had found one pearl of great price
went and sold all that he had and bought it
Seventh parable with interpretation: Fishing Net verse 47- 50
AGAIN the kingdom of heaven is like to a net
that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind
WHICH – when it was full – they drew to shore – and sat down
and gathered the good into vessels – BUT cast the bad away
SO shall it be at the end of the world – the angels shall come forth
and sever the wicked from among the just
and shall cast them into the furnace of fire
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth
Jesus asks disciples if they understood verse 51
Jesus said to them – Have you understood all these things?
They say to HIM – Yea – Lord
Eighth parable: Householder verse 52
Then said HE to them
Therefore every scribe which is instructed to the kingdom of heaven
is like to a man that is an householder
which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old
Jesus returns to Nazareth verse 53- 54
And it came to pass – that when Jesus had finished these parables
HE departed thence
AND when HE was come into HIS own country
HE taught them in their synagogues
insomuch that they were astonished – and said
Whence has this man this wisdom
and these mighty works?
Townspeople were offended verse 55-57
Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not HIS mother called Mary?
and HIS brethren James – Joses – Simon – Judas?
and HIS sisters – are they not all with us?
Whence then has this MAN all these things?
AND they were offended in HIM
BUT Jesus said unto them
A prophet is not without honor – save in his own country
and in his own house
Unbelief of those from HIS home town verse 58
AND HE did not many mighty works there BECAUSE of their unbelief
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (3975 “gross” [pachuno] means to make fat, to be unable to understand, become calloused at heart, to harden, to make dull, insensitive or to thicken.)
DEVOTION: The LORD taught the people in parables because they were not really listening to what HE had to say. Many were following HIM for the physical food they could receive or for the entertainment of seeing HIM heal those who were sick. Others were there just to criticize what was happening.
Jesus knew all about why people were there. HE also knew that the only ones who would truly understand what HE was teaching would ask more questions.
The disciples asked for the interpretations of the parables and HE gave them what they meant. They found out that most of the people didn’t have a heart for what HE was teaching. Their hearts were darkened by their sin. If they were willing to hear they would have seen what was going on in the spiritual realm.
Those whose hearts were right toward the LORD had something the others didn’t have: understanding. It is understanding that makes the difference between those who are there for entertainment and those who are there to have their lives changed.
The Holy Spirit works on the hearts of those who want to understand and gives them understanding. Once someone understands the basics of what it means to be a Christian they can be converted. If they don’t understand they are like the other three soils that either don’t care or care more about the things of the world than God or once people make fun of them they give up. That is not what a genuine believer is like.
We are to produce fruit. We are to produce people who are listening to our witness and making a decision for Christ. We are to be planting seeds. One plants and another waters but it is always God who gives the increase.
We won’t know how fruitful we have been until we stand before the LORD at the Judgment Seat of Christ when rewards are passed out to those who influenced lives for Christ.
CHALLENGE: We need to present the message so that people genuinely understand what it means to be a believer. We are going to run into hard hearts but the LORD can soften them.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; : 42 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (2575 “furnace” [kaninos] means burning earthen ware, backing bread, or kiln.)
DEVOTION: Jesus taught more about hell than about heaven. HE warned people throughout HIS ministry of the fact that there is going to be a final judgment. There are wheat and weeds in our world.
One of the main concerns is that in the world there are people who are righteous and those who are wicked. The two don’t see eye to eye. The wicked are blinded. The wicked are a group of individuals who are walking around as dead men as far as the Word of God is concerned. They don’t have any understanding of spiritual things even if they were brought up in the church.
In all of our churches today we have those who are believers and those who are not. Some know they are not and don’t care. Some know they are not but want to fake it. Some are there just to find fault with those who are genuine believers.
Why would God allow both groups to be in the church? Many times HE allows it so that we can learn to witness to those around us. HE knows it is going to happen. HE doesn’t like false believers in the church.
Today we have so many churches that have weakened their teachings regarding the standard of the Word of God they confuse people into thinking that they are believers when they are not.
There are three positions we can take in a church: one is license, two is legalism and third is liberty. License is when anything goes and the Bible doesn’t give us any rules to live by. Legalism is a whole lot of rules but the heart is not right with God. Liberty is where we are free in Christ to worship HIM in spirit and in truth. We want to serve HIM with our whole heart. The third group makes up the group that will be going to heaven for eternity.
CHALLENGE: We are not to practice license or legalism but liberty in our life in Christ. HIS burden is light!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (4678 “wisdom” [sophia] means broad or full of intelligence, used of a knowledge of very diverse matters, or supreme intelligence that belongs to God.)
DEVOTION: This chapter is about Jesus teaching in parable. HE would teach the crowds in parables and then explain them to HIS disciples.
Two of the longer parables deal with salvation and end times. The one dealing with salvation is called the parable of the four soils. Each soil received the seed but only one produced FRUIT. Those who are genuinely saved produce FRUIT. The other soils looked like they were followers of the LORD but they did not endure.
The other one dealt with a good man planting seed in a field and then in the night an enemy came and sowed weeds in the field. The workers wanted to take up the weeds. The good man said no. He said that at the harvest there would be time to get rid of the weeds. At the end times the angels are going to gather the weeds of this world and cast them into a furnace of fire for eternity. The good seed will be gathered into the kingdom of God.
After teaching the multitude, Jesus returned to HIS own country. HE started teaching there in the synagogue. The religious leaders were astonished at HIS teaching. They knew who HE was. They knew HIS family. They knew that HE never went to the right college and seminary of learning. They were offended.
There is a worship of wisdom today. There are people who think that they are wise but the Bible says that they are fools. Here we find that the people of Jesus’ hometown were astonished at all that Jesus taught and did. They were individuals who watched him grow up in HIS families carpenter’s shop. They were individuals who knew HIS mother. They were individuals who knew the sons of Mary and Joseph. They were individuals who knew the daughters of Mary and Joseph. They thought of Jesus as just one more child of Mary and Joseph. They didn’t understand that the Holy Spirit planted the seed in Mary to produce Jesus. They thought of HIM as just another human being who grew up in their town.
Now they hear HIM preach. Now they watch HIM perform miracles. How can someone who grew up in their town say and do all these things? We sometimes think these same thoughts about Jesus. Yet we know that HE is the Savior of the world because HE died on the cross for our sins. Do we understand it completely? NO! Can we believe it? YES!
Jesus was unique, in that, HE was God and man. Praise HIS name. These parables are for us to understand that God has a plan for the end of the world and HE is going to work HIS plan.
Also we need to remember that the people who know us best also have a problem with us teaching them the Word of God. The difference is that we are all sinners and therefore we think that one sinner is not better than another sinner, so who are they to teach us anything. IF someone is called of God, he will still teach the truth of the Word of God. He will always point people to Christ. He will always admit that he is a sinner. He is only one who has been given a gift of teaching.
Watch how we judge those around us who are trying to teach the Word of God. Check out their teaching in the Word of God.
Check out their teaching through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: Remember we are never to be followers of men but the LORD has chosen men to lead us while we are here on this earth. We are to be followers of God through the men HE has chosen to lead us.
___________________________________________________________
: 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. (4624 “offended” [skandolizo] means stumbling block, to be or become filled with disgust or revulsion for someone, take offense, or cause to sin.)
DEVOTION: It is easier to win someone to Christ that you have never met than someone who has known you all of your life. The reason for this is that they know all your faults. They know everything you have done wrong. They look at you through the eyes of someone who usually thinks they are better than you.
Here we find Jesus returning to HIS old neighborhood synagogue and HE starts teaching them the Scriptures. They are offended because even though HE was perfect or sinless while HE was growing up, they knew HE worked in Joseph’s shop doing carpentry work until HE was thirty.
So here HE is a couple of years later teaching them. HE never went to the right school to learn how to be a rabbi. Yet HE taught as someone who knew what HE was talking about. It scared them.
They started making excuses why they shouldn’t listen to HIS message. They didn’t want to be confronted by someone they have known all HIS life.
Jesus knew that their unbelief would be great and worked more miracles there but most still would not become followers of HIM. HIS brothers never became believers until after HIS death.
This is going to be true in your life too. It is hard to witness to family and friends because they know all your faults and you have them. We all have sins that we have committed during our lifetime and for someone who is as sinful or more sinful to come and witness causes people to not listen.
Most will never get beyond the fact that they know you are a sinner who is still sinning but you want them to believe in Jesus real bad. Only the Holy Spirit can use your witness to cause a break in their heart for them to become believers. Don’t stop trying.
CHALLENGE: Pray even more when you are witnessing to family and friends. God knows your heart. HE will help you.
_____________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Synagogue verse 54
_____________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Prophecy of Isaiah verse 14- 15
Word of the kingdom verse 19
Fulfill what is spoken by the prophet verse 35
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Foundation of the world verse 35
Father verse 43
Kingdom of their Father verse 43
Kingdom of heaven verse 52
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 1, 34- 36, 51, 53, 57
Taught from a ship
Spoke in parables to multitude
Fulfilled what was spoken by prophets
I open my mouth in parables
I will utter things which have
been kept secret from the
foundation of the world
Sent multitude away and went into house
Parables of Jesus verse 3- 8, 34
First parable about sower sowing verse 3- 9
Some seed fell by the wayside
Some seed fell on stony places – no root
Some fell among thorns -choked
Some fell on good ground – fruit
Explains why HE speaks in parables verse 10- 17
disciples are to know mysteries of
kingdom
others are not given to know meaning
some don’t see or hear them
Interpretation of parable verse 18- 23
parable of sower
receives seed by wayside
one hears and understands not
receives seed by stony places
hears with joy but no root
tribulation or persecution
arises – offended
receives seed among thorns
hears and cares of world
deceitfulness of riches
choke the word and
becomes unfruitful
receives on good ground
hears and understands
bears fruit
Second parable verse 24- 30
Kingdom of heaven likened to a man
which sowed good seed
while man slept – ENEMY
sowed tares
tares gathered up – burned
wheat into barn
Third parable verse 31- 32
Grain of mustard seed
least of all seeds
greatest among herbs
Fourth parable verse 33
Leaven – three measures of meal
leavened
Son of man – sows good seed verse 37, 41
field is the world
good seed are the children of the kingdom
tares are the children of the wicked one
sends forth HIS angels
Fifth parable verse 44
Sixth parable verse 45- 46
Seventh parable verse 47- 50
Asks question: Have you understood all
these things? verse 51
Called “Lord” verse 51
Parable of householder verse 52
brings treasure of new and old
Finished HIS parables verse 53- 55
Departed
Came to HIS own country
Taught in synagogue
Astonished people so that they asked
Whence has this man this wisdom
And these might works?
Carpenter’s son verse 55
Mary HIS mother verse 55
Brothers: James, Joses, Simon , Judas verse 55
Sisters verse 55
Says a prophet is not without honor
save in his own country and
in his own house verse 56-58
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Evil angel – wicked one – Satan verse 19, 38
catches away what is sown
Evil angel – enemy – Satan verse 25, 28, 39
Devil verse 39
Good angels – reapers at the end of world verse 30, 39, 49
Good angels under command of Jesus verse 41
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Waxed gross heart verse 15
Dull ears verse 15
Closed eyes verse 15
Wicked verse 19, 49
Offended by Word of God verse 21, 57
Care of the world verse 22
Deceitfulness of riches verse 22
Unfruitful verse 22
Children of the wicked one verse 38
Tares – gathered and burned verse 40
Offend verse 41
Do iniquity verse 41
Offended at Jesus’ teaching verse 57
Unbelief verse 58
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Sowing seeds in different soils verse 3- 8
Way side
Stony places – hears and receives
with joy – no root
Thorns
Good ground
Good ground verse 8, 23
Fruit verse 8, 23, 26
Disciples verse 10
Know mysteries of kingdom verse 11
More abundance verse 12
See verse 15, 16
Hear verse 15, 16, 43
Understand with their heart verse 15, 23, 51
Converted verse 15
Healed verse 15
Blessed eyes that see and ears that hear verse 16
Prophets verse 17
Righteous men verse 17, 43
in kingdom of Father
Tribulation verse 21
Persecution verse 21
Secrets revealed verse 35
Just verse 49
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Prophecy of Isaiah (Esaias) verse 14
hearing they shall hear but
not understand
seeing you shall see but
not perceive
Prophets and righteous men verse 17
Desired to see
Desired to hear
Disciples verse 36
Wanted to understand parable of
tares of the field
Offended by Jesus verse 55- 57
Carpenter’s son
Mother Mary
Brethren: James, Joses, Simon
Judas
Sisters with them
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Kingdom of heaven verse 11, 24, 31, 44- 48, 52
like treasure hid in a field
like unto a merchant man
seeking goodly pearls
like a net that was cast – kept the good
cast away the bad
End of this world verse 39, 40, 49
harvest
reapers are the angels
shall come forth and
sever the wicked from
among the just
Furnace of fire – offend and iniquity verse 42, 50
wailing and gnashing of teeth
Kingdom of the Father verse 43
Disciples answer Jesus question: Yea LORD verse 51
___________________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
______________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
Matthew 13: 33
Of old there was to be no leaven in the sacrifices or in the meal offering (Leviticus 2: 11; 6:17), and all leaven was to be put out of the Israelite’s home at the time of the Passover (Exodus 12: 15; 13:7). This is explained for us in I Corinthians 5:6-8 as representing malice and wickedness. The disciples were warned against the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy and self-righteousness, and the leaven of the Sadducees which is false doctrine (Matthew 16:6, 11, 12), also of the leaven of Herod, which is worldliness and political corruption (Mark 8:15). The Corinthians were warned against the leaven of immorality, which, if unchecked, would leaven the whole church (I Corinthians 5:6), and the Galatians were warned in the same way against the leaven of legality (Galatians 5:9). No where is the gospel likened to leaven, and certainly it is not to be “hidden,” but openly declared.
The woman here represents the false church which corrupts the truth of God. It is our responsibility to set forth that truth in the Spirit’s power. (H.A. Ironside, The Continual Burnt Offering, June 6th)
_____________________________________________________________
40–42 The identification of the actors is over, and the description of the action begins. As the weeds are “pulled up” (v. 40; same verb as “collect” in v. 30b) and burned, so it is at the end. The kingdom we have known as the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God is also seen as the kingdom of the Son of Man, Jesus’ kingdom (cf. 20:21; 25:31; cf. Dan 2:35; Rev 11:15). This is not the church (contra Bornkamm, Tradition, p. 44: see above), for Jesus’ reign after the Resurrection extends to the farthest reaches of the universe (Mt 28:18). In that sense “everything that causes sin and all who do evil” may be weeded out of his kingdom (13:41). For the meaning of panta ta skandala (“everything that causes sin”), see on 5:29; with “all who do evil” (lit., “those who do lawlessness”) compare 7:23.
The entire expression “everything that causes sin and all who do evil” appears to be a periphrastic rendering of the Hebrew of Zeph 1:3; hammaḵšēlôṯ ʾeṯ-hāreš ācîm (lit., “the stumbling blocks with the wicked”), a phrase so difficult in its context that emendations have been suggested and the best MSS of LXX omit it. The first of the two Hebrew words occurs elsewhere only at Isaiah 3:6, where it means “ruins.” Hence NIV translates the phrase in Zeph 1:3 as “The wicked will have only heaps of rubble.” If this is, correct, Matthew is either not referring to Zeph 1:3 or else is freely adapting it. But the Hebrew word may well mean “stumbling-blocks,” “offenses.” For what it is worth, etymology supports it; and the Targum understands it that way. Thus in Zeph 1:3 the word may refer to idols, or, better yet, in a figurative manner to people seen as “things that cause offense.” If so, Matthew’s rendering is appropriate.
The “sons of the evil one” (v. 38) may be metaphorically considered as “everything that causes sin,” or, without any metaphor, “all who do evil.” They, like the weeds are thrown into the fiery furnace (v. 42; see on 3:11; 5:22; cf. Jer 29:22; Dan 3:6; Rev 20:15), where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (see on 8:12, cf. 4Ezra 7:36)—viz., eschatological doom. Nothing is made of the word “first” in Mt 13:30, and here the order is reversed. What is clear is that Jesus ascribes to himself the role of eschatological Judge that Yahweh assigns himself in the OT, including Zeph 1:3 (cf. France, Jesus, pp. 156f.; Payne, “Jesus’ Claim”). (Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 326–327). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
______________________________________________________________
The tares—false Christians (vv. 24–30, 36–43). Satan cannot uproot the plants (true Christians), so he plants counterfeit Christians in their midst. In this parable, the good seed is not the Word of God. It represents people converted through trusting the Word. The field is not human hearts; the field is the world. Christ is sowing true believers in various places that they might bear fruit (John 12:23–26). But, wherever Christ sows a true Christian, Satan comes and sows a counterfeit.
We must beware of Satan’s counterfeits. He has counterfeit Christians (2 Cor. 11:26) who believe a counterfeit Gospel (Gal. 1:6–9). He encourages a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1–3), and even has a counterfeit church (Rev. 2:9). At the end of the age, he will produce a counterfeit Christ (2 Thes. 2:1–12).
We must also stay awake to make sure that Satan’s ministers do not get into the true fellowship and do damage (2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1–6). It is when God’s people go to sleep that Satan works. Our task is not to pull up the false, but to plant the true. (This does not refer to discipline within the local church.) We are not detectives but evangelists! We must oppose Satan and expose his lies. But we must also sow the Word of God and bear fruit in the place where He has planted us.
What will happen to the tares? God will gather them together and burn them. It is interesting to see that some of this “bundling” is already going on as various religious groups merge and strive for union. Spiritual unity among true Christians is one thing, but religious uniformity among mere professing Christians is quite another. It is difficult to tell the false from the true today; but at the end of the age, the angels will separate them. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 45–46). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
___________________________________________________________
Ver. 41. The son of man shall send forth his angels, &c.] Meaning himself, whose ministers the angels are; who wait upon him, and are at his beck and command; even the thousand thousands that minister unto him; these will be sent forth by his orders, into the several parts of the world, where he has any churches, or an interest; and they shall gather out of his kingdom: the Gospel church, over which Christ is king, where he rules and governs in the hearts of his people; and who are cheerfully and willingly obedient to his laws, under the influence of his spirit and grace: but all who are in the visible Gospel church-state, are not such; some are wicked and rebellious, and though they are suffered to continue, yet not always; for if not removed by censures and excommunications, they will be at last by angels; who will separate them from the saints: even all things that offend; who are scandals to Christ, his church, and Gospel, by their wicked principles, or infamous practices; and who give offence, not only to God, and his righteous law, but lay stumbling-blocks in the way of the children of God, and are the authors of divisions and offences among them: and them that do iniquity; that do nothing else but iniquity; and who, though they profess to be religious persons, are secretly, or openly, workers of iniquity; and are even doing iniquity, in and whilst they are professing religion. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 154). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
_____________________________________________________________
b) The Truth of the Torment (13:41–42)
More terrible is the fire. The angels “shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (13:42). The Lord referred to weeping and grinding of teeth seven times (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28). Each instance points to the end of the age.
Both Heaven and Hell are realities. But in the four Gospels the Lord Jesus, the kindest and most compassionate One who ever lived on earth, the all-knowing Son of the living God, spoke more about Hell than He did about Heaven. The Bible tells us that the ultimate destiny of the lost is the lake of fire. Again and again Scripture reveals that anguish beyond anything we can conceive is to be the final and conscious condition of those who reject Christ. Our minds cannot visualize what Hell will be like. Poets like Milton and Dante have tried to depict the torment, as have artists and preachers. Much of the result is grotesque and unreal, but the fact remains that the Word of God repeatedly warns about fire. (Phillips, J. (2014). Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (Mt 13:41–42). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch.)
_________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
PRACTICAL Atheists; Living as if God is Irrelevant
If a time-traveler from the Early Church secretly followed you from Monday till Saturday evening, would they be able to tell you’re a Christian?
The answer for many of us just isn’t very clear … and that’s no accident. Many Christians live lives indistinguishable from secularists. The reason? Well, quite simply, secularism is the default state of our culture. It’s the water we swim in—the air we all breathe.
Or, as author Craig Gay put it in his book, “The Way of the Modern World,” the problem isn’t atheism. In fact, a red-blooded atheist is hard to find. The problem, he said, is “practical atheism.” It’s not that people do not believe in God, it’s that they live as if God is largely irrelevant. That’s what secularism does to us. It doesn’t disprove our faith, it dismisses it. It makes faith an issue of personal, private belief, disconnected from the outside world.
Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor has written the monumental work on the subject called “A Secular Age.” The marginalization of religious belief in our world, Taylor argues, has led to “disenchantment.” While God’s revelation in creation was obvious to prior generations, we completely miss the sacred things revealed in the way the world is made and ordered.
Scripture’s metaphors make no sense in a disenchanted culture. As practical atheists, we are deaf to the heavens’ loud proclamation of the glory of God. Stars and rainbows remind us more of human achievement and self-determination than they do of God’s promises. Even breathtaking events like weddings, the birth of a child, or even death itself, fail to remind us of God’s eternal attributes.
In other words, we live in a world where the assumptions that govern how we think and what we do are almost always secular ones. Whatever people may say on surveys about their religious beliefs, the fact is that modern, Western life is overwhelmingly lived without even considering God.
Living as a six-day secularist, shaped by secular assumptions and rituals, has very serious and practical consequences. Good things result from our hard work and planning, we think, not from the gracious hands of our loving Father.
Also, because God is not easily replaced as an organizing principle for life itself, many of us today find ourselves living lives of fragmentation—our thoughts, emotions, and desires constantly pulling us in opposite directions; the changing values all around us giving us worldview-whiplash.
Still, worst of all, practical atheists are always subject to idolatry. As John Calvin said, humans are incurably religious creatures, and our secular age offers all kinds of God-replacements: sex, self, stuff, state, science. Ironically, a secular age is still filled with faith—just in all the wrong gods. These gods mark us in their images in profoundly dehumanizing ways.
The only way to be distinctly Christian in today’s culture is to consciously and intentionally swim against the secular currents. First, we need to recognize them, as well as how they sweep us away.
Thank God this is not only possible; it’s been done before. Christians throughout history have had to swim against cultural currents opposed to their beliefs. Many not only succeeded in keeping their faith but in transforming the surrounding culture. (BreakPoint)
__________________________________________________
Romans 7
A civil war rages in the life of every Christian.
INSIGHT
The “inward man” (v. 22) is created in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24), wills to do good (v. 21), joyfully delights in the law of God (v. 22), and serves “the law of God” (v. 25). However, the “flesh” (v. 18) practices the thing the inward man hates (v. 15). “Nothing good” dwells in the flesh (v. 18). It wars against the law of the mind (v. 23) and serves “the law of sin” (v. 25). As a result of this civil war, our lives do not run smoothly. We do things we don’t want to do, and we fail to do things we want to do. Who can deliver us from “this body of death” (v. 24)? Only Jesus. When we receive Him as our personal Savior, the spiritual forces are put into place to free us from the bondage of sin. Then we must begin the process of dying to sin on a daily basis. (Quiet Walk)
________________________________________________________
THE HOLINESS OF GOD
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
John has just said, “These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” So how is it to be full? Well, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is…” What would you have expected there? I suggest that most of us would have expected, “God is love” or “God is mercy” or “God is compassion”; but the startling and astonishing thing is that he says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” And we may say to John, “You have been saying that we are to be given an amazing joy, and then you confront us with that?”
But that is precisely what he does say. We must not start with the knowledge of God, though that is absolutely essential. Nor must we start with God as a source of philosophy. We must not even start with God as love.
Now we can see at once how by putting it like this we give an utter contradiction to what has been so popular especially since 1860. The great message that has been preached for a hundred years is, “God is love.” That is the thing that has been emphasized, and we have been told that our fathers, and especially the Puritans
with their preaching about justice and righteousness and repentance and sin and punishment and death, had been entirely contradicting and denying the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been told that God is love–that is what we needed, and there He was to meet us. Yet what an utter travesty of the gospel that is! This is the message:”God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
A Thought to Ponder: We must not start with God as a source of philosophy. We must not even start with God as love.
(From Fellowship with God, pp. 106-107, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
_________________________________________________________
The Power of the Comforter
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)
The privilege of declaring the gospel to the unsaved becomes a delightful use of the “power of God” (Romans 1:16), speaking the words of God to a heart that has been prepared by the trifold ministry of the Holy Spirit, who will “reprove the world” (John 16:8) of the following things.
“Of sin because they believe not on me” (v. 9). All sin of every person has been forgiven (1 John 2:2). The only sin that irrevocably condemns is unbelief (John 3:19), or more accurately stated, conscious rebellion against the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He convinces men of their need for salvation through Christ. Rejecting that message is “blasphemy” and is unforgivable (Matthew 12:31).
“Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more” (John 16:10). Now that the Lord Jesus has gone up to heaven, there is “none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10) visible on Earth—including you and me. The Holy Spirit must convince men that righteousness does exist. Otherwise, there would be no possibility of understanding why we need to be saved.
“Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:11). Some have suggested that the “prince” is Satan. I think not. There is no need to convince us that evil Lucifer needs to be condemned. However, that the sinless Son of God was condemned on Calvary for your sin and mine, now that needs supernatural convincing.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
_________________________________________________________
Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 7:11-22
All our young lives are spent in the classroom. It appears that the gathering and garnering of knowledge is something that this culture has placed as an essential element for youth! From grade school to high school countless hours are poured into the accumulation of knowledge and application of those nuggets of information.
Solomon would agree with this summation for the need of knowledge which provides us with the needed skills necessary for the lifestyle we live. Solomon’s greater emphasis becomes the need for man to consider the work of God in their lives. As God is in control of the activities not only of our individual life but also the whole world, it is wise for us to consider His appointments and plan for life.
When we accept that God is control and He has appointed certain events to transpire, we will have a more mature perspective to walk through the changing circumstances of the day. We may not understand why a righteous person dies early in their life or why a cruel, vile person lives to old age but our faith in God’s sovereignty will allow us to continue and trust that God judges all righteously.
Solomon applies the understanding of the work of God by instructing the reader to be moderate in their lifestyle and fear God throughout their busy lives. His statement in verses 20-22 reveals man’s weakness and propensity to do wrong. The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans agrees with Solomon’s wisdom by stating “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 22b-23).
Apply the wisdom of Solomon from this passage today. Be wise and demonstrate that wisdom by showing compassion and patience toward those who offend or speak badly to you and trust God’s sovereignty!
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
__________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.