Matthew – God’s Purposes
We all love a good story. We are drawn to great stories that make us think beyond our normal thoughts. Stories must hold our interest, must make a point, must lead to a conclusion to keep us captured in the moment. At least it’s like that for me, how about you?
Jesus, who is the Master Teacher, holds the attention of most listeners because he is also the greatest storyteller of his day (and our’s). People follow him around. He sits by the lake to ponder his challenging day of wrestling with demons and religious leaders who know who He is and want to get rid of Him. “Later that same day” relates Matthew gives us a time frame for what our Lord is going through. Does He create His stories while finding rests sitting by the lake? He must be quick about it, because people are gathering in droves to see and hear what He will do and say next.
So, he gets in a boat anchored to the shore, sits down and tells a story. The people who want to hear are mesmerized by His parable. Those who do not want to understand are confused all the more. They are afraid of what they do not understand as tradition and law.
The disciples ask Jesus why he is telling stories. My response, as a storyteller myself as a teacher is obvious to me, but Jesus responds with answers that take us all back to what God told through the prophets LONG before Jesus came to visit earth. Jesus quotes Isaiah with adding, ““But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” NOW, disciples, “listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds.”There will always be a reason for the story. There will always be a tie in to the listeners way of life. Jesus connects with the common people of simple faith. Jesus relates to those who seek Him with sincere hearts. Jesus opens the minds, hearts and souls of those who are ready to hear and understand and pours in Truth. He uses stories to teach us all how to love and live. Jesus teaches us the greatest of all commandments; Love God, Love Others like He loves us. If we are doing this, the stories make sense. We get it. We live it.
Matthew 13, NLT
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
13 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’[b]
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Wheat and Weeds24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
Plant the seeds of love, mercy, grace, the Truth of the Person of Jesus Christ. God will take care of the rest.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for stories of Truth that we can understand. Thank you for helping us to grow in our understanding as we follow You in our simple faith.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
The Sign of Jonah
41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
CHOICE TWO:
It is not surprising that this occurred while I was passionately preparing sermons for Spiritual Emphasis Week for elementary students. I drew a line in the sand. The battle began. Satan used a disappointing, discouraging situation to propel me into confusion and unrest until I fell on my knees and prayed earnestly for help. No other human could help me in this battle. I needed help beyond humans. 
I needed Jesus and I needed Him quickly. He heard my prayer. He gave me just what I needed…as He always does. The power of Jesus raised me up. The power of Jesus gave me His Words to speak. The power of Jesus overcame all feelings of discouragement. The power of Jesus opened up kids’ hearts to hear from Him who lives in me. Kids came to Jesus! Battle for kids lives were at stake. Devil lost again, praise Jesus!
We are going to camp on this small portion of God’s Word that tells of the fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah who describes the relationship between God and His Son. This is beautiful, calming, full of love, and brings hope to all who believe. Read carefully and meditate on the love God has for us. Thank God for sending His Son who took away ALL the sin of the world in one final amazing act of love on a cruel cross.
Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant
A Discussion about the Sabbath
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
Matthew – God’s Purposes
This wonderful wisdom is quickly followed by, “Come to Me.” “Take MY yoke upon you.” To do this, we must take off what we ourselves have placed on our shoulders in the work God has invited us to do. His yoke fits us much better. It’s lighter, more appropriate for the work HE wants us to do. “Let me teach you.” He will guide us into how to adjust our yoke until it fits perfectly for the work ahead of us. “You will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy to bear.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Jesus spends three years training His invited and called motley crew of “fishers of men” and followers of Christ, teaching them to do more than He, in human form on earth, will do while He is walking the earth beside them. Have you ever noticed that Jesus always sent his disciples in twos to do certain tasks? There was only one time that he sent a disciple out alone. That was when he sent Judas, (who allowed Satan to enter in and have control), away from the Lord’s Table to “do what you have to do” to betray Him. (Matthew 26:50) Jesus doubles his efforts when he calls, prepares and sends. We can learn from these actions of Jesus.
Randy and I have been involved in following God, saying yes to where He sends us, while seeking his will and guidance for many years now. What we observe in various groups of God’s people is their lack of praying this prayer. They mumble and groan, grow tired and weary, but seldom pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers to help them. They hang on to the work as if it is THEIR work and not God’s work. Many find their identity in the work and sometimes lose their identity with Christ, the Lord of the Harvest. They seldom mentor and train others who are willing, trying to follow Christ, seeking God’s invitation to join Him in His work, only to find the “holy few” doing all the work as if they are not needed. And we wonder why there is a leadership and worker void in God’s church today. 
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Matthew 9
Crying out “Son of David” tell us that these men knew who Jesus was. Then Jesus clarifies their faith by asking, “Do you believe I can do this?” The blind men immediately answer, “Yes, Lord”. Can we just stop and camp on this thought for a minute or more? The men, though blind, found Jesus and followed Him until He responded to their request. Jesus then asks, “Do you believe I can do this?” Why ask this question that seems so obvious to us?
“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
We are not quite sure why Jesus “sternly” told them to keep this news quiet. Was it reverse psychology as our parents used on us as children? Was it because Jesus wasn’t ready for His glory to be revealed in that place at that time? We are not sure. But we are sure that their acknowledgement of WHO Jesus was began the conversation, their persistence in following Jesus got His attention and their faith led to their healing. Hallelujah, Amen! I believe! 
