WHY
PARABLES
Why did
Jesus teach in Parables and deliberately cloak the message of the Kingdom of
God?
First Word
·
Parables have been around since antiquity, long
before Jesus made this age old method of presenting truth popular with the
Hebrew people. Parables and fables
borrow from common and obvious ordinary things that normally come up in
everyday conversations. - Both parables and fables were very popular and showed
a particular genius which allowed the facility of “imagination” to be
quicker to understand than the facility of “logic”.
·
While Jesus did not invent
Parables,
He certainly brought originality and a deeper spiritual importance and insights
that had never been known before; He used the visible world to illustrate the
spiritual realm.
·
When Jesus began to teach
in Parables,
it fulfilled prophecy which said; I
will open my mouth in a PARABLE; I will utter dark
sayings that have been hidden since the foundation of the world.
·
These Parables produced
two questions;
1) Why did He teach in parables and 2) Why were only the Twelve
Disciples allowed to know the deep meanings and the others left wondering?
Matthew 13:34-35 - Words hidden since foundation of the world
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in PARABLES; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.
35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in PARABLES; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in PARABLES; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.
35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in PARABLES; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
(ESV)
Psalm 78:1-2 – Prophecy - I will open my mouth in
parables
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a PARABLE; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (ESV)
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a PARABLE; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (ESV)
Isaiah 6:9-10 - PROPHECY See not perceive Hear not
understand
9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (ESV)
9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (ESV)
Matthew 13:14-15 - The prophecy
of Isaiah is being fulfilled
14 And in their case the PROPHECY of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ' you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them.' (ESV)
14 And in their case the PROPHECY of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ' you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them.' (ESV)
Some
Definitions
·
There were many methods of teaching utilized in
antiquity; “Mental Gymnastics” for the Hebrews were a way of life, so when
Jesus presented the “Kingdom of Heaven”, it was not a Secret Gospel, it was
meant to exercise their imagination. - NYOBS 45.29
SECRET GOSPEL
·
Before we begin I want to “set the stage”
and define a few expressions that Jesus used.
·
An Allegory is a literary device or
rhetorical device that conveys semi-hidden meanings through symbolic figures,
actions, imagery, or events, which together create the moral, spiritual, or
political meaning the author wishes to convey.
·
A Analogy is analogical reasoning
which involves two "objects": the SOURCE and the TARGET. The target is supposed to be incomplete and in need of using
the source for a complete description.
·
A Apologue is a brief fable or
allegorical story with pointed or exaggerated details, meant to serve as
a pleasant vehicle for a moral doctrine or to convey a useful lesson
without stating it explicitly.
·
A Fable employs animals, plants,
inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, whereas parables
have human characters.
·
A figure of speech is figurative
language in the form of a single word or phrase. It can be
a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or
a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the
words - Figures of Speech are divided into two main categories: SCHEMES and TROPES. –
1. Schemes are figures of speech that change the
ordinary expected pattern of words.
2. Tropes change the general meaning of words to irony,
or to convey the opposite of their usual meaning.
·
A Metaphor uses concrete, perceptible phenomena to
illustrate abstract ideas. – It distinctly affirms that one thing is
another.
·
A Narrative sketches a setting,
describes an action and shows the results.
·
A Simile uses a metaphorical
construction in which something is said to be "like something
else”.
·
A Parable is a
succinct, didactic story, a short tale that illustrates one or more
instructive lessons or principles of a universal truth and often involves a
character who faces a moral dilemma or one who makes a bad decision and
then suffers the unintended consequences. – Wikipedia –
·
The Greek word
Parable means
"comparison, illustration or analogy." - It is an illustration
in the form of a brief fictional narrative. – If a personal name is
used, it is an actual event and not a parable such as in the story
of the Rich man and the Beggar named Lazarus.
·
Sometime scripture tells a story about an actual
event with actual people which have a parable inside the
story; such is the case of the Old Testament Prophet Balaam, when he spoke
of a parable about King Balak.
·
Parable in the Greek; Strong’s Concordance 3850 means similitude or
symbolically FICTITIOUS narrative
that conveys a moral TRUTH.
·
Proverb in the Greek; Strong’s Concordance 3942 means a FICTITIOUS Illusstration, which is
essentially the same as a Parable; therefore the words are interchangeable.
·
The Apocrypha groups
Parables
and Proverbs
together, and if you read the book of Proverbs, you can certainly see why. – In
the New Testament, the notion of Parables and Proverbs are used interchangeably.
·
I have said all of this to paint a picture of an
age old technique; a method of teaching which was widely accepted where the
vivid illustration were easily REMEMBERED.
Luke 16:19-20 – Actual event – Rich man and
Lazarus
19 There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, (ESV)
19 There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, (ESV)
Numbers 23:7 – Parables used in the discourse of
Balaam
7 And he took up his PARABLE, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. (KJV)
7 And he took up his PARABLE, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. (KJV)
Numbers 23:18 – Parables used in the Old Testament
18 And he took up his PARABLE, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: (KJV)
18 And he took up his PARABLE, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: (KJV)
Apocrypha - Ecclesiasticus 47:17- Mysteries explained by Parables
17And you explained MYSTERIES
by means
of PARABLES.
Your name became known to far off islands, and you were beloved for your peace.
Apocrypha - Ecclesiasticus 39:3 – Hidden meanings in Proverbs
3 He will search for the HIDDEN MEANINGS of PROVERBS, and he will become familiar with the
mysteries of PARABLES.
The Question
·
The Disciples came to Jesus and point
blank asked; “WHY DO YOU TEACH IN PARABLES” and this is exactly
what we want to know today. – The Disciples were not asking for themselves, for
they knew how to get their questions answered, but they were asking for the
multitude, wanting them to be illuminated with the deeper spiritual mysteries as
they were.
·
Before Jesus taught exclusively in parables,
He used a lot of graphic language; word pictures of common things that were familiar
to everyone such as light, fish, sheep, bread and salt.
·
Parables were plain and easy
to those that were willing to be taught, but more difficult and obscure to
those who were “willing ignorant” and were just amused at the stories. –
Parables required the listener to lean forward seeking further understanding,
which plants the story deeper within their spirit. – They serve a double
purpose; to Reveal and Conceal.
·
THEY REVEAL to the average person who is insensitive to spiritual
things; the superficial understanding to comprehend important “life lessons” while
apart from God.
·
THEY CONCEAL spiritual
things incomprehensible in their own nature to be understood. The deeper things are received just as a
“tale” or temporary entertainment. Only
those whose minds and hearts have been opened by the Holy Spirit are
able to comprehend God’s profound spiritual truths; the knowledge needed for
Salvation.
·
The Question within the Question: Why did Christ Reveal life truths, yet
conceal the knowledge of Salvation”. - Fact;
revelation is given to some and withheld from others.
·
I’ve just got to say this …. These special appointed,
set aside, predestined Twelve Disciples DIDN’T
GET IT – they didn’t get the parables. - Over and over again they had to
ask Jesus for the concepts to be explained to them and then He would often
explain to them using another parable. – WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?
·
Jesus said that a time was coming when He would PLAINLY
show them the Father, however it would only be after the resurrection of
Jesus Christ and the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that the Predestined Chosen Twelve would finally get the
deep meanings within their own spirits and then would be able to teach it.
Matthew 13:10 - Why
do you speak to them in parables?
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “WHY DO YOU SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES?”
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “WHY DO YOU SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES?”
Matthew 13:13-15 – Those outside; dull hearts;
eyes closed
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
Luke 9:45 – The saying
were at first concealed from the Twelve
45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (ESV)
45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (ESV)
Mark 4:10 - The twelve
asked Him about the parables
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. (ESV)
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. (ESV)
Mark 9:32 - They did not
understand, and were afraid to ask
32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (ESV)
32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (ESV)
Mark 8:21 - How is it you do not understand
21 So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?" (NKJV)
21 So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?" (NKJV)
John 16:25 – A time is coming; I will tell you
PLAINLY
25 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will TELL YOU PLAINLY about the Father. (ESV)
25 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will TELL YOU PLAINLY about the Father. (ESV)
Matthew 13:11 – You have the GIFT of Spiritual
Discernment
11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Matthew 13:16-17 – You’ve been given the Gift of
Discernment
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (ESV)
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 -
GIFT - To Distinguish between Spirits
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
10 to another prophecy, to another the ability to DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SPIRITS..
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
10 to another prophecy, to another the ability to DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SPIRITS..
Matthew 13:12 – FREE WILLIES that hunger will be
given more
12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
John 12:16 – They finally understood the parables
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified (resurrected), then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. (ESV)
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified (resurrected), then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. (ESV)
The Audience
·
The Hebrew audience was looking for a Messiah as the prophets had
foretold and looked for the restoration of the house of David with the
expectation that it would happen in their lifetime. – The message of the
Kingdom was not an abstract idea, it was an expected reality. As God’s special
set-aside nation, they felt they had the inside track, but Jesus was revealing a
deeper understanding of the Kingdom of God that had never been taught.
·
The Parables revealed the Hebrew’s own thinking;
whether or not God was calling them.
·
Let me set the stage; when Jesus ministry first begin to present
the concept that the “Kingdom of God was at hand”; the Hebrew’s physical needs
were crying out LOUDER than their spiritual needs.
– Their Physical condition
needed to be addressed before He could address their Spiritual condition.
·
Note; for me I see many worthwhile ministries like foodbanks
and children’s hospitals, but I only support the ministries that address
BOTH of the conditions that Jesus did; the Physical AND the Spiritual;
not just the physical. – The ultimate end must lead to salvation.
·
Because of the Compassion of Christ, we find that everywhere He turned, He was
either healing people or feeding them.
Saying it another way; He was doing MIRACLES left and right and because
of these miracles, He had a continuously changing audience seeking after Him for
different reasons; therefore had collected quite a following of people.
·
Jesus said at least fifteen times; He
who has ears, let him HEAR- Jesus had a mix of followers with different heart
conditions;
a) Some
whose hearts were PREDESTINED to understand the
knowledge of salvation and reflected it in changed lives; specifically
the inner circle of The Twelve Disciples.
b) Some
whose hearts by FREE WILL were tuned to God and were genuinely seeking “the kingdom of heaven” and
were committed to becoming more like Jesus.
c) Some whose
hearts and ears by FREE WILL were blocked to His teachings like the religious leaders and lawyers
who wanted Jesus to be arrested and thrown in jail in order to get rid of Him.
- (NOTE: The first part of
the word Heart is HEAR.)
d) Some whose
hearts by FREE WILL didn’t care one way or the other and just wanted another free
meal, or to be entertained with another miracle.
·
I place all of these into two “Whosoever” groups:
1) Whosoever
hath faith - Believers - Those that placed immense
importance on His teachings and were seeking the weightier deeper
things; they would be given more understanding. - Spiritual principals become
stronger with exercise.
2) Whosoever
hath not faith – Make Believers who placed no value on
the teachings; whose faith was unused, and would lose what understanding
that they had. – Principals that are not exercised grow weak through dis-use
and eventually expire.
·
The Parables quietly addresses the self-righteous, disinterested, and un-repentant listener
and divides them from
the true seekers; it requires them to think and CHOOSE. - It either opened their eyes and ears or
it shut them; enlightened or condemned. – It separated the
sheep from the goats. – The parables produced A DECISION –
·
Jesus avoided teaching
the truths too plainly in order to keep “excessive condemnation” of those who
did NOT accept the teachings by those who did accept. – The parables were
to intrigue and arouse curiosity and bring about change in their lives. Deeper truths were withheld so as to NOT be trampled under the feet of the unbelievers.
·
Because Jesus’ teaching were threating the status quo of the religious establishment of the Pharisees,
Sadducees and the Scribe lawyers; it would be counterproductive
to speak plainly, thus His homespun stories were hardly something that He could
be arrested for.
·
The Pharisees pretty
much figured out that they were the objects of the parables; that their manmade
teaching were like yeast permeating a whole loaf of bread; they were like
whitewashed tombs; beautiful on the outside, but full of dead unclean things on
the inside.
·
They wanted to arrest Him, but were afraid of all His followers, and Jesus made sure
this would not happen “BEFORE HIS TIME” and thus
began to teach exclusively into cloaked parables.
·
Jesus said he had so much to tell them, but they were just unable to bear it.
Luke 11:53-54 - Tricking Jesus so as to arrest Him
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,
54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,
54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
(ESV)
Matthew 23:27 – Parable – Whitewashed tombs
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
(ESV)
Matthew 16:11-12 – Parable – The Levaven of the
Pharisees
11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of THE LEAVEN of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (ESV)
11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of THE LEAVEN of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (ESV)
Luke 20:19 - The Scribes and Chief Priest figured
it out
19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
(ESV)
Matthew
25:31-32 – Choose – Sheep or Goat
31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the SHEEP from the GOATS. (ESV)
Matthew 13:9 - He who has ears, let him HEAR
9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (ESV)
31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the SHEEP from the GOATS. (ESV)
Matthew 13:9 - He who has ears, let him HEAR
9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (ESV)
Proverbs 2:1-5 – Tune your heart & find the
knowledge of God
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (ESV)
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (ESV)
John 16:12 – You are unable to bear all I have to
tell you
12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (ESV)
12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (ESV)
Matthew 13:12 – Two groups – The Haths and the
Hath nots
12 For WHOSOEVER HATH, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but WHOSOEVER HATH NOT, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. (KJV)
12 For WHOSOEVER HATH, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but WHOSOEVER HATH NOT, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. (KJV)
The Controversial Answer
·
Based on reading the Book, it appears at first blush that Jesus had a Secret Gospel that was just for the
inner circle of the Twelve Disciples. - NYOBS 45.29 - SECRET GOSPEL
·
There were hundreds that became followers or disciples whose life had not changed, so He
chose to NOT heal their spiritual condition until they understood change was required.
·
Jesus said it Himself; to THOSE OUTSIDE the inner circle, everything was in
parables, so that “they may indeed see, but not perceive, and may
indeed hear, but not understand, lest they should turn and mentally
be healed, but not spiritually healed. – He is making a distention here
between then inner circle of Predestined Believers who He continued to open their eyes and ears to reveal His
teachings and
the outer circle of Make Believers who still needed to be healed
spiritually.
·
I feel a need to address the Inside followers or Disciples of
Jesus Christ and the followers or disciples on the outside. They were both called “Christians”, but only
those on the inside had made a change in their lives. – As a side note even
the Demons acknowledge
Jesus Christ, but have made no change in their life. – NYOBS 11.16 -
DEMONS
·
We certainly have the same thing within our church body today; there are those that are BELIEVERS whose lives have changed and are full of good works and
some who have made no change in their lives; that are just MAKE-BELIEVERS; it’s just life as
usual. – The Methodist denomination teaches “METHODS” of change both in
worship and activities that witness the Believer’s daily life. - IT’S ABOUT CHANGE – NYOBS 38.20 – MAKE BELIEVER
·
Jesus did not want to heal them spiritually without a change in their lives. This change happens when we are saved and are
filled with The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would not fall on the FREE
WILLIES until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
·
This sounds like only some were PREDESTINED to be saved. - Well, I
believe that the inner circle of twelve were predestined because Jesus said
so. – Free Will & Predestination are both taught in the book. It’s
not about choosing one; it’s knowing that both operate within God’s
Sovereignty. - Even though today I am a PREDESTINED Presbyterian, I was first a FREE
WILLIE Baptist who
made a choice. - Jesus wanted to delay
many truths till the PREDESTINED Twelve finally got the parables, then those with FREE
WILL could be taught the
concepts and make a choice that included change in their lives.
·
The Book says; many
have FREE WILL, but few are
PREDESTINED. - (Go ahead
and read it for yourself; Matt 22:14)
Mark 4:10-12 – Parables so they will hear, but NOT
understand
10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for THOSE OUTSIDE everything is in parables,
12 so that “they may indeed see but NOT perceive, and may indeed hear but NOT understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”
10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for THOSE OUTSIDE everything is in parables,
12 so that “they may indeed see but NOT perceive, and may indeed hear but NOT understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”
(ESV)
Matthew 13:14-15 – The need was to be Healed Spiritually
14 And in their case the PROPHECY of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ' you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should HEAL them.' (ESV)
14 And in their case the PROPHECY of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ' you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should HEAL them.' (ESV)
James 2:19 - Demons
believe in God, but no change in their life
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even
the demons believe that-and shudder. NIV
Matt 8:29 – Demons know who Jesus is.
29 And, behold, they (demons) cried out, saying, What
have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to
torment us before the time KJV (ESV)
John 15:16 - Twelve Disciples PREDESTINED by God
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (ESV)
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (ESV)
Matthew 22:14 – Many have FREE WILL – Few are PREDESTINED
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)
Discerning of Spirits
·
Jesus did not want ANY disciple to be led into a momentary experience
of forgiveness with NO CHANGE in lifestyle, but into a lifetime of CHANGE and
SEARCHING. – Those who truly desired the Truth would continue to FREELY seek Jesus
out and gain the knowledge of the depth of the Parables. –
NYOBS 29.28 – PREDESTINATION REVISITED
·
This is where the rubber meets the road
– Jesus said the GIFT OF DISCERNMENT, to understand the secrets of the
kingdom of heaven is not given to everyone, but to those who hunger for
His word. – These twelve men had been the first chosen and Predestined to
receive this gift. – NYOBS
68.21 – GIFT OF DISCERNMENT
·
Those that possess the
gift
of the discerning of spirits have been dispatched by God to be “Holy Spirit
Inspectors; with a special insight to be able to recognize, identify, and
expose deceptive and erroneous doctrine. – They are the “Spirit’s Watchdog”, the
“Watchmen on the Wall” who diligently study the word and ‘PRACTICE” their gift
to protect against perverted cults, false doctrine, deceptive language and
wolves masquerading as lambs promoting their own self-interest. – They
raise flags to identify the cleaver counterfeits, to determine the spurious
from what is genuine; they encourage others to test and judge carefully what
they read, hear and experience. – THE HOLY SPIRIT
GIVES THIS GIFT TODAY.
-
·
Today the Gospel Message is often preached in the
mega-churches with a mix of philosophy, psychology and self-sufficiency and have
become quite popular and often very PROFITABLE.
The Gift of discernment separates the “WHEAT OF TRUTH” that is being sown along with the “CHAFF OF DECEIT”.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 – Gospel revealed only
through the Spirit
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 – Natural person is not able to understand
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 – Natural person is not able to understand
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)
Matthew 13:16-17 – Disciples predestined to
perceive
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
17 For truly 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. (NASB77)
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
17 For truly 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. (NASB77)
Last Thoughts
·
The Pharisees were always
learning,
but never arriving at the truth; their hearts had become dull and their eyes
had closed and their ears could barely hear. – It was time for the Holy Spirit
to fall on all that were seeking “THE KINGDOM OF GOD”.
·
PARABLES REVEAL the superficial understanding that the average
person can comprehend important life lessons apart from God.
·
PARABLES CONCEAL thoughts that only
those whose minds and hearts have been opened by the Holy Spirit can
comprehend; God’s profound spiritual truths; the knowledge needed for
Salvation.
·
If Jesus had plainly
taught
and they had understood Him, they would NOT have crucified Him on the cross as
the FINAL sacrificial lamb for our sins and we would still need a Savior.
·
Many have FREE WILL to choose, but few are PREDESTINED to be chosen.
2 Timothy 3:6-7 - Always
learning – But never arrive at truth
6 For among them are those who creep into
households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various
passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (ESV)
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 – If they had known – No Crucifixion
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY. (ESV)
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 2:11 – Holy Spirit comprehends the
things of God
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (ESV)
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 2:14 – Things of God are Spiritually
discerned
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and declare to you the things that are to come.
Matthew 22:14 – Many have FREE WILL – Few are PREDESTINED
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (ESV)
No
Man ever spoke the way this man does.
John 7:46 - (NIV2011)
In the
multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I am grateful to those that went before me
providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their
shoulders
and see further that I otherwise ever could
have.
A Commentary; Critical,
Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans
All the Women of the Bible – Edith
Deen
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius
Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the
Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Bible Hub.com
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament - Baker
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Lost Books of the Bible; The - World
Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible (2011) – NIV
NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender
neutral. AVOID IT.
Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J.
Schonfield
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon
McGee
Vincent’s Word Studies of
the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary;
The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
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