Lesson 797

(Lesson 797)(10-31-13) Today's lesson is from Matthew 13:10-23;

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye 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 ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

In the first part of this quote, Jesus explains to His Apostles why He was speaking to the crowd in parables,(analogies). Jesus knew that it would be impossible for them to fully understand the the "kingdom" (His Church), without the guidance of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would not descend upon the Church until Jesus had completed His testament, and had been resurrected to return to the Father.

Therefore, Jesus only counseled His Apostles about the details of the Church and temporarily granted them the power to accomplish those things that every member would be empowered to accomplish when the Holy Spirit had fully come.

We must remember that the plan of salvation would not be complete until Jesus had been crucified, buried, and resurrected.
In the latter portion of today's lesson, Jesus explains the parable of "the sower" to His Apostles.~

Lesson 796

(Lesson 796)(10-30-13) Today's lesson begins the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, verses 1-9;

"The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, 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. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

In this lesson, the "seeds" Jesus refers to represent His testament, the gospel He and His disciples would preach, and that would eventually be spread throughout the world. The "ground" mentioned herein, represented the places from which His gospel would, or would not, be spread.

Jesus explained that there would be some who would ignore His word outright (those along the wayside), and others who would pretend to believe, then turn their backs of Him.(stoney ground)
There would be others, however, (the "good" ground) who would believe on Him, accept His amazing grace, and spread the good news of His redeeming power through faith in Him.

Those who today accept the responsibility to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, should always be willing to go to any length to see to it that those who want to hear the gospel, have a chance to hear it. However, modern teachers should always be mindful that Jesus' disciples were explicitly commanded to simply move on when they came across someone who refused to listen, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Sadly, there are many who erroneously feel it is better to continuously rail about the sins of their fellow man/woman, while seemingly ignoring to "go" and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and glorified.~

Lesson 795

(Lesson 795)(10-29-13) Today's lesson comes from Matthew 12:46-50:

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

In this lesson, Jesus goes further to explain that so far as being favored is concerned, the blood kindred of the Jews no longer matters. When Jesus appeared, the "chosen" status of the Hebrew people, was forever extended to include the Gentiles.
Whereas, before the coming of Jesus Christ, God had only dealt with, and through, the blood descendants of Abraham, upon the coming of Jesus Christ, and His new law of grace through faith, the "chosen" status would be extended to include those of us whom have accepted, and those who will accept, that righteousness Jesus can/will impute into us/them, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

When, in the above reference, Jesus was asked; "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Although there are many who will disagree with what I've said here, this scripture, along with many other such references throughout the New Testament, is sufficient proof, to me, that today, God's "chosen" people are those who make up His Church.~

Lesson 794

(Lesson 794)(10-28-13) Today's lesson is taken from Matthew 12:43-45:

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

In this lesson, Jesus defined the wicked leadership of Israel as an "unclean spirit".
He went on to explain how that after the completion of His upcoming sacrificial ordeal, (His death, burial, and resurrection.) and after the Holy Spirit had fallen upon His Church, the "unclean spirits" (The leadership of the Jews.) would be removed from the comfortable "house" they had before so wickedly controlled. That "house" would be made "empty, swept, and garnished." (Replaced by His Church)

Jesus confirmed this when He said, "Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

There are many today who still defend the nation of Israel, and thereby Judaism, because the Jews, before the coming of Christ, were exclusively God's chosen people. However, as was demonstrated in yesterday's lesson, by the coming of Jesus Christ, the "axe" was laid to the root of the "chosen" status of the Jews.

The Jews held exclusive access to the grace of God before the coming of Christ, but today, after He "swept clean" their "house", all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, share access to God's loving grace.~

Lesson 793

(Lesson 793)(10-27-13) For today's lesson we go to Matthew 12:38-42;

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."

In this lesson, after being asked to give a sign that would cause the scribes and Pharisees to believe in Him, Jesus drew a parallel between the three day adventure of Jonah in the belly of a fish, with the three day ordeal of His own upcoming death, burial, and resurrection. He explained how the people of Nineveh had repented because of the message Jonah brough, and how, even though He was so much greater that Jonah, His own people, the Jews, would not repent at His coming.

Jesus used the example of the relationship between "the queen of the south" and Solomon, to explain how the Gentiles would eagerly accept Him and build upon His Church.

The unwillingness of the Jewish nation to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, cost them their "chosen people" status with God.

In Matthew 3:7-10, John the Baptist gave the example of how the "trees"(The Jews) would have the axe laid to their root because they "bringeth not forth good fruit". John also explained how being a Jew no longer mattered since God is able to raise up His children from stones. (The "children" raised up from those "stones" would later prove to be the Gentiles who took over the Church that Jesus established, the new "chosen people".)

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Matt. 3:7-10~

Lesson 792

(Lesson 792)(10-26-13) Today's lesson comes from Matthew 12:22-37;

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

After Jesus had healed the man who was possessed by a devil, the Jewish leaders accused Him of using the power of the devil to heal. Jesus quickly demonstrated the absurdity of their claim with this analogy, "a house divided against itself cannot stand". This meant that if one applies his/her own strength (Satan) to defeat his/herself (Satan), that one is doomed from the beginning.

In the second portion of this lesson, Jesus makes it clear that before one takes on any enemy, that one must first demonstrate his/her power over that enemy. In this case, Jesus was proving that the power of God, through Him, could and did, overcome the enemy, even Satan himself.

Jesus further explained that if He had indeed cast out the devil by the power of Satan, the healing would have served no purpose at all, other than to promote Satan.

Then Jesus said the following, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.". This meant that by His demonstrating the power of God through the healing, He was proving that good was being done and that the Messiah had indeed come in power, and was standing among them.

The next portion of this lesson, Jesus tells us that the sins of all mankind can be forgiven with one exception, that being the blasphemy or rejection of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, Jesus explained that a "corrupt" tree would always bear bad fruit, while any "good" tree would always bear good fruit. This meant that the healing of the the man who was possessed, could not have come from the power of Satan because it was not a "corrupt" act. The fact that what Jesus had done made the man's life better, the healing in itself was proof that it had come for the loving power of God.~

Lesson 791

(Lesson 791)(10-25-13) Our lesson today comes from Matthew 12:9-21;

"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust."

Today's lesson demonstrates the ongoing conflict between Jesus and the Jewish hierarchy who were out to destroy Him.

He demonstrated to the Pharisees, through His analogy of the fallen sheep, that caring for the injured and infirm was more important than strict obedience to the Law.

What occurred in this lesson also fulfilled another one of Isaiah's prophesies about the coming of Jesus.

We can apply this lesson to some of today's Christians in that, instead of focusing on and trying to correct their own shortcomings, some too quickly leap to condemn others when they don't fully understand the motives of those they accuse.

In essence, the lesson tells us that we are to help those who need help no matter what the law might say, or what the self-righteous might think of us.

The primary purpose of a child of God is to fulfill the two "great" commandments, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)~