March 3, 2013
Evening Service

Going back and looking at some more of the parables the Lord used, we will make an effort to keep them in Chronological order.  Staying with Matthew, but going to other gospels when needed.

Beginning with Matt. 5.

 

In the sermon on the mount Jesus used 3 such allegories, similitudes, or parables.

Greg spoke on these while in the sermon on the mount.

·         Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.    Luke 6:20-26.

·         Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

·         Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  Lk.6:47-49.

 

Then in chapter 9.

·         Mat 9:15-17  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 

·         (16)  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.  Mk.2:21; Lk.5:36. 

·         (17)  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.  Mk.2:22; Lk.5:37-38.

These last two mean the same thing.  You can’t mix, or teach the O.T. laws in the N.T. dispensation.

He was getting them ready, for He was still in the O.T. time when He taught this.

 

Luke 7:40-43;    Moneylender forgives unequal debts – concerning love.  A woman which was a sinner

·         Luk 7:40-43  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.  (41)  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  (42)  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  (43)  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

·         Does this not help us understand why some have a greater since of dedication than others?

 

Lamp on a stand ( 2^nd time ).  Mk. 4:21-22;  Lk. 8:16;  11:33-36.

·         Luk 11:33-36  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.  (34)  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.  (35)  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.  (36)  If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

·         This type of teaching causes the Apostle Paul to say;  Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

·         The things you see, causes you to think, so look on, and think on good things.

 

The rich man foolishly builds bigger barns:  Luke 12:16-21.

·         Luk 12:16-21  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  (17)  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  (18)  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  (20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (21)  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

·         And of course, the last sentence is the lesson of this parable.  God was not in this man’s thoughts.  He was only concerned with having enough storage space to take care of his own wealth, with no concern of sharing with God, or the poor. 

·         Jesus went on to say how God will take care of all our needs.  This parable Luke adds, where Matt.  Did not use it in the Mount discourse.

 

Servants must remain watchful:  Luke 12:35-40.

·         Luk 12:35-40  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;  (36)  And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.  (37)  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching:

·         Hopefully we can see the reward of blessedness, of being prepared, and looking for our Lord to return.

·         We know what it means to be looking, and prepared.  Praying, reading our Bibles, visiting the sick, giving a helping hand to those in need.  Etc.  Doing the things of God!!

·         verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 

·         This is an illustration, He will be very pleased with you if you are prepared, and watching.

·         (38)  And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 

·         This is not just a Sunday morning watch.  It is a way of life, always, and all the time.

·         (39)  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  (40)  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

·         We have been given signs of the times when the Lord will return for His church.  Matt. 24 is a very good place to see these signs.  There are other places throughout the Word of God, and there will be no excuses for not recognizing them.

I mentioned this morning.  You don’t need me to forever teach you the Word of God.  According to IJn. 2;  The Lord Himself will teach you the true meaning of the Scriptures if you are willing to be taught.  I am needed right now for I am fulfilling my part of the Five fold ministry to the church dthat we find written about in Eph. Chapter 4.   But I and those like me are only needed until you come into the fullness of the stature of Christ.   You will only get there by allowing the Lord to teach you the Word.

 

Most of these parables we would get without Jesus explaining them, but with Him explaining them there is no doubt concerning the interpretation.