Matthew 13:1–58 (Continued)

May 09, 2012

The stories of the found treasure and the fine pearls—Israel is the treasure and we are the pearl. Jesus paid the price. He gave His blood to save us from sin and condemnation. We were purchased by Him at a very great cost. As a hidden treasure, we should seek after Him. He has given us His words and we should be diligently searching His words of Truth.

The fishing net—similar to the story about the wheat and weeds. Scofield says:

 "The wheat of God at once becomes the scene of Satan's activity. Where children of the kingdom are gathered, there "among the wheat," Satan "sows" "children of the wicked one," who profess to be children of the kingdom, and in outward ways are so like the true children that only the angels may, in the end, be trusted to separate them. So great is Satan's power of deception that the tares often really suppose themselves to be children of the kingdom... The parable of the wheat and tares is not a description of the world, but of that which professes to be the kingdom. *Mere unbelievers are never called children of the devil, but only religious unbelievers are so called... it is a mingled body of true and false, wheat and tares, good and bad. It is defiled by formalism, doubt, and worldliness. But within it Christ sees the true children of the true kingdom who, at the end, are to shine forth as the sun."

"The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people. The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain." (Matthew 13:41–42) Strong words. Evil people. Not just unbelievers, but "religious" unbelievers. People who say one thing and do another. People who call Jesus "Lord" with their lips yet do the very things He hates. That is sobering and disturbing. (We all know people who are deceived. They "think" they are safe. They have bought into Satan's lies. Oh Father God, expose the lies. May your Truth shine forth and be revealed. Remove the scales from their eyes. May they understand they are nothing without you, and may they desire nothing but you.)

Jesus taught in his hometown. But his neighbors thought, who does He think he is? How dare He act like He is God. His mother is Mary. He is the son of a carpenter. We know His family. How dare He! Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and in his own home." (Matthew 13:57) So Jesus left and the people missed out on the blessings He would have given them.

Matthew 13:58- "So he did not do many miracles there because they had no faith."

I choose to believe. I choose to trust. I choose to be faithful. I choose to surrender ALL!


Next Entry: Matthew 13:1–58 (Continued)