Matthew 13:45,46
"Again,the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Jesus had been speaking to his followers in parables now as we read for ALL of chapter 13 of Matthew. I always asked myself, as did the disciples,"why parables?"
Parables are stories that Jesus told; and using common everyday elements, conveyed hidden truths about the kingdom of God.
It is an amazing teaching tool for many reasons:
Let's hear why He said he taught in parables when asked by His disciples:
"Matthew 13:10-17:
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should[a]heal them.’[b]
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, 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.
Footnotes:
When I trained teachers, I would say that He taught in parables, I think, because the mystery of Truth is still left for the heart to hear and discover.
What heart isn't thrilled when uncovering a mystery. Like a child who discovers something for the very first time. You know how they squeal with joy when something that is hidden is uncovered. Jesus knows that we are all delighted in that sort of discovery. A hard heart cannot feel the same elation.
I also know that the God of the universe could have just as easily given the message of the kingdom much more directly....like E=MC2....or in more exact terms. But He chose to use elements in stories familiar to them/us so that could could "enter in"; walk through a door; discover Him, and be filled with the joy of discovery.
So in the "pearl of great price":
Jesus starts (in my red letter version) by saying,"again"
let's count, He has been speaking in parables now for 43 verses and continues into 52.
So again and again and again He says, "the Kingdom of heaven is like...."
again He invited us to discover...
He says the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls.
Weird He would use this word picture to metaphorically compare the kingdom to a merchant like that! We must understand that in the Jewish culture of the day; pearls came from a shellfish or clam....unclean in the day...Unclean...and He is saying to them that the kingdom of heaven is like this???
Realizing that Jesus was continually breaking the traditions of men (He said that the traditions of man make the Word of God of none effect), I believe he is referring to the opening of the kingdom to the Gentile; who before this teaching were, by the Sanhedrin and Pharisees considered unclean...as were the lepers, the sick, the women,the lame and the blind.
I believe Jesus is inferring that the Kingdom of Heaven is accessible to all merchants in search of the one true pearl of great price....He being that pearl...
So as we see the merchant, we see ourselves. Did we like that merchant lay down our lives to follow Him. I believe He is asking that of us.
On the other side of the parable...another Truth:
Jesus, the merchant....who when searching for that pearl...upon finding the hidden pearl...sells everything in order to buy it.
We are His pearl of great price...it cost Him everything...but His love for His beautiful but imperfect pearls has cost Him everything.
Jesus likens Himself to the "Good Shepherd"
Enter in:
Thinking of how great a pearl you are to Him!
John 10:14-18
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Broken
Today, I have heard stories of "broken hearts and brokenness."
.... of hurting relationships and broken communication.
.... of the weight of cancer and broken courage under weighty decisions.
.... of broken trust in Christian leadership.
.... of broken words that are not fixing anything.
I know that in some churches today a "different gospel" has been presented (probably always has been as we remember that Paul warns us of a "different gospel being preached; one that leaves out the cross). This is one that ignores the "fellowship of suffering" or that indicts a believers' faith if he suffers in "brokenness". This is one that says that the amount of my faith or the methods employed in my faith somehow bears the weight of whether I receive healing or blessing. Ultimately leaving it up to me and putting me in the place of God. (RIGHT WHERE WE STARTED FROM IN THE GARDEN)
BUT, contrarily I know we are promised a "fellowship in suffering" AND we are promised that "faith IN JESUS CHRIST, and Jesus Christ alone, redeems and saves us for eternal life beyond what we know here. Simple faith in Him and not in any results of faith, brings a peace that God is in control, and that life here is but a foreshadow of shared glory to come. We can be sure that whatever suffering we share here, we share with Him who redeemed us, and we share with one another. We can also rest in the fact that "all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes." (WE GET GLIMPSES OF THAT GLORY)
WHERE TO TURN IN OUR SUFFERING:
Romans 8:18-26; 38-39
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. (WOW!...THERE SEEMS TO BE A TIPPED SCALE: GLORY HAS THE WEIGHT...not even worthy to be compared!)
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. (THAT'S US!)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope (LEST WE THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE SHOULD.....OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL)
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (WHAT IS TO COME!!!)
For we know that the whole of creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (I SEE IT ALL AROUND)
Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit (THAT'S JESUS! AS IF FOR SOME OF US, NOT ENOUGH.... THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING)
Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (OH HOW OUR HEARTS ACHE)
For we were saved in this hope (OF ADOPTION AND REDEMPTION),
but HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE...???
For why does one hope for what he still sees? (IF WE COULD SEE IT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO HOPE ANY LONGER)
BUT if we hope for what we do not see, we EAGERLY wait for it with perseverance.
(LORD, MAY I BE FOUND EAGERLY WAITING FOR YOU!)
LIKEWISE, THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES........For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit makes intercession for us in groanings which cannot be uttered....." (SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO WORDS TO SAY...)
V 38
"FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME;
NOR HEIGHT NOR DEPTH NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." (ALLELUIA!)
"THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH...THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS THE EAGLE....THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT GROW WEARY THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT FAINT....TEACH ME LORD, TEACH ME LORD TO WAIT!"
MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH WONDERMENT AT THE PERFECT ECONOMY OF OUR GOD WHO KNOWS THE BEGINNING FROM THE END; ALL OF OUR WANDERINGS FROM THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD; AND ALL OF OUR DOUBTS AND FEARS THAT COME BEFORE GLORY REVEALED.
.... of hurting relationships and broken communication.
.... of the weight of cancer and broken courage under weighty decisions.
.... of broken trust in Christian leadership.
.... of broken words that are not fixing anything.
I know that in some churches today a "different gospel" has been presented (probably always has been as we remember that Paul warns us of a "different gospel being preached; one that leaves out the cross). This is one that ignores the "fellowship of suffering" or that indicts a believers' faith if he suffers in "brokenness". This is one that says that the amount of my faith or the methods employed in my faith somehow bears the weight of whether I receive healing or blessing. Ultimately leaving it up to me and putting me in the place of God. (RIGHT WHERE WE STARTED FROM IN THE GARDEN)
BUT, contrarily I know we are promised a "fellowship in suffering" AND we are promised that "faith IN JESUS CHRIST, and Jesus Christ alone, redeems and saves us for eternal life beyond what we know here. Simple faith in Him and not in any results of faith, brings a peace that God is in control, and that life here is but a foreshadow of shared glory to come. We can be sure that whatever suffering we share here, we share with Him who redeemed us, and we share with one another. We can also rest in the fact that "all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes." (WE GET GLIMPSES OF THAT GLORY)
WHERE TO TURN IN OUR SUFFERING:
Romans 8:18-26; 38-39
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. (WOW!...THERE SEEMS TO BE A TIPPED SCALE: GLORY HAS THE WEIGHT...not even worthy to be compared!)
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. (THAT'S US!)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope (LEST WE THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE SHOULD.....OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL)
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (WHAT IS TO COME!!!)
For we know that the whole of creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (I SEE IT ALL AROUND)
Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit (THAT'S JESUS! AS IF FOR SOME OF US, NOT ENOUGH.... THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING)
Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (OH HOW OUR HEARTS ACHE)
For we were saved in this hope (OF ADOPTION AND REDEMPTION),
but HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE...???
For why does one hope for what he still sees? (IF WE COULD SEE IT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO HOPE ANY LONGER)
BUT if we hope for what we do not see, we EAGERLY wait for it with perseverance.
(LORD, MAY I BE FOUND EAGERLY WAITING FOR YOU!)
LIKEWISE, THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES........For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit makes intercession for us in groanings which cannot be uttered....." (SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO WORDS TO SAY...)
V 38
"FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME;
NOR HEIGHT NOR DEPTH NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." (ALLELUIA!)
"THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH...THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS THE EAGLE....THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT GROW WEARY THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT FAINT....TEACH ME LORD, TEACH ME LORD TO WAIT!"
MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH WONDERMENT AT THE PERFECT ECONOMY OF OUR GOD WHO KNOWS THE BEGINNING FROM THE END; ALL OF OUR WANDERINGS FROM THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD; AND ALL OF OUR DOUBTS AND FEARS THAT COME BEFORE GLORY REVEALED.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Luke
Same person, Doctor Luke, wrote Acts and Luke. Luke's empirical purpose is clearly stated ,"to present an orderly account...of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." He includes the case for Jesus as not only the Jewish Messiah but also the Savior of the Whole World....
We are studying this book at church...so as I have been given unto...I hope that I can give...I will add to the teaching and keep some for another time.
Luke 1:1-4
Luke is trying to give an account for what has been fulfilled in Jesus. Many had given an account of orderly events and many had united the oral with the written traditions. Luke wants the readers to "Know" for certain all the things in which they had been instructed as to be certain: "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."
Luke says that "things" had been fulfilled among them.
"Things":
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Micah 5:2 ""But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah; Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you will come forth to Me; the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting."
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born; Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
I think of the things I wait for in my life: broken relationships to heal;my children's lives to keep steady; physical and emotional healing for me and people I love; directions from God; plans to unfold;
and then I remember that the people of Israel w a i t e d so long for "things to be fulfilled"....for the Messiah to come and save them from their enemies...some are still waiting....
It had been 700+ years that people had waited for God to send His Son.
I have to think that my short life, in the scheme of eternity, is just that...a significant but short blink in the scheme of the unfolding of God's plan. I therefore think it best for me to keep my life "kneeled" in the humble perspective of eternity. I am admonished by God to do so:
"while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."2 Cor.4:18
I find great peace when I can keep my eyes fixed on the eternal....keeping my focus on all that God is unfolding in His plan for my life and for the lives of all for eternity. When worry is superimposed by Trust in a God Who has a plan...whether I can see it or not. It can be only fleeting moments when I remember that control in my life and the lives of those I worry about is no more than an illusion.....I have no control....but God has a plan....for now and for eternity...
"and the things of this world will grow strangely dim; in the light of His glory and Grace."
All that I worry with; all that I struggle against...grows strangely dim; in the Light of His glory and grace.'
We are studying this book at church...so as I have been given unto...I hope that I can give...I will add to the teaching and keep some for another time.
Luke 1:1-4
Luke is trying to give an account for what has been fulfilled in Jesus. Many had given an account of orderly events and many had united the oral with the written traditions. Luke wants the readers to "Know" for certain all the things in which they had been instructed as to be certain: "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."
Luke says that "things" had been fulfilled among them.
"Things":
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Micah 5:2 ""But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah; Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you will come forth to Me; the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting."
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born; Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
I think of the things I wait for in my life: broken relationships to heal;my children's lives to keep steady; physical and emotional healing for me and people I love; directions from God; plans to unfold;
and then I remember that the people of Israel w a i t e d so long for "things to be fulfilled"....for the Messiah to come and save them from their enemies...some are still waiting....
It had been 700+ years that people had waited for God to send His Son.
I have to think that my short life, in the scheme of eternity, is just that...a significant but short blink in the scheme of the unfolding of God's plan. I therefore think it best for me to keep my life "kneeled" in the humble perspective of eternity. I am admonished by God to do so:
"while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."2 Cor.4:18
I find great peace when I can keep my eyes fixed on the eternal....keeping my focus on all that God is unfolding in His plan for my life and for the lives of all for eternity. When worry is superimposed by Trust in a God Who has a plan...whether I can see it or not. It can be only fleeting moments when I remember that control in my life and the lives of those I worry about is no more than an illusion.....I have no control....but God has a plan....for now and for eternity...
"and the things of this world will grow strangely dim; in the light of His glory and Grace."
All that I worry with; all that I struggle against...grows strangely dim; in the Light of His glory and grace.'
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