Matthew 13:1-3
"On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them IN PARABLES saying..."
In this one chapter, Matthew 12, Jesus reveals Himself to His people as "greater than the temple," meaning He is greater than any other priest. Further on He tells them that He is greater than Solomon," meaning greater than any king. Then He states that He is greater than Jonah, a prophet in the Old Testament. So in terms of prophet, priest, King--His three-fold glory--JESUS IS THE GREATEST OF ALL.
What did the leaders and the elders of the Jews do? They rejected Him in His three-fold glory. That's why, in the very next chapter, Jesus changes tactics.
In the very beginning of chapter 13, He began to share seven kingdom parables. Why parables all of a sudden? I'm glad you asked!
The disciples posed the very same question. "'...Why do You speak to them in parables?' 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.'"(Matthew 13:10-11)
HEREIN IS THE GREAT LOVE OF OUR GOD. If Jesus had continued to speak the truth to them openly, as in chapter 12, and they continued to reject Him, THEIR GUILT WOULD BE HEAVIER. That is why He cloaked His teachings in parables. It was both a judgment and Grace.
Parables are meant to hide truths from those with no heart for it so that they won't receive while those who are hungry would receive. THAT'S DIVINE WISDOM!
The passage goes on to say that Jesus "left the HOUSE" and went and sat "by the SEA." "HOUSE" is always a reference to natural "Israel" whereas "THE SEA" represents the Gentiles, meaning the nations. He left HOUSE, went by THE SEA, then later on went back to the HOUSE.
The passage goes on to say that Jesus "left the HOUSE" and went and sat "by the SEA." "HOUSE" is always a reference to natural "Israel" whereas "THE SEA" represents the Gentiles, meaning the nations. He left HOUSE, went by THE SEA, then later on went back to the HOUSE.
The seven Kingdom parables He shared are divided into four and three; four outside; three inside.
The first parable of the field, or GROUND, speaks of NATURAL ISRAEL. He died for natural Israel as well as for the whole world, meaning the nations or Gentiles. We...non-Jews...are the pearls of GREAT price found "IN THE SEA!"
Last of all is the parable of the dragnet that was cast into the SEA: The nations. This will take place during the millennium. The gospel message will be going out during Christ's millennial reign and will bring in all kinds of "fish" from all over the whole world!
These 3 three parables are another prophetic timeline. Obviously we are not yet in the parable of the dragnet yet but we're definitely in the parables of the treasure in the field and the sea.
Most traditional teaching would have you believe that you must give up everything to "buy," as it were, Jesus. Have you heard that before? AS IF!" You and I, the poor, the blind and the naked.....BUY JESUS? Are you kidding me? We have NOTHING to offer. We are bankrupt! Ain't no way we can purchase anything.....least of all Jesus! But that's what you get when man puts himself in the center.
NEWS FLASH: We are not the center: JESUS IS.
He's The One Who died for the entire world to get the treasure and the pearls. HALLELUJAH!!!
Go back and read the parable of the treasure in the field. Did you notice that the treasure in the field was hidden not once, but twice? “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure HIDDEN in a field, which a man found and HID; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
Why twice? Because much of natural Israel was already hidden when Jesus was born. In the Old Testament Israel was hidden among the nations. Each time they were taken captive, many returned...but not all. First it was the Assyrians, then the Babylonians; next came the Medo-Persians, then the Greeks under Alexander the Great and finally, the Romans, who were in charge when Jesus was born.
He came to reveal Himself to them but they rejected Him; so He hid them again. Today they are largely still scattered among all the nations, even though Israel once again has a land to call home. Many have returned but not all; not by a long shot.
God had meant for them to be the savior nation; the kingly nation leading all other nations, preaching the gospel to them; the head and not the tail.
Instead, they are struggling. The place where they flourish the most is in their own land.
Please continue on to Part 6. We’ll be see what it is that God really wanted to happen!
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