08/23/21 Parables of Jesus #11 — The Lost Sheep (Mat.18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7)

Matthew 18:12-14 (ESV) 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

v.14 perish. The word here can (and does in this context) refer to spiritual devastation rather than utter eternal destruction. This does not suggest that God's children ever could perish in the ultimate sense (cf. Jn 10:28). [The MacArthur Study Bible]

Far too many believers and churches seem to content to relax and enjoy each other. We MUST stay BUSY looking for “lost sheep”! God expects that believers will spread the Good News constantly, by walk and talk—by our lifestyles and our words.

 08/19/21 Parables of Jesus #10 — The Dragnet (Mat.13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV) 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

v.47 net. Some fishing was done with a large weighted net dragged along the bottom of the lake. When pulled in, it contained an assortment that had to be separated. In a similar way the visible kingdom, the sphere of those who claim to be believers, is full of both good and bad and will be sorted in the judgment.

v.49 angels. They serve God in judgment (cf. v. 41; 2Th 1:7-10). [The MacArthur Study Bible]

         From my limited viewport it seems that there are basically two strategies for amateur American fishermen to use today: 1) Drag-and-Bag: using a net, as in this parable; and 2) Bait-and-Wait: Using a lure or live bait on the end of a line. In either case, unless one is very well-informed, you have little control over what you catch.

         Matthew 4:19-20 (ESV) 19  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

            Our job is to “fish”—throw out the lifeline (as the old hymn puts it). We must be exposing the “bait” of the gospel to our lost friends and acquaintances. Jesus and His angels will sort out the truly good from the bad someday!

08/09/21 Parables of Jesus #9 — The Pearl of Great Value (Mat.13:45-46)

Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV) 45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

While some people sort of stumble onto Jesus, many others actually are seeking some relief, some solution to the apparent meaninglessness and frustration of their lives. When they learn about the Savior—the abundant life He gives and the fantastic benefits He offers, which are literally “out of this world”—they’re more than willing to give or give up anything to take advantage of His gracious offer. I remember when that happened to me; I hope something like happened to you, too!

08/06/21 Parables of Jesus #8 — The Hidden Treasure (Mat.13:44)

Matthew 13:43 (ESV) The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

13:44-46 These two parables (v.43-44) have identical meanings. Both picture salvation as something hidden from most people (see v.11), but so valuable that people who have it revealed to them are willing to give up all they have to possess it. [The MacArthur Study Bible]

Some people seem to discover the Gospel entirely unintentionally. In a crisis they “just happen” to hear a Christian friend talk about the compassion and power of Jesus. Or, while surfing the TV channels or the Web, they come across a Christian broadcast which speaks to their hearts. Whatever! One way or another they embrace the Savior. They are suddenly aware that He is more precious, more valuable than anything else in their lives.

Have YOU understood that the most urgent, most important, most precious decision you need to make is to SURRENDER control of your life to Jesus? I pray that you have.

08/02/21 Parables of Jesus #7 — The Leaven (Mat.13:33; Luke 13:20-21)

Matthew 13:33 (ESV) He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Here the kingdom is pictured as yeast, multiplying quietly and permeating all that it contacts. The lesson is the same as the parable of the mustard seed… Jesus is repeatedly describing that kingdom itself as the pervading influence. [The MacArthur Study Bible]

Same song, second verse. As faithful, busy disciples of Christ, we believers must be spreading the gospel across the room, across the yard, across the street, across town, across our state and nation and around the world.