Teaching the Bible. Part 5 of Matthew. Read Matthew 13:1 thru 58. Here we Deal with Parables. Knowing what a parable is and what it isn’t, is very important. Parables are; a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson. The term translates the Hebrew word "marshal" –a term denoting a metaphor, or an enigmatic saying or an analogy. In the Greco-Roman rhetorical tradition, however, "parables" were illustrative narrative examples. Jewish teachers of the 1st cent. made use of comparisons in narrative form to clarify scripture. As used in the Gospels, the "parable" not only denotes metaphors, analogies, and enigmatic statements, but also short illustrative narratives. In Jesus’ parables, He compares an observable, natural, or human phenomenon to the Kingdom of God. Some of these challenge and mystify or even attack the hearer.[Note, “attack the hearer” shows that, those who understood the parables might be offended in them because they point out their sin and lack of righteousness according to God.] Other parables are allegories(The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form. A story, picture, or play employing such representation.). The major themes of the parables of Jesus include the contrast between the old and new age now dawning in the ministry of Jesus; the necessity of radical decisions; the gradual but sure growth of the Kingdom of God on earth; God’s way of relating to people; and God’s invitation for people to enter his Kingdom. (Col.Enc.) Parables are neither fantasy nor fiction that many may imply. Jesus is taking the simple to explain the complex. [Note] As we progress in our lessons on Matthew, you will note that they will become more involved into the insight of the Scriptures.] Read 13:1 & 2. Here we see a miracle in itself. Notice that Jesus, while on a boat, is speaking a multitude on the shore. This miracle happens numerous times in scripture. Don’t fail to notice them as we progress. A “multitude” is, 1. A very great number. 2.The condition or quality of being numerous. 3.The masses; the populace. Mark questions if needed. Read 13: 3 thru 9. Here we deal with the first parable, prophecy being fulfilled and Jesus asking those that will understand to understand.[ Read. Refs. Isa-6:9, Isa-6:10; Eze-12:2; Psa-49: 4, Psa-78:2; Isa-5:1-7; Eze-17:2, Eze-20:49, Eze-24:3-14; Mic-2:4; Hab-2:6.] Mark questions if needed. Jesus explains many of these parables. Remember if you have questions, they are not restricted to just the Book of Matthew but they also can be from the references also. A good way to compare the parable with the explanation ,is to write the portion of the parable down then write the explanation just below it, as follows; [1. Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. 1a.Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.] {”wicked one” is Satan.} [2. Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 2a. Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; [3. Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 3a.Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.] [4. Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. 4a. Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.] [5. Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 5a. Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.]
As you see in this example, dividing the parable with the meaning will make them so much easier to understand. See if you can do this also as we enter into many other parables. The phrase in verse 8 & 23,‘and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.’ Signify not only blessings but also more importantly, Fruit being converts to Christ. Remember the word “Christian or Christianity, didn’t become fully used until the Book of Acts. With the Beginning of the Church. I will explain this as we go along. By prophecy Jesus had to seek out the Jews only at the beginning and not the Gentiles, of which we are part. Mark questions if needed.
Read verses 18 thru 33. Here we deal with other parables. See if, with the information you attained , explain each as you read them. Use the pattern as we have discussed. Make sure you write them down. Mark questions if needed.
Teaching the Bible Matthew 14. Lesson 6. Read Cpt 14: 1 thru 36. Understanding the Bible takes admission that “we know nothing except that which we should know”. In Chapter 14, we deal with lust, deception, Johns Murder and Jesus. Read verses 1 thru 11. Herod’s Birthday, Herodias; deceit, adultery, { ref. murder.Rev.11:7] We learn here that the sins of the Biblical age are also the sins of today. Herod believed that he could take his brother Phillips wife and be immune to criticisms as today, many live in adultery and homosexual relations and believe that they are justified. Mark questions if needed.
Read Cpt 14:12 & 13. If you notice, there is no reply from Jesus as to the death of John. [Read Ref. Isa 53:10, Zec. 13:7, Mal. 3:1 thru 6. As to why.] Question. Why didn’t Jesus reply to the Deciles of John about His death? Question. Did The Deciles of John join Jesus? Read Verses 14 thru 36. Here we deal with Miricales of Jesus. Many of the Miricales that Jesus preformed are somehow overlooked by theologians today. Here are a few that need to be viewed a little closer. In this next verse what does the words “Great Multitude mean?”, Mat 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. In this next verse, Mat 14:15, And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. What does the words”And when it was evening” say about the time frame of the healing of the sick in verse 14? What does verse 14 say to you about Jesus being able to talk to so many at one time?
In verse 16, Mat 14:16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. In your opinion, Why did Jesus say to the Deciles “They need not depart; give ye them to eat?”
In verse 17, What does this say about the attitude of the Deciles? Could this next verse be speaking spiritually of the 12 Tribes of Israel? Why? Mat 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. [Read Ref. Mat. 10:6, 15:24, Acts 7:42, Heb.8:8 & 8:10.]
What does the word fragments mean?
1.A small part broken off or detached. 2.An incomplete or isolated portion; a bit: Do you think this meaning refers Israel? In verse 21, I wish you to speculate on the total number of people present? Any quess will be fine. In your opinion,What is the perpose of this quess? Verses 14 thru 36, deal with Faith and conversion.
Read 14 thru 36. Faith verses conversion. Words sometimes have a way of being used to confuse and mannipulate the truth. Sence we must deal with the Faith and conversion of the Deciles lets look at a few words. Conversion is, The act of converting. The state of being converted. A change in which one adopts a new religion, faith, or beliefe.[Note,We all ,priour to our beliefe in Jesus, had a faith or should I say father that guided our steps, Ref. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.]
Conversion is also,
Something that is changed from one use, function, or purpose to another. Logic The interchange of the subject and predicate of a proposition. Psychiatry A psychological defense mechanism by which repressed ideas, conflicts, or impulses are manifested by various bodily symptoms, such as paralysis or sensory deficits, that have no physical cause.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English conversioun, religious conversion, from Old French conversion, from Latin conversion, conversion-, a turning around, from conversus, past participle of convertere, to turn around ; and a Now a convert is
One who has been converted, especially from one religion or belief to another. In you opinion, at this time, had the Deciles been converted to Faith in God as a mirical worker or had they just bee seeking answers?
Were they converts or just being converted? Sense we were all born into first Adam, we all had the need of conversion from unrightiousness to rightiousness, from sin to salvation from death into life. Read 1Co 15:45 and understand. Read verses 28 thru 31. Here we deal with wayvering faith. [Ref. 1 Tit.1: 19]
On faith, we will have many discussions and lessons. Faith is our substance that we live by and must be understood how many tipes of faith there really are. What similarities are there in these next 2 verses? Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Why did the wind cease? Was this a show of power over the elements by Jesus? End of Lesson 5.
Lesson 6. Read Matthew 15: 1 thru 39. Verses 1 thru 9 are dealing with commandments from man verses comandments from God.The changing of Gods word to suite mans need. [Read ref. Isa.29:13, Eze.33:31]
Write you intrepretation of the next verse. Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
In the next verse what are the commandments of man? Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
What is a doctrine? Read 15:14 thru 20. Here we deal with other parables and frustration of Jesus concerning His deciples lack of understanding. Jesus was dealing with the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. Mat 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, [Note, Many ,even today, have a lack of understanding of the simple concept of seperation of man made doctrine and the Commandments of God. There are those that will take Gods word and add too and take away.As with the Pharisses, they were using the man made doctrine to try to destroy the teaching of Jesus. When the Bible tells us that something is sin then it is sin. When the Bible tells us not to do something, we are to obey. For example lets read , Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. This is not a suguestion but a commandment from Jesus. Now the Catholic Church breaks this commandment.Along with many others.] lets continue;
that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Defile means;To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl. To profane or sully (a reputation, for example). To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple. To violate the chastity of. ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English defilen, alteration (influenced by filen, to befoul, from Old English fylan; see pu- in Indo-European roots), of defoulen, to trample on, abuse, pollute from Old French defouler, to trample, full cloth : de-, de- + fouler, to trample, beat down . So in verses 17 & 18, Jesus states planley that, its not what we put into our bodies that corrupt us [even thou we hurt our bodys with many things] but rather our corruptions come from our hearts. This is an execlent example of seperation of flesh and Spirit. Read verses 21 thru 28. We are dealing with the commission of Jesus to call the lost house of Israel into repentance and the faith of the gentiles. Here is the explanation of verse 26,dogs: Ôïéò êõíáñéïéò [Strong’s G2952], “to the little dogs,” lap dogs, etc., the diminutive of êõùí [Strong’s G2965], a dog. The Jews, while they boasted of being the children of God, gave the name of dogs to the heathen, for their idolatry, etc.[ Read Ref. Luke 16:16, Mat.11:12, Eze 3:11, these are just a few to understand the words that Jesus spoke were not of a hateful nature but of fulfilling prophecy.] Question. In the past lessons you learned about the phrase”Son of David” is it still applicable here?Why? In verse 28, we find a beginning of the process of getting prayers answered, Read, Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Job_13:15, Job_23:10; Lam_3:32 Mat_8:13, Mat_9:29, Mat_9:30; Psa_145:19; Mar_5:34, Mar_7:29, Mar_7:30, Mar_9:23, Mar_9:24; Luk_7:9, Luk_7:50; Luk_18:42, Luk_18:43; Joh_4:50-53
Read verses 29 thru 39. Here we deal with the continuance of Miricales from Jesus. Mark questions if needed. This is the end of Lesson 6. We will start with Lesson 7 at Matthew 16. This will be the last Part that I will post. If interested in the others, let me know. Thank you.
A.R.Smith Sermons International.,A Voice for Christ.
