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In this parable about the dragnet in Matthew Chapter 13 verses 47 to 52, Jesus encourages us to regard these spiritual matters seriously. He certainly did. This parable is about sorting, separating and judgment.

God and sin are incompatible. God and sin do not mix.

There are so many people who know very little about Almighty God, and Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and heaven and grace and mercy and forgiveness.

Many people have been used and misused and abused and discarded when they are no longer of any use and such people need to know of the God of grace…  ( Click for more )

There is so much to learn from these parables in Matthew Chapter 13 and we move on now to verses 47 to 58. There is such depth of truth in these words of Jesus Christ.

Many of the truths from these previous parables seem to be drawn together in this net. There is such a seriousness attached to this parable.

The Kingdom of God is like a net. Jesus is teaching from a fishing boat by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is sitting in this fishing boat and as soon as Jesus speaks these words he is very much in the world of the people around him. This is important.

This net…  ( Click for more )

We have been looking at these three verses in Matthew Chapter 13, verses 44,45,46, but let us have one further look at them in the light of preaching from this Parable in a way that might help and encourage in a very simple way someone who may be really struggling.

A farmer was out ploughing. He hit an obstacle and stopped to examine the obstruction. A chest had been hidden in that field, and on opening it, it was discovered to be full of treasure.

He covers it up, goes off, and sells everything he possesses to buy that field.

He does this joyfully because he knows…  ( Click for more )

Do not be surprised by God’s working. We have been reading of that farmer working away in his field and his plough hits something and it is treasure. This man must have been so surprised. Jesus Christ is speaking about a man finding the riches of the kingdom of heaven in these two very brief but profound parables in Matthew Chapter 13 verses 44 to 46.

Imagine that scenario of a farmer ploughing his field and the fields around where Jesus was speaking and teaching were full of black basalt rock stones. This must have been the last thing on his mind, as he stumbles…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Christ will never use us and then discard us. Jesus Christ the King is too gracious and merciful and loving and concerned and compassionate to behave in that manner.

Jesus Christ will never regard you as someone He can lever, just to get something from you, and then finish with you.

It is sore and painful when someone misuses you or abuses you and takes what they can from you and then walks away rejecting you. You may have invested time and energy in that life, but once they have got what they want, off they go!

Jesus Christ will never act in that appalling…  ( Click for more )

Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Do we not discover that so very few people have their heart and thereby their treasure in the kingdom of God and in the work and service of the kingdom of God? We are reading in Matthew Chapter 13 verses 44 to 46.

Where your treasure is there you will find your heart! Jesus had been teaching this and now He is painting the picture of what is important to us – and what we value – and what we are committed to – and He does it in a very simple but challenging way.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is…  ( Click for more )

We have been reading in Matthew Chapter 13 of the parable of the sowing of the seed, the mustard seed which appeared so small and insignificant, and the amazing working of the yeast in the dough, invisibly and imperceptibly, yet powerfully and effectively.

These parables of Jesus are packed with relevance, and truth that is profoundly encouraging.

The world is looking for sensations. The world is not for Jesus. Might this be one reason why Jesus speaks about something very ordinary as seed and yeast?

When people taste the power and mercy and love of Jesus Christ,…  ( Click for more )

We are reading in Matthew Chapter 13 where Jesus teaches that Parable of the Mustard Seed. Jesus Christ the king is speaking and teaching about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven.

We think of the word kingdom as a territory with borders, but Jesus is meaning a kingship where Jesus is King, and where His kingship is acknowledged.

Rejecting Jesus means that you are not in His kingdom.

Isaiah Chapter 9 teaches us and explains that the increase of His kingdom there shall be no end.

The day will come when everyone will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is king…  ( Click for more )

On Jesus goes with another parable – another picture of the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God, as if to say to His disciples, “Now, think of this too”. We are in Matthew Chapter 13 and verses 31 to 35.

One feature has almost been implied, but now it becomes clearer and we have to come to terms with it for our encouragement, as well as to challenge us.

Growth is involved at one stage or another. The kind of growth and type of growth and quality of growth can be very different as it is described in these two parables, but growth is important.…  ( Click for more )

How did evil get into the world, and how do we get rid of it?

We have been reading two of the parable of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 13 and we have discovered in these verses answers to some serious questions. The Bible does have answers for the questions which many people ask us. God has provided answers for most of the questions that do bother people, and the answers are there if only people were willing to accept and embrace them.

In the parable of the sower and the seed, reference is made to the enemy, the evil one, who comes and snatches away the seed that has been…  ( Click for more )

We are in Matthew Chapter 13, and we have been looking at that parable about the wheat and the tares and we have to read on to verse 36 to be given the full significance of what at first sight appears to be a very simple illustration. These stories which we call the parables are just so wonderful and beautiful – are they?

Jesus left the crowd and went into the house and his disciples came to him and asked for a further explanation. Tell us the meaning.

It is always encouraging when someone comes with a question wanting further teaching – wanting to know more.…  ( Click for more )

We are in the wonderful land of the parables, but is it really so wonderful? These are not just nice stories. Jesus is imparting some devastating teaching to his disciples and have we not seen this truth emerge when we spent time studying the parable of the sower and the seed?

We move on to Matthew Chapter 13 and verses 24 to 30 – Tares among the wheat. Jesus Christ is pointing us to the time of the final harvest. What does Jesus Christ have to say about this final event?

For some it will be exciting and thrilling – for others it will mean disastrous…  ( Click for more )

We have read the Parable of the Sower and the Seed in Matthew Chapter 13. It is very simple and very straightforward and the crowds would identify with what Jesus was saying because there were fields and rocks and seed and farmers all around that part of the Galilee. However, the disciples wanted more. They wanted Jesus to go deeper and explain and amplify and that is always a good healthy sign. They ask a question and Jesus is more than willing to provide an answer.

The parable has a two edged effect. It is a parable about the teaching of Jesus.

The parable is…  ( Click for more )

We are in the opening verses of Matthew Chapter 13. One day a large crowd had come together and as if to get a bit of room Jesus got into a boat and Jesus began to speak to the crowd from the boat. This is surely success. Does Jesus preach the encouraging word which everyone would appreciate and which the itching ears would want to hear and for which Jesus would receive adulation? Does Jesus seek to rally the party faithful?

Jesus is really quite shocking and challenging.

Jesus does not give them a comfortable cushion on which to sit! Are you going to follow me…  ( Click for more )

We move on to Matthew Chapter 13 and verses 1 to 23. Jesus has been travelling around the various towns and villages and what does Jesus do everywhere he goes? He proclaims the good news of the kingdom. He moves around physically and geographically. He changes places for preaching and teaching, but he does not change his message.

Luke tells us in Chapter 8 that the twelve were with him. They would be learning so much as they listened, watched, and observed.

There were also some women following Jesus around - some of whom had been healed and delivered from evil…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 46, Jesus’ mother and family circle appear.

His family seemed to have misunderstood him.

We have references to this in John and Mark. They thought Jesus was mad.

There was one occasion when his family thought he was mad, and out of his mind.

Blessed are they who hear The Word of God and keep it. Blessed are they who hear The Word of God and act upon it - positively!

The situation wonderfully changed by the time we come to the Book of Acts. Allow that to encourage and comfort you. Many of his physical family became…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 12 at verse 43, we have the picture of a man who had tried to clean up his own life. He attempted a personal self reformation. What could he do? “I need to put my life in order.” The danger was that his life was left empty. Many do this especially on the first of January.

Jesus says something further. When an evil spirit goes out of a man, it goes seeking somewhere to rest, but if it finds nowhere to rest, it will return to the man, finding the man clean and swept, but empty, and it will bring seven others, and the situation is worse than…  ( Click for more )

Last week I ended with these words which I repeat because there may someone who needs this reminder and encouragement in this crucial and vital area.

What would happen if the Holy Spirit came down upon those in authority and revealed the reality of what is going in our communities and nations in these current times? That has happened before during times of Revival and Renewal.

There are many people meeting together for prayer with Revival and Renewal and Restoration the focus of their praying. Are you part of one of these praying fellowships? If not, may I suggest…  ( Click for more )

Crowds are increasing, as is considerable controversy and conflict, and Jesus Christ is on His way to the Cross. He knows it.

We are reading and studying in Matthew Chapter 12 and we come to verse 38.

His opening words to this growing congregation are – "This is a wicked generation." We are not the first people to be living in difficult times.

In verses 38 to 42, we read of the danger of religion without true repentance.

In verses 43 to 45, we read of the danger of religion without true regeneration.

In verses 46 to 50, we read of religion…  ( Click for more )

See the strategy of Jesus when he deals with evil and antagonism and opposition. We are in Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 29. It is compared to entering a strong man’s house. Jesus deals with our foe. You do not deal with the possessions first. You have to deal with the strong man. One day he will be destroyed – when Jesus comes again.

How do we know we are on the right side? By the commitment we show, and that is taught in verse 30. It is the evidence of being on the side of Jesus Christ, and in the army of Jesus Christ involved with Jesus in this…  ( Click for more )

As we move on in Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 22, it is very interesting that we read of spiritual warfare. Right away, following that significant reference to the prophet Isaiah, we read of conflict.

This warfare lasts a considerable amount of time, and it will not end until Jesus Christ returns.

This warfare covers every corner of the earth, and there is not one of us who is a disciple of Jesus Christ, who is not involved in it in some form. Verse 30 makes that clear.

We are engaged in a conflict. Everyone is. The only question is – which side are…  ( Click for more )

We have reached Matthew Chapter 12 where we have a quotation from Isaiah chapter 42, which refers to the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. Read it carefully.

God says - I am going to uphold My Servant. Even when Jesus was on the Cross being crucified - shedding His Blood to wash away our sin - God was upholding Him - and three days later showed that to the disciples when Jesus was raised from the dead.

He is my chosen one in who I delight, and I will put My Spirit upon Him.

Here is God referring to that day when Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River, and as He…  ( Click for more )

A disciple of Jesus Christ can never resign if the Calling of God is upon his life. O, he can run away, or give in and give up, or be like Judas, and go and hang himself.

For three years these disciples of Jesus would be learning - coming close - observing - watching – and absorbing. They were uniquely privileged to have this superb training.

They are soon to be thrust out into the world. They did not know what they were getting into. Peter was in the front line. That is the way Jesus works.

They were called - taught - commissioned – equipped, and…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 9, we go into the synagogue – still on the Sabbath.

These Pharisees – these religious leaders – went into the synagogue looking for trouble. Jesus wouldn’t miss a Sabbath. He was not an occasional worshipper.

Verse 10 – Oh, it is all right to accuse on the Sabbath? These men are not present to worship but to keep a beady eye on Jesus Christ!

Here was a man with a withered hand. Had he come a long way to see Jesus? Let’s watch Him. Would He or wouldn’t He? They were furious. Jesus…  ( Click for more )