We are all familiar with Matthew 13:57 “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” This verse is part of a narrative where Jesus is rejected by the people of His own home town. But why do they reject Him? Listen as Pastor Matt explains why Jesus’ ministry […]
Matthew 13:51-52 The Duty of Those Who Understand
Jesus asks the disciples if they understand the things He taught them in the Parabolic Discourse, and they say they do. Jesus then gives a one last parable that is unlike the others. All the other parables are ‘Kingdom Parables’ which explain what the Kingdom of heaven is like, but this one explains what a […]
Matthew 13:47-50 The Parable of the Dragnet
Matthew 13:44-46 A Treasure Hidden in the Field and the Pearl of Greatest Price
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Greatest Price are often interpreted as parables relating to the mysteries of conversion. In that interpretation the convert is the man who discovers the treasure, buries it again, and joyfully sells all he has to purchase the field and gain the treasure. But how do […]
Matthew 13:36-43 The Parable of the Wheat & the Tares- Part 2- The Explanation
Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares is a difficult section of Scripture to understand. Listen as Pastor Matt makes the case that this Parable had an immediate fulfillment in 70A.D.. Let us all learn three things 1) A person cannot hide from God. 2) The guilty will not go unpunished. […]
Matthew 13:34-35 Parables as Prophetic Fulfillment
Matthew presents Jesus’ parabolic ministry as a fulfillment of Psalm 78. Many skeptics suggest that Matthew is grasping at straws to invent prophetic fulfillment where none exists. Do they have a point? Absolutely not! As always, the skeptics are easily refuted. Listen as Pastor Matt explains how Jesus’ parables were a fulfillment of Asaph’s ministry, […]
Matthew 13:33 The Parable of the Leaven
The Parable of the Leaven takes us a step farther than the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Not only will the Kingdom of Heaven grow; it will expand. The Kingdom of Heaven is an unstoppable force that will not only be a blessing to the nations, but will increasingly subdue them under the feet of […]
Matthew 13:31-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven would grow like a mustard seed; from its beginnings as being like the smallest of seeds to be one day being like a large tree. Jesus called that one! The Roman Empire no longer exists. It hasn’t existed for over 1,500 years! Oh, but the kingdom of heaven, that […]
Matthew 13:24-30 The Wheat & the Tares Part 1 The Parable
The Kingdom of heaven is an already but not yet reality. Jesus is reigning, but He is reigning ‘in the midst of His enemies.’ In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares we see the enemy sow tares amongst the wheat. Tares look almost exactly like wheat until the plants bear fruit. What is […]
Matthew 13:1-9 and 17-23- The Parable of the Sower: Rightly Understanding Ministerial ‘Success’
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus is encouraging caution in our dealings with crowds and new people. When there is excitement & large numbers accompanying our ministries our excitement can hamper our discernment. There is a temptation to assume than every attendee, and professing convert is genuine but Jesus informs the disciples of four […]
