Matthew 13:10-17 Revealing and concealing! I m going to show you a series of pictures that are designed to conceal while they reveal.

Transcription

1 Prayer for illumination: please join me in prayer Introduction: Matthew 13:10-17 Revealing and concealing! I m going to show you a series of pictures that are designed to conceal while they reveal. First image- the happy man is concealed while the sad man is revealed Second image- the young lady is concealed while the old lady is revealed Third image- several silhouettes are concealed while Abraham Lincoln is revealed This brings us to Matthew 13: Matthew 13:10 (ESV) 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke in parables? This befuddled the disciples. You would think that Jesus would want to make things as clear as possible. His parables don t really do this So why does Jesus speak in parables? First things first what is a parable? Parables are short, simple stories designed to communicate a spiritual truth or a moral lesson by using examples or making comparisons from everyday life... (PDBS, 88) So why does Jesus speak in parables? Jesus spoke in parables to reveal and conceal the secrets of the kingdom of God. We will look at both of these things this morning First, Jesus speaks in parables to reveal the secrets of the kingdom! What are the secrets of the kingdom? There are several! Matthew 13:10 11 (ESV) 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? 11 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. The word secret is also translated as mystery. A mystery in the Bible is something that can only be known when God reveals it. The truths about God s kingdom can only be known when God reveals them to us. What are some of the mysteries/secrets of the kingdom? First, the king of the kingdom is mysterious because the king was not who the Jews expected. The king was born in squalor, lived in poverty, and died on a cross. He came in humility the first time but he will come in power and glory the second time.

2 Second, the kingdom of God is mysterious because it comes in phases. The kingdom of God was inaugurated when Christ came as a baby but it will be consummated when Christ returns. Third, the kingdom of God is mysterious because it is not a geopolitical entity, like the nation of Rome. You can t see it like you can see a king s palace and it does not advance through violence. Fourth, in the kingdom of God is mysterious because the king dies for his subjects. This was not what kings are supposed to do! King s are supposed to rule with power, might, and an iron fist. But in God s kingdom the greatest is the servant of all. These are some of the secrets of the kingdom that can only be understood when God reveals them to us. Matthew 13 is famous for its kingdom parables. We will spend several weeks unpacking each parable. What are the secrets of the kingdom? There are several. How does God reveal the secrets of the kingdom? Through parables! Matthew 13:10 11 (ESV) 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? 11 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. God reveals the secrets of the kingdom through parables. For instance- The parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23) teaches us that the message of the kingdom will only grow and produce fruit in good soil. The parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) teaches us that God allows both good and evil to exist in his kingdom until the end of the age. The parable of the mustard seed and leaven (Matthew 13:31-33) teach us that although the kingdom of God has very small beginnings it will end in glory. The parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46) teach us that the kingdom of God is so valuable it is worth selling everything we have to enter it. The parable of the net (Matthew 13:47-50) teaches us that some day the king will return to sort and judge everyone who has ever lived. God reveals the secrets of the kingdom through the parables. We will spend several weeks on these. What are the secrets of the kingdom? There are several. How does God reveal the secrets of the kingdom? Through parables! How do we understand the secrets of the kingdom? God s revealing grace! Matthew 13:10 11 (ESV) 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? 11 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

3 I want to focus on the phrase To you it has been given Jesus clearly says, To you (disciples) it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. God gave the disciples the ability to understand the parables of the kingdom. In other words, without this gift the disciples would not understand the kingdom of God and would not be citizens of the kingdom of God. The same is true for you and me!!! The only reason we understand and embrace the kingdom of God is because God has given us the ability to do this. It is not because we are smarter than our non-christian friends, wiser, more discerning, or more sensitive to spiritual things. The only reason we understand the kingdom of God is because God has given us this ability. To you it has been given. Says Jesus. In other words, you are a Christian this morning because of grace. Grace is a gift to those who deserve judgment. God has graciously given you the ability to understand the gospel of the kingdom. Apart from this gracious gift you and I would be just as lost as the Pharisees. Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 11 and 16- Matthew 11:25 (ESV) 25 At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; Matthew 16:17 (ESV) 17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Illustration: We have to be given the ability to see the secrets of the kingdom. I used to have amazing eye sight 20/10 and 20/15 First job at SF Sitting in church Sitting in Greek class Now on my fourth or fifth prescription. Without glasses/contacts I m blind. My glasses give me the ability to see. Without contacts it is physically impossible for me to see any of your faces. The holy spirit gives us the ability to see. The holy spirit gives us 20/20 vision when it comes to spiritual things. The only reason we can see the secrets of the kingdom is because God the Holy Spirit has given us this ability. Application!

4 Lets get one thing strait! We are Christians because God is gracious We are not Christians because we are really wise and in tune with spiritual things But Dave I chose God!!! Only because God first chose you and opened your eyes to see the beauty of the kingdom. We cannot and we must not boast in the fact that we are Christians. We cannot and we must not look down on others who are not in the kingdom. The only explanation for our ability to see is grace. If this is true the most important thing we can do for our non-christian friends is pray for them. God has to give them the ability to understand the secrets of the kingdom. Who are you praying for currently??? First, Jesus spoke in parables to reveal the secrets of the kingdom. Second, Jesus spoke in parables to conceal the secrets of the kingdom! How does Jesus conceal the secrets of the kingdom? He withholds revelation! Matthew 13:11 (ESV) 11 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Jesus clearly says, that the Pharisees have not been given the ability to understand the true meaning of the parables therefore they can t understand the true meaning of the parables. Matthew 13:12 (ESV) 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The disciples have been given a little bit of knowledge. They understand that Jesus is the king. Since they know that Jesus is the king the rest of the parables will make sense. The Pharisees on the other hand don t believe that Jesus is the king so none of the parables make sense. Matthew 13:13 (ESV) 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. The Pharisees see the parables. The Pharisees hear the parables. The Pharisees understand the stories in the parables. But the Pharisees don t understand the true meaning of the parables. They see but they don t see because God is withholding revelation from them. Illustration: back to the optical illusions you see the picture but you don t really see it Some of you can look all day at the optical illusions and only see the young lady and not the old lady. Maybe this is you this morning You understand that God exists. You believe that Jesus is God.

5 You believe that Jesus rose from the dead. But this has no affect on your life. You see but you don t really see. You hear but you don t really hear. You understand but you don t really understand. Is this is you ask Jesus to help you see!!! It is not too late. It is never too late. We all know what it is like to finally see something that we could not see. This is what happens at conversion. How does Jesus conceal the secrets of the kingdom? He withholds revelation! Why does Jesus conceal the secrets of the kingdom? People s hearts are hard! Matthew 13:13 15 (ESV) 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. In the last few chapters of Matthew we have seen that the hearts of the religious leaders are growing increasingly hard and callous. This hard heartedness reminds Jesus of the days of Isaiah. The people of God living during the days of Isaiah the prophet were just like the Pharisees of Jesus day. They were hardhearted. They loved their sin. Isaiah told them to repent and turn to God for grace but they refused again, and again, and again. Listen to the words of Jesus again, found in Matthew 13:14-15 (Jesus quotes directly from Isa. 6:9-10). Matthew 13:14 15 (ESV) 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. Jesus spoke in parables as a result of the Pharisees hard heartedness. In other words, Jesus use of parables was a judgment on the people of Israel for their hard heartedness. They saw and heard the most important person in the history of the world but they could not understand him because their hearts were hard. Jesus used parables to conceal the secrets of the kingdom from the Pharisees. But here is the thing on the Day of Judgment the Pharisees cannot say to God. God we could not see because you did not let us see!!! This is not fair. It is true that God did not let them see and this is God s prerogative. On the other hand God will say to them and that great and awful day, You did not see because you hearts were hard.

6 This highlights the fact that God is sovereign yet we are responsible. This tensions shows up everywhere in the Bible (Gen 50:19-20, Judges 14:1-4, Isa. 10:5-7, John 11: 49-52, Ex. 4:21-9:34). In Genesis we read that God hardened Pharaoh s heart. In another part of Genesis we read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Writing about Matthew 13:10-17 the great John Calvin wrote, God enlightens those whom he has freely chosen. Others are blinded, yet the blame falls to them, because this blindness is voluntary. (Calvin, found in Doriani 562) Why does Jesus conceal the secrets of the kingdom through parables? People s hearts are hard! Application! How is your heart this morning??? Is your heart hard to the things of the kingdom? Have you lost the amazement and the wonder of the suffering king? Is your heart stirred by this??? Or is your heart more captivated by the pursuit of money, power, and career advancement? Or is your heart more captivated by the acquisition of stuff (lake house, boat, new car, new clothes, new computer, new television)? What really excites your heart? You may believe everything Christians are supposed to believe but what you really care about is football, shopping, or your career. My experience with Tennis!!! Our hearts can grow cold and stony over time if we are not vigilant. Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV84) 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. The thing we should be scared of the most is not losing our religious freedom, our jobs, or our health!!! The thing we should be scared of the most is a hard heart. Please never ever think something like this, I will think about spiritual things when I m older for now I m going to focus on making money, getting through school, or raising kids. Over time our hearts grow hard. What are some signs that your heart is getting hard and growing cold? Little desire to read your Bible and pray. No enthusiasm for corporate worship. No enthusiasm for the Lord s supper. Dread at the thought of going to small group. What should we do when this happens??? Cry out to God for help. If our hearts are hard the secrets of the kingdom will be concealed from us. Conclusion:

7 Why does Jesus speak in parables??? Jesus spoke in parables to both reveal and conceal the secrets of the kingdom of God. I want to end by fixing our eyes on verses Matthew 13:16 17 (ESV) 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. The disciples had the great privilege of seeing the arrival of the kingdom of God in king Jesus. We have the great privilege of seeing not only the arrival of the kingdom, but the death of the king. He died for people with cold and stony hearts. If your heart has been captivated by something else ask the king for grace and he will forgive you. Someday he will return and consummate his kingdom and then our hearts will never ever stray from his kingdom. Isn t this good news? Lets pray