Unlocking the Secrets of Jesus' Parables

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Parables are given to hide truth from unbelievers and to reveal truth to believers. If you read in the Gospel of Mark, Matthew, Mark, the next book of the Bible. Mark, this exact same kind of situation happens. But we read in Mark that the disciples come up to Jesus after he's told all these parables. But in Matthew they come up to him in the middle of that. And I think part of it has to do with the fact that the parable of the sower is the only parable that Jesus actually explains to them. But I think part of the reason why the disciples ask the question is because they don't understand it either. They're not sure what Jesus is talking about." [11:49] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "If you recognize and accept the truth of who Jesus is. Then when you are handed the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. You find this wealth of treasure. This wealth of truth. So you and I can sit here and listen to the parables. That we are going to talk about over the next couple of weeks. And without explanation we are just going to look at these as cool stories. As cute stories. You might think they are good stories. And they have got a neat you know moral to them. And that is essentially what the crowd said. But if we do not accept that. Then we are going to be in the same company as the religious leaders and as the crowd. And we are going to miss the point." [18:29] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "And so our sinful heart are naturally rejects Jesus. And for the person who rejects the elementary aspects of this Christian faith. They look at the parables and they say that is a good story. Or maybe they think Jesus is a good story. But we are never going to submit our lives to Jesus. And so parables like Jesus said are given to hide the truth from unbelievers." [19:15] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "And the more you reject him. The longer you live. The harder it is going to be to actually respond to him. In Exodus chapter 8 and 9. We read through the 10 plagues of Egypt. Moses is going to Pharaoh saying let my people go. Let the Israelites go. They have been in slavery. And they are supposed to be free. You need to bring them to the promised land. And we read all throughout the plagues. That Pharaoh is hardening his heart. Pharaoh is hardening his heart. Pharaoh is hardening his heart. And then we read in the plague. On the sixth plague. It says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. What is he doing there? Well he is just letting Pharaoh. Move in the direction that he has been moving. This entire time. He is allowing himself to do that." [24:02] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "And here's the good news. Parables are also given. To reveal truth to believers. And this is what we read in Matthew chapter 13. Verses 16 and 17. Blessed are your eyes for they see. And your ears for they hear. For truly I say to you. Many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see. And did not see it. And to hear what you hear. And did not hear it. And therefore in that verse. Is very emphatic. Your eyes see. And your ears hear. And because of that you are blessed. Because they believe in Jesus. Because they are open to his message. Their organ of listening and hearing. Is directly tied to their faith. And he says you are blessed. Because you get a chance to see this." [25:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


### Quotes for Members

1. "And so when someone rejects the reality of Jesus. They are rejecting the reality of basic truth. And so when they are given the understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. They are not going to get it. But if you recognize and accept the truth of who Jesus is. Then when you are handed the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. You find this wealth of treasure. This wealth of truth. So you and I can sit here and listen to the parables. That we are going to talk about over the next couple of weeks. And without explanation we are just going to look at these as cool stories. As cute stories. You might think they are good stories. And they have got a neat you know moral to them. And that is essentially what the crowd said. But if we do not accept that. Then we are going to be in the same company as the religious leaders and as the crowd. And we are going to miss the point. That this story is meant to understand how to grow in the Christian life." [18:29] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "And so our sinful heart are naturally rejects Jesus. And for the person who rejects the elementary aspects of this Christian faith. They look at the parables and they say that is a good story. Or maybe they think Jesus is a good story. But we are never going to submit our lives to Jesus. And so parables like Jesus said are given to hide the truth from unbelievers. Verses 13 through 15 says this. 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. Indeed in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. That says you will indeed hear but never understand. You will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull. And with their ears they can barely hear. And with their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart. And in turn I would heal them." [19:15] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "And so if you believe in Jesus today. You have come to bow your knee to him. The proper response is to give God glory. Your salvation, my salvation is not the result of anything of our doing. It is not because we are smarter or better than anyone else. It is simply because of the grace that has been extended to us. But if you continue to reject Jesus today. And you do not understand the truth of who Jesus is. You have only yourself to blame. You and I are held responsible for our response to Jesus. Especially if you have been coming here for a while. If you have been coming to redemption for a while. You have heard this truth taught regularly. And if you walk away. And you go that is a nice story. I don't believe it. And God forbid something happens to you. And you stand before God tonight. Or you stand before God this week. Something happens. And you have not accepted the reality. You have not believed upon Jesus. For salvation. You have only yourself to blame." [23:26] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "And here's the good news. Parables are also given. To reveal truth to believers. And this is what we read in Matthew chapter 13. Verses 16 and 17. Blessed are your eyes for they see. And your ears for they hear. For truly I say to you. Many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see. And did not see it. And to hear what you hear. And did not hear it. And therefore in that verse. Is very emphatic. Your eyes see. And your ears hear. And because of that you are blessed. Because they believe in Jesus. Because they are open to his message. Their organ of listening and hearing. Is directly tied to their faith. And he says you are blessed. Because you get a chance to see this. Here in the 21st century today. In the state of Florida. In Lakeland in air conditioning. We are blessed. Because we have the truth of who Jesus is today." [25:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "And therefore in that verse. Is very emphatic. Your eyes see. And your ears hear. And because of that you are blessed. Because they believe in Jesus. Because they are open to his message. Their organ of listening and hearing. Is directly tied to their faith. And he says you are blessed. Because you get a chance to see this. Here in the 21st century today. In the state of Florida. In Lakeland in air conditioning. We are blessed. Because we have the truth of who Jesus is today. I was just at a camp. At a camp at SCU. With some members of our worship team. And the camp speaker on the final night said. There are about 8 billion people on the planet. 3.1 billion people have never heard Have never heard the truth of who Jesus is. Have never heard the truth of who Jesus is. You and I are blessed. To get the opportunity. To hear this message today. But to the crowd. This is just an interesting story. is something about their life. Excuse me. To them it is more than just a story. It is something about their life. And they seek Jesus out. They seek the deeper meaning of what Jesus is talking about. In this message. They are not content to live on the surface. They want to go deeper. And we see that Jesus honors that request." [25:35] (79 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)