Wrap Up of the Parables of chapter 13...Matthew 13:47-58...And a little bit of history

 

Here is the little bit of history.  I couldn't believe it when the Facebook Marketplace ad said this wooden pew was from the Stillwater Community Chapel; it was free; and could be delivered!  I have only seen pictures from the back of the sanctuary of the old chapel so this beauty now sits in an alcove of the hall just opposite my office.  The owner was just thrilled that the pew was going back to the church.  It has been out in the elements so a sanding and refinishing might be in its future.  


Another bit of history is my almost 95 year old father went to be with Jesus a week ago Saturday.  I was able to sing songs we sang at the Turner Free Methodist Church from the Melodies of Praise and also read to him highlighted verses from his Bible.  He went peacefully to be with Jesus.  His decision back in February 1958 affected so many others up and down the family line.  At the 18:45 time stamp in the video below I give a 10 minute tribute to my dad.  Worth the listen to learn about someone of the generation that lived for Jesus 67 years.  I wonder if he is using his left hand to hold Jesus' right?

The wrap up of these 8 parables of chapter 13 helped us to see that they are a grouping that Jesus intentional shared with His disciples.  He wanted them to know what they are to be doing now, sowing the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also wanted them to know why they were sowing now because a separation was coming at the end of the age.  The tares were not to be pulled up by them and not now but rather to grow alongside the wheat that would be brought in to His barn.  The tares would be put on the fire.  The kingdom would start out small (the mustard seed) but it would grow in size (the tree) and all (saved and unsaved) would benefit from it.  The kingdom now would have a presence of evil hidden in it (leaven) and it would permeate the whole.  The angels in due time would separate the wheat from the tares and the good fish from the bad.  

The seed that has fallen on the good soil will be characterized by those who surrender all to have the treasure of Jesus.  They have found the one pearl of great price.  They readily share with others their treasure that is tied to what is old and what is new.  Even though 3 of the 4 soils reject the message and even though evil resides now alongside of good, the disciples are instructed to sow on.  We are not the harvesters but the sowers.  We proclaim a risen Messiah that the prophets of old spoke of and is coming again.  Now is the time to speak of salvation prior to the time of separation.  

I don't think I will ever look at these parable the same again.  I see the intertwining of them.  They help us to understand each of them a little better when we look not at them individually but rather as a whole.  I am so thankful to be able to teach God's word this way.  I think I figured out that I might be done with Matthew around October of next year!  I am excited to walk with others to see what Jesus says and does next.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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