The Key Parable

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Led by Eric Gintert

Matthew 3:22-35 - Setting the stage for Chapter 4

• Mark 3:27  -  Jesus is the strong man and Satan cannot enter in to destroy Him or spoil what is His.
• Mark 3:29  -  Blaspheme against the holy ghost is unpardonable sin... Should not pray for those who have done this... See 1 John 5:16
• Mark 3:30  -  These were in danger of blaspheming the holy ghost because they said that Jesus had an unclean spirit.
• Mark 3:35  -  This is the crowd... The people whom Jesus is talking to. There are religious, those who wanted to find fault in Him, brethren, His earthly mother, etc.

Matthew 4:1-20 - A Parable of True and False Conversion

• Mark 4:2  -  Parable = analogy; fictitious story with meaning; an earthly story with a heavenly meaning
• Mark 4:7  -  The good seed will not choke out the thorns. The thorns will always choke the good seed.
• Mark 4:9  -  See Mark 3:35... Who is "them"?
• Mark 4:11  -  Believers can be given a greater understanding than those who don't know Christ.  Only if your heart condition is focused on glorifying God, not self. He won't give the understanding if we're not going to use it.
• Mark 4:12  -  See Isaiah 6:9-10 and Isaiah 43:8... Someone who knows the Lord will understand the parable. And, it will help the lost to understand spiritual things. Because they perceive not the things of the spirit so Jesus has to speak in ways they will understand. Like teaching a child... Break it down and explain it in a different way so they can understand.
• Mark 4:13  -  This is the key parable to all parables... The first parable in all 4 gospels spoken by Jesus. If you can't understand this parable, how will you understand any other parables? It's given for us to know the mystery of God, as believers, we are given a great gift. Those who don't know the Lord are only to understand parables. When He gives understanding to believers, it's so that we can take it to the lost and share the gospel with them. Learn what parables mean, when to use them, and who to share them with. God didn't leave us without the tools to go and share the gospel with people. 
• Mark 4:15  -  These don't even consider God... No hope from the beginning.
• Mark 4:17  -  No desire to inquire more about Christ after their supposed conversion.
• Mark 4:19  -  Jesus is just a fad... Once something else along comes that looks better, they leave and starting following after their lusts.  You can't have unjust balance... Theses are always wanting to hear about the "good" things... Can't stand having toes stepped on.
• Mark 4:20  -  Their life is really on fire for Jesus... They want to conform their life to Christ. The only one to produce fruit... The other seeds never produced anything.

Prayer Requests
Vicky S.  -  on thyroid medication; has a cold
Faith Like Coffee business... growing and meeting new people
Fields Family  -  house to rent; baby due in May
Lois S.  -  needs to sell house that's been on the market for 2 years; salvation