July 21, 2005


Reeds by the lake taken july 18, 2005

July 21, 2005

Parables Mt 13:10-17

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
The disciples have been blessed to expierience the ministry of Jesus. It is easier to believe after seeing and hearing. By hearing and seeing the hearts of the people will be converted and healed. They resist this, closing their ears and eyes. The parables help them to hear and see. It is a way to bring the Kingdom to them.