The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #4015

My note: Why Parables?  Matthew 13:10

Why did Jesus speak unto most men in parables?

Matthew 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

It was given to His disciples because He knew they would understand.
12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
All too many People who claim to be Christains fit into this category.
16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Which category do you fit into? Verse 16 or Verse 15!
17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

A perfect example of this is the "Sermon on the Mound".  Most people if ask would tell you Jesus gave His "Sermon on the Mound" to a whole large gathering of people.                     Do you?

Why do you suppose the multitudes followed Christ? Was it because they hungered and thirsted after the wisdom and knowledge which comes from "hearing" the Word of God or was it because of the miracles and healings He performed?

Think about it, for since there is nothing new under the sun, one has only to liken the "multitudes" who followed Christ back then to the "mainstream" or the majority of the followers of Christianity today and observe how seriously Biblically challenged (illiterate) our people are to know the answer.

Christ teaches us the characteristic makeup of the true servants of God who are the children of Light and who joyfully and happily follow after that Light which is Jesus Christ.

These eight characteristics are called the Beatitudes which are in direct contrast to the eight Woes of the hypocritical children of darkness found in the 23rd chapter of Matthew.

Let us now open our eyes and ears and observe what happens when Christ goes on high (up into a mountain) and sets Himself ready to teach.

Matthew 5:1
And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:
Here we see that only His disciples came to Him for they also went up into the mountain to seek after Him to receive the deeper truths (meat) from the Word of God. The multitudes rarely if ever take the time to go to Him privately, to His Word, His  Bible, to sincerely gain the rich wisdom and deeper understandings which He "speaks" to those who seek to know Him.

We address this subject of the "multitudes" in greater detail in the 13th chapter of Matthew and we'll discover why it is that Christ always spoke to them in parables.
Live Link to-  Matthew chapter 13
Matthew 13:34-35
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
It is commonly taught that Christ spoke in parables to make things clearer, which is true concerning His disciples, but not true when it comes to the "multitudes".

Again, we will address this subject at a later time when we will also learn about the love Christ has for the multitudes who simply do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear. However, the point we are making here is that it is His true disciples who always "come unto Him" seeking wisdom and understanding from the Word of God.

Furthermore, the very word "disciple" means "a learner" which is a pupil or student, i.e. one who is schooled or "disciplined" in the Word of God. Ask yourself: Are you a student of His Word or do you follow the multitudes, the majority, who are followers of men's traditions? In other words, do you study His Word, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), or do you just go to church and get involved in goodly works instead of the "wonderful works of God" He has ordained for this final generation in the pouring out of His Spirit upon all flesh?

Let us continue where Christ has now gone up into the mountain to teach His disciples, who have also gone up unto the mountain (Mat. 5:1) to hear His voice!
 

Matthew 5:2
And He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
All wisdom comes from His mouth, from His Word, wherein is contained knowledge and understanding which He freely gives to those who will come and take it.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Jesus Christ works through His servants and so it shall be in this final generation from His mouth to the ears of His disciples and then through their mouths that the "gospel of the kingdom shall be preached [proclaimed] in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14)." You "see", it is His Word, the words from His mouth, that is to be spoken... not the traditions of men from the mouth of some man, preacher or who ever, in your church.
Deut. 32:1
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
His servants, His disciples, His watchmen, listen to His voice, which is His Word, and do speak His words after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written" (Ezek. 3:1-14)
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word "blessed" used in these Beatitudes means "supremely happy" or "exceedingly joyful", and it is those who are "poor in spirit", those who humbly yield their own spirit to His Spirit and recognize His supreme authority, that are blessed with such joy and happiness! You see, God's elect do not seek the riches of this world to find happiness nor do they follow after the spirits of this world but rather seek to be fed the wisdom and knowledge and understanding from the true Bread of Life.

It is also the "poor in spirit" who shall allow His Spirit to speak through them at the time of the delivering up to be a witness unto the nations in proclaiming the good news of the gospel of the kingdom to the nations of the world. Matthew 10:19-20 "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." They are truly blessed and spiritually rich indeed (see Rev. 2:9).

And so it is that these Beatitudes are the richness and spiritual strengths, qualities, and characteristics of the inheritors of the kingdom of God. They shall be blessed and happy indeed for "theirs is the kingdom" and they shall be part of the first resurrection, the raising to the status of eternal life at the return of Yeshua Messiah.
[4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
How is it that those who mourn can be exceedingly happy? Well first of all, the mourning spoken of here is not the "poor me baby" stuff of this world that we hear so often today! God's elect are not "cry babies" but rather loving, compassionate servants and handmaidens who cry aloud and lament the injustice and unrighteousness brought upon their brothers and sisters by the children of darkness, the sons of Cain (kenites), through their control and manipulation of the four hidden dynasties. It is a sad, mournful state of affairs indeed, but the exceeding happiness and peace of mind comes by knowing and understanding God's plan, that the day of vengeance of our God is soon coming and justice shall be executed in all the earth. That day of vengeance is the return of Yeshua Messiah and the execution of His just recompense which shall bring comfort to all those who mourn.

We can read of that "comfort to all that mourn" in Isaiah 61 which prophecies of both the first and second advents of our Lord.

Isaiah 61:2-3
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
The first half of verse 2 speaks of Christ's first advent and is the point at which Christ stopped reading in Luke 4 when He stood up in the temple and read from the scroll of Isaiah. The reason He stopped reading was because the second half of verse 2 declares His second advent and the day of vengeance of our God, when all that mourn shall be comforted. God's elect know that day is soon coming and so they have that joy and peace of mind now, knowing that God is in complete control and that His Word shall come to pass exactly as it is written. Isaiah also declares the "blessings", the exceeding joy and happiness that the mourners have.
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear also know that the two witnesses, the two olive trees, also lament and decry the injustice while giving witness and teaching the Words of His mouth in proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Rev. 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
To be "clothed in sackcloth" is to be spiritually clothed in the garment of prophets, like Elijah, who called people to repentance as he lamented and preached against the intermarrying of the angelic sons of God with the daughters of Adam.
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The meek are those who are humble before God who allow the Word of God to guide them and lead them in judgment and in the paths of righteousness, i.e. to do that which is right.
Psalm 25:9
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.
They know they shall inherit the earth and even rule as kings and priests with the Prince of Peace, the King of kings, whose ways alone bring in the abundance of peace! Rev. 5:10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Are you beginning to see how it is that God's servants are exceedingly happy even now? All these things are written and they shall come to pass exactly as they are written... and that is comforting indeed!
[6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
We learned earlier that the multitudes do not have this "hunger and thirst" which is an expression meaning a strong yearning or sincere desire to be fed to the full (choratzo in Greek) from His lush green pastures. In other words, they do not sincerely seek wisdom and knowledge and understanding from the Word of God wherein is contained His righteousness. Their preachers and pastors have them believing that church is where it is at... but such is not the case. Only the Word of God can give life and quench that hunger and thirst.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jesus Christ said in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, that there would be famine in the last days, the days just prior to His return. Amos tells us exactly what that famine is. Amos 8:11-12 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."
However, even during the midst of that great famine, you can be fed to the full each and every day if you will be humble before God and allow Him to lead you to His lush green pastures (Ps. 23).
[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
God's elect are the most merciful and compassionate people on earth because they have Jesus Christ, the Word of God, in them and are thus filled with His Spirit. They know our Father's plan of salvation and the love and compassion and forgiveness He has for those who are deceived and "know not what they do". Therefore God's elect can be merciful to others even in the face of death, as was Stephen whose name fittingly means a "crown of royalty".
Acts 7:59-60
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

[60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

What an example of compassion and forgiveness.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
To be "pure in heart" is to have a pure mind, one which has been cleansed with the purity of His Word. Only they shall have the "eyes to see" God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
This is not a statement declaring that God's servants are pacifists as is so often inferred by the unknowledgeable who think that if you will just be sugar-sweet and nice to the enemy he will be nice to you! Get real! The history of our nation alone is proof positive that peace is costly, that it comes with a price which is often the lives of our sons and daughters and brothers and sisters who are willing to take a stand against the onslaught of the enemy and defend our peace and liberties.

You "see", true and lasting peace can only be achieved by following God's ways, the ways of the Prince of Peace, which produce freedom and peace and happiness. To that end, God's servants are not only willing to put on the whole gospel armor of God (Eph. 6) and take a stand against the fiery darts of the enemy, but they boldly teach His truth as it is written without fear of the enemy or what man might do or say. And haven't you read how the Prince of Peace, the King of kings and His saints, usher in the kingdom of God whereby peace shall abound upon the earth?

Rev. 19:14
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

[15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[16] And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

So you see, if you are a peacemaker who teaches the truth of His Word, the way to freedom and peace and happiness, you will find yourself engaged in a great spiritual battle and therefore you can expect to be persecuted by those who seek to make captive our people and make merchandise out of them. Christ told us flat out that if we serve Him we can expect persecution: John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
God's elect are blessed indeed and exceedingly happy in knowing that we have the victory in Him and the kingdom of heaven is ours. Yes, when we do and teach His truth we fully expect to be persecuted but we are not afraid of man and his ways of terror and intimidation. You "see", Christ has given us "power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt us [you] (Luke 10:19)." So... happy we are that our names are written in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20)!
1 Peter 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Not only are God's elect persecuted for doing that which is right, but they are also reviled and persecuted and falsely accused of doing things and saying things which they have not done or said, just because they are Christians.
Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
No problem, His elect can handle it and in doing so give glory to God at the same time!
1 Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.
Happy ye are, so rejoice and be blessed (exceeding glad)!
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Who was it that persecuted and even killed the prophets? It was the children of darkness who shall receive "woes" instead of His "blessings". Here is what Christ said to the kenites in Matthew 23:31 "Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."

Why is it that the servants of God are so persecuted and reviled? It because they are "salty" when they teach and they do not withhold the truth of God's Word. Just like Jesus Christ, they tell it like it is concerning those who persecuted the prophets and they do so boldly and without fear of what men might do to them. You "see", they would rather please their heavenly Father by keeping His commands and doing His will, rather than please men just to avoid rejection or reviling or persecution.

[13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Salt which has been left to the "elements" and has become bland and tasteless, i.e. has lost its saltiness, is good for nothing except to be walked all over like so many sugar-sweet Christians are today! So the question is: "Of what value is a people-pleasing Christian who will not teach God's Word boldly as it is written?" Do not sugarcoat God's Word as do the workers of iniquity! Sprinkle the salt my friend and preserve the spiritual "meat" of His Word.
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
It is growing darker and darker outside as the smoke from the pit (Rev. 9:2) continues to darken the spiritual atmosphere in these last days!
 
The only light that remains is the truth of God's Word which is carried forth by His servants through the final hour of darkness. Are you part of that Light? If you are, then Jesus Christ gives you the following instruction:
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let your light, that Light of Truth which is in you, "radiate brilliancy" (Strong's #2989) before men that they may see your good works. What are those "good works"? Are people supposed to see what a goody, goody two-shoes you have become? No... the good works are the "wonderful works of God" that the sons and daughters (Acts 2:16-18) shall carry out in the final generation according to that which is written. You "see", when our brother's and sister's and loved one's eyes are open to His truth and they learn the rich heritage of His people (true Israel) and they "see" that His Word has come to pass exactly as it is written, then they shall also become filled with unspeakable joy and glorify your Father which is in heaven. What an humbling honor and a joyous privilege it is to be part of that marvelous work!

Jesus Christ declared the good works that the sons and daughters (seed) would do in this final generation, even while He was yet hanging on the cross still teaching the entirety 22nd Psalm:

Psalm 22:30-31
A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

[31] They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

God shall pour out His Spirit upon His servants and handmaidens and they shall prophesy, which is to teach with all the qualities of love and humility before God as set forth in the Beatitudes we learned today. In other words, God shall use them to bring forth the light of His truth and the latter day rain from heaven in that "through their mouths", being filled with His Spirit, they shall teach the Word of God and declare His righteousness, not their own. You see, it is His marvelous works they do, not their own, and they give glory to God for those marvelous works He does. Here are the overcomers singing the Song of Moses at the victory celebration over the beast:
Rev. 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
The Song of Moses is the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy which outlines the Plan of God, His wonderful and marvelous works in the final generation of the fig tree when the final proclamation of the name (the authority of) the LORD goes forth.
Deut. 32:3-4
Because I will publish [proclaim] the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

[4] He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

Question: What more "exceeding happiness" could one possibly have than to be a child of the living God and serve Him in these last days?

Answer: None! So thank you Father!

We see that Jesus Christ had left the multitudes and gone up into a mountain to teach His disciples who likewise "went up into the mount" with open ears to hear the Word of God from on high! The first thing Christ showed His disciples was the "humble before God" and "compassionate to others" qualities of the children of light, the salt of the earth (see Mat. 22:37-39).

To wit, His disciples are now the sons and daughters in this final generation of the fig tree of whom it was prophesied would see (as in understand) the visions of the prophets (Act. 2) and teach God's Word to their brothers and sisters of the true House of Israel! We noted that the "Beatitudes" ("Beautiful Attitudes" I like to call them) of those children of light are in direct contrast to the "Woes" of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees that we shall cover in detail in the 23rd chapter of Matthew. However, to fully understand the depth of the teaching Christ is now giving on the mount, one should be familiar with the MO (Methods of Operation) of the scribes and Pharisees. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Keep in mind that Christ is STILL teaching His disciples! In other words, He is not addressing the multitudes which He left when He went up into the mountain. Again, it was only His disciples who went up into the mountain where He was "set" to teach those who would hear His voice with open ears and take heed to His words of instruction! So having covered the characteristic qualities of His elect, Christ is now going to address their works, i.e. what they DO and what they TEACH. And like the Beatitudes, this will be in direct contrast to what the scribes and Pharisees DO and TEACH! 

Christ begins:

Matthew 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
This verse speaks directly to those who teach that the Old Testament is passé and not applicable anymore! Many so-called Christian preachers and pastors even teach that the laws of God themselves are no longer in effect. That is primarily due to the fact that they do not know the difference between a law, a statute, and an ordinance. You see, the natural laws of God which govern the physical universe, e.g. gravity and inertia, and the natural laws which govern human behavior, e.g. thou shalt do no murder, are still in effect. The statutes and ordinances governing sacrifices and rituals, etc., are of an entirely different nature. The main point is, it is still NOT OK to jump off a high cliff (because you will pay the price according to God's law of gravity) and it is still NOT OK to murder someone (because you will pay the price according to the law of murder, whether man righteously executes the commanded judgment or not)!

Jesus Christ now emphasizes that the law is still in effect by stating that not even the least little letter (jot) nor the least little ornament (tittle) above a letter shall pass from that law, till all be fulfilled.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The "jot", or "yod" in Hebrew, is the smallest of the Hebrews letters (y) and is used 66,420 times in the manuscripts according the numbering of the Massorites. It is interesting to note that the "jot" is the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and corresponds to "iota" which is the 8th letter in Greek alphabet. In Biblical numerics, 10 denotes "law" and "ordinal perfection", which is "another new first: after the ninth digit, when numeration commences anew" (see Companion Bible, appendix 10). The number "8" denotes resurrection, regeneration; a new beginning or commencement. And so it is that Jesus Christ is about to regenerate the law to a new level of spiritual understanding to those who love and serve Him and teach others the truth of His Word.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
What you do and what you teach are paramount to bearing fruit for the kingdom of God. Remember, if you are a disciple of Christ, a student of the Word of God, then you are the salt of the earth and you are to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Woe unto those who do and teach according to the traditions of men and cause our people to stumble and fall to their spiritual death and to commit spiritual adultery, which is idolatry, and to make their wedding vows (oath) to the false messiah! When we cover the "woes" in the 23rd chapter of Matthew we will see that these are EXACTLY the things that the scribes and Pharisees do. If you, as part of His royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9), follow after their ways and lead God's children away from the truth of His Word, you'll never make it into the kingdom of heaven! Take heed!
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We will find in the "woes" to the scribes and the Pharisees in Mat. 23 that they are a bunch of self-serving, self-righteous religious hypocrites who sit in the seat of Moses. In other words, they sit in the authority of the temple (church) as the spiritual leaders of God's people, as ministers of righteousness, but their works are iniquitous indeed! Take special heed to their example, because that is what Christ is addressing in the rest of this chapter, i.e. what you DO and what you TEACH your brothers and sisters as a servant of the living God!

Those who have understanding know that it is written in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 concerning this final generation of the fig tree, that MANY would come in the name of Christ, claiming to represent Him as Christian ministers and preachers, etc., and would deceive MANY. (Matthew 24:4-5 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.") 

If Christ's words be true, and they are, and we are in that final generation, and we are, then the fact is that there NOW ARE MANY false ministers and preachers of Christ in these last days (even the majority) claiming to be "ministers of righteousness"... but you know what? Their righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees because their teachings are so leavened with the doctrine of the scribes and the Pharisees that the "Jesus" they teach is not the real Jesus Christ at all, but another "Jesus", the Instead-of-Jesus (anti-christos)!
2 Cor. 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
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