by Gary L. Evans
Read Aloud
Matthew — Part 16
Mat 12:38-40 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Jonah The Prophet was in the belly of a great fish for three days and nights as a sign to the people of Nineveh to bring them to repentance. And so will The Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days.
Mat 12:41-42 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The Lord had commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capitol city of Assyria, and preach to the people of the city to warn them that God was going to destroy the city and the people in forty days (Probation) unless they repented from their wickedness. But Assyria had already been prophesied to be the very punishment God planned to invade and conquer The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel for their rebellion and practice of idolatry. Jonah knew the prophesy about Assyria and tried to run from The Lord instead of obeying Him to warn the city. Jonah wanted Nineveh and Assyria to be destroyed in order to protect Israel from The Lord’s Judgement to send Israel into slavery. So Jonah got on a ship to get far away. But a great storm arose and threatened the ship and all of the crew. Jonah confessed to the crew that he was the cause of the storm because of his refusal to obey God.
Jon 1:10-12 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
He told the crew to cast him into the sea so that he would drown, and then the storm would end and they would all be saved. But when the men threw Jonah overboard into the raging sea, The Lord made a great fish to swallow Jonah to preserve his life for three days. And the fish went right back to the shore of Nineveh and vomited Jonah out onto the beach. Once Jonah came to his senses, he walked into the city and preached to the people as The Lord had commanded him. Note that Jonah was willing to sacrifice his own life to destroy the city of Nineveh and also Assyria in order to protect Israel from God’s Judgement against them for their sins.
And the people, when they saw the giant fish beach itself and vomit Jonah out of its mouth onto the shore, they were amazed! Because their greatest idol god was Dagon, the Fish God, having the body of a fish and the head of a man! So they must have believed that Jonah was The High Priest of their God Dagon who had brought him to warn them. News about Jonah no doubt spread rapidly throughout the city, so as Jonah walked through the streets of Nineveh preaching, everybody immediately got on their knees and repented in ashes and sackcloth! The Lord used Jonah to put The Fear of God into the people of Nineveh and in turn Assyria so they would be spared from destruction, to Jonah’s great disappointment. The Lord had set Jonah up to be quite convincing to the Assyrians so they would believe His warning and immediately repent. So God’s Commandment was fulfilled by Jonah even though it was against his will.
Jesus said that this account of Jonah The Prophet was The Only Sign that would be given to unrepentant sinners concerning Him. Think about it. When Jonah came out of the fish’s mouth onto the shore and began walking toward Nineveh proclaiming that the city had 40 days to repent or be destroyed, the people believed God’s Word spoken by Jonah and humbled themselves in ashes and sackcloth in repentance. So The Lord spared the city. And when Jesus resurrected from the dead just as He had prophesied that He would do, many people repented and believed God’s Word that He was truly the promised Messiah and entered into The New Covenant in His Blood thereby obtaining Eternal Life. One common message in these two accounts is that people who are subject to The Lord’s Wrath and Judgement because of their sins can be saved if they will simply repent and become obedient to God’s Word.
Matthew — Part 17
Mat 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Christians have the authority to cast out devils from possessed people. But the person freed from the devil only has a brief rest from the oppression, and must be filled with The Truth of God’s Word, or else he will soon become possessed again with even more devils than before. We must learn when a person has at least some Faith and is repenting and ready to enter The New Covenant before casting out the unclean spirit. Christ, The Word of God, will then protect him from being troubled again.
Mat 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jesus taught a higher meaning to the words mother, brother, and sister. These words refer to relationships to our flesh body. But Jesus uses them to refer to His Disciples when they enter into The New Covenant and receive The Heart and Mind of Christ. They become like His mother because Christ is born in them. They become like His brothers and sisters because they become Sons of God as He is.
Mat 13:1-2 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Jesus got into a boat and sat close to the shore so that He could teach a multitude.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Jesus then taught them The Parable of The Sower.
Mat 13:4-9 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus described four different types of soil on which seeds might be thrown by a technique called Broadcasting, which is often used today to sow grass seed. And He explained how well the seeds would grow on each type. One type of soil was “The Way Side” which is the well trodden path, another was “The Stony Places”, another “Among The Thorns”, and the fourth “The Good Ground.”
Mat 13:10-11 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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.
The Disciples asked Jesus why He always taught the public in Parables. And Jesus answered that it was given to His Disciples to learn The Mysteries of The Kingdom of Heaven, but to people in the public it was not given. This fact may seem strange to people who have only learned the Traditions and Doctrines of Antichrists, because they have never really learned what Jesus actually taught.
Mat 13:12-13 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
People who already have an abundance will be given an even greater abundance, but people who have very little will have what little they have taken away. How is it that they see but can’t see and hear but can’t hear?
Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The word “fear” is from the Hebrew “yir-aw'” which means “fear (also used as infinitive); morally reverence.” The beginning of Wisdom is Reverence of God. And all who obey God’s Law will gain a good understanding.
Pro 1:1-6 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This is the KEY! Reverence of The Lord is The Beginning of Knowledge! Without this, no matter what anyone has in this world, he will eventually lose all of it. But everyone who has this will be given even much more, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Discretion. And with the Knowledge of The New Covenant in The Blood of Christ, even Eternal Life!
Deu 29:2-4 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
What was missing in the people of Israel? An heart of Reverence of The Lord. That’s why they could not perceive, or see and understand, or hear and obey, to this very day. That’s why whatever they gained in this world, they were going to lose it, their wealth, their cattle, their land, even their very identity as The Children of God!
Isa 44:18-20 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
The Lord did not give the people a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear to this very day. They did not Reverence The Lord, nor did they obey His Commandments from their hearts. And because of their rebellious hearts and minds causing them to turn back to the idolatries they had practiced in Egypt, they simply could never understand The Scriptures. And that is why Isaiah and then later Jesus The Messiah spoke only in Parables or Dark Sayings in public.
Mat 13:14-15 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: 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.
Where was this written in Isaiah?
Isa 6:8-12 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
Did The Lord decree that the curse was upon all of Israel?
Isa 6:13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
No. Because The Lord had always reserved a Tithe or Tenth, that is, His Elect, His Chosen since the end of The First Earth Age. They were a minority that always Reverenced Him and they were the ones from generation to generation who received Wisdom and Knowledge from His Word.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Jezebel was sending out all of her forces to kill Elijah. She had driven him out into the wilderness, threatening his life. And Elijah prayed to The Lord complaining that his life was in danger and he was the only one of God Servants left! But The Lord revealed to Elijah that He had reserved an Election that Reverenced Him and had never bowed to Satan! Note that Seven Thousand is a Biblical Number, The Number of Election.
Why do you Reverence The Lord, my friends? That is very special in this world, because very few truly Reverence God. Satan is the “god” of this world. So why do you study God’s Word? Why do you crave gaining more and more Understanding every day? Is that because you have been chosen and appointed a destiny?
Mat 13:16-17 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 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.
Jesus explained to His Disciples that they were being taught things that had been kept hidden even from the Prophets of old time who wrote about these things.
Mat 13:18-19 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Then Jesus begins to explain the meaning of The Parable of The Sower. The “seed” that is sown is The Word of God, The Gospel of The Kingdom of God. And the well trodden path cannot sprout the “seed”, in other words, those people cannot readily understand The Word being taught because they have learned so much of the traditions and doctrines of men (false preachers, antichrists) already that they are set in their ways. Then Satan or his servants come quickly to contradict The Word so that it can not be believed.
Note that Jesus said, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one.” For any one who actually does understand our Lord’s teaching, he quickly learns to be on guard of the deception of most people who falsely claim to be preachers and teachers of God’s Word. And this alertness in them protects them from being deceived by contradictions of The Scriptures. But this lack of basic understanding in people who are trained in the deceitful traditions and doctrines of men (false preachers, antichrists) is what allows Satan to come quickly to prevent them from thinking for themselves to ponder what Jesus has said and what is the meaning of His teaching. The truth is that with relatively little time and effort to study (meditate), our Lord’s parables are easy to understand. It just takes common sense and general knowledge of the Scriptures gained from daily study. And much of His teaching is very obvious to grasp such that even children can understand His warnings, for example, “beware of false preachers who wear sheep’s clothing to deceive but are actually like hungry wolves among you.”
Mat 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Jesus said that the people of this world had hated Him without a just cause, therefore they would also hate us who begin to trust in His Word, and begin to repent, and begin to obey His Commandments. Thus the “stony ground” are people who are sincere enough at first to gain some understanding, but when they are persecuted for their beliefs they turn away from daily study, choosing instead their social life of this world, in their “churches” or clubs or among their “friends”. So they never grow any roots of understanding God’s Word in their minds.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
People who are too busy with the affairs of this world, their jobs, their social activities, their marriages, children, supporting them day to day, are unwilling to invest the time to study God’s Word so that they can gain enough knowledge and understanding to provide any good service to God. They may believe the Truth of The Scriptures to some level, but never learn enough to receive Eternal Life themselves, much less enough to teach others how to receive Eternal Life. But have you ever heard, “where there’s a will, there’s a way?” If we truly love Christ, if we truly love God’s Word, then we will find some time each day to be with Him. Otherwise, we won’t “have the time.”
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
But people who endure persecution of God’s Word and who make the time for daily study in spite of all of their worldly responsibilities, and who learn The Way to Eternal Life and enter into The New Covenant, not only bear fruit in themselves but also over time begin to lead others to entering The New Covenant. This is why God sent His Word into this world, to save some of us from death by giving us Eternal Life!
Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew — Part 18
Mat 13:24-25 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Jesus continued by teaching The Parable of The Tares.
Mat 13:26-27 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
After they had sowed the seed into the field, as it started to sprout, the servants noticed some worthless weeds sprouting up among the good plants. That’s not supposed to happen.
Mat 13:28-30 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.