Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings
• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors
identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics
that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack
these qualities
• Outline (Matthew 13:10-17)
• The mysteries of parables
• The blessedness of seeing and hearing
• The cursed life
• The mysteries of parables
• What is a parable?
• Greek: parabole – to compare one thing alongside another
• if you can understand one, you can understand the other
• The purpose of a parable was to use an ordinary life situation
and cast it alongside a divine truth to illustrate the concept and
enable hearers to comprehend that truth
• Jesus’ parables simplify truth of kingdom for our understanding
• Why did Jesus teach in parables? (Matt. 13:10-13)
• To correct misconceptions and explain mysterious kingdom
prophecies from the O.T. for common Jews
• Jesus’ disciples received direct explanation from Jesus, they
were blessed with the privilege of knowing by revelation.
• We can understand the mysteries as the apostles did (Eph. 3:4)
• The blessedness of seeing & hearing (Matt. 13:16-17)
• To truly see and hear is to perceive and understand
• We are blessed to have an explanation of the things our
forefathers and angels longed for (1 Pet. 1:10-12)
• We have the blessing of both the parables and direct
explanations in the Bible
• The ability to understand the will of God is a blessing;
without it we would wander in darkness and ignorance,
doomed to perish…do you choose darkness or light?
• God offers the blessing, but all blessings are received
upon compliance with God’s conditions
“the Son of God has come and has given us understanding,
so that we may know Him who is true” (1 John 5:20)
• The cursed life (Isaiah 6:8-10)
• Judah saw & heard, but didn’t even try to understand
• Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the Jews (Matt. 13:14-15)
• The prophecy applied to Jews of Rome (Acts 28:24-28)
• Today, the same still applies to all unbelievers
• People with futile minds, darkened by ignorance (Eph. 4:17-18)
• Following their own desires, not following God (John 8:43,47)
• Dull heart, deaf ears, closed eyes – unfruitful soil of the parable
• They will keep on hearing & seeing, but not understand,
never return to God in repentance…never be forgiven
They suffer the terrible curse of ignorance and
are doomed to walk in darkness forever
• Summary
• We are blessed with the full revelation of the mystery that
was hidden from the ancients (Jude 3)
• We are blessed with the opportunity to understand it, so
that we can believe it and obey unto salvation
• People who refuse to understand cannot be saved
• Therefore: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your
heart…” (Heb. 3:15)
• “The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of
men, to see if there are any who understand” (Ps. 14:2)
Blessed are your eyes, because they see;
and your ears, because they hear!
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Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
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Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
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Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
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Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
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Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
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That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
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2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36
Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly