Yesterday's Post: Three Discourses

DAY 69
Matthew 5:1-15:39
(Vincent Van Gogh's Parable of the Sower)


There are five major discourses in the Gospel of Matthew
1) The Sermon on the Mount-Morality: Chap 5-7
2) The Missionary Discourse-Mission: Chap 10
3) The Parable Discourse-Kingdom of Heaven: Chap 13
4) The Community (or Church) Discourse-Relationships: Chap 18
5) The Apocalytic (Eschatological, or Olivet) Discourse: Chapt 24-25

The first discourse connects the Old Testament and the levitical system of morality to Jesus. Jesus tears away all the misconceptions between religion and faith. He describes what God requires; a heart that is pure. And anyone reading it will quickly realize that the righteousness needed is way beyond our human capability.

Between the first and second discourse, Jesus performs many miracles. The healing of the leper, centurion servant, Peter's mother-in-law, the paralytic, the bleeding woman, two deaf men, and a mute. He casts out demons from the two men at Gadarenes and raises the ruler's daughter from the dead. And we find something new. That many outside of Israel will join the feast in the kingdom of Heaven with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (8:11) And before He sends out the disciples we see "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His field." (9:37)

When is the last time that you and I looked up from our "busy" lives and even looked at the fields and saw the harvest? When is the last time you and I prayed to send out workers to the field? When is the last time we said "Here am I, send me?"

The second discourse involves instructions for Jesus' disciples as they go our to the harvest. It tells us to be on guard against the wolves of this world that would seek to devour us. It tells us to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. It reminds us that the Holy Spirit will provide us with what to say. It explains to use that "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven" (10:32)

Between the second and third discourses we see the beginning of the rejection of Jesus as King and Messiah. The Pharisees begin to plot against Him. Jesus reminds us that He "desires mercy, not sacrifice." and that "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (12:39-40)

The third discourse, which is found in Matthew 13 concerns the "kingdom of heaven." And it describes the time from the beginning of the church until Jesus' return. There are eight parables.
1) Parable of the Sower (1-23)
The relationship of the gospel message of the kingdom of heaven to those that hear it. The hearts of those that hear it will be like the path, the rocky ground, thorny ground, and the good soil. And those that are good soil will produce different actions.

2) Parable of the Weeds (24-30, 36-43)
The relationship of the gospel message to the devil and to the end of time. It explains that Jesus is the one that is responsible for determining those followeres that are true or false.

3) Parable of the Mustard Seed (31-32)
How the effects of the gospel message can transform one life into something that can be used for God's purposes.

4) Parable of the Yeast (33-35)
How the effects of the gospel message can spread when it is lived out in the world.

5) Parable of the Hidden Treasure (44)
The gospel message is precious like something that was hidden but now revealed.

6) Parable of the Pearl (45)
The gospel message is precious like something that is sought after and finally found.

7) Parable of the Net (47-50)
At the end of time, how those that responded to the gospel and those that did not will be separated.

8) Parable of the Homeowner (51-52)
Every disciple has a responsibility to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ and not keep it hidden in the storeroom's of their heart. We have the responsibility to share the full revelation of God.

He who has ears, let him hear.