Matthew _13

Scripture

Matthew 13:37 - 39 

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Observation

Jesus spoke to the crowds that formed around him, while in a boat as they sat on the shore. 

Understanding

Matthew 13:40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 

Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matt. 13:43)

The harvest is coming soon. “The harvest,” the one we have been waiting for, will be here soon. We all have loved ones that need to know the truth, that need to hear about the salvation of the world that has come to rescue and save them from their sin. Immanuel came down to be with us. 

We have the opportunity to tell those who need to hear the message so that they will be the wheat when the harvesters come. 

Last year around this time I believe the Lord impressed on my heart for DSC, “ the people are coming, get your house ready.” 

A few weeks ago, I felt another impression. This time I heard, “It’s time for you to start to pray. Ask me to send you unbelievers. Ask me to send you the laborers.” 

I felt a little startled and hesitant to pray, not out of fear or unbelief, but because I could feel the weight of the words He said. I knew at that moment it was going to happen. I knew, I know, that if we pray, “...send us unbelievers, send us laborers, send us into the harvest field,” It is going to happen. It is happening.  

“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

As we sit down at a table today prepared with food that celebrates a harvest. We sit around the table with our family and friends, neighbors and even enemies. We sit at a table that celebrates harvest season, a job well done. 

Let’s look to the future when we all sit around the table together in a place called heaven, at the marriage supper of the lamb, celebrating the harvest, a job well done. Sitting together with friends and family, neighbors and even those who were once enemies. 

The salvation of the world is here, the kingdom of heaven is here, the harvest is upon us. 

“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Application

You are in a harvest field. 

Remember the wheat grows among the weeds. We are in a harvest field. We see those who need to hear the “good news” everyday. We see them at work, school, the grocery store, and even in our own home. 

Wherever we go, we are among those who need to know. 

Ask Holy Spirit to empower you to be a witness. “Holy Spirit, how can I be the light to someone today?” 

He may have you pray for them, he may have you start having lunch with them, he may have you give them an encouraging word, or he may have you introduce them to Jesus Christ. 

“Whoever has ears, let them hear. The harvest is plenty. (Matthew 9:37-38)

 

Deborah Lee

 

Matthew_12

SCRIPTURE

 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:33-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”

 

OBSERVATION-What does it say?

 

In this passage Jesus just about had enough of the Pharisees constantly questioning his every move, and slandering his name. Earlier in the chapter, the Pharisees were questioning Jesus’ tactics for healing on the Sabbath. Then in this particular passage, Jesus heals a demon possessed man who was blind and could not speak. Only to have the Pharisees accuse Jesus of getting his powers from Satan! Jesus had enough of the Pharisees foolishness! He then gives the Pharisees a piece of his mind!

 

UNDERSTANDING-What does it mean?

 

Warning: Living a Christ-filled life may also bring out the critics and “haters” in others.

 

“And all nations will hate you because you are my followers.”-Matthew‬ ‭10:22a

 

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”-‭‭John‬ ‭15:18

 

There is always those people who can’t stand seeing others succeed. I think the kids now a days call those types of people, “Haters”. They can’t stand seeing other people getting the love and affection they feel they deserve. And that to me is exactly what these Pharisees are...HATERS!!! I mean here was a humble man, Jesus, who was a carpenter. He spoke and taught in a manner that made them look foolish. Jesus knew more of their laws of Moses then they did! The crowds wanted to see Jesus. That made the Pharisees feel insecure. That’s when they devoted themselves to find any little thing they can catch Jesus on, to try to shame him, and discredit all that he was doing.

 

Fast forward to today’s world. There are still people out there like the Pharisees. People who try to bring you down for following Jesus. It can be a neighbor, a family member, classmate, friend, or co-worker. The fact that we choose to follow Jesus, almost makes it seem that we have a HUGE target on our backs! These people are looking over our every move. They are trying to catch us in our most vulnerable moment to see how we will react. I guess my question to ask is, “how do we react in those moments?” Is it a way that shines the light of Christ? Or is it a way that can give our critics “ammo” against us, calling us out on our hypocrisy? Jesus simply says look at the trees fruits to determine if the tree is good or bad. What kind of fruits am I producing?

 

LIFE APPLICATION

 

Relish the fact that you have people looking at how you’re living life. It’s a great opportunity to point others towards Christ!

 

Father God, I pray for strength and encouragement for those who carry Your name. I know it can bring heavy burdens in this world. I know it can even feel that the whole world is out to get us. But I find comfort knowing that You have been through it. And I know that You will see us through it as well. I pray that whatever situation or circumstance you put us in, we can use it to bring glory and honor to Your name Jesus. May it point others to see You as well. Thank You Jesus for always having our backs. May we have Your back as well as we walk in this world. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

 

-Moses Gaddi

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Psalm 89

SCRIPTURE

 

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

 

OBSERVATION-What does it say?

 

This Psalm was written by Ethan the Ezrahite. In 2 Samuel 7:12-17, God promises King David that there would always be a king of the Jews. Ethan wrote this Psalm after the Jews were deported to Babylon. In it, he expresses a belief that despite what he sees, he has faith that the promises described in 2 Samuel 7:12-17, will still be fulfilled. (Reference: Wikipedia)

 

UNDERSTANDING-What does it mean?

 

Ethan kept the faith.

 

The promise of God to King David didn’t seem like it was going to happen. However, this Psalm is the writer encouraging himself in the faithfulness of the Lord and His promises, despite the circumstances around him showing him something different.

 

LIFE APPLICATION

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

‭‭Hebrews 11:1

 

Four things about faith in these two passages:

 

-It’s impossible to please God without it.

-We must believe He exists when we come to Him.

-We must EARNESTLY seek him. Definition for earnestly in Oxford dictionary is “with sincere and intense conviction; seriously.”

-We must be confident in what we hope for, even though we don’t see it yet.

 

What faith move or prayer is the Holy Spirit asking you to make today? This is a personal question between you and God. No need to share, unless you feel convicted to and want agreement in it, please feel free to write it in the comments section.

 

-Michelle Gaddi