Who Am I? The Gospel According to Matthew

The Gospel According to Matthew

Happy Sabbath Class! Just today my Uncle posted a picture of my grandfather, the late Dr. Elden Chalmers.  He died 16 years ago today.  Seeing the picture of him as a young man on my facebook feed, took my breath away.  He was a handsome man with very kind eyes that I was often on the receiving end of the sparkle that came from them.  Having just said good-by to my Steen grandparents, it was especially raw.  Looking at his picture I then realized there was another picture and as I swiped to the next picture it was of his bible open.  I can't even tell you what my uncle wrote about the bible or why he posted that picture but I'm so glad he did.  I have never in my life ever known anyone else who so faithfully and continually read, searched, devoured, and memorized his bible.  It was always tattered and worn.  He could recite entire books of the bible.  He believed that if his main diet of input was bible everything else would be clear.  Wonder how to make it through school, read the bible.  Wonder how to decide whom you should marry, read the bible.  Wonder how to stay married, read the bible.  Wonder how to have a relationship with Jesus, read the bible. Wonder how to raise your children, or nurture friendships, read the bible.  Wonder how to have mental health, read the bible.  I'm so thankful for his example.

Today we are finishing up Chapter 13 where Jesus is still telling parables.  I have relied heavily on what Ellen White writes in Christ Object lessons.  She so beautifully writes about these lessons.  I encourage you to read them.  If you are interested just google Christ Object Lessons and it is all there for you to read.  

Question:  What is your favorite bible verse, and why? 

READ: Matthew 13: 44-46

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

To better understand this let's look at what Ellen White says each part represents. 

Christ Object Lessons, pg 104 reads, "In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure. The earth itself is not so interlaced with golden veins and filled with precious things as is the word of God."

In this time, people would often hide their wealth in the ground to keep it safe from thieves but they would also often forget where it was etc.  When this man found the treasure he did all he could to purchase the field so the treasure would be his.  

It does not say in the bible how he found it, however in Christ Object Lessons EW writes, "A man hires land to cultivate, and as the oxen plow the soil, buried treasure is unearthed. As the man discovers."

We don't know how he discovered the treasure.  Maybe he stumbled on it, maybe he was plowing, but no matter, he discovered it. 

1. Have you personally found treasure in the scriptures?

2. How valuable is it to you - really?

3. Does it matter if the man found it by plowing or stumbled on it?  Does it make the treasure any less valuable? 

4. What lead him to find it? Where was he?

5. What would being in the field look like for us?

This next parable is saying the same thing...

Continue reading:

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

In Christs Object Lessons Ellen writes, " Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are "hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 2:3. He is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss."

1. Is Jesus that precious to you?

2. If he does, then how is that manifested in our lives? What does it look like to be someone how has found and values Jesus this much?

3. Do I really value Him, or do I take Him for granted? 

4. What do you need to give up for him? What has he been putting on your heart... what is He asking you to give up for him? NOT to gain salvation but because of the FREE gift he has given you!

I also found this a very interesting passage in Christ Object Lessons:

" The merchantman in the parable represents a class who were sincerely desiring truth. In different nations there were earnest and thoughtful men who had sought in literature and science and the religions of the heathen world for that which they could receive as the soul's treasure. Among the Jews there were those who were seeking for that which they had not. Dissatisfied with a formal religion, they longed for that which was spiritual and uplifting. Christ's chosen disciples belonged to the latter class, Cornelius and the Ethiopian eunuch to the former. They had been longing and praying for light from heaven; and when Christ was revealed to them, they received Him with gladness."

1. Are you earnestly seeking?

2. Are you longing for that which is spiritual and uplifting?

3. Are you sincerely searching truth?

Remember what we studied earlier in Matthew, "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find..."  Remember that this is talking about Jesus.  If we are seeking and asking for Jesus we will find him!  

3. Are you earnestly seeking?

4. How are you seeking?

5.  What can you do to change things in your life so you have more time for seeking?

READ: Matthew 13: 47-52

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Ellen writes, "The casting of the net is the preaching of the gospel. This gathers both good and evil into the church. When the mission of the gospel is completed, the judgment will accomplish the work of separation. Christ saw how the existence of false brethren in the church would cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. The world would revile the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of false professors. Even Christians would be caused to stumble as they saw that many who bore Christ's name were not controlled by His Spirit. Because these sinners were in the church, men would be in danger of thinking that God excused their sins. Therefore Christ lifts the veil from the future and bids all to behold that it is character, not position, which decides man's destiny.
Both the parable of the tares and that of the net plainly teach that there is no time when all the wicked will turn to God. The wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. The good and the bad fish are together drawn ashore for a final separation.
Again, these parables teach that there is to be no probation after the judgment. When the work of the gospel is completed, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed.
God does not desire the destruction of any. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Eze. 33:11. Throughout the period of probationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of life. It is only those who reject His pleading that will be left to perish. God has declared that sin must be destroyed as an evil ruinous to the universe. Those who cling to sin will perish in its destruction.

1. Are you willing to give it all up for Jesus?  To be one of those who are not cast out but one of the fish that are gathered in by the fisherman? 

READ: Matthew 13: 53-58

A Prophet Without Honor

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

1. If there are not miracles happening in our church what does that say?

2. If there aren't miracles happening in our lives what does that say?

I have often heard this story when people are explaining why they are not listened to in their own town or church... really?

3. Is it possible that "His Church" is missing him? Or is it possible for "His Church" to miss him?

If we put all these parables together

1. Dive into the scripture, wear out your bible! Seek after Christ!

2. Be willing to give up everything for him! Sell it all!

3. If you do, put your trust in the gatherer of the fish, and know that you will be one of the chosen!  You are HIS!

4. Don't ever stop seeking! Don't ever stop giving it all up! Don't ever stop seeing Jesus and knowing who He is.  He is too precious to miss!