Jesus Explains Why He Speaks in Parables - God's Revealing of the Mindset of America and the Church

I was led to read the parable of the sower tonight. But as I read the following passages, God began to show me something.


From Matthew 13:10-17

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”

11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (Why? Because they see, hear and understand --see v.16)

12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. (Whoever understands what is said to them will be given more. Whoever disregards what they hear and see, these people won't understand and therefore the knowledge or word from God they received will be ignored. If you turn away from what the Lord is trying to tell you, don't expect another warning to reach you.) 

13This is why I speak to them in parables:

‘Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: (A reference to Isaiah 6:9-10 When Isaiah told the Lord to send him - he was then told to go the people of Israel and tell them these words until the land was totally forsaken. -- judgement.)

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15For this people’s heart has grown callous;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

(This was the mindset of Israel at that time and is the mindset of our world now -- Especially America. This is what God was showing me. This is part of the problem with this country and the church also. They fail to see with their eyes that the sword is coming -- those that celebrated the eclipse; they didn't see it as a final warning for our country and the church. Because of this they did what they wanted and ignored the knowledge God was sending to them through his people.  So when judgement hits them, they are overwhelmed, emotional by the chaos and confusion and wonder where God was the whole time. He was right there where they left Him, sending His people to warn them with His word/knowledge.

For example Hurricane Harvey - when it hit Houston the people were unprepared despite the warning from the Governor. But did you notice something strange - the mayor of Houston told the people not to evacuate. He told them the complete opposite. Knowing full well that this hurricane would bring a lot of flooding and destruction. Isn't that what the enemy does? Steps in with the wrong advice and because we don't feel like the situation is a threat, we take it as gospel. This is the seed that was sown on the road that the birds ate v.3. This could also be the seed that was sown in the thorns - as it grew it was choked. )

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn,

and I would heal them.’b  (This is what the Lord wants to do in our lives. He wants us to confront our sin, confess it, ask Jesus to be apart of our lives and for the Holy Spirit to help us get through what is coming. If God's people would all get on their knees and repent - turn away from their sin and look to God for everything, He would move mountains for them. He wants to hear from us what we are going through. He wants to hear us acknowledge Him as Father and King. He also wants to hear from those who don't know Jesus but desperately want a better life. He wants you to repent, turn away from your sins and ask Jesus into your life. He wants us to seek him, study His word and in turn He will bless us with understanding.)

16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (But at the end the Lord tells his disciples that they are blessed because they see, hear and understand what the prophets and righteous men have always longed for. This is a blessing to those of us who are awake in the church. This represents the seed that was sown in good soil that took root in a solid foundation - the word of God - and grew strong.)

What's your take? Please comment below and let me know.

Hannah's Heart

In 1 & 2 Samuel, we are introduced to Elkanah a Ramathain from the hill country of Ephraim, a descendant of Joseph. He had two wives, Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who had none. So every year when Elkanah would go up to Shiloh to do the yearly sacrifice, he would give portions of meat to Peninnah and her children, but because he loved Hannah so much he would give her double portions.

“Because the Lord had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” 1 Samuel 1:6-7

It was a horrible situation for Hannah. When I was in my late 20's, I wanted to get pregnant, but it never happened. There was a woman I worked with who had been married for only a few years. She knew how bad my husband and I were trying, so she came up to me and said, “I'm so sorry. I'm pregnant.” That was the most horrible thing anyone had ever said to me. Why did she say it that way? If she would have just said, “Hey I'm pregnant,” I would have been happy for her. But I cried. I had to get up and walk away so no one would see me crying. I didn't want anything to do with her or to see the photos of her baby when she was born. But, because I'm a nice person, I did. I sucked up the hurt and smiled through it.

The common thread that weaves Hannah's story and ours, according to First 5: “We can all be found desperately wanting something that we see the Lord giving to other women. We see Him blessing them in the very areas He's withholding from us. And while these other women may not be obnoxious like Peninnah in their reminders of their blessing and our lack, it's increasingly painful each time we see a reminder. We look at them, and feel set aside.(Lysa Terkeurst)” And that's how I felt that day, being reminded that I wasn't pregnant and this other woman was. Just as Hannah felt.

Hannah's husband asked her why she was crying. “Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?” (v.8) So she got up and went to the doorpost of the tent of worship where Eli was sitting in his chair.

“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (vs 10&11) She kept pressing in. She sought God, lifted up her pain and gave Him a promise.

Eli is watching her pray in her heart, moving her lips, but her voice wasn't heard. He thought she was drunk. But as Hannah explains, Eli leaves her with a blessing.

Read this next passage carefully. “Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.” This is where we should be. Even before God answered her prayer, she was totally changed, content, and worshiped God.

“The changes in her heart and in her actions were a result of her prayer.” (L.Terkeurst)

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-12

Hannah had faith that God would answer her and she would repay Him by giving Him the very son she so wanted. Such a sweet and beautiful heart and God knew she would honor her promise. “So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him” (v20). It didn't happen right away.

Sometimes, “God loves us too much to answer our prayer at any other time than the right time (L. Terkeurst). “ And it was Samuel's time. As we keep reading, Eli's sons,Hophni and Phinehas, were scoundrels. It was time to clean this Levitical house.


There's more to Hannah's story.....will post this week.

Quotes are taken from First 5's devotional Bible study series, 1-2 Samuel. To order your copy go to P31ministries.com/bookstore or visit link for a free download of their First 5 app for Android and Iphone/Ipad.