Parable of the Sower
Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
The seashore is a place of peace; the sound of the water and the smell of the air, birds calling to one another. Yet, Jesus had few times where he could be alone.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Such a crowd gathered to him, that he had to go aboard a fishing boat to have room to speak without being surrounded. The water also carried the sound of his voice better, as he spoke the word of truth. Some of the best messages ever preached were not in a building, but out where the people were at the seashore or on the slope of a mountain, or in a wilderness. What a beautiful setting to hear from God.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Parables are stories thrown along side a spiritual truth, to make it understood from a natural viewpoint, using familiar things to illustrate Spiritual truths.
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
This was a parable of sowing seed on four different kinds of soil, representing the hearts of different people. The way side, was a hardened path. No seeds could penetrate the ground.
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Enough soil to cause the seeds to come to life, but the soil was two shallow and full of rocks. Roots could not grow.
Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
It had thorns growing with the good seed and they choked out the good seeds.
Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Good soil for growing seed is prepared, and ready for the seed.
Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Not all could hear and understand Jesus' parables. Rather than cast pearls before swine, he spoke parables that the Spiritual people could understand.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Even his disciples didn't understand why he spoke in parables. They did not yet have the indwelling spirit of God , still they were willing to be disciples. Many are not even willing to try to understand. These are why he spoke in parables.
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
The understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom are for those that God has chosen to be his people. What a privelege to be chosen for his kingdom. Who are the chosen? Whosoever will believe. Do you understand in your heart?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Seeing is Believing
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Being connected to Jesus, brings the knowledge of God and the blessings of God. Being separated and not wanting an understanding of God's word and wisdom will make you destitute. Does God take away from them? I think not, it is the thief, the devil who comes "to steal and to kill and to destroy."(John 10:10) It is the liar that places lies in the children of disobedience.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
People who will not hear from God, who would mock his word or block it's hearing for others, may sit quietly and listen to a parable, a story. Thinking it interesting, but to them it remains just a story.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The word of God is powerful and meant to fulfill it's purpose in the hearer.
1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1 Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Isn't it God who blinds their eyes and causes them not to hear? Why would God do that? Perhaps they had refused truth too many times? Why did Jesus come? He came to save the lost, not destroy them.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
But, there is a god who blinds people, the god of this world, the devil.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Listen to the simple way to heaven: Jesus, he is the forgiveness of God. Repent, turn to him and ask him to forgive your sins. There is nothing we can do to earn God's salvation, Jesus earned it for us on the cross and when he was risen from the grave. Paul says it clearly.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Trust in Jesus and stay close to him, learning to be his disciple. He will keep you and deliver you into everlasting life.
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
We who are in Jesus through faith in his finished work are the blessed children of God. We are connected to God through the Holy Spirit of truth. It is he who teaches us all things of God. We understand the mysteries of God hidden from the world. Our Father reveals all things we need to know through his Spirit.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
If you cannot understand the things of God, pray to God to understand the way of salvation, Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
Parable Explained
Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The hard heart does not understand God's word. The devil comes along and steals the word of God off of the hardened heart. If we do not give up as a witness, and we show love, love breaks through the hardest heart until such time as they are able to receive the word. Often I have found that a demon is in guard over the hardened heart. Yet, if a soul hears and believes another's love, then the heart is opened for the love of God and his word is deposited. I have witnessed this by experience. We as the servant's of the Lord Jesus Christ have love to give to others.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
This person received the word with joy, but did not continue in the word. He was not rooted and grounded in the word. This person needs attention and special one on one discipling. He did not know enough of God's promises to hold on and trust through the troubles of life.
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
This one received the word, but the world was yielded to instead of God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
This person has made God king and Lord of his life. He loves and follows Jesus, digging into the word of God. He obeys the word and has put the gospel message first in his desire to help others in need. He is a faithful servant always about the Father's business.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
We walk by the light of God. This life is the preparation for eternity. Let us abide in his truth and bring as many as we can to the harvest. Our good works will be our reward in heaven. Our treasure is heavenly; our hearts belong with our family of God. We are his voice, hands and feet in a lost and evil world.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
May our lives bring glory to God, our Father. We seek no glory; all good things are from God. The best we can do is allow him to be in control.
Parable of the Tares
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The tares or weeds, are the people with the hardened hearts, that satan has control of. They are sent among the believers, pretending to be in God's family. They cause discord, in the church and in the Internet chatrooms. We know them by their fruit.
Often a newcomer to the chat rooms will not understand why the rooms are as bad or worse then other chats. It is because the wolves and tares are among the wheat. False witnesses and strife makers. The Lord said let them alone, the angels will separate the wheat from the tares at the end times and at the judgment. I am reminded of the words of Jude.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
These are obvious; others are very subtle, carefully sowing disbelief or accusations towards authority in the church. How many times have I heard people say, "I am against the organized church?" What, you prefer a disorganized confused church? Ignore them, leave them be and God will have the angels sort them. That which is not gathered into the barn shall be burned.
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Mat 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
The field is the world, the gospel of the kingdom was sown into the earth as a mustard seed, a small beginning. The Kingdom began to produce fruit and grow after The Son of God was planted in the ground and risen to new life.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Mat 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
As the tares abide with the wheat, the birds abide in the kingdom of professed believers. The bird in the parable of the sowers ate the seed of the word as it fell, so perhaps the birds on the mustard tree steal away God's truth by somehow removing the word of truth from the church services. Many churches are offended by references to the blood in the hymnbooks; this is one example of the bird's influence.
Parable of the Leaven
Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Three measures of meal, was used as the grain offering to the Lord, being offered to the Lord, it became holy. The leaven in the Bible is always used as a picture of sin. Leaven , or yeast mixes with the bread dough and causes it to swell and grow in size. In a poll of our country, it was said that 80% or so, claim to be Christians. This is the kingdom of God on earth, swollen in numbers, yet how many will God be with in His heavenly kingdom for eternity? Will you be with Jesus?
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Cor 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
2 Cor 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. (in your eyes.)
2 Cor 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Often the greatest critics of other Christians come from within the Church. Before we criticize, we should examine our faith and our fruit. Are we trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ to cover us and remove our sins?
Parables
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
The multitudes were unable to hear the truth of God directly.
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The mysteries of the kingdom, would not be fully revealed until after the resurrection of Jesus.
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Now is the time to come to Jesus, now is the time to get right with God.
Treasure
Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The field is the world and the man, is the Son of man, Jesus.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus came, putting aside all he was as God the son and took upon himself our sins, he died on the cross for us.
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He gave his all to save those who are his treasure from the world. We are the treasure, the beloved bride of Christ.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
We could do nothing to earn the kingdom, for Jesus alone could pay the price. He was without sin. We receive the kingdom through faith in him. He paid the price with his blood to purchase us from the god of this world, the devil.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is God's doing.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This is our work.
Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Again Christ sold all, gave all to purchase the pearls, we are his pearl of great price.
I can't help thinking, that Jesus is my treasure, he is my pearl; of great price. He has given me a new life, He has given me His Spirit, his word, the gospel of truth and his great promises. I cannot give him good things, because all good comes from him. What can I give him? What can we give the Lord? We can give him obedient hearts and lives.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Help us to serve you Lord. Our gift to you is our obedient lives of service. You are our greatest treasure as we are your treasure and pearl. Our love comes from you and we return it, loving you first and our brothers and sisters. We continue doing the work you have started. We are your hands and your voice to a lost world. Your word still has power and you are the healer.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Dragnet
Mat 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Mat 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Mat 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
We are not just talking about people in the world, but those professing to be in the kingdom of heaven. The Christian cults believe they are in the kingdom, perhaps some are by faith in Jesus. The New age Christians, believe they are in the kingdom, or perhaps in even a higher state of consciousness, they will be in the net and gathered at the last day. Those who believe in reincarnation will be in the net. The angels shall separate those who are in Christ and have the seal of His Holy Spirit, from all manner of other professing kingdom people. There are some really strange looking creatures brought up in a net, in the natural ocean. I have heard of some really strange professing Christians: Christian witch, Christian Wicca, Christian Science. There are professing Christians that do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, they only believe in Jehovah. What did Jesus say?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
So many say, there are many paths to God. Jesus said he is the only way. Many become angry at this and accuse God of being unjust. Are you God's judge? You have judged yourself, because you will not receive the forgiveness of God through the great sacrifice of Jesus for you.
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Jesus often spoke of hell and judgment of the unrighteous. He spoke in love warning the lost.
Mat 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
I hope all do understand.
Mat 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
A scribe knows the old testament laws, but should also understand the new things that Jesus spoke. We must know the law to really appreciate the grace that is in Jesus. If we reject Jesus, the law cannot save us.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now you know the true way to God.
Only the Jesus they knew
Mat 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Other cities had seen his works and heard his words and were astonished.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
But now he is in his home place of Nazareth, where he was raised under Joseph and Mary. The local people saw him as the boy from a local family. One religious group worships his mother Mary, as a perpetual virgin. the Bible says here that she had other children from Joseph, these were half brothers and sisters to Jesus. We do not change the Bible's meaning to fit our beliefs, we should conform to the word of God, it is true, we learn from it.
Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
There is no indication that his brothers believed that he was the Christ, not until after his death and resurrection. His brother James, became head of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the book of James. His brother, Judas, not Iscariot, wrote the book of Jude in the Bible.
Commentators explain this verse away, saying they were maybe Joseph's by another marriage, or cousins. Paul adds his authority concerning James, as the Lord's brother.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
He also had half sisters.
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Mary, the mother was of the earth, not from heaven. The scriptures are saying there were other children. She lived a normal life, having children, one husband, a home.
Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
The people could only remember the boy growing up in their midst. To them, he was just ordinary. Isaiah prophecied of Jesus' looks:
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
If they thought Jesus to be nothing special, do not be surprised if those who are around you see you the same way. Do not be discouraged when people are offended at your new life in God's spirit. It is our relationship to Jesus that makes us special. And, it was Jesus' relationship to Father God that made him the Christ, the savior of his people.
Because of their unbelief, Jesus did not do many mighty works in their country. God does use us in his work. Our obedience he requires. If we do not have faith, then because of our unbelief, not many miracles will he perform. Do you need a miracle? Believe in Jesus and receive in due time.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Love God and Jesus more than your own unbelieving family and more than your own life.
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