St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 13, The why is given.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples ask why He speaks in parables) Part 3. 

The disciples have questioned Christ as to the why of his change in teaching.  They wanted to know why he was teaching in parables.  They wanted to understand why he did not teach directly to the people as he did before.  Christ explains to them that they are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to others it is not given.  For to him who has more will be given and he shall have abundance.  But to him who does not have even that which he has will be taken away.  And now the disciples understand the why and the wherefore.  Some have and some have not.  Some will hear and some will not.  Some will receive and some will not.  And some will understand and have abundance and some will not.

Christ explains,  "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, neither do they understand."   So the people are deaf and dumb to the teachings of Christ.  Precious words of wisdom are wasted.  Knowledge of the kingdom go unheeded.  And there is no understanding.  For some have come for healing.  Some have come for show.  Some have come to be entertained.  And some have come to destroy, to kill, and to steal.  But Christ looks out over the crowd and his heart is filled with sorrow.  His great love for the people is wasted.  His desire to heal the spirit is rejected.  And they do not understand. 

They see him but do not.  They hear him but do not.  They understand his words but do not.  They are lost without hope.  For the evil one has closed their eyes that they do not see.  He has block their hearing that they do not hear and understand.  He has stolen their opportunity for redemption and they do not understand what is being lost.  For they are lost without hope.  Christ does not teach to them.  He teaches through them.  He teaches to the soul.  He calls the inner man to wake and come to life.  He calls the spirit to receive the life that he gives.  He reaches out a hand that they may understand that he is there to help cure their pain, to help give hope, to bring peace into their lives, to give joy to their soul, and to re-establish the kingdom within them that they may know the one true God who loves them.

Can you hear the message or are you asleep?  Can you see the signs or are you blinded by the darkness within?  Christ calls you.  He speaks to the inner man to awake.  He calls to the soul to come to life.  He brings to the body peace and joy in the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven.  Can you hear him?  Can you see him through the darkness?  He is calling you.  Awake! Arise! And come to life in Christ!    

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse:42, The Reward.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Blessings for the Apostles' benefactors) Part 5. 

The rewards for the people that the apostles will talk with.  Christ tells his disciples that those who receive them as messengers will receive rewards.  Those who heed the words that they speak will receive him and the Father in heaven also.  God is the sender of the message.  Christ is the spokesman of the message and the disciples are the message carriers.  They will preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first and then to the Gentiles.  Great are the rewards  And small are the rewards.  To those who receive them they shall rejoice.

Christ tells his disciples about the rewards of the prophet.  He tells them about the rewards of the just man.  Now he  talks about the little ones, the children.  He tells his disciples,  "And whoever gives to one of these little ones but a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."   The little ones are precious in the eyes of God.  Christ tells his disciples that they are also disciples.  They can also carry the message of Christ.  They who receive them and provide some kindness and a cup of cold water to drink, must also be rewarded.  Such kindness shall receive, in return, kindness from God.  They shall not lose their reward.

The children are disciples.  They run, they play, they shout, they jump, and they are full of energy.  They are like sponges.  They soak up what they see, what they hear, and what others do.  In good company they are playful and fun loving.  In bad company they will be destructive because of the influence of the devil from their peers and adults. 

It is amazing what children will say.  It is amazing what they will repeat when they hear something that they hear.  We are their influence.  We must beware of what we do at all times in their presence.  For what we say and do will be repeated.  If we speak the love of Christ that is in our hearts they will pick it up.  They will absorb the love that is within us and carry it to other children.  They will be messengers also to those who do not know the message.  And they will be warriors in the battle against the evil one when we teach them the defenses that Christ has given us.

Be kind to the children.  Show them the love that Christ has shown us.  For we are but children in the eyes of God, his children.  He who gives but a cup of cold water to these little ones will not lose their reward.  Are you kind to children?  Do you know that you are a child also, a child of God?  Do not lose your reward.  Do not miss the opportunity to serve the little ones!  For they too are disciples and they carry the message of Christ also.  Listen!  Hear!  Understand, the message of Christ!  Your reward is in the little ones.  Be kind to them.   

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse:40b, The Reward.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Blessings for the Apostles' benefactors) Part 2. 

Christ begins to tell his disciples about the rewards that the people will receive.  But first he tells them that the people must receive him and the message of the kingdom of heaven.  The disciples are going forth to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first.  They are preaching to their people, they are preaching to fellow Jews.  Will their brothers and sisters accept their message?  Will they receive the message sent by Christ?  Christ tells his disciples that he who receives them receives him.  But even more, he tells his disciples,  "He who receives me, receives him who sent me."  


The disciples are the messengers.  They bring the message that Christ has sent them to carry.  Christ is the voice from heaven.  He gives the message given him from the father.  Receive the Father from heaven and you will be saved is their message.  Turn back from the worship of idle gods and turn to the one true God in heaven.  For he has come to you through the voice of his son made man.  He has come down from heaven to live among you.  He has come to bring salvation.  He has come to bring the sword of God to separate the true children of God from those who would worship the evil one.

Accept the message of the kingdom.  For through it salvation will come.  Keep it close to your heart for with it you will find protection.  Renew yourself daily with the message for by doing so you will throw off the tricks and traps of the devil.  And when you receive and keep the message Christ will bring you your reward.  For those who find their life will lose it.  But those who find their life and lose it for Christ's sake will find it eternally in him.  Christ is the way and the truth and the life.  In him there is no lie.  He told his disciples that there will be separation.  Mother will turn against daughter.  Father will turn against son.  Children will turn against parents and the message will separate all in his name.  And those who take up the message, their cross, and wear it in public will be rewarded.  They are the ones who are worthy of Christ.

Are you worthy?  Will you receive the Father through Christ?  Come, receive your reward.  Take up your cross and become worthy of the love that Christ has for you.  Christ loves you unconditionally.  Whether you love him or not, he still loves you.  Yet, to reciprocate with your love tells Christ that you know the love that he has for you and you appreciate his love.  You say, I am worthy of his love.  You say I am grateful for his love.  You say I am humbled that he loves me, a sinner.  You say I am blessed by his love.  Receive the love from Christ and receive the love from God the father.  For they both have great love for you.  And the Holy Spirit will come forth and reside in you that you may be in him as he is in the Father.  Faith is the belief in the desire to be in Christ.  Are you in him or standing on the sidelines looking in?