St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 49-50, The Kingdom of Heaven: The coming Separation of the Wicked and the Just

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the net) Part 2. 

The net will gather all.  The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and when it is full it is taken up and the fish are separated.  The good fish are kept and the bad fish are cast away.  All are captured in the net.  All are brought to shore.  All are separated.  This is the parable that Christ tells his disciples that they may understand the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the separation that will take place.  The wicked will be separated from the just.  The workers of iniquity will be separated from the those who do good.  The fruit will be separated from the weeds and all will be judged according to their works.

Christ tell his disciples that they may know and understand the truth of the kingdom.  He tells them stories and parables that they may have the wisdom of the kingdom.  He gives them knowledge that they may be able to past their knowledge upon those who will follow them.  For they will be the new shepherds.  They will be the new leaders.  They will be the messengers of Christ after his work is finished.  So, he wants them to have clear understanding and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. 

He concludes his parable by telling the disciples of the end times.  He says, "So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.

The prophecy has been spoken.  Time will reveal the truth of its making.  The angels will come and separate but the net will capture all.  Will you be among the just or will you be among the wicked?  The furnace of fire awaits the separation.  Our God is a loving God.  He wants all to be separated into the just.  He wants no one to be put into the furnace of fire.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may understand.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may know.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may have the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  Will you heed the message?  Will you take action today to receive the kingdom?  Find your treasure.  Find your pearl of great value.  Be the good seed that Christ has planted in you.  They all await your search.  They all await your finding.  They all await you receiving that you may have joy and peace here and now, today, on this earth.  For the advodcate waits at your door.  Open and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 14 - 15, The Prophecy fulfilled.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples ask why He speaks in parables) Part 4.  

Christ had spoken to the people.  He told his disciples that they were chosen because to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven was given.  But to the rest of the people it was not given.  And what was given, more will be added in abundance.  But for those who do not have, those for whom it is not given, even that which they have will be taken away.  They do not understand.  Their eyes have been closed.  Their hearing has been blocked. And their perception is lost.  They do not understand the lessons that Christ is giving them that will bring them to salvation.  The evil one has blocked them from receiving the kingdom.

This is why Christ said,  "In them is being fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias, who says, 'Hearing you will hear but not understand; and seeing you will see but not perceive.' "   So Christ and the disciples sit and watch as the prophecy is being fulfilled.  They watch as the people come and go without a hint of understanding.  For they did not come for salvation.  They came for an outing.  They came for a show.  They came to be entertained.  And Christ speaks to them in parables, in stories because they did not understand the meaning of his words.

The evil one has completed his work.  He has possessed the people.  He controls the people such that they do his will.  He has closed their ears that they cannot hear and be saved.  He has closed their eyes that they cannot see the glory of Christ and be healed.  He has possessed the hearts of men that darkness covers them and they unable to receive the light of Christ.  Christ said, "For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their mind, and be converted, and I heal them."  

We live in a world that possesses us, that takes hold of us, that demands our all.  We have all sorts of new glittering gadgets that keep us drawn into this world.  Carrots on a stick that keep us from waking up from the dream that we are in.  We must have more money.  We must have a good job.  We must buy the right clothes, cars, homes, to live right in this world.  The glitter of this world blinds us from the true wealth that we are given through Christ.  Just as the people fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias then, we are fulfilling it today.  Our churches are filled with people who consider it their weekly duty to go and listen to a pastor tell them how they do not measure up to the kingdom.  After the service we go back into the dream not realizing the message that we were just given by our pastors.  Yet another week goes by and we go back into the rut that we have created for ourselves, thinking that we can make our dreams come true in this world.  After all we are shown in pictures, in words, in live examples others who live the kind of life we want for ourselves.  We are blinded by the world, we are tricked, we are led by the carrot, and the prophecy is being fulfilled.

Scriptures pass by us, daily but we do not see nor do we hear the message.  The world has taken away our sight and our hearing.  We seek not the kingdom because we seek the world.  And yet all that is in the world is already given to us in heaven.  If we would only receive it we would understand the meaning of those that have.  For they will have abundance.  And those that have not, even that which they do have will be taken away.  Heed the message.  Open your eyes.  Pray for the scales to be lifted from your eyes.   Ask to have the plugs removed from your ears that you may hear, that you may perceive, that you may be healed.  Seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and you will be given.  And you will have abundance!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 19, The Prophecy Fulfilled.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mercy of Jesus) Part 3. 

The battle continues and the prophecy is fulfilled.  It was written of Christ before he came.  It was told of his miracles before he was born.  It was spoken of his meekness before it was known.  For the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he was the chosen one.  He was the Christ.  They did not know.  The Pharisees plotted against him.  They did not know.  He was the Lord of the Sabbath.  They did not know.  He was greater than the Temple.  But he was meek as a lamb.

Christ continued to preach and heal and perform miracles.  He did not shout from the rooftops.  He did not preach in the streets.  He did not debate with the elders.  For he was meek and mild of manner.  It was written of him by Isaias, "He will not wrangle, nor cry aloud, neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets."   For the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he preached the good news of the kingdom of heaven.  He declared judgment to the Gentiles who were in need of judgment.  For the Gentiles had seen injustice far too long.  They had been downtrodden.  They had been the recipients of injustice.  They had been without hope for too long. 

Christ came meek and mild.  He came to restore that which was taken away.  He came to give life to the dead that they may have life eternally.  He was a quiet man.  He was a man of easy demeanor.  He was a man without hatred or fear and he demonstrated to his disciples the ways of the kingdom which they were to preach after the completion of his mission here on earth.  The prophecy was fulfilled.  For it was written of the type of man he would be.  It was spoken in the scripture of his actions.  And he came to fulfill the writings of the scripture.

Can we say the same of our spiritual leaders today?  Are they meek?  Are they of mild demeanor?  Do they cry aloud in the streets, in the synagogues, in the churches?  Do they wrangle with their fellow man to prove a point, to win an issue, to be correct?  Do they know the Spirit of the Lord?  For Christ said, "Come, take my yoke for it is light and his burden is easy."  The Spirit will teach all to those who seek Him.  The Spirit knows all and will reveal all to those who want more than this world has to offer.  Come!  Walk in the Spirit! Take up the yoke of Christ and receive his blessings.