What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued:] "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts."

—Matthew 13:18-19 NLT

Key Thought​

We would like to think that hearing is just a matter of good communication, but we must remember that Satan is the ultimate deceiver, the father of...

 

[Jesus continued talking to his disciples:] "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it."

—Matthew 13:16-17 NLT

Key Thought​

Even today, much of what the Bible says and means remains mysterious and unreachable to those who are not seeking after God's will. The Spirit's work...

 

[Jesus'] disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"
He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don't...

 

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly...

 

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you."
Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"


—Matthew 12:46-50 NLT

Key Thought​

Wow! This is one...

 

[Jesus continued his response to the Jewish leaders who asked for a sign:] "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil...

 

[Jesus continued his response to the Jewish leaders who asked for a sign:] "The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here — but you refuse to repent. The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here —...

 

One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority."
But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights."


—Matthew...

 

[Jesus continued:] "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

—Matthew 12:36-37 NLT

Key Thought​

"Oh no! Not this judgment stuff again." Yep! To a culture which wants no consequences, only blessings, this is a hard concept. But when we look at all the horrible things that occur in our world, all the horribly guilty who go free, then we know there has to be a settling...

 

[Jesus continued his reply to the Pharisees:] "A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart."

—Matthew 12:33-35 NLT

Key Thought​

...