Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

In this pair of parables Jesus describes two contrasting ways of finding wealth. The man in the first parable comes across the treasure almost by accident whereas the man in the second parable has spent his time searching for what he regards as valuable. That much is obvious, but then we have to ask how such contrasts can both describe the progress of the kingdom. Who is the man in the parables? There is a difference of opinion regarding whom Jesus has in mind when he mentions to an individual in each of these parables. One view is that the man in both parables represents Jesus himself and illustrates his willingness to give up everything he had in heaven in order to rescue his people, with them being the treasure and the pearl of great price. This suggestion is usually made because Jesus is regarded as the sower in earlier parables in this chapter. Personally, I don’t agree with that interpretation and do so for a couple of reasons. One reason is that interpreting the fi...

We have already looked at two of the parables of the visible kingdom that Jesus taught. In the parable of the sower, he taught that there would be genuine disciples and temporary disciples. In the parable of the weeds, he taught that evil would exist alongside the kingdom of God and would penetrate it. We know that both of those features are obvious. Now we move on to consider another two of the seven parables in this chapter. John Laidlaw, who was a Free Church professor in the nineteenth century, observed that in this two stories we have a parable, a prophecy and a promise all in one. He compares them with the previous two parables – those of the soils and the weeds which have disturbing elements – and observes that this next two parables ‘give encouragement in the strongest form’. He points out the beginnings were small, the process of growth is secret, and the result is success. Circumstances The disciples of Jesus would have noticed changes in the responses of the publi...

'If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.  If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.’ In this verse, we have guidance for all who will serve Jesus. Basically, we see that a servant is a follower of Jesus. It also tells us where his servants can be found – ‘where I am, there will my servant be also.’ And Jesus also mentions what the future of that servant will be: ‘If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.’ While this verse refers to all Christians, we can also apply it to elders. An elder is a follower, he should be found in certain places, and he should bear in mind what will he will be involved in in the future. It is important to note the dignity of the title that Jesus gives to his people here. Each of them is called ‘my servant’. What gives dignity to a servant is the importance of his master. If a person is a servant in a palace, he has greater dignity that someone who is a servant in a shop. The work may be...