https://www.immanuelclifton.org/

Immanuel Lutheran Church - Clifton TX, 911 W 3rd Street, Clifton, TX (2026)

09/07/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:51-52
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Jesus now turns from teaching parables and asks His disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” To which they confidently answer, “Yes.” While they have likely overstated their understanding here (see Matthew 15:16), they have nevertheless been given what the crowds have not. Jesus has explained the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to them.

Jesus then gives one final comparison/parable. He says, “… every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” During Jesus’ day, a scribe was someone who was an expert in the Scriptures. They copied, studied, and taught God’s word. The irony, of course, was that many scribes at this time rejected Jesus because they believed they understood the Scriptures and were certain that the Scriptures did not point to Him (John 5:39-40).

Here, however, Jesus speaks of a different kind of scribe, one who has been “… trained for the kingdom of heaven…” The word translated trained (μαθητεύω, mah-thay-TEH-oh) literally means to be made a disciple. This is not simply someone with knowledge but someone who has learned from Christ Himself. This is not just someone who understands the Old Testament. It is someone who understands that its fulfillment is in Christ (Matthew 5:17). The old has not been discarded; rather, it is now understood in light of the work of Christ.

In this way, the disciple is like the master of a house who brings out treasures both old and new. To put it another way, the disciples are no longer listeners; they are being trained to be teachers. They have now received the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and they will be sent out to proclaim those mysteries.

The “old” treasures are the promises of God, His prophecies, and all the mighty acts recorded in the Old Testament. The “new” are the fulfillment of those promises in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. These are the things the disciples are called to teach. In fact, in writing his gospel, Matthew shows he has become a scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven.

This same pattern continues today. Christians do not discard the Old Testament in favor of the New, nor do we read the Old Testament apart from the New. Instead, we treat them as the treasures they are. The Old points to Christ, while the New reveals Him. And as we learn His Word, we too become scribes trained for the kingdom of heaven.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God reveals the mysteries of His kingdom through His Son, enabling His people to understand His saving work through all of Scripture.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
As disciples of Christ, we are lifelong students of God’s Word. We learn the treasures from both the Old and New Testament and share them with others.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing Your Son to us through the disciples and through Scripture. Continue to teach us and to strengthen our faith in Christ, equipping us for the work of the kingdom. Amen.

09/06/2026

Clifton, Texas
Missouri Synod

09/04/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:47-50
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 . The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Matthew now concludes this section of teaching with one last parable by Jesus. Again, he starts out with the phrase, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” This time he describes it as a large fishing net that is cast out into the sea so that, when cast out into the sea, it gathers fish “…of every kind.” When the net is full, the fishermen pull it ashore and separate the good fish from the bad. The good fish are placed into containers while the bad are thrown away.

Jesus leaves no room for speculation in this parable because He immediately explains it. He says, “So it will be at the end of the age.” The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous. Just like in the Parable of the Weeds, this parable points to the certainty of the Last Judgment. The imagery is a little different, but the message is the same. Until the end of the age, God’s kingdom will gather many people into visible fellowship. Just as the net brings in every kind of fish. Yet among those in the net there will be those who hear the Word and believe, and those who only appear to believe.

As with the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus speaks honestly about the coming judgment. The wicked will be cast “…into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” These should be sobering words to us, reminding us that eternity is real and that Christ’s warnings are just as real. In His great love for us, He calls us to repentance before that day comes.

This parable is also designed to bring comfort to Christ’s people. The world often seems confused, unjust, and out of control. Often evil seems to prosper, and sometimes God’s people wonder whether righteousness will ever prevail. Here Jesus assures us that the day is coming when He will judge the world and every wrong will be made right. Nothing escapes His notice, and no injustice will remain unpunished. The Judge of all the Earth will do what is just (Genesis 18:25).

Finally, the parable serves to remind us that final judgment belongs to God, not to us. Our calling is to proclaim the Gospel faithfully, trusting that Christ will accomplish His work through His Word (Isaiah 55:10-11). The Lord alone knows the heart of man (1 Samuel 16:7), and He alone will judge perfectly when He returns.

Until that day, we as the church continue to cast the net. We continue to proclaim the Gospel. Letting all know that the Savior who will come in judgment is the same Savior who bore their sins on the cross. And His desire is that all may repent and live (Ezekiel 33:11).

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God is patient and desires all to be saved, yet He will judge the world and cast unbelievers into the fiery furnace.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
Our calling is to proclaim the Gospel to all, leaving the final judgment to Christ.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of salvation. Help me to trust in Your perfect judgment and keep me in the faith until Your return. Amen.

09/03/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:44-46
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
The next two parables are very short, but despite that, they have generated a great deal of discussion over the years. Traditionally, many Christians have understood the treasure and the pearl to represent Christ or the kingdom of heaven, with the man being the believer who gladly gives up everything to obtain them. While there is certainly truth in saying that Christ is worth more than anything else, there is another, perhaps better way of reading these parables. One that fits better with the rest of Chapter 13.

Throughout this chapter, the primary actor in each of the kingdom parables is not the follower of Christ, but Christ Himself. The Sower sows the seed. The Son of Man plants the good seed. The owner of the field determines the time of the harvest. The mustard seed and the leaven grow by the power of God. It is likely then that these two parables carry forward the same theme, namely that it is God who is acting.

Here the emphasis is not merely on the value of the treasure or the pearl; it is on the one who “…sold all that he had and bought it.” The repeated language in the parable is significant. Scripture repeatedly tells us that we do not purchase our salvation. Later in Matthew, Jesus even rhetorically asks, “What shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). The answer, of course, is: He can give nothing. Instead, Jesus tells us in Matthew 20:28 that “…the Son of Man came… to give His life as a ransom for many.” Salvation is not something we buy, choose, or earn; it is something Christ purchases for us.

Seen this way, the treasure and the pearl represent the people of God. Just as Israel was called God’s treasured possession (Exodus 19:5), so Christ now claims His Church. Though His people may be small, hidden, and insignificant in the eyes of the world, they are of immeasurable value to Him. And He gladly gave everything, including His own life, to redeem them and make them His own.

These parables are not really about the strength of our commitment to Christ. Rather, they demonstrate the certainty of His commitment to us. Our confidence rests not in what we do but in the fact that He has already paid the full price to make us His own. As Jesus says in John 10:27-29, no one can sn**ch His sheep out of His hand. These words are meant to provide the believer with comfort. They are the parable version of Paul’s words in Romans 8:35-39. There Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from His love.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God values His people beyond measure. In His great love, Christ gave everything, even His own life, to redeem us.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
Our confidence rests not on what we do or what we give up, but on what Christ has given up for us.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Lord, thank You for giving up everything to make me Your own. Keep me secure in Your Grace and strengthen me with Your unfailing love. Amen.

09/02/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:34-35
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
After recording the three parables about the kingdom of heaven, Matthew pauses to explain to the reader just why Jesus is teaching this way. He reminds us that Jesus is not merely choosing an interesting style of teaching; He teaches this way because it is the fulfillment of Scripture. Long before Jesus, the psalmist said, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus explained that His parables both reveal and conceal (Matthew 13:10-17), with the result that those who reject Him hear only stories, while those who receive His Word are given understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew now adds another important truth: This has always been God’s plan.

The quotation comes from Psalm 78, where Asaph recounts God’s mighty acts in Israel’s history so that each new generation might know and trust in the Lord. But Matthew shows that something even greater is taking place. Jesus is not just reminding people of what God had done in the past. He is revealing what God had planned from the very beginning. The kingdom of heaven, promised in the Old Testament, is now present in Christ Himself.

Matthew’s main point here is that what’s happening is not plan B. Jesus doesn’t switch to parables because the people didn’t like His sermons. This isn’t happening because God’s purpose somehow failed. And this is true of all of God’s plan for salvation. From the foundation of the world, God planned to send His Son to redeem sinners (Ephesians 1:3-10). He has been preparing His people for this day throughout their history. Now in Jesus the hidden is being made known.

Of course, some will hear but not understand. Some will simply reject the truths of the kingdom. Parables do more than just make difficult ideas easy to understand; they also reveal the mysteries of God’s kingdom to those who hear Christ in faith. Through these simple stories, Jesus proclaims the fulfillment of everything God has promised from the beginning.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God has carried out His plan of salvation from the beginning and reveals it through His Son, Jesus Christ.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I can only receive the mysteries of God’s kingdom through faith.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, open my ears to hear Your Word and strengthen my faith in Christ. Amen.

09/01/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:31-33
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
After telling His listeners the parable of the w**ds, Jesus immediately follows up with two very short parables that ask and answer the question: What does the kingdom of heaven look like right now? To many people in Jesus’ day, the kingdom that Jesus was speaking of did not look impressive. Sure, Jesus was doing miracles and preaching, but to them this was not really a kingdom. Kingdoms had… well, kings! And armies, power, majesty, and grandeur…etc. Jesus was a carpenter from Nazareth with a handful of disciples. Further, the religious leaders opposed Him, and some in the crowd, and even His own disciples, were beginning to turn from Him (John 6:66). If this was God’s kingdom, it certainly did not resemble any kingdom they had seen.

In the first parable, Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.” He describes the seed as the smallest in the garden. However, Jesus is not giving a botany lesson or making a scientific statement about every seed on earth. Rather, He is using hyperbole to emphasize how incredibly small the beginning of the kingdom appears. Yet despite its humble beginnings, the seed grows into a tree so large that birds are able to make nests in its branches.
Over the centuries, many people have sought to interpret the parable, assigning different meanings to the man, the field, the seed, and the bird. And to be fair, this is appropriate, but it’s also important to note that Jesus’ focus is not on these things. His purpose is to demonstrate that the kingdom of heaven begins as something almost invisible, but becomes something impossible to overlook.

Jesus then gives another view of the kingdom of heaven. He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Three measures of flour is an enormous amount of flour, about 45 pounds, far more than an ordinary family would bake at one time. And of course, when the leaven was added to the flour, it would seem to disappear. Yet quietly and steadily it works until every bit of the dough is leavened.

In the end, both parables teach the same thing. God’s kingdom often appears small, hidden, and unimpressive. That was even true of Jesus’ own ministry. It looked insignificant compared to the kingdoms of the world. In fact, when Jesus died, few outside of Jerusalem and Galilee had even heard of Him. Yet through His preaching, miracles, death, and resurrection, Christ was establishing the reign of God. And as it turned out, what seemed weak would ultimately change the world.

Jesus’ parables were meant to encourage the people following him, but they are also meant to encourage us as well. Christians are often tempted to judge God’s work by what they see. Attendance, popularity, impressive buildings, influence in the community; these are all ways we gauge success. Yet Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven does not work this way. These things aren’t bad in and of themselves, but the power of God’s kingdom does not lie in outward appearances. Rather, it lies in His Word. Though it may seem small and hidden at times, God’s Word continues to accomplish exactly what He sends it to do (Isaiah 55:10-11). Therefore, His people should not lose heart. God is still at work in the world!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God’s kingdom often begins in ways that seem small and hidden to us, yet His Word always accomplishes what he desires it to accomplish.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I should not judge God’s work by appearances but trust His promises, even when I cannot yet see the results.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, strengthen my faith to trust Your Word, patiently waiting for the fullness of Your Kingdom. Amen.

08/31/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:24-30; 36-43
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed w**ds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the w**ds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have w**ds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the w**ds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the w**ds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the w**ds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The w**ds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the w**ds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
As previously mentioned, Jesus begins to teach the crowds in parables. Matthew records the Parable of the Weeds in verses 24-30, but Jesus does not explain the parable until verses 36-43. So, as we did for the Parable of the Sower, we will bring the parable and Jesus’ explanation together, then go on to discuss the verses in between in a separate section.

Jesus begins this parable by describing a man who sows good seed in his field. However, while everyone is sleeping, an enemy comes and sows w**ds amongst the wheat. Later, when Jesus begins to explain the parable, He tells us what each major element represents. The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The w**ds represent the sons of the evil one. The enemy is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Something that doesn’t come through in the English is that the Greek word for w**d here, ζιζάνιον (zih-zah’-nee-on), probably means something like darnel. This is a w**d that looks a lot like wheat when it is young, and the difference between it and wheat doesn’t become obvious until later, when its roots are intertwined with the wheat. This helps us to understand the latter interaction between the master and his servants.

It is important to note that in this parable, Jesus treats the Devil as a real being. In fact, throughout Scripture, Jesus never treats the devil as abstract or the representation of humanity’s ignorance. The devil is always actively working against the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:19). Yet it is also important to note that the devil does not own the field. So even though the Devil sows w**ds, it is not His field.

In response to the enemy sowing w**ds, the servants ask, “Do you want us to go and gather them?” The master’s answer to them is, “No.” But he does not refuse because the w**ds are harmless or because judgment will never come. Rather, Jesus is teaching that His disciples are not called to carry out His final judgment. In other words, it is not our job to sort the world into believers and unbelievers. Why? Because we cannot perfectly distinguish those who truly belong to Christ from those who do not, nor has Christ appointed us to remove all evil from the world. This does not mean Christians are to ignore evil or pretend it does not exist. Elsewhere, Scripture commands Christians to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), pastors to rebuke false teaching (Titus 1:9), and the Church to practice discipline when necessary (Matthew 18:15–20; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13).

Yet here Jesus points out that Judgment belongs to God and God alone. And that’s why this parable turns our attention to the Last Day. Jesus tells us that “… the harvest is the close of the age.” And at that time, the Son of Man will send His angels, and they will separate the w**ds from the wheat. Or more pointedly, they will separate the sons of the kingdom from the sons of the evil one. It is important to note that Jesus describes the judgment in stark terms. He says that the wicked will be thrown “… into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”He does not soften the reality of God’s judgment against sin and unbelief. One of the important points of this parable is that God’s patience should not be confused with indifference. Judgment is delayed, but it is not canceled.

Yet the parable does not end on a dour note; instead it ends with hope. Jesus says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” On the Last Day, everything that now looks mixed, confused, and unresolved will be made right. The Son of Man will judge all, and those who belong to Him will share in His glory.

The Parable of the Weeds asks, “Why does God allow evil and unbelief to continue?” Jesus’ answer is: because the harvest has not yet come. Until it does, His people are called to trust in Him, remain faithful, and wait for the day when He makes all things right.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God is patient and merciful, giving people time to repent, yet He will judge the world with perfect justice on the Last Day.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I am called to remain faithful to Christ, trusting Him to judge rightly while I continue to live by His word.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, keep me faithful to Christ, always looking forward to the day you return and make all things right. Amen.

08/28/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:10-17
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Again, after hearing the Parable of the Sower, the disciples asked the natural question: “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Up to this point, Jesus has generally spoken plainly to the crowds. From this point forward, He will teach quite a bit with parables. This marks a significant shift in His ministry, and the disciples want to know why.

Jesus first tells His disciples that they have been given to know “… the secrets of the kingdom of heaven,” while the crowds have not. We discussed this difficult statement in the last section, so here we will focus on the practical result of Jesus’ statement. Namely, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Jesus is saying that those who have received His Word in faith will continue to grow in understanding, and to them more will be given. But for those who reject His Word, they will lose what little understanding they already had.

Jesus then answers their question directly. “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” His explanation might be surprising, but the reality is that parables are meant to both reveal and conceal. For those who believe they reveal the mysteries of God’s kingdom through vivid, everyday pictures of life. For those who do not, the parables remain interesting stories. They hear the words but don’t understand them.

Jesus then quotes Isaiah 6:9-10. The prophet Isaiah was sent to preach to a people whose hearts were hardened against God. His preaching did not create their unbelief; rather, it exposed it. Jesus is pointing out that the same thing is happening here in His own ministry. The crowds repeatedly witnessed His miracles, heard His preaching, and even saw Him cast out demons, yet many still refuse to believe. Their inability to understand is not because God’s Word has failed, but because they have continually closed their ears to it.

This teaches us something important about God’s judgment. God is patient and sincerely desires all to be saved. Yet Scripture also warns us that persistent rejection of God’s Word has consequences. A heart that continually refuses Christ does not become softer over time; it becomes harder. This is the danger with all persistent sin. It’s not that God can’t or won’t forgive it; it’s that, eventually, our hearts become so hard that we don’t see it as a sin, and so we think that it doesn't need to be forgiven. In the end, the very Word that brings life to believers will also stand in judgment of those who refuse to hear.

Jesus concludes this section with words of comfort. He says, “…blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” The prophets and many righteous people in the past longed to see the coming of the Messiah. The disciples, however, were blessed to see the fulfillment of God’s promise. They heard the very voice of Christ whom all the faithful of the past had looked forward to. That was not because they were wiser, but because God had graciously opened their eyes to recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You are blessed by this as well. You live in an age when the promise of the Messiah has already been fulfilled. You know Jesus' name, and you can call upon Him

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God graciously reveals His kingdom through His Word, opening the eyes and ears of those who believe.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I should never take God’s Word for granted. Rather, I should gladly hear it and trust in it.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Lord, give me ears to hear and a heart that gladly receives your word. Amen.

08/27/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 13:10-13
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
In the previous section, Jesus taught the crowds the parable of the sower, and immediately afterward His disciples ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” But Jesus’ answer is challenging. He says, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” It is no understatement to say that these are among the most challenging words in Scripture because they raise a question Christians have asked for centuries: Why are some saved and not others?

It should be noted that this is not just a theological puzzle; it is the very issue Jesus is facing in His own ministry. God Himself is preaching. The Son of God is physically standing before the people. He desires them to be saved. The Holy Spirit is at work through the Word. Yet many still reject Him. Why? The problem and therefore the answer is not as straightforward as some might think. This is because Scripture holds together several truths that Christians confess.

First, God is the author of salvation. Faith is His gift, not our work (Ephesians 2:8). Those whom He foreknew He also predestined, called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:29-30).

Second, God sincerely desires all people to be saved. St Paul writes that God “…desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) And St. Peter writes: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Third, People are condemned because of unbelief. Jesus Himself speaks of those who are sent to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), and he repeatedly warns against the consequences of rejecting Him (John 3:18).

These are just a small sample of the texts that could be mustered. But in reading them, the problem becomes unavoidable: If God alone creates faith, and if God desires everyone to be saved, yet everyone is not saved, why then are some saved and others are not? Throughout history, Christians have answered this question in a few different ways.

Calvinism, named after John Calvin, answers: “Because God graciously chooses those who will be saved.” This answer rightly emphasizes God’s sovereignty and that salvation is entirely by grace. However, it also must explain passages that teach that God sincerely desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3–4; 2 Peter 3:9). Reformed theologians have addressed this in various ways. Some understand the word all to mean all categories of people (Jew, Gentile, male, female, kings, servants, etc.), while others understand it to refer to all of the elect rather than every individual. So the answer to why some and not others is: Because God graciously chooses who will be saved.

Arminianism, named after Jacob Arminius, answers: “Because some choose Christ while others do not.” This view rightly emphasizes that Christ died for all people and that God desires all people to be saved. However, it must explain passages that teach that faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Typically, this answer understands God’s predestination as based on His foreknowledge of who would freely choose Him rather than God’s gracious choice in creating faith. So the answer to why some and not others is: Some freely choose God while others do not.

Universalism answers, “In the end all will be saved.” While this may sound comforting, it cannot be reconciled with Scripture, especially passages like Matthew 25:41-46, where Jesus clearly teaches eternal judgment. While this view has become increasingly common in some forms of liberal Christianity, it must be rejected because theology is built not on what we wish to be true but on what God has revealed in His Word.

Lutheranism, on the other hand, refuses to solve the mystery. As with the Trinity and the two natures of Christ, Scripture does not seek to reconcile these truths; thus, Lutheranism simply leaves them as a mystery, holding together what the Bible teaches. God alone creates faith. God genuinely desires all people to be saved. Those who are lost are lost because they reject Christ. Scripture teaches all three of these truths, even though it never explains why some believe and some do not, why some soil produces fruit and some does not.

It should be noted that even within these answers there are nuances and variations. This section is already going to be overly long, and I don’t want to get into the w**ds more than I have to. So these answers can be summarized this way:

· Calvinism: God Chooses
· Arminianism: You Choose
· Universalism: Everyone is saved
· Lutheranism: Scripture doesn’t say

For some, the Lutheran answer is not very satisfying. Yet oddly this is precisely where Scripture provides the greatest comfort. This is because the real question to ask is not “Why some and not others?” The real question is: How do I know I am saved?

Each of these also provides a response to that question. For Calvinism, assurance ultimately rests on God’s eternal decree. While Calvinists rightly point believers to faith in Christ, the decree itself remains hidden from us. Thus, a believer’s assurance is found by asking whether his present faith and perseverance are evidence that he belongs to the elect. To put it another way, this answer requires you to look at your life for the assurance of salvation rather than God’s Word.

In Arminianism, if the decisive difference between the believer and the unbeliever is ultimately my decision, then I may constantly wonder whether I have believed enough or been faithful enough, especially when I take a close look at my life and see the sin in it. Like the Calvinist, I am ultimately directed back to my own faith and perseverance for assurance.

But the Lutheran answer points us somewhere entirely different: the promises of Christ. If my assurance rests on the promise of Christ, then I have something outside of myself to cling to. Listen to what Christ says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). “Whoever believes in him is not condemned…” (John 3:18). “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” (John 5:24). “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). This is what Christ has said. It is trustworthy. It is not based on a hidden decree or on our decision. It is based on the objective promises of God, not upon what we discover in ourselves.

The Lutheran answer is not, “Don’t ask the question.” Rather, it is, “Don’t look for an answer where God has not revealed one.” Instead, look where God has promised to be found: in the forgiveness of sins, in His Word and Sacraments, all of which point to Christ crucified and risen for you.

The comfort of the parable is not found by trying to explain why one soil produced fruit while another did not. The comfort is found in the Sower who continues to scatter His life-giving Word and in the promise that wherever His Word is received in faith, it will bear fruit.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God has revealed everything I need to know for my salvation and calls me to trust His promises rather than myself or His hidden decrees.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
My assurance is not found in myself but in Christ, who promises forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, keep me steadfast in the faith, always trusting in Your gracious promises. Amen.

Immanuel Lutheran Church - Clifton TX

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