God’s Judgment on Stubborn Unbelief | Matthew 13:1-17

Scripture

• Matthew 13:1–17

About this sermon

Introduction: When we come to Matthew 13, we meet with a shift in the teaching ministry of our Lord. Jesus is now teaching by means of parables. Our Lord had used parables before, but in a way that their meaning was clear. John MacArthur — “In His earlier teaching, Jesus used many graphic analogies to illustrate divine truth. He had spoken of believers as salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13–16), of their following the example of the birds and lilies in not being anxious about the necessities of life (6:26–30), and of building their lives on the solid rock of God’s Word rather than the insecure sand of man’s philosophy (7:24–27). Although those and other such figures were embryonic parables, their meaning was clear in the context of Jesus’ teaching.” This kind of use of parables represented a change. And that change is signaled in three ways. The change is marked by the introduction to the first parable (vs.3) “He spoke many things to them in parables” (NASB) To note this is to say that the way Jesus was now teaching was marked by the presentation of parables, which indicates (though He had used parables) he was using them with an increased frequency. The change is marked by a question that the Lord’s disciples ask in verse 10. ESV Matthew 13:10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" THEY noticed a change in the way that Jesus was teaching. The change is also noted by Matthew’s description in the 34th verse. ESV Matthew 13:34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. The answer for the change is given in verses 11-17. We will talk about it more in a moment, but what we can say at the outset is that what we are seeing signals JUDGMENT. Tonight we think about God’s judgment on stubborn, persistent, unbelief. • THE PRESENCE OF LARGE CROWDS (vs.1-2) The first thing that I want to point out is that this shift in teaching method was not the result of people losing interest in Jesus. Matthew says that there were “many crowds” flocking to Jesus on this day. Just a way of saying that there was a massive audience. Probably described in terms of multiplied crowds because they were coming together from several different places. It is a striking scene. Jesus leaves the house and sits down on the beach. The result is that these multitudes gathered around Him there. Everywhere Jesus goes there is interest. Everywhere Jesus goes there are needs. He is constantly being sought after. This day is no different. THE CHANGE IS NOT DUE TO CROWD INTEREST. THE CROWDS ARE SO LARGE THAT JESUS GETS INTO A BOAT AND USES IT AS THE PLACE FROM WHICH HE WILL SPEAK. The massive crowd have the beach as their auditorium. They stand there. NOTE: What I want you to recognize is that Jesus will go on to describe what He’s meeting with in His ministry as BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, and IGNORANCE. IT IS A SINFUL STUBBORNESS. IT IS A SINFUL DULLNESS. ESV Matthew 13:13 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.' CROWDS DON’T EQUAL DISCIPLES. THE SIZE OF A CROWD IS NOT A MEASURE OF THE TRUE INTEREST OF LISTENERS. You can have large crowds of people who represent a mass of sinful stubbornness. WHY THE LARGE CROWDS? There are multiple explanations. Curiosity. They find Jesus interesting. They want Jesus to help them — healing, deliverance, food. But they want Him on their own terms. ESV John 6:22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."

Topics

• Faith
• Hell & Judgment