Message Notes

介绍

1. 新的证道主题- “天国的比喻”

a. 学习主耶稣所教导有关天国的比喻

b. 成为主耶稣的门徒（学习者）

c. 透过更深层地理解上帝的国度而找到喜乐

2. 我们今天的焦点 -“从众人中分辨门徒” 《马太福音13》

概述马太福音13章里有关天国的比喻

1. 主耶稣教导了一系列有关天国的比喻

a. 理解什么是比喻

i. 比喻是用人们可以理解的常见事所说的故事

ii. 来说明及教导很深层的真理

b. 这些比喻关系到上帝的国度

i. 上帝的国度是重点

ii. 通过比喻来教导深层和美妙的真理

2. 《马太福音》记录了8个比喻

a. 撒种的比喻

b. 麦子与稗子的比喻

c. 芥菜种的比喻

d. 面酵的比喻

e. 藏宝的比喻

f. 重价珠子的比喻

g. 撒网的比喻

h. 家主的比喻

新的教导方式

1. 回顾主耶稣有关上帝的国度的教导

a. 进入天国 《马太福音4：17》

i. 必须悔改

ii. 相信主耶稣为救主

b. 关于上帝的国度基本的教导 《马太福音5-7》

i. 天国国民的特征

ii. 在祷告中与上帝联系

iii. 必须避免的问题和危险

2. 新的教导方式 《马太福音13：1-3》

a. 许多人到主耶稣那里聚集

b. 祂的门徒也和祂在一起

c. 祂便开始用比喻对他们讲许多道理

从众人中分辨门徒

1. 比喻的用途

a. 门徒试图理解主耶稣用比喻来讲话的原因 《马太福音13：10》

b. 主耶稣的答复 《马太福音13：11》

i. 比喻是给予你们（门徒）来认识天国的奥秘（深层及美妙）

ii. 不叫他们知道（众人）

2. 从众人中分辨门徒 《约翰福音13：12》

a. “凡有的，还要加给他，叫他有余”

i. 门徒相信主耶稣，并且放弃自己所有事物的来跟随祂

ii. 门徒在跟随主耶稣的过程中学习了很多

iii. 他们继续向祂学习时，他们的知识和理解便增加

iv. 在主耶稣里能取得丰盛的知识！

b. “反没有的，连他所有的也要夺去”

i. 众人也听了主耶稣的教导，并且看见祂所行的奇迹

ii. 但是他们没有相信祂，也没有像门徒一样跟随祂

iii. 他们所看见和听见的不会对他们产生任何影响（夺去），因为他们缺乏回应

iv. 更多的真理不会揭示给他们

3. 良好回应的挑战 《马太福音13：13-15》

a. 上帝透过先知以赛亚揭示了祂的旨意

b. 回应不佳的人

i. 油蒙了心，眼睛闭着，耳朵发沉

ii. 上帝不会再对他们揭示其他真理

c. 回应良好的人 《马太福音13：16》

i. 他们会蒙福，向主耶稣学习更多美好的真理

ii. 这些真理是先知和义人所想学的！

对我们的鼓励

1. 上帝

a. 祂要我们得救

b. 祂要向我们揭示有关上帝的国度深奥的真理

c. 祂差遣主耶稣来完成祂美好的目的

2. 我们的本分

a. 良好地回应

i. 相信主耶稣

ii. 身为主耶稣的门徒跟从祂

iii. 一直向主耶稣学习

b. 成为学习和发现天国奥妙的真正门徒

i. 上帝会揭示

ii. 我们可以得到美妙的赐福

Jan-Feb Pulpit Series – “The Kingdom Parables”
Message Title : “Distinguishing the Disciples from the Multitudes” 7 Jan 2024
Text: Matthew 13

INTRODUCTION

1. New Pulpit Series – “The Kingdom Parables”

a. To study the Kingdom Parables that the Lord Jesus taught

b. To be disciples (learners) of the Lord Jesus

c. To find joy in understanding the deeper truths of the Kingdom of God

2. Our focus today – “Distinguishing the Disciples from the Multitudes” Matthew 13

AN OVERVIEW OF THE KINGDOM PARABLES IN MATTHEW 13

1. A series of Kingdom Parables taught by the Lord Jesus

a. Understanding what Parables are

i. A parable is a story about common things that people understand

ii. To illustrate and teach deep spiritual truths

b. These Parables concerned the Kingdom of God

i. The Kingdom of God was the focus

ii. Deep and wonderful truths were taught through the Parables

2. The 8 Parables recorded in Matthew 13

a. The Parable of the Sower

b. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

c. The Parable of the Mustard Seed

d. The Parable of the Leaven

e. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

f. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

g. The Parable of the Dragnet

h. The Parable of the Householder

A NEW METHOD OF TEACHING

1. Reviewing what the Lord Jesus had taught concerning the Kingdom of God

a. Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 4:17

i. Repentance is needed

ii. Believing in the Lord Jesus as Saviour

b. The foundational teachings of the Kingdom of God Matthew 5-7

i. The features of a Kingdom Person

ii. Relating to God in prayer

iii. Problems and dangers that must be avoided

2. A new method of teaching Matthew 13:1-3

a. Great multitudes were gathered to the Lord Jesus

b. His disciples were also with Him

c. He now began to speak many things in parables

DISTINGUISHING THE DISCIPLES FROM MULTITUDES

1. The purpose of the Parables

a. The disciples sought to understand why the Lord Jesus spoke in parables Matthew 13:10

b. The answer of the Lord Jesus Matthew 13:11

i. It has been given to you (disciples) to know the mysteries (deep and wonderful truths) of the Kingdom of Heaven contained in the parables

ii. But not to them (multitudes)

2. Distinguishing the Disciples and the Multitudes Matthew 13:12

a. “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance”

i. The disciples believed in the Lord Jesus and gave up their all to follow Him

ii. The disciples had learnt many lessons from the Lord Jesus as they followed Him

iii. They will be given more knowledge and understanding as they continued to learn from Him

iv. There was an abundance of knowledge to be found in the Lord Jesus!

b. “But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him”

i. The multitudes had also heard what the Lord Jesus taught and seen His miracles

ii. Yet they did not have faith in Him and chose not to follow Him as disciples

iii. What they had seen and heard would have no impact on them (taken away) because of their lack of response

iv. Further truths would not be revealed to them

3. The challenge to respond well Matthew 13:13-15

a. God had revealed His Will through the prophet Isaiah

b. Those who do not respond well

i. Their hearts have grown dull, eyes have closed, ears cannot hear

ii. God will not reveal further truths to them

c. Those who respond well Matthew 13:16

i. They will be blessed to learn even more wonderful truths from the Lord Jesus

ii. These are truths that prophets and righteous men from greatly desired to learn!

ENCOURAGEMENT TO US ALL

1. God

a. He wants us to be saved

b. He wants to reveal to us deep truths concerning the Kingdom of God

c. He has sent the Lord Jesus to fulfil His wonderful purpose

2. Our part

a. To respond well

i. To believe in the Lord Jesus

ii. To follow the Lord Jesus as His disciples

iii. To keep learning from the Lord Jesus

b. To be true disciples who will learn and discover the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven

i. God will reveal

ii. We can be wonderfully blessed