Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 29 OCTOBER 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 13
Subject: The Parables taught by the Lord Jesus

INTRODUCTION

1. The Ministry of the Lord Jesus

a) He taught with Authority Matthew 7:27-28

b) He taught with Brilliance Matthew 13:1-52

2. What we would expect

a) That people would appreciate

b) That some would even adore the Lord Jesus

3. Two main groups stood out

a) There were Disciples

b) There were Detractors

THE DETRACTORS

53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.
54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”
57 So they were offended at Him.

Matthew 13:53-57

1. The Lord Jesus went to His own country

a) His own country is a description of His “hometown”

b) This is a reference to Nazareth

2. He went to the synagogue in Nazareth and He taught there

3. The Response of the people is to be carefully noted

a) They were initially “astonished”

i) They could not understand how the Lord Jesus possessed such knowledge

ii) They had not expected that anyone from a humble Nazareth background could be so outstanding

iii) They noted His wisdom and His mighty works

b) They went on to argue against the Lord Jesus

i) They knew Him as the son of Joseph the Carpenter

ii) They knew His brothers and sisters

c) They were adamant and rejected the Lord Jesus

i) They thought of the Lord Jesus as a mere man

ii) They could not comprehend how He could be so different!

iii) They thus rejected the Lord Jesus

IN ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THIS REJECTION

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are [oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”
24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to [l]Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Luke 4:16-30

1. The Lord Jesus explained how the Spirit of God had anointed Him

2. Thus, He was able to do the things He did

3. Luke records the same rejection but added

a) The people were filled with wrath

b) They expelled the Lord Jesus

c) They wanted to throw Him down a hill

d) There was murderous intent

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.”
58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:53-58

1. He chose graciousness and understanding

2. He, like the prophets of old, would not be easily accepted

3. The unbelief was so deep He did not do many mighty deeds in Nazareth

OUR CHALLENGE

1. Let us not take the Lord Jesus for granted

2. Let us seek to grow in our knowledge and appreciation of the Lord