GRINDIT podcast

Jesus is talking to his disciples and he tells them a parable about a fishing net which had to catch their attention because some of them were commercial fishermen who used nets to catch fish for a living. He says a fisherman caught all kinds of fish in their nets and when the net was brought into the boat, the fish were separated—the good fish were kept and the worthless fish were trashed. Then he asked them, “Do you understand?” and they replied, “Yes.” Then he shifts his focus to the religious leaders who did not understand. They had the Old Testament scriptures, they heard Jesus’ teachings, they saw the miracles, but they would not accept Jesus, they rejected the kingdom of heaven. Like the disciples, they weren’t willing to give up everything and follow him. What about you?

We continue looking at the parables Jesus used to teach the crowds so they could try and understand what it was like to follow him. In this episode of the GRINDIT Podcast, we take a look at two parables: the hidden treasure and the pearl. In both of these parables someone is searching for something. One treasure hunter has heard about a certain buried treasure in a field so he goes looking for it. When he finds it, he reburies it, goes and sells everything he has so he can purchase the field, and now the treasure is now his. In the second, a merchant who deals in pearls is always looking for that one pearl that is worth a lot of money, the mother pearl if you will. If they could just find that one pearl, their life would be complete. Many people are still looking for that pearl but what they don’t realize is that pearl is Jesus, that treasure is Jesus. He is worth giving up everything to follow. He should be THE most important thing in our life. What is that pearl, that treasure you seek? However you answer that question, if it’s not Jesus, that is the very thing that is keeping you from following him which is called an idol. What is your soul worth? What is so important, so precious to you that you aren’t willing to give it up to follow Jesus?

I love bread, especially when it's hot and covered in butter! In this episode we take a look at making homemade bread. I've never made it before so I borrowed a recipe from a website that has. One of the main ingredients to make bread is yeast. Without the yeast, the loaf won't be a loaf...it will be flat like a pancake, or maybe a tortilla! Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a little bit of yeast that was added to a big lump of dough. That little bit of yeast took over that dough and caused it to rise. Just like that yeast, when Jesus comes into our lives he makes a huge impact; he changes everything about us.

Jesus tells the parable of the Mustard Seed. It’s such a small seed and it seems insignificant to many but it actually has many uses. But when planted in the ground, this tiny seed becomes a tall tree, roughly nine feet tall, stands out above everything in the field, and provides a place for birds to build their nests. The kingdom of God seems insignificant to many people and they don’t think anything about it but to many it is everything. Their world is focused, or centered, on Jesus. They allow him to work through them and they grow tall, standing out in order that others may see him; where others can choose to build their nest in him to find rest. We must allow Jesus to work in us so we can stand out, not for selfish reasons, but so others will be attracted to him; So they too, can build a home in him.

Why do followers of Jesus think it is their responsibility to be spiritual police and go around condemning the lost of their sin? They go to places where people who do not follow Christ and act just like them with megaphones and signs, even carrying their bibles and shouting scriptures as if anyone is listening. Jesus gives a parable of the wheat and weeds in Matthew 13 and he even gives us the interpretation of the parable. It is clear in this parable that, as a follower of Christ, a disciple of Jesus, we have ONE job! That ONE job is to share the gospel of Christ, the death, burial. And resurrection of Jesus; a message of hope so that people will have an opportunity to say YES, their sins can be forgiven, and they can be a part of the kingdom of God. As workers for Jesus, our responsibility is NOT the harvest! The harvest is the angels responsibility and they will separate the wheat from the weeds. Our ONE job is to share Jesus so get to work!

Matthew shifts his focus from the religious leaders and Pharisees to some of Jesus’ teachings. He tells us that Jesus used stories called parables. He used things that his listeners would be familiar with such as seed, soil, coins, etc. to teach them a spiritual lesson. Many people today do not read the bible for themselves because they feel as though it is too hard to understand but Jesus said if we would listen to his teachings, God would give understanding. If you’re not reading and studying the word of God for yourself, you are having to take what someone else says and that can be very dangerous! How do you know if you are being deceived or not if you don’t know what the bible says?!?!? Get in the book and start reading!

The Pharisees just don't seem to get it. Sparring with Jesus is not a good thing but this time they bring some help--some teachers of the law. Surely these bible thumpers can outsmart God Himself! Nope...They demand a sign to prove to them that Jesus' authority comes from God like he claims. Jesus tells them the only sign they'll get is the sign of Jonah, a prophet they'd be familiar with. He says just as Jonah was in the fish's belly for three days, the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days. He was talking about his death, burial, and resurrection but they didn't understand that. Jesus tells them they have someone greater than Jonah but they refuse to repent and they have someone wiser than Solomon but they refuse to listen. God isn't sending you a sign when He has already sent His Son! You either believe or you don't!

Jesus heals a man who couldn’t hear nor speak. The people who saw this happen was amazed and they started to ask the question, “Could this man be the Messiah?” The simple answer is “Yes” but was it so simple? There are many who reject Jesus to this day so what’s the difference? You may say, “Well they had Jesus walking around with them so they should have known,” but it’s not that easy. They had preconceived ideas of who and what the Messiah would be and Jesus didn’t fit the bill. So the Pharisees used any opportunity they could to reject Jesus and this time they accuse him of working miracles by the power of Satan. Jesus tells them straight up that a kingdom divided cannot stand and if he is working miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come. Then he warns them of blaspheming the Holy Spirit which is an automatic ticket to hell. What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Listen to find out!

Have you ever watched a fight in a western movie? They pick a time and place for the “Showdown” and people come to watch who will have the fastest draw and win. This is what we see happening in Matthew 12 between the Pharisees and Jesus. The Pharisees have the fastest draw but Jesus wins the fight…every time! Evidently the Pharisees have some spies on Jesus and his disciples because they see them picking grain in a field and they watch them eat it right there in the field. They quickly pounce on the opportunity to condemn them and Jesus sets them straight by using an example they’d be very familiar with and it comes from a man they very much respected…King David. Then Jesus goes on their turf, the synagogue, and heals a man with a deformed hand and it sends them over the edge! The Pharisees call an elders meeting to decide on how to kill Jesus.

Jesus said John the Baptizer had haters and what he do? Nothing but live in the wilderness, preach about the kingdom of God, baptize people for the remission of sin, and lay the foundation for the Messiah, just as God had told him to do. But Jesus also had haters! Why would anybody hate a man that healed the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, show compassion and hope to everyone that met him?!?! Yet, Jesus said himself that he had haters! The truth is, no matter how good of a person you are, no matter what you do, what you say, or how hard you try not to, YOU WILL HAVE HATERS! Just don’t let the haters shut you up and discourage your faith. Jesus ends chapter 11 with a prayer for you and me, then offers us an invitation, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I’ll give you rest.” Need a break from life? Need some rest? Accept Jesus’ invitation and that’s where you’ll find it…