Mark Love - October 7, 2018
Parables (Part 17): The Ten Virgins
From Series: "Parables: The Secret Teachings of Jesus"
A lot of people don’t get Jesus. Even some who have devoted their life to the religious pursuit of being part of the church. People who regularly heard Jesus teach…in person…couldn’t grasp what He was really saying because He spoke in parables. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson. In Jesus’ teaching, parables were used to draw back the curtain to a Kingdom that was not of this world but was ever encroaching upon it. Even the disciples struggled to truly understand what He was saying. Jesus would often pull them aside to break the parable down to bite-sized pieces that they could grasp. Their purpose? To reveal the truth about God’s Kingdom to those who were paying attention and hide it from those who weren’t. 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. Matthew 13:11-13 (NLT) Have you ever considered with what eyes you are determining the course of your life? Is it possible that you are charting your course through this world by missing the bigger picture of God’s Kingdom and maybe even Jesus, Himself? We are invited…called…to not only pursue Christ, but to grow in wisdom, love, and beauty. As the world around us continues to destroy itself, we are to be salt and light as a beacon for what could be if we only knew Him and followed His teachings. What is driving you? Have you seen a deeper existence…a more beautiful expression of life…a better kingdom in which to be a citizen? Jesus is inviting you to look with fresh eyes and to hear with new ears, that the ever real and present Kingdom of God is trying to break through this world so you can live more fully and free. What secrets await you in the secret teachings of Jesus?
