And the disciples came, and said unto Jesus, Why do You speak unto them in parables? Jesus answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them, it is not given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Matthew 13:10-12.
Closed Eyes And Closed Heart.
Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said; By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-15.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O Righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:24-26.
Jesus Ministered Through Righteousness.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly, a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Read More. “Righteousness And The Kingdom.”
O righteous Father, the world has not known You: but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me. John 17 : 25
Jesus Ministered Through Righteousness.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness Then he suffered him. Matthew 3 : 15
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent Me. John 5 : 30
Righteousness Must Be Sought Out.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5 : 6
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He has come, He will reprove the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgement: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more; John 16 : 7-10
In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:1-6.
The Ministry Of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death,a light has dawned.”From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”Read More. “Repentance and The Kingdom.”
Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and He healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto Him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise? And Jesus left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and He lodged there. Matthew 21 : 12-17.
So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Read More. “House Of Prayer.”
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 brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19.
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and they said unto Jesus, are You He that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew 11:2-5.
And, behold, one came and said unto Jesus, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. Read More. “Knowing The Care Of The Father For The Poor.”
And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe Me? He that is of God hears God’s Words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that You are a Samaritan, and has a devil? Jesus answered I have not a devil, but I honour My Father, and you do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto Jesus, Now we know that You have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never taste of death. Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honours Me; of whom you say, that He is your God: Yet you have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and I keep His saying. Read More. “Keeping The Words Of Jesus?”
You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. John 17:9-12.
Believers Will Be Hated By The World.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world; therefore, the world hates you.John 15:18-19.
These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans do not enter. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:5-8.
Trust In The Father’s Provision.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town you shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till you leave. And when you come into a house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city. Read More. “Discipleship In The Kingdom .”
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: whoever comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That you also have seen Me, and believe not. All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and they that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. John 6:35-38.
Believing In Jesus Is The Father’s Will.
And this is the Father’s will Who has sent Me, that of all He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of the Father that sent Me, that every one who sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40.
Jesus Acknowledges Those Who Will Believe In Him.
Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Jesus, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” Read More. “Believers Must Be Doers Of The Word Of God.”
