When Your God is Sovereign
Matthew 13:10-17

1.    In God’s Sovereignty God Gives His Message.  (Matthew 13:11-12)

a.     1 Timothy 6:15b-16, He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

2.    In God’s Sovereignty We Are Able to Respond.  (Matthew 13:13, Genesis 50:19-20, Judges 14:4 (cf. Isaiah 10:5-7, Haggai 1:12-14, John 11:49-52)

“To have an intelligent grasp of something that challenges one’s thinking or practice.” (BDAG)

a.    Genesis 50:19-20, But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

b.    Judges 14:4, Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who wanted the Philistines to provide an opportunity for a confrontation.  At that time, the Philistines were ruling Israel.

3.    In God’s Sovereignty God’s Judgment Comes and Our Choice Ends.  (Matthew 13:14-17)

4.    Be Grateful for Choice, Thankful for Salvation, and Fearful of Judgment!

That is why I speak to them in parables,

1            because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. (Vs. 13)

2            Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says, (Vs. 14a)

3            You will listen and listen, but never understand; (Vs. 14b)

4            you will look and look, but never perceive. (Vs. 14c)

5            For this people’s heart has grown callous; (Vs. 15a)

6            their ears are hard of hearing, (Vs. 15b)

7              and they have shut their eyes; (Vs. 15c)

7′              otherwise they might see with their eyes, (Vs. 15d)

6′           and hear with their ears, (Vs. 15e)

5′           and understand with their hearts, and turn back – and I would heal them. (Vs. 15f)

4′           Blessed are your eyes because they do see, (Vs. 16a)

3′           and your ears because they do hear. (Vs. 16b)

2′           For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people (Vs. 17a)

1′           longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them. (Vs. 17b)