BSF notes for lesson 22 had this big statement: "Parables are practical stories that illustrate truth for the receptive." The notes back up this claim with Matthew 13:10-17 which brought me to explore verse 12 "Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." Mark 4 and Luke 8 also have the parable of the sower/soils as the foundational parable of Jesus.
- this is a good definition for faith, we receive faith as a gift (Eph 2:8-9), we walk into faithfulness doing what we believe is true (Eph 2:10). We experience the abundance that is more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
I recalled the statement as "...even what they think they have will be taken from them." So I dug into Matt 13:12 and found the reference to Luke 8:18, "Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them."
- most of the time when we are in error, we don't think we are in error. Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)
- receptive = listeners who consider carefully.
Jesus gives us a few more of these "whoever has will be given more"
- Parable of Talents, Money and the gospel, Can imperfect people please the perfect God?
Matthew 25:29: For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- Rags to Riches, how the Holy Spirit changes us everyday
Luke 19:26: He replied, 'I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
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