Scripture Challenge for 3-17-19

Answer:

This comes from Mark, but what chapter and verses?

__:__And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

__:__That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

*There were some people who did not understand the parable that Jesus gave right before this about the sower. When they asked Him about the parable He responded with these verses. It is interesting that His enemies had rejected His teaching, and the people had become indifferent to spiritual truths. They might have been interested in the miracles that Jesus was performing, but not in the spiritual application. The parables seemed to spark the interest of the people. The attitude of His enemies and the indifference and inability to understand spiritual truth of the multitudes, caused a shift in the method that truth was delivered to using parables, so that those that thirsted after spiritual truth could have their eyes opened. Today, we can use a lot of different ways to try to convey spiritual truth to people, but you see they have to have a genuine desire to understand before they can. It takes a person's heart and ears to be open to hearing God's Word before the Spirit of God can make His Word real and come to life in that person.  

Scripture Challenge for 3-10-19

Answer: Luke 14:16-18

This comes from the gospel of Luke

__:__Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

__:__And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

__:__And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

*It was the custom of that day to send out invitations to a dinner a long time before they were to take place, and as the day for this dinner approached a personal invitation was sent out. Today God has issued His invitation. The question is this: What is mankind going to do with His invitation? God's invitation is for salvation that He provides through belief in (trust) His Son Jesus Christ. You can't buy your way into this dinner and you can't crash the dinner; you can only come to it by the grace of God (see Eph. 2:8-9). Imagine....today people want to be “all inclusive”. God has sent His invitation out to everyone that will except Him, and the only thing that excludes a person from heaven is to refuse the free gift of salvation; a person has to refuse God's invitation. Earlier in this parable a man at this dinner, probably a Pharisee said this: “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.”, and our Lord Jesus was basically telling them this, (You say : “Blessed is he that shall eat bread....”), but here is what mankind is doing with My invitation and He gave this parable to illustrate it for them. They were making excuses and basically tearing up God's invitation and throwing it on the ground. How much has changed today? I say to you, not a great deal...mankind continues to reject God's salvation and make excuses for it. Read the entire parable this comes from and you can see the similarity of the way people are today.