13 – The Importance of Understanding in Jesus Christ

Why Do We Observe God’s Feasts?

• God instructs us to observe them. Leviticus 23
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and… Proverbs 9:10 NIV

Why Does God Instruct Us to Observe His Feasts?

…knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NIV

This is not our understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, Acts 3:14

See also Mark 1:24 ESV, John 6:69

A Different Motivation

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

We have come to recognize that God’s Feasts picture His plan of salvation, what Jesus Christ did, is doing, and will do, removing the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

σύνεσις – Synesis – Understanding

• Often translated as “understanding”, ”discernment”, “insight”, “comprehension”, “realization”.
• But the primary etymology (origin of the word) is “unification”, “a sending together”, “a junction”, as of streams; “mental putting together”, “union”, “bringing together”, “meeting”, “meaning”, “to set or join together in the mind”
• In the modern vernacular: “connecting the dots”, “putting the pieces together”
• See also Synesis on Bill Mounce Greek Dictionary, σύνεσιςon BlueLetterBible

The Parable of the Sower

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

The Parable of the Sower – Why?

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 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. This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

The Parable of the Sower – Explained

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message [Logos] about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word [Logos] and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word [Logos], they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word [Logos], but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word [Logos], making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word [Logos] and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:3-23 NIV

The Logos

In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 ESV

And the Word [Logos] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV

Do We Value Understanding?

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.” Proverbs 4:5-9 NIV

Counting The Cost?

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Luke 14:28-30 NKJV

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:33 NKJV

Sell All

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46 ESV

New Versus Old

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16-17 ESV

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

We do not live under the obsolete old covenant, but now under a New Covenant. Entire chapter of Hebrews 8

Should We Remain Fools?

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Proverbs 18:2 NIV

Teachers Without Understanding

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:3-7 ESV

Review

• Jesus Christ made it clear that understanding is CRITICAL for our lives in Him
• God’s Feasts and Jesus Christ’ example provide understanding of His “plan of salvation” and His very nature
• Understanding provides the unity, simplicity, connectedness that is in Jesus Christ
• The understanding of Jesus Christ will require us to sell, forsake, give up some things in this life, including, especially, ALL OUR understanding and OUR old view of God