The Strange Mystery of the Sneaky Housewife

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The Strange Mystery of the Sneaky Housewife

Matthew 13:33

June 21, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Matthew 13:33

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Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:33

The Parable of the Unleavened Bread is one of Jesus’ most misunderstood parables; if we read it incorrectly, we may find ourselves discouraged by it. This parable does not teach that the Gospel will permeate the whole world; in fact, Christians are considered a faithful few.

Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel was never given to save civilization from wreckage, the Gospel is given to save Man from the wreckage of civilization.”

Rather, this parable warns us about the devil’s deception in the Last Days, and what we can do to protect the true Bride of Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:33, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

The mention of three measures of meal takes us back to the Old Testament, in the days of Abraham and Sarah (see Genesis 18:6) and Gideon (see Judges 6:19).

This custom of baking bread for guests is something that satisfies the heart and mind of God because it speaks of communion and fellowship. We, the Church, are the bread—mingled together, being brought through the fire as one loaf.

Leaven works quietly, undetected—yet it causes fermentation and corruption. In the Bible, unleavened bread stands for sincerity and truth, while leavened bread speaks of malice and wickedness.

Jesus compares the legalism of the Pharisees and the liberalism of the Sadducees to leaven. He also compares Herod’s love of pleasure to leaven because he valued pleasure over God. (See Mark 8:15.)

We must be sure to purge the leaven out of the Church because a little bit of it leavens the whole lump. The sneaky housewife in this passage represents devilish, deliberate, deception.

If the Church is the Bride of Christ, this woman represents the bride of the devil, which is the false church. She represents Satan’s work in the Last Days, infiltrating the Church with legalism, liberalism, and love of self.

Understanding the parable this way, we can combat false expectations and discouragement. God, who teaches us these things, has built the true Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.

Apply it to your life

Are you aware of the leaven of legalism, liberalism, and love of self? Purge your own life of these things. Praise God for the true Church, and the fact that He will protect her in these last days.

Seven Sacred Secrets

June 27, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Matthew 13:3

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:3 Anyone can learn the facts and study history, but they cannot understand the deeper things of God unless they have a personal relationship with Him. To those who do not have the Holy Spirit within to illumine and interpret the Word of God, the Bible remains a mystery. In Matthew 13:11, Jesus says, “…it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 reveal seven sacred secrets we can only know if we know God personally. Expect many to reject the Gospel. (See Matthew 13:18-23.) Jesus knew the hardness of human hearts. In the Parable of the Sower, He explains that there are only a faithful few. He expects to be rejected by many. As soul winners, we should expect the same thing, but not let it discourage us from continuing to share the Gospel. Expect many church members to be hypocrites. (See Matthew 13:24-30.) Every church has hypocrites, but hypocrisy does not mean the Gospel has failed. It is not our job to separate the hypocrites from the true believers. Our business is to preach the Gospel. Expect the rise of false cults. (See Matthew 13:31-32.) The Bible tells us there will be an increase of false religion in the Last Days. Expect corruption in the professing church. (See Matthew 13:33.) The devil is at work in the church; he infiltrates it with spiritual “leaven,” which works stealthily to puff up the whole body. Anywhere there is right fellowship with God, expect traces of corruption and arrogance. Expect God to keep His word to the nation Israel. (See Matthew 13:44.) If we are wise, we will keep our eyes on Israel; we will see for ourselves what God has promised to do through His chosen people. Expect Jesus to be building His Church. (See Matthew 13:45-46.) Despite the rise of false religion and cults, Jesus will continue to build His Church, making her undivided and beautiful. Expect God to bring it all to judgment. (See Matthew 13:47-50.) God sees it all; He will bring about judgment upon the righteous and the wicked. Apply it to your life Are you a soul winner? Remember: your job is to share the Gospel, despite discouragement or rejection. Adrian Rogers says, “God’s job is to sort the catch; our job is to draw the net.”

The Strange Mystery of the Precious Pearl

June 26, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Matthew 13:45

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:45 Jesus taught us profound, heavenly lessons in the most practical parables. However, despite its simplicity, the strange mystery of the precious pearl is often misinterpreted by the most devoted believers. Jesus said in Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Some may think the merchant of the story is the lost sinner seeking the Lord Jesus. But this isn’t so—a sinner cannot initiate the search for God unless God has first initiated that desire in him. Ever since the beginning of time, God has been seeking Man. Adrian Rogers says, “If you sought Him, it was because He first sought you.” The bankrupt sinner cannot buy Christ; even if he had anything to buy Him with, Jesus Christ is not for sale. Salvation cannot be bought or earned. Therefore, the pearl of great price is not Jesus. The pearl is the Church, and the merchant is the Lord Jesus, who purchased the Church with His own precious blood. Much like a pearl is formed in the deep—grown through impurity, dirt, grit, and irritation—the Church has gone from depth to height, from guilt to glory. To divide it is to destroy it. Christ’s Bride is one Church without spot, wrinkle, or any blemish whatsoever. The merchant sold everything He had to buy this pearl. He sought it out, and considered it beautiful; to him, it was worth every penny. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable; we’re valuable because He loves us.” Jesus Christ stepped out of glory and into time to pay the price for us. He suffered and died, purchasing us with His own blood. He knew the cost—at every turn of His life, He was reminded of the suffering He would face—yet He paid it anyway. God loves us and greatly desires us. We are sinners, and on our own, we are helpless to save ourselves. But Jesus Christ is the answer. He covered us with His own grace and made us something beautiful. Apply it to your life Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who paid a great price to have you and keep you? Thank Him for His sacrifice and praise Him for the salvation He’s freely given.

The Strange Mystery of the Buried Treasure

June 25, 2024 • Adrian Rogers • Matthew 13:44

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:44 Adrian Rogers says, “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” The Parable of the Hidden Treasure is a short, but often misinterpreted, teaching of Jesus. We often believe this is about a man finding the treasure of salvation and giving up everything to have it. But if we look closer at the strange mystery of the buried treasure, we’ll see this is not the correct way to read it. Jesus said in Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” First, the field is the world, meaning the treasure cannot be Jesus. We cannot buy the field or the treasure in the field because the Gospel is not for sale. Salvation is the free gift of God. Rather, the man represents Jesus, and the treasure hidden in the field is the nation Israel. Israel is a treasure sovereignly chosen by God. As Israel goes, so goes the world; the Bible is full of evidence that Israel is God’s treasured people. Israel is also a treasure sadly covered. When Jesus came into this world, Israel was lost unto her original plan and purpose. The kingdom God had promised to His people was languishing, as Israel suffered under the thumb of Rome. But Israel is also a treasure sovereignly claimed. When Jesus came, He uncovered Israel and claimed her as His own. As a shepherd seeks the lost sheep, Jesus came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (See Matthew 15:24.) Remember, the man in the parable, Jesus, not only revealed the treasure—He covered it back up again and went to redeem it. He’s the one who paid the price to buy the field. This tells us that Jesus is coming back to reclaim Israel in the Last Days. Israel is buried in the field—suffering unspeakable atrocities and persecution. Yet God will keep His word to Israel, His treasure. What does this mean for us? It means everything is on schedule—God has sovereignly kept His word to Israel, so we know He will keep His word to us. And the signs of the times are telling us that our Lord is about to uncover the treasure He bought. Apply it to your life Pray for Israel, God’s chosen nation, as we live in the Last Days.