Go and make disciples, teaching them to obey God's word

The women's ministry for whom I write is doing a devotional series on the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). To equip and inspire us to make disciples, we've been examining the life and ministry of Jesus as our example.  Learning God’s word, teaching others His truth, and helping others learn how to study and apply God’s word are vital to discipleship. My contribution to this series was a devotion on Matthew 13 in which Jesus teaches through eight parables. Let’s consider the familiar who, what, where, when, what, how, and why questions as we explore this passage.   
 

In Matthew 13, we find Jesus teaching the crowds along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The who includes Jesus, His disciples who had left everything to follow Him, and a crowd of curious bystanders.  The what in this chapter are the truths of the kingdom of Heaven. Broadly, the what encompasses all of Scripture. The where in this chapter was inside a boat, a safe distance from the mob but close enough to be heard, along the shore of the Sea of Galilee where large crowds gathered to hear Him.  Jesus taught God’s absolute truth to all who followed Him, and He made disciples wherever he went.  

Matthew 12 provides the when for Matthew 13. These events occurred on the Sabbath, later in the day after a busy morning of traveling to the synagogue with His disciples, teaching the crowds in the synagogue and wherever he journeyed next, repeatedly refuting the Pharisees’ charges against Him, and healing many people.  On that same Sabbath day, Jesus left the house and sat down by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 13:1). I presume that He went there to find a peaceful, quiet place to pray and decompress after the exhausting events earlier that day. 

 The view of the Sea of Galilee from Peter's house which may be similar to the scene in Matthew 13 

Any solitude He may have sought did not last long, however, because great crowds gathered around Him causing Him to move to the boat where He continued teaching once again.   Jesus was faithful to make disciples whenever the opportunity arose.  He did not organize a formal speaking/travel schedule six months in advance as modern itinerant speakers tend to do.  He surrendered His schedule, His home, and His convenience entirely to the Father’s will.  He took time to get alone with God and pray, but being available to make disciples always took priority over His personal preferences or comfort.

College students who attended Bible studies I hosted, curious classmates whose faith had been challenged by professors, advisors, co-workers, managers, neighbors, friends I met at the gym, childhood friends reunited through Facebook, cashiers, drug addicts, battered women, women in crisis pregnancy situations, long lost relatives, my students at school, and my children come to mind as examples of those who have entered my life for the greater purposes of learning God’s word and growing in discipleship.  Who have I missed because I was too busy, too distracted, or too tired to notice?  When have I been too selfish with my time to make myself available for discipleship relationships? Have I been listening to the Lord enough to go where people are waiting to receive kingdom truths? Who has God sent to you for discipleship in the truth?  Are you faithfully teaching them God’s word whenever and wherever the Lord leads?

How did Jesus teach His followers in Matthew 13?  He taught them patiently and lovingly through the use of parables.  As a teacher, I have tried to incorporate practical l life applications and true stories that would interesting or familiar to my students to paint parallels to both Biblical truth and to the academic lesson for that day.  Parables bridge students’ understanding of current knowledge to new precepts being taught.  Whenever students encounter the familiar scene used in the parable, they are often reminded of the analogous spiritual truth.  

Knowledge builds upon itself, but if there is no foundation of faith to which new spiritual truth can attach, understanding is hindered (vs. 10-17).  Thus, many in the crowd, including His chosen disciples, could not understand the parables.  Lest the enemy snatch up the words of truth (vs. 19), Jesus steadfastly and patiently answered their questions, often with another parable.  He did not hastily spoon feed them facts like schoolteachers are tempted to do before a test deadline. Instead, he offered thoughtful explanations to build understanding and help them think at a deeper level, so that the truths would take root permanently. 

We’re more likely to be patient disciple-makers if we first pray for God to prepare those we train to receive His truth.  We must be faithful to equip others while trusting God to bring forth the fruit, even to a hundredfold (Matthew 13: 23).  Ask in faith that the word of God in them will be like the mustard seed which grew tall and strong, providing shelter, strength, and wisdom to others while expanding the kingdom of Heaven like leaven in flour (vs. 12, 31-33).

^”And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.“ (Colossians 1: 9-10)

Answering the why questions should inspire more faithfulness in making disciples.  The first answer is simply because Jesus commanded us to equip and to teach believers.  Secondly, as heirs of God’s kingdom and stewards of His great treasures, it’s a joyful privilege and a blessing to help others grow in God’s wisdom.  These truths, which had been hidden since the earth was formed (vs. 35) but have now been entrusted to us, are of immeasurable worth (vs. 44-46).  The prophets and saints before us longed to see, hear, and know the truths we now have (vs. 17).  We also make disciples to bless others (vs. 16, 51-52). Finally, we train others in the word of God out of loving compassion, for the harvest day is coming when the angels will separate the evil from the righteous, and the wicked will be punished forever.  (vs. 36-43 and 47-50).  Love should compel and energize us, just as it drove Jesus throughout His ministry, even during His agonizing death on the cross for us.  As we make disciples, teaching them to know, love, and obey God and His word, we are impacting the kingdom of God forever and fulfilling our God given purpose.