Thru the Bible on Oneplace.com - Matthew 13:44—14:1

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word. Who doesn't love a great story? While on Through the Bible, we're about to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen as He tells some of His most powerful parables. Simple stories packed with eternal truth.

We're in Matthew 13, a chapter that unlocks so much of what Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Dr. J. Vernon McGee often said this chapter is essential if we want to understand the big picture.

And we're going to jump right in where the stories get short, sharp, and unforgettable. So while you open your copy of God's Word, Greg and I have a couple of great letters to share with you. We do.

And they come from, I call it the home team, the folks here in the U.S. where the ministry started. Let's start with Joanne, who writes this. I love the daily letters that bring the world right to our doorstep and the privilege of interceding for others through the World Prayer Team.

And while we cannot physically travel to far-off places, we sure can support the mission of taking the whole word to the whole world through our giving. It is absolutely astounding to think of how God has grown this ministry to reach over 250 languages and untold souls brought into the kingdom of our Lord. And home groups, I'm sure there are countless groups that we are not even aware of. The other morning, I tuned in at my usual time, and try as I might, the app would not connect.

It struck me even more how critical you are to me. I prayed that whatever glitch happened would clear, and indeed, later that day, it did. Nothing will ever stop God's word. Bless you, bless you, bless you.

Wow, Joanne, thank you so much for that encouragement, and for referencing the number of languages that we're in, and the impact of the small groups, and knowing that you're praying encourages us. And I would encourage anyone who's interested in missions

and interested in reaching the world with the gospel to join our world prayer team as well. Super easy. Just go to ttb.org, sign up there.

Now, here's another great letter. This one's from Maria who found strength in God's word during some pretty challenging times. Greg, why don't you read that one too?

She says, I have been listening to Dr. J. Vernon McGee off and on since 2010. This will be my first time finishing the five-year program. I'm so thankful to be able to go through the Bible with y'all.

I have been sharing about the program with everyone I talk to. We have recently lost a dear friend to cancer. Then I broke my left arm and my friend had surgery on her right arm. It's been a little overwhelming to say the least, but I'm thankful that I'm not alone.

My friend who passed used to hold Bible study at her home. In my heart, I think that she would like us to carry on with our meeting. I want to see if it's possible to start a home group and get some Bible bus passes to hand out. Honestly, I don't think I would be handling stuff as well as I have been if I wasn't going through the Bible and listening to you.

Now, Steve, when someone asks if they can start a TTV home group, I could just see you powering up. I would love to see you do that. And our Bible Companions are a great resource for you to do that. They're available for free online at our website, and they're super easy.

And you don't have to be all cleaned up either. We had a recent testimony of a guy in Tripura, I think it was India. And I mean, by his own admission, alcohol and other addictions. And his pastor said, why don't you go start a small group?

Here's a kit. And you can do the same thing. You don't have to be cleared. Let the word of God impact your life and let it impact those around you.

Greg, why don't you pray for us? Father, we see every day the impact of your word. And now as we open the Bible and listen to Dr. McGee, we pray that you would touch our lives. In Jesus' name, amen.

Let's open to Matthew 13 as we go through the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee. Now today, friends, our study brings us back to the 44th verse of the 13th chapter of Matthew. Now we have put down a certain pattern and principle. Our Lord interpreted two of these parables for us,

and I don't think we'd have any right to depart from his interpretation. And we need to note that as we go through this section here, because we have coming up now three unusual parables that deal with certain aspects of the kingdom of heaven, that is, as it is today. Now, the first one is verse 44, and we merely mentioned it and read the verse last time. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found,

he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Now, let's stop there for just a moment. The field we already know is the world, and this is not a sinner buying the gospel because the gospel, for instance, is not hid in a field. What is it that's hid in a field? Well, it's the nation

Israel. The field is the world, and that nation is buried actually in the world today. Somebody says, well, they're a nation right now. They are, but they're sure having a struggle, aren't they? and they'll not be able to really enjoy that land until they get it from the Lord Jesus Christ. I was very much interested in reading a paper that I received from that land,

and it was of a convention that they had had there of certain scientists, and I noticed in the picture that there was a great sign in both English and Hebrew above the platform, and it read, science will give us peace in this land. Well, may I say that science will not give them peace in that land. Only the prince of peace can do that. And they are buried as a

nation throughout the world. The largest number of the nation Israel are not in that land, but are in New York City, for instance, and they are still scattered throughout the world. But God is not through with them. He says very definitely in the 11th chapter of Romans, Paul wrote,