FEW

 

1.    Here is one of the things we find in Matthew 15:

2.    A large number of people had been with the Lord for three days and they were hungry.

3.    Jesus said He would “not” send this crowd away without food.

4.    The disciples did not share the Lord’s enthusiasm or optimism about feeding this great number of people.

5.    They asked (verse 33) where they could get enough provisions to feed all the people.

6.    Jesus replied (verse 34) by asking how much bread they had. The disciples answered.

7.    In addition to having some bread, the disciples also had some “fish.”

8.    The fish are described as “few” and “little.”

 

TODAY WE WANT TO KEY IN ON THE WORD “FEW.”  THIS WORD IS FOUND JUST UNDER 50 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND IF WE STUDY THE PLACES IT OCCURS, WE FIND SEVERAL PRACTICAL LESSONS.

 

a)      Before we start to look at places this term is located, we want to consider this point.

b)      Few is typically associated with four different things in the New Testament.

c)      In some places, it is related to size (little/small).  It may also be used to describe quantity or degree.

d)      There are instances where it is associated with time or it is used to present a contrast.

e)      These are ways the term is typically used in the passages we will examine.

 

2)      The first time we see the word translated “few” in the New Testament is Mt. 7:14.

3)      Jesus was speaking about heaven; He did not believe everyone will go to heaven.

4)      Jesus presented a sermon that mentioned heaven and He introduced the idea of a “gate.”

5)      At times we hear people speak about living in a “gated” community.

6)      In life we recognize that gates can be used to keep people out; a similar analogy is applied to heaven.

7)      There will be people with God, and there will be people without God in eternity.

8)      Jesus said the gate related to heaven is “narrow” and the “way to eternal life” is “straitened.”

9)      In His sermon Jesus said people will not slide into heaven or go their automatically; we must strive to be there.

10)  At the end of verse 14 we find our word – READ.

11)  We do not know how many “few” describes; we do know that billions and billions of people have lived.

12)  Of all those who have ever existed, only a very small amount will spend eternity with God.

13)  Most of the world does not believe this, but Jesus the judge said this is the truth.

14)  Only a few will be saved.

 

15)  Related to this text is our next passage, Mt. 9:37.

16)  Jesus spoke of a “harvest” that is ”plenteous.”

a)      When it comes to heaven, there are a lot of people who want to spend eternity there.

b)      Certainly in the first century a lot of people were interested in the gospel.

c)      Pagan religions had left people feeling spiritually deficient and needy.

d)      When Jews heard about a better covenant and that the Messiah had come, some accepted the gospel.

e)      In the midst of all these points Jesus used the word “few” – READ.

 

17)  Heaven has room for all, but only a few will be saved.

18)  Those who “labor” in the kingdom of God are also “few” in number.

19)  The two passages we have examined set the stage for a third text, Mt. 25:21.

20)  Mt. 25 is also in the context of a final judgment.

a)      The Lord will tell those who did God’s will, “well done.”

b)      Some will be classified as servants who were “good and faithful.”

c)      We want the end of the verse – READ.

d)      What benefit is there for being one of the few laborers in the kingdom and one of the few who is saved?

e)      God has a very special reward (blessing) for these few souls.

f)        In this life Jesus spoke of the saved as being over a “few things.”

g)      In the next life, the promise is to be set over “many” things.

h)      When we introduced this study we spoke of how “few” can be used to form a contrast.

i)        Here we see a contrast; a few things in life and “many” in the next.

 

21)  We could leave this account and go on, but there is another point to ponder.

22)  A person may think, “I did not rule over too many things in this life.”

23)  “Does Jesus’ teaching really apply to me”?

24)  Notice from Jesus’ parable that we have three different people pictured.

a)      Verse 16 tells of a man who received 5 talents.

b)      This amount of wealth is described as being over a “few” things (verse 21).

c)      A second man received a significantly less amount of material goods (two talents, verse 17).

d)      Jesus said He too had put over a “few” things (verse 23).

e)      The same word for “few” is applied to both people.

f)        Our “few talents” may be 10, 5, 2, or even 1.

g)      If we are faithful with the few things we have, many are promised later.

h)      There was a man who had one talent entrusted to him (verse 18).

i)        This man could have been faithful with the little he had, but he buried the wealth and was condemned.

j)        We may not have a lot, but we can rightly use what we do have.

k)      Even if we do have what the world considers to be a lot, compared to eternity we have very little.

l)        These are additional lessons we find from the word “few.”

 

25)  Moving from Matthew we turn our attention to the book of Mark (6:31).

26)  Jesus told His disciples to rest for “a while.”

a)      Jesus used the word that is elsewhere translated “few.”

b)      At times it is good to take some time to rest.

c)      There are those in life who seem like they always want to be rest.

d)      Others never seem to want much rest.

e)      On various occasions we have shown that the Bible emphasizes a balanced approach to life.

f)        Going too far to the right or over to the left is not consistent with God’s will.

g)      Here is another example of that and it is based upon the word translated “few.”

h)      Some time is to be taken for rest and relaxation.

 

27)  Our next passage is just after the four gospels (Acts 12).

a)      Herod was angry with God’s people; he had killed James, the brother of John.

b)      Jewish leaders were pleased with this persecution so Herod continued the maltreatment.

c)      He had Peter imprisoned and this apostle was being watched by 16 soldiers (verse 4).

d)      After the Passover Herod intended to deliver up Peter to the people (i.e. execute him).

e)      Peter was being watched by two guards and an angel showed up to rescue him.

f)        Verse 18 is where we see the word “few” – READ.

g)      Based upon this text we may make this point:  God’s system of religion will create a stir.

h)      “No small stir” means there was a big commotion; many were trying to figure out where Peter was.

i)        The common was not little; small; more than a few people were affected by the disappearance.

j)        Today God is not miraculously releasing His people from jail in the way Luke recorded.

k)      The gospel is still, however, creating a stir among people.

l)        When we preach the message found in the New Testament and only that message, people are affected.

m)    Preaching one God outrages those who say “believe what you want.”

n)      Teaching creation makes the atheists angry.

o)      Preaching on the headship of Christ angers groups whose head is not the Lord.

p)      Preaching on morals stirs up the immoral.

q)      Preaching one church gets to those who believe in denominationalism.

 

r)       Eph. 6:17 refers to the Word of God as the “sword of the Spirit.”

s)       God’s message will stir people.  It always has.

t)        It will call those who are holy and righteous to a deeper faith and commitment to God.

i)        It will also have an effect on the unrighteous.

ii)       About two weeks ago a lady for the area called me and asked for a Bible study.

iii)     Craig and I were set to go but the lady called back and said it had to be delayed for a week.

iv)     I phoned again last Monday (the day we were to be there) and a male voice answered the phone.

v)      I will not repeat what he said, but knowing who I was led to his using some colorful language.

vi)     He hung up before I had all the details so I called him back a second time.

vii)   He was not any more pleasant in the next call; the gospel hardened his heart.

viii)  Christians and the message they bear will create some hostility.

ix)     Others are softened by the truths of the Scriptures.

x)      If we teach the truth and obey the truth and only the truth, it will create a response in the lives of others.

xi)     Acts 19:23 is a good supporting cross reference for this point as this passage also has the same word.

 

28)   Another place where our term is used (and this might surprise) us is Acts 26:28.

a)      Paul was speaking with a ruler (King Agrippa).

b)      Paul told this official that Agrippa knew several things about religion.

c)      Paul also asked if the king “believed the prophets.”  Paul was sure the king believed in them.

d)      Agrippa said he was “almost” persuaded to become a Christian.

e)      “Almost” is the word for “few.”

f)       People have wondered if Agrippa was serious (he was close to conversion) or he was being facetious.

g)      We cannot say for sure, but we can make this point by looking at the word from today’s perspective.

h)      There are those who are close to obeying the gospel.  A few more words of encouragement.

i)        A few more invitations to come and many will respond.

j)        There are Christians who have invited friends and others time after time.

k)      Just about when people were to give up on someone, that person obeyed the gospel or came back to the faith.

l)        For us, it is usually hard to tell if a person is close to obeying God or continuing to stay far away.

m)    A good lesson is that many are a lot closer than we may think.

n)      Just when we think it may be time to give up, a person may be on the edge of getting right with God.

o)      Our practical lesson from this passage is that we want to continue working with people.

 

29)   Eph. 3:3 is next; Paul said he had used a “few words” to explain something.

a)      Last week at H2 I had my job plus that of my co-worker (he was on vacation).

b)      Each weekend he and I send in reports to the various companies we represent.

c)      When he saw all that I had written, he was a bit stunned.

d)      In fact, he didn’t read the reports I wrote for him and that came back to haunt him.

e)      He was looking for a few words from me but he got many.

f)       Paul was able, just like the Lord, to often make his point clear with a few words.

g)      One of the things that makes God’s people distinctive is the ability to make things clear with a “few words.”

h)      Not long ago someone at the plant stopped me to ask a question. 

i)        He knows of a preacher who has a ring; those who worship where he preaches are supposed to kiss the ring.

j)        He asked me what I thought about the practice.  I am a preacher – what is my judgment?

k)      My response was right to the point:

l)        “You cannot find that practice in the Bible.”

m)    Wherever this idea has come from, it is not in the New Testament.  That made sense to him.

 

30)   As Christians, a good goal when communicating, especially when imparting spiritual truths, is brevity.

31)   1 Tim. 4:8 says bodily exercises profits “a little.”  It is good for a few things.

32)   Some have taken this verse to mean there are only a few benefits to maintaining good health.

33)   The point is actually one of contrast.

34)   A good physique compared to godliness is of limited value.

35)   Maintaining good health is important, but godliness is a lot more important.

36)   “Few” in 1 Tim. 4:8 teaches two things:  taking care of the body is right and Godliness is the most important part of life.

a)      1 Tim. 5:23 is another place where we find our word translated “few.”

b)      Timothy was told to take a “little wine” for his stomach’s sake.

c)      There have been people who have drawn all kinds of conclusions about this text.

d)      For this lesson, let’s make this point:

e)      By using the word elsewhere translated “few,” the instruction involved a very limited amount of a beverage.

f)       It may have been more than a few drops, but the quantity was very, very small.

g)      Going to this passage for a proof that moderate drinking is okay will not work.

h)      Stress is put on the small or tininess of the amount.

 

37)   Let’s quickly note another verse that use our term.

38)   Heb. 12:10 is next, and this is a useful passage for all who are parents.

a)      Discipline and correction are key topics in the 12^th chapter of Hebrews.

b)      In the 10^th verse we have an indication of how long the correction of children lasts – READ 12:10.

c)      Parents discipline their children for a “few days.”  This is clearly not literal.

d)      It is a figurative expression that teaches parents have their children for a very short period of time.

e)      Sometimes people say children grow up so fast; the Bible says this thought as true in Heb. 12:10.

f)       We have our children for a short period of time, so we must give them the best instruction we can.

g)      Not only do we have children for a short period, our lives are very short too.

h)      The word we are looking at is also found in Jas. 4:14.

i)        Our life is like a vapor that appears for a “little while.”  We are here for only a short period of time.

j)        If compared to eternity, the duration of life is as the old saying goes “a drop in the bucket.”

k)      1 Pet. 3:20 says “a few souls were saved by water.”  Only a few decided to let water divide them from the lost.

l)        Eight people made the choice to find salvation by the plan God gave.

m)    Today a similar thing is true; a small amount decide to let the waters of baptism separate them from sin.

 

39)   This morning we ask if we have been separated from the world by the process that culminates in baptism.

40)   Have we believed Christ, repented, confessed the Lord’s name, and been immersed into Him for forgiveness?

41)   Have we found the grace and other spiritual blessings by being baptized into Jesus?

42)   We hope so because Jesus said only a few will be saved.

43)   Are you with the few or with the many?  Are you using the narrow gate or the wide gate?

44)   Time is running out for each one of us.