OUTLINE:

Everything's Backwards and Upside Down!
The things that the world esteems the most are often the same things that are potential handicaps in the spiritual life (eg. intellect, athleticism, beauty, strength/power, business acumen, shrewdness, etc.) (1Co 1:25-31)

Apostles
We may each be encouraged uniquely by the apostles. Each one of them were justified (made righteous) by faith, not as a result of intellect.

"His own did not receive Him"
God promised the Jews a Messiah. He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ. He clearly introduced Himself, through word and deed. And they rejected Him. Once their rejection was consummated, Jesus' teaching changed from "propositional" to "parable".

Lk 19:10
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

"blasphemy against the Spirit"
The Pharisees knew who Jesus was, knowing He was sent from their God (Jn 11:48; Ac 4:16), which means they'd have to call the Spirit, who convicted them of who He was, a liar!

Blasphemy of the Spirit Today
Similarly, when an unbeliever says to an evangelist's face, "You're a liar," it is forgiven them. But, if that evangelist just sowed the good seed (ref. Mt 13:3-4), the unbeliever is now accountable to God for rejecting His Spirit (aka the "Spirit of Christ" - Ro 8:9). (1Th 4:8)

Sowing Seed
Facts about Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection, whether believed or not, are not the issue in salvation, strictly speaking. The issue is a person's heart response to the Gospel (which includes these facts) as a result of the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.

"blasphemy against the Spirit"
The Pharisees knew who Jesus was, knowing He was sent from their God (Jn 11:48; Ac 4:16), which means they'd have to call the Spirit, who convicted them of who He was, a liar!

Emancipation and the Road to Hell
The Jews were like the child that desires to be emancipated from their God-given parents - it's not about understanding who the authority is (that's known), it's about not wanting what God wants for you! Hell is where "spiritually emancipated" children go.

Hardness of the Heart
God will never allow a heart to be hardened UNTIL it FIRST understands the Gospel. It is the Spirit's ministry to testify about Jesus and His Gospel (Jn 15:26). No person will ever be sentenced to Hell unless they've first "tasted the gift" and been "enlightened" by the Spirit's conviction (Heb 6:4-6).

Mt 13:22
"And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

Understanding the Parables
Due to the nature of parables, being word pictures meant to reveal profound spiritual lessons, it is imperative that you first understand the context of the parable (speaker (Jesus), audience, cultural norms, time, place, and circumstance).

Understanding the Parables
Jesus taught His parables to unexceptional men. The apostles were the primary receivers of the parables, and yet there was absolutely nothing remarkable about them. We ought to be very encouraged by this! (Mt 11:25)

Asking For Help
Have you ever noticed how often the Bible encourages us to ASK for help from the Lord??? The humble person asks the Lord for everything! Receiving grace is a function of prayer, whether we are praying for ourselves or someone else is on our behalf.

Arrogance Is Unteachable
The apostles were teachable Jews, the arrogant Jews were not (e.g. the Pharisees).

God Gives Grace To the Humble
The apostles received "hearing" as a grace gift because they were humble enough to receive it. Beforehand, they were unable to hear, but were available (aka humble).

Ability vs. Availability
The Lord's not looking for natural abilities, but available hearts. Those who are available (humble) will be GIVEN ability (ala 1Co 2:14). The Lord God opened the apostles "ears to hear" (Mt 13:17).

"Uneducated" Men Understood the Parables
Jesus' parables are unlocked, not by intellect, but by honest pursuit of the Truth. The Holy Spirit will reveal said truth to those with "ears" to hear with (Mt 13:9). The apostles prove this.

Balance Statement
The issue of Jesus' choosing the 12 is not that the apostles were unexceptional, as compared to the Pharisees/intellectuals, but RATHER, it is to establish that IT DOESN'T MATTER. Paul stands as the counterweight in our analysis, proving this same principle, but being an intellect (a Pharisee).

Balance Statement
You're no better, with no better "chance" of receiving grace whether you're dumb or smart. The point is that IT DOESN'T MATTER!!! Do NOT make a false doctrine out of any of this!!! You can have character, faith, and purity, regardless of intellect.

Called From Different Places
Jesus called the original twelve apostles, the so-called "uneducated", and they followed Him. However, with Paul the intellect, He had to knock him down!!!