Meditate on it

Section 54  THE FIRST GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES (Beside the Sea of Galilee)  Subdivision E  PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND LEAVEN MATT. 13:31-35 MARK 4:30-34d  The commentators seems split on the intent of these parables. Jon Courson feels they are a warning for the Church not to become too institutionalized and big. Scofield believes the leaven is a warning not to allow doctrine to be added to, taken away from, or bastardized. "The use of the word in the N.T. explains its symbolic meaning. It is "malice and wickedness," as contrasted with "sincerity and truth", it is evil doctrine in its three-fold form of Pharisasism, Sadduceeism, Herodianism. The leaven of the Pharisees was externalism in religion. Of the Sadducees, scepticism as to the supernatural and as to the Scriptures. Of the Herodians, worldliness--a Herod party amongst the Jews."-Scofield Other commentators stand by the thought that these two images (mustard seed and yeast) were pos

Section 54  THE FIRST GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES  (Beside the Sea of Galilee)  Subdivision D  THE PARABLE OF THE TARES Matthew  13:24-30  and... Subdivision F.  THE PARABLE OF THE TARES EXPLAINED MATT. 13:36-43 "The first four parables contained in this chapter were spoken to a miscellaneous crowd on the beach, the last three to the disciples in the house. The difference of audience is accompanied with a diversity of subject. The former group deals with the growth of the kingdom, as it might be observed by outsiders, and especially with aspects of the growth on which the multitude needed instruction; the latter, with topics more suited to the inner circle of followers." -MacLaren More context--the Parable of the Tares appears only in Matthew, directly following the Parable of the Sower.  Mark's  parable of slow kingdom growth is similar in ways but has a different point. "The parable of the sower dealt with the first reception of the gospel; this d

This passage bothers me: "Lest at any time they should be converted." Mark 4:12 Doesn't the Lord want all to be saved? Here's a thought from Jon Courson to consider: "Why would Jesus teach in such a way that truth would be concealed? Simply because He will honor the wishes of every person. Therefore, if a person does not want to see, the Lord won't force His way upon him."  Jon Courson " Considering the larger context of this parable through the eyes of MacLaren has also been helpful: "Luke is particular in dating this parable as spoken at a time when crowds resorted to Jesus, and the cities of Galilee seemed emptied out to hear Him. No illusions as to the depth or worth of this excitement beset Him. Sadly He looked on the eager multitudes, because He looked through them, and saw how few of them were bringing ‘an honest and good heart’ for the soil of His word. Just because He saw the shallowness of the momentary enthusiasm, He spoke

Section 53 REPENTANCE ENJOINED PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG-TREE LUKE 13:1-9 The end of chapter 12 focuses on eternal thinking and preparing for the future kingdom.  Chapter 13 begins with Christ addressing some of the questions of the crowds about tragic human events.  Tragedy goes on around us all the time, sometimes hitting nearer than others.  It's good to hear Christ's clarification here--that sin and punishment do not work in such wooden ways.  It's also good to reflect that humans have been looking for distractions and justifications in current events for thousands of years.  Why are we so apt to consider the lives of others and their shortcomings above our own or over-wallow in our misfortunes? "The incident is recorded nowhere else, but is in entire harmony with Pilate’s record for outrages. These Galileans at a feast in Jerusalem may have been involved in some insurrection against the Roman government, the leaders of whom Pilate had slain right in the

Section 52 - CONCERNING HYPOCRISY, WORLDLY ANXIETY, WATCHFULNESS, AND HIS APPROACHING PASSION  (Galilee.)  LUKE 12:1-59 First, here's some broader context for Luke's entire twelfth chapter which encompasses several difference audiences and lessons: "Unto his disciples first of all (pros tous mathētas autou prōton). This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luk_12:12."-RWP Be Honest with Yourself, Others, and God " ...He began to say  to his disciples first,  “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. " Luke 12:1-3  "Be sure your sin will find you out," the Word declares (

Section 52  CONCERNING HYPOCRISY, WORLDLY ANXIETY, WATCHFULNESS, AND HIS APPROACHING PASSION  (Galilee.)  LUKE 12:1-59 Keep Trusting  “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ." -Luke 12:32 Anxiety is impotent. It only works on our own minds, racking them in vain, but has no effect on the material world, not even on our own bodies, still less on the universe.-MacLaren The fourth reason bids us look with attention at examples of unanxious existence clothed with beauty. Christ here teaches the highest use of nature, and the noblest way of looking at it. The scientific botanist considers how the lilies grow, and can tell all about cells and chlorophyll and the like. The poet is in raptures with their beauty. Both teach us much, but the religious way of looking at nature includes and transcends both the others. Nature is a parable. It is a visible manifestation of God, and His ways there shadow His ways with us, and are les

"But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you ." Luke 11:41  "That is, give your inner life, your love, mercy, compassion, etc., to the blessing of mankind, and then your inner purity will make you proof against outward defilement." -Fourfold Gospel Fourfold Gospel cross-references: " Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man ." Matthew 15:11 " Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled ."Titus 1:15 "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he s hall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. " Romans 14:4 BI commentary on Romans 14:4: Strong and weak Here is a lesson— I. For those who are strong in the faith. 1. Not to provoke. 2. Nor desp

Jesus makes an important distinction here with regard to Mary. "And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. "  Luke 11:27-28  "This woman is the first on record to fulfill Mary's prediction (Luke 1:48). It is the only passage in the New Testament which even suggests the idolatry of Mariolatry, but it was far enough from it, being merely a womanly way of expressing admiration for the son by pronouncing blessings upon the mother who was so fortunate as to bear him. Jesus does not deny the fact that Mary was blessed, but corrects any false idea with regard to her by pointing to the higher honor of being a disciple which was attainable by every one.  Mary's blessing as a disciple was

I decided to simply read through the Fourfold Gospel text and commentary this morning--not the text alone, not additional commentaries.   There is always the tension between moving through the scriptures in a way that gives perspective to the breadth of them, yet allows room for contemplation.  After two weeks in the Parable of the Sower, I feel ready to gain some ground. I'm not sure if it's the AP Language and Composition prep or the sum of a gradual understanding, but this time through the gospels, I'm more aware of how logical and analytical Jesus is in his teachings.  He's a master of conversation, turning and reframing things in a fashion that puts the burden back upon the heckler, where it should be.  It's where it does the most good either way---causing the heckler to think or at minimum shifting it off the deliverer. In this section, Jesus addresses the accusations that he is working as an agent of Satan.  There are several powerful take aways:  A house

"The parable mode of teaching was adopted by Jesus who, as Heart-reader, was aware now by sad experience and still sadder foreknowledge, that his glorious news rather repelled than attracted the ordinary hearer. They did not want to be disturbed from their earthly hopes and loves and fears. They preferred not to be healed as God would heal them." -Pulpit Commentary "The veil which it (the parable) throws over the truth becomes transparent to the attentive mind, while it remains impenetrable to the careless" -Godet, PC Lord, keep us uncomfortable with our sin and complacency.  Keep us curious and careful, especially when looking into your Word. This passage bothers me: "Lest at any time they should be converted." Mark 4:12 Doesn't the Lord want all to be saved? Here's a thought from Jon Courson to consider: "Why would Jesus teach in such a way that truth would be concealed? Simply because He will honor the wishes of every person. Th

Lesson #1: "It is no light thing to hear the Scriptures preached and taught. Those who hear are made more responsible than they ever were before. If they shrug off the message, or consider obedience an optional matter, they do so to their own loss. But if they hear and obey, they put themselves in a position to receive more light from God." -Believer's Bible Lesson #2 II. AN HONOURABLE OCCUPATION MAY HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS. l. Unsuccessful results do not lessen the value of the seed. 2. Unsuccessful efforts should not be taken as the measure of the sower’s capacity and faithfulness. 3. Unsuccessful efforts must then be studied in relation to the sphere of operations. 4. The best seed will do no good on some lands. 5. The most skilful workman cannot turn a rock into a fruitful garden. III. AN HONOURABLE OCCUPATION MUST HAVE BLESSED RESULTS, There will be patches of good ground in every farm. There are honest and good hearts in every community. No true teach

Along The Path  “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. "  Luke 8:5 " Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved ." Luke 8:12 The Pulpit commentary views this group as those who nod to religion, but in truth disregard it: "The wayside hearers represent the great outer circle of men and women who more or less respect religion. It must be carefully borne in mind that in none of the four classes pictured in the parable are despisers of God, declared enemies of religion, portrayed." -Pulpit Man's will is involved: "Where the word of God is heard carelessly there is commonly a contempt put upon it too. It is added here in the parable that the seed which fell by the way-side was trodden down. They that willfully shut their ears against the wor

The Parable of the Sower , JESUS MAFA, 1973 Three of the four gospels include the Parable of the Sower. Luke's account of the seed on the path reads as follows: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it."   Luke 8:5 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved ." -Luke 8:11-12 Matthew adds the significant phrase "and does not understand it." When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path." Matthew 13:19 Mark specifies the timing of this snatching, immediately: " And these are the ones along the path, where the word is

My last post ruminated upon nobility and hinted at the question of our own will over our hearts.   To me, this becomes the same question of why some people are not "saved," why some people cannot understand the parables, why the Lord chooses to soften some hearts and not all. It's a nasty question. Heart sensitivity seems to originate from the Lord: " And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Eze 36:27  And I will put my Spirit within you, and  cause you  to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.  Ezekiel 36:26 From the other end, hardness of heart also seems to originate from God.   I think of the passages from the Exodus when Pharoah's hardness of heart is predicted to Moses. " But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear .."  -Deuteronomy 29:4 You shall spea

"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."   Luke 8:15 "The man who united the two qualities expressed by the term  ’honest’ (better rendered ’noble’ ) and ’good,’ represented the beau-ideal of manhood. He was one whose aim was noble, and who was generously devoted to his aim. The expression rendered ’honest’ (better translated ’noble,’ καλός) has reference to aims or chief ends, and describes one whose mind is raised above moral vulgarity, and is bent, not on money-making and such low pursuits, but on the attainment of wisdom, holiness, and righteousness.  The epithet rendered ’good’ (ἀγαθός) denotes generous self-abandonment in the prosecution of lofty ends; large-heartedness, magnanimous, overflowing devotion."  -Bruce, BI There is a difference in the growth also, where the seed falls upon an honest and good heart. It germinates, not

Section 47 FURTHER JOURNEYING ABOUT GALILEE  LUKE 8:1-3 Women and Parables " And it came to pass afterward ." Luke 8:1 " St. Luke here notices an alteration in the Master’s way of life. From this time forward Jesus ceased to make Capernaum "his city," his usual residence; he now journeys with his little band of followers from place to place. From this time there was also a distinct change in the tone of his teaching." -Pulpit Commentary Luke reports that Jesus traveled through the cities with his band of followers---the twelve disciples and also a group of women, three of whom are named: Mary, Johanna, Susanna, and Mary.  His message was "the good news of the Kingdom of God."  Believer's Bible defines the Kingdom of God as "the realm, visible or invisible, where God's rule is acknowledged." Companion:Mary Magdalene  with Joanna and Susanna , by Janet McKenzie, Luke 8:1-3 The role of Christ's female followers

Some of the cross-references for the parable of the sower pointed me back to Isaiah, which is less and less of a surprise to me these days.  Jesus and Isaiah line up cleanly in  many ways.  Isaiah pictures some of the highest and lowest moments of God's thoughts and plans.  Here, the future unfolding of the Kingdom is rich in natural imagery: "...until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.  Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.  My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest. Even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down, the LORD will greatly bless His people. Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up. Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely." -Isaiah 32:15-20, ESV &quo