bible – Page 4 – Leaven in the Meal

Week 15: A Sower of Seeds

“…Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched: and because they had no root, the withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:3-8

“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” Mark 4:3-8

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorn sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold…” Luke 8:5-8

Jesus’ Explanation of this parable is:

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:11-15

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus’ explanation of this parable is clear. His teachings are compared to the seed and Jesus himself is the sower. For the seeds that fall by the way, these teachings are heard, but not believed. Jesus says that the devil takes the word out of the listeners’ hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved. As for the seeds that land on a rock, these are the teachings that find a willing believer, but their beliefs are rootless and the listener will fall away from their beliefs at the first sign of temptation. Lastly, those on good ground, are willing believers who hear Jesus’ teachings and keep them with patient observance even in the face of temptation.

I think of it like this, the seed by the way side touches your ears. You hear what Jesus is saying, and it goes into your short-term memory where it will quickly be replaced by the next set of data that you come across. For the seed that lands on a rock, those teachings find their way to your brain, where you can process and understand them intellectually, but they never become a part of who you are. Lastly, the seed that lands on good ground finds its way into your soul, where it becomes a defining part of who you are and begins to form your core beliefs and attitudes. It is that seed, those teachings, that become the guidepost for your life.

So, how do you prepare your soul to receive the teachings of Jesus? We’re not able to sit at his feet like the disciples and listen to Jesus preach. But, we are able to read the word as contained in the bible and to prayerfully contemplate that which he would have us understand. So, maybe by studying the word either individually, or with a bible study group, or with our church or given family we can prepare our soil, which is our souls, to receive the teachings and to know how to “bring forth fruit with patience.” The word can be implanted in us with strong roots that resist all temptations. And we can become believers who will not forget what we have learned and that continue to grow in our spiritual journey.

Your Reflection

Are these teachings reaching your soul or are they simply in your ears or your memories?
How do you prepare your soul to receive the teachings of Jesus?

Week 14: A House Built on Solid Ground

“Therefore whosoever heareth these these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus is comparing his observant followers to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. Even in the midst of a devastating storm, the house remained solid and secure because of its strong foundation. However, those who have heard the teachings of Jesus and neglected to follow through on them, are compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. When the storms came, the house fell because of the weakness of its foundation. So, Jesus is comparing his teachings to a rock upon which someone can build.

Jesus appears to be telling us to attach our foundation to his teachings. It is upon these teachings, you can start to build. I equate it to learning to read. If you’re going to learn to read, you first need to know the alphabet. It is upon the alphabet that the foundation for reading is built. Similarly, the foundation of the Christian faith can only be built on the teachings of Jesus. And as in the parable, when the ideology of a person or a faith community is founded on anything else, then when tested by the harshest storms, that person or community will be swept aside.

Another point is that his teachings form the foundation for action, not inaction. He says, that whoever hears my teachings and does them. That means that Jesus’ teachings form a foundation for you to act, to do, or to follow through on the guidance that he provides. It’s not enough to hear and to agree, we must also have actions that align with his teachings in order to build a strong foundation.

It occurs to me that the soundness of a foundation is only revealed during the harshest times. When days are sunny or times are good, a beautiful facade can hide the imperfections of structure. But when the storms come or times are difficult, then the true strength of a building, a family, a church, a relationship is revealed. Those that are built on a solid foundation can weather the storm, those that are not are swept away. As the gospel songwriter Edward Mote said, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”

Your Reflection

Upon what is your foundation built? What of that of your marriage, your children, your church?
Does hearing the teachings of Jesus get you to reorder your life? How?

Week 13: Scribes Like Householder

“Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:52

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus calls the disciples scribes that are being instructed about the kingdom of heaven. In this way, Jesus lets them know that he shared these parables about the nature of the kingdom so that they would write them down and share them with others. These stories then, are like treasures that can be brought out and shared.

As written by the disciples, there are twelve parables that describe the nature of the kingdom of heaven. These parables paint a picture of heaven as not just a place, but as:

An ingredient that makes everything it touches rise. – Leaven in the Meal
A man who sowed good seeds into his field, that must then be separated at harvest from the weeds that had been sown by his enemy. – Separating the Tares from the Wheat
A treasure hidden in a field, that when found, a man sold all that he had in order to buy that field. – Treasure in a Field
A merchant who found a pearl of great price and sold all that he had in order to buy that pearl. – A Merchant with One Pearl of Great Price
A king who forgave his servant a great debt, until that same servant refused to forgive a debt owed to him. – A King Forgiving Debts
A net cast into the sea from which the good from the bad are separated. – A Net Cast into the Sea
A man who hired workers for his vineyards who paid each the promised same, regardless of the time worked. – A Householder Hiring Workers
A man who left his goods under the charge of servants, rewarding those who were bold and productive and punishing one that fearfully hid what had been placed under his supervision. – A Man Distributing Talents
A king who is rejected by the invited guests to a wedding for his son, so he opens up the wedding so that all are now welcome. – A King Hosts a Wedding for His Son
Ten young women, five of whom were prepared to meet the bridegroom and five who arrived unprepared and were not allowed entry. – Ten Virgins
A man who casts seed into the ground and harvests the fruit thereof in due time. – A Man Casting Seed into the Ground
A grain of mustard seed, that is the smallest of all seeds, but from which a giant tree grows providing shelter for the birds of the air. – A Grain of Mustard Seed

Your Reflection

Now that these parables are a part of your treasure, with whom will you share them?
How does understanding the nature of the kingdom of heaven, change what you do?

Week 12: A Grain of Mustard Seed

“…Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” Mark 4:30-32

“…Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and wereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” Luke 13:18-19

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, the kingdom of God is compared to a grain of mustard seed. A mustard seed is tiny when compared to other seeds. But, from this tiny seed, a great tree grows and spreads its wide branches, providing shelter for the birds of the air.

Every day we see the miracles of nature all around us. The fact that a large tree which can provide food, shelter, breathable air, and protection from erosion can come from a tiny seed is just one of those miracles. The fact that a single cell can divide and organize itself into the cells of our heart, our lungs, our spine, our feet is another example of a tiny, yet powerful force that has grand potential. This parable teaches that out of little things, big things can grow. It also teaches that something that may seem inconsequential, may one day be beneficial.

The potential for that massive mustard tree can be found within the tiny mustard seed. The potential for a heart or a brain or a lung can be found in a tiny stem cell. What is the potential that is locked up in you? What is the potential that is locked up in me? I don’t think that seeing a tiny mustard seed, many of us could’ve envisioned the giant tree that it could become. Similarly, I think many of us lack the vision to see the ability for growth and capacity for beneficence that each one of us possesses.

By comparing the kingdom itself to the mustard seed, this parable suggests that the kingdom is itself an organism that continues to grow and to become that large tree in which we, like “the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” Perhaps we too can flourish and grow into the full realization of our potential in the same way that mustard seed flourishes and grows in the earth.

Your Reflection

What do you have the potential to be?
What conditions do you need to create in order to become all that you are meant to be?
Would we treat each other better if we could see not only who we are, but the potential of what we could be?

Week 11: A Man Casting Seed into the Ground

“…So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:26-29

My Reflection

In this parable, the kingdom of God is described as being like a man casting seeds into the ground. The seed then grows unattended. First the blade of the new plant appears, then the ear, and lastly the full ear of corn. When the corn is ripe, the man cuts the plant, because the harvest has arrived.

Similar to the Separating the Tares from the Wheat parable, in this story Jesus refers to a coming harvest. Jesus is showing us how humanity parallels the cycles we see all around us in nature. He seems to be comparing humanity to the seeds that have been cast into the ground. I think he is describing the phases of life and the nature of birth, life, and death. We live and grow from infants, as does the blade of the plant; to children, as does the ear of the plant; to adulthood, as does the full corn in the ear. When our season is over, the harvest comes and our bodies, the plant, is cut down. It describes the temporary nature of our physical lives, and also the common harvest that we will all face.

Your Reflection

Does knowing that we all face a common harvest allow you to look at your fellow man or fellow woman with more empathy?
How does this impact your ability to look at others with less envy or less pride?

Week 10: Ten Virgins

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:1-13

My Reflection

In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is compared to ten young ladies who, with oil powered lamps, went out to meet a groom. Five of these ladies came prepared with additional oil for their lamps, and five did not. The ladies had to wait a long while for the groom. Once he was observed to be approaching, the ladies were sent out to meet him. The five which had come unprepared, had run out of oil so their lamps no longer worked. These foolish five, then asked of the rest to allow them to use the oil that they had brought. But those who had come prepared told them to go and buy their own because there might not be enough extra for them all. Instead of meeting the groom, they had to go instead to buy more oil. While they were away, the bridegroom came and the five ladies who were ready, escorted him in and the door was shut. Later, the remaining five returned and asked to be let in, but the lord of the house did not allow them in. This parable ends in, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

This parable seems to be a call for everyone to prepare for the day when Jesus will come. Get ready, plan ahead, don’t wait. The oil in the lamp seems to be a symbol for whatever it is that you need in order to let your light shine. If you know that you don’t have what you need to be ready, then get what you need – more courage, less fear, more love, less hate. Do it now, because you never know when time your time is up. Maybe you need to stay prayerful, stay studious, stay in fellowship with those who support your Christian journey. However you need to refill your oil, so that your lamp won’t go out, is what you need to do.

Another point that I reflected on in the parable is that you can’t enter the kingdom on someone else’s good graces. The five ladies who had planned ahead and brought extra oil in anticipation of the wait for the bridegroom were asked to share their oil, or their replenishments with the five who had not planned ahead. The oil was not shared. The five who were unprepared were instead told to go and get their own. Likewise, I think this parable is saying that the grace and the goodness, the preparations for the kingdom of your neighbor, your friend, your spouse, your mother, or your father are not sufficient for you to enter the kingdom. You have to have it for yourself. As the old song goes, “God bless the child that’s got his own.”

Lastly, the parable also ends with the five ladies, who at this point had missed the bridegroom’s arrival, returning home to find that the door had been shut to them. They had returned too late and the lord of the house refused them entrance. They were not ready as they should have been at the appointed time, and now there was nothing that they could do to make up for their lack of preparation. It seems that Jesus was telling his disciples that they have to get ready and they have to stay ready for the kingdom because no one knows when their time will arrive. So, we all need to keep our lanterns lit and stock up with oil so that it never runs out.

Your Reflection

Do you have the oil you need in order for your light to shine?
How can you continue to fill your reserves so that your light won’t go out?