69 – The Leavened Loaf; Matthew 13:33-35; Mark 4:33-34; Luke 13:20-21
Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [a]pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Mark 4:33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Luke 13:20 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [a]pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”
On the surface, this picture of the kingdom appears to portray the good news of the gospel pervading the world via a small few who spread the message. Indeed, The Word in Life Study Bible and the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible both seem to subscribe to this view. However, the Nelson KJV Bible Commentary takes a different position.
“Leaven is a lump of old dough in a state of fermentation which contaminates the bread. Leaven is virtually always used as a symbol of evil (cf. Mt 18:6-12; Mk 8:15; Gal 5:9)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1201). “The kingdom of God was also compared to a woman who mingled leaven into several loaves of meal until they had all risen” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1281). “Kent (p. 47) sees the woman here as the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev 2:20) and the great harlot (Rev 17). Thus, the leaven is not just false profession of unsaved church members but false doctrine which they will attempt to bring into the church” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1201). “Perhaps a majority of older interpreters have seen this as the spreading of good throughout the world via the church. But this would seem to contradict the fact that the wheat did not take over the tares (Mt 13) and Jesus’ forecast in Matthew 24:37 that the end times would be as in Noah’s day. Besides, leaven is a picture of that which corrupts, and represents sin (Ex 12:15; Lk 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6-8). It is better to view this as a picture of the externalism, unbelief, evil doctrine, and worldliness which tend to inflate the church. Only fire ends the work of leaven!” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1281).
While the Nelson Commentary references Old Testament imagery equating leaven to sin, the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia explains that the feast of unleavened bread was a remembrance of the hurried flight from Egypt, when there was no time to allow bread to rise. God’s command to dispose of leaven was not necessarily because leaven represented sin (although it very often does represent sin throughout the Bible), but because He wanted the people to remember what He had done for them. Also, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia points out that, since the parable of leaven is part of a pair of parables, which includes the parable of the mustard seed, we can draw some conclusions about the meaning of the story from the previous parable. The mustard seed in the previous parable was something small that grew into something great, and we can therefore apply the same principle to the small leaven that causes new dough to rise.
“Three measures of meal, a common baking quantity (cf. Gen 18:6), equivalent to one and a half gallons (Gr saton; Heb seah)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1201). Where the Nelson KJV Bible Commentary sees this unit of flour as a commonly used measurement, the Word in Life Study Bible portrays it as a hyperbole by Jesus. Women in the audience may have found it laughable that someone would try to leaven so much flour with just a small lump of leaven, but this was the genius of Christ’s illustration. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia confirms this. “Jesus, in the parable of the leaven (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:21) used the working of leaven to teach the pervasiveness of the kingdom which eventually transforms the world. The small bit of leaven – the Word – has power to accomplish this great result” (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 3, pg. 902).
As Jesus reveals the meaning of parables to His disciples, He demonstrates a picture of our spiritual development, which mirrors our physical development. Just as children are unprepared for certain intellectual lessons or physical activities until a certain age, there is a linear progression of spiritual growth for which Jesus allowed when He was teaching. His disciples may have been ready for the deeper lesson, but the crowds were too immature in their faith to be able to handle the full implication of the message. Therefore, He taught them in parables (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1720).
In addition, His use of parables served to confirm His messiahship. Note all the scripture references that demonstrate how Jesus convinced people of His legitimacy by referencing the Old Testament (or the Prophets). Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
Jesus very often calls out the prophecy He is fulfilling from the Old Testament, and He does this here in Matthew 13:35, citing a passage from Psalms. I often think of Psalms as creative expressions of adoration by David (et al), and I sometimes forget that they are just as much God-breathed word as the rest of the Bible. The Psalms are full of prophecy and imagery about the Messiah. In past studies, we have discussed how it was typical for Jews to memorize long passages of scripture, so when Jesus cited a short line, it called to mind the entire context of the reference. Below is the context of the passage in Psalms, in order that I may leave you to contemplate the full implication of this reference.
Psalm 78:1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not conceal them from their children,
But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
Genesis 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
Judges 6:19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.
1 Samuel 1:24 Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.
Matthew 13:34
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
John 10:6 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
John 16:25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
John 16:29 His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.
Matthew 13:35
Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from of old,
Matthew 5:2 and He began to teach them, saying:
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,
Mark 4:33
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 4:32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”
Mark 4:34
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
John 10:6 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
John 16:25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
Acts 28:23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Luke 13:20
Matthew 11:16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
Luke 13:18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
Commentary
Mt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! 8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. 9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.] 12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
Mark 8:15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Gen 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.”
Rev 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Matt 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Ex 12:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
Lk 12:1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
1 Cor 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
A Growing Seed, Mark 4:26-29; Matthew 13:24-30; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
Mark 4:26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately [a]puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Matthew 13:24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven [a]may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed [b]tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the [c]wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? [d]How then does it have tares?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An [e]enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the [f]air come and nest in its branches.”
Mark 4:30 And He said, “How shall we [a]picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the [b]air can nest under its shade.”
Luke 13:18 So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the [a]air nested in its branches.”
There are three parables in this group of passages, and the mustard seed reference from Luke can actually be placed in the context of another teaching episode. However, because the theme is identical to what we’re studying in Matthew and Mark, I included it. I also split the passages from Mark because, chronologically, it seems those two stories were split by the parable Matthew cites in 13:24-30.
The Seed’s Spontaneous Growth
The first parable is very short and seems pretty simplistic on the surface. However, there are several differing opinions about the meaning of it. One interpretation of the parable in Mark 4:26-29 is that the sower is enjoying and demonstrating the fruits of God’s labor in his own life. “As a farmer knoweth not how his seed becomes mature plants which produce fruit, Christians may enjoy fruitful lives without thoroughly understanding the process. The emphasis of this parable is found in the expression of herself, which in Greek means “automatically” (Gr automatos). God’s procedure for growth does not need to be intellectually perceived to be experienced” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1243).
Another way to interpret the story is that, just as in the parable of the soils, the sower is sowing the Gospel message, and the plant’s growth represents others’ acceptance of the message. In this context, there are a couple of other important ideas to take away from the passage. The sower, though not responsible for the growth of the plant, does have duties to act during the time of planting and the time of harvest. As the farmer completes his portion, God makes the farmer’s burden light by doing the hard work in the middle and multiplying the farmer’s efforts. However, He allows and even requires participation from humans, with which they comply to their own benefit.
Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
This parable also has some layers of complexity that may not be obvious on the surface. I first interpreted this parable to mean that God would reap the harvest of Christians and destroy the unbelievers, but the distinction is much more nuanced than that. Because Jesus refers to a type of weed that looks very much like wheat, He is making a point of saying there will be people who pose as Christians but have nefarious intentions. “Unlike the Jewish form of the kingdom in the Old Testament where citizens could be easily recognized, during the Church Age converts will be made from all over the world and received upon their profession of faith. Thus, it will be easier to slip in some counterfeits who profess what they do not possess. … The enemy is Satan and the tares (Gr zizanion, denoting “darnel,” lolium temulentum) are false converts. The darnel was a weed that resembled wheat but did not come to fruition” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1200). In this passage, we also see that the distinguishing factor between true Christians and false converts is the fact that Christians bear fruit, whereas false converts never get beyond an outward appearance of similarity.
Similarly to the metaphor in the first parable, “It should be noted that a “fruit” is something which God must produce in us by His power (cf. Gal 5:22ff.), whereas, a “work” is something which man can do by his own effort. Singing, preaching, ushering, teaching, witnessing are all works; by contrast, loving people, having a deep-seated inner joy, being at peace with people, etc,. are fruits of the Holy Spirit, as is righteousness and holiness. False converts may produce outstanding works but no real fruits” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1200).
As I’ve been going through these studies, I have tried to emphasize the ways Jesus fulfills Old Testament scripture, and, in some cases, where He brilliantly reveals the meaning of Old Testament scripture in the context of His ministry. However, it is also helpful to match some of the later writings of the Bible with the messages Jesus taught during His ministry. The sequence of burning the tares and then gathering the wheat into the barn (Heaven) is mirrored in Revelation 19-22. These kinds of thematic consistencies also lend credence to the Biblical accounts, as they coalesce into one story.
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Because the mustard seed reference was used so famously by Jesus on multiple occasions, we are familiar with the idea that the seed is small. However, there has commonly been some hyperbole used by modern Christian messaging in the portrayal of seed-to-plant ratios. Many times, images will show a tree such as an oak, which is far larger than a mustard plant, and it may be helpful to take a realistic view of the biology, instead. Although mustard plants do not grow to be larger than life, they do dwarf other herbs, and their seeds are comparatively smaller. The sermon I link at the end of this section has some helpful pictures to demonstrate the reality of ancient mustard seeds and plants.
Even with a more realistic understanding of the comparison Jesus was drawing, the implications are still pretty much the same. “In our own culture, where people tend to equate significance with magnitude, these parables remind us of the power of small but potent faith and of simple but solid kingdom values. … God’s challenge to us as His people is not to be impressed by power, success, or super-achievement, but to give ourselves to the so-called little things, the things of His kingdom. Therein lies ultimate significance” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1816).
Beyond the metaphor of the seed itself, we also find, once again, that there are a few differing schools of thought about the meaning of other imagery in the story. Similarly to the birds in last week’s study (the ones that ate the seed off the hard ground), the birds nesting in the mustard plant may represent evil ones, and in the parable of the mustard seed, we can see they clutter the branches of the bush, hoping to benefit from its security or bounty, after it has grown (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1201). However, “they are neither part of the plant nor permanent” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1243). Conversely, “they may simply be an indication of the fact that this herb was large enough to hold birds in its branches” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1281). One other theory is that the birds may represent people of various nationalities who are able to come and find rest and refuge in God’s kingdom. This pastor supports the “rest” theory by tracing back multiple references to birds resting in trees in the Old Testament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyoJMVp018o.
The theme that seems to run through all three of these parables, regardless of the discrepant theories about symbolism, is that God will grow His kingdom, through His miraculous power; however, humans are blessed to be able to play a role in spreading the message of the Gospel throughout the world.
Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Mark 4:29
Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.
Revelation 14:15 Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe.”
Revelation 14:18 Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”
Matthew 13:24
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
Matthew 18:23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Matthew 25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Luke 13:20 Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God?
Matthew 13:26
Ezekiel 17:6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches, and sent out shoots.
Matthew 13:27
Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Matthew 13:30
2 Samuel 23:7 The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire will burn them to ashes in the place where they lie.”
Isaiah 17:5 as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 13:31
Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Luke 17:6 And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Matthew 13:32
Psalm 104:12 The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches.
Ezekiel 17:23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
Ezekiel 31:6 All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
Daniel 4:12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
Luke 13:18
Luke 13:20 Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:19
Ezekiel 17:23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
Daniel 4:12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
Luke 17:6 And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
67 – Defense of Parables; Matthew 13:10-23; Mark 4:10-20; Luke 8:9-15
Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 [d]Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 [e]In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘[f]You will keep on hearing, [g]but will not understand;
[h]You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the [i]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 the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the [j]word, immediately he [k]falls away. 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 [l]world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Mark 4:10 As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
13 And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they [c]fall away. 18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the [d]world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
Luke 8:9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; [c]they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with [d]perseverance.
You may have noticed the footnotes don’t start at the letter ‘a’, and that’s because I was originally going to do this section along with the parable itself, which I studied last time. However, that ended up being way too much to look at in one post, so I divided it in order to give each section the proper focus.
The meat of this post focuses on predestination. Why does it sound as if Jesus purposely speaks in a confusing manner so some people won’t understand Him? Does it contradict 2 Peter 3:9, which says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”?
Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.'” In this verse, let us consider that Jesus does not want to prevent people from conversion, but rather He means to point out that faith is a critical element of belief and salvation. “Faith precedes proof, not vice versa. People are won “through the foolishness of preaching” not scientific facts. If that were the case, faith would be nothing more than the recognition of revealed evidence” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1243).
However, those in His audience who had not already demonstrated faith were showing the evidence of the hardness of their heart because if they had internalized the message, they surely would already have turned from their sin, and God would have forgiven them. Those who cannot understand the parable are those who had already rejected Christ in their hearts (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1199).
If you read Jesus’s statements to the disciples in a certain tone, you can infer an added shade of meaning. It’s possible Jesus is implying to the disciples that they were given the gift of knowledge, through their faith, without having to hear parables, whereas Jesus has to put the word into different contexts for the rest of His audience. If He were to speak to His larger audience in plain terms about the kingdom, their ignorance would prevent them from internalizing the message, but if he reaches them with stories to which they can relate, some of them may have the veils lifted from their eyes. Even though the disciples didn’t understand the parable, Jesus is telling them they already received God’s gift of knowledge, and more than that, Jesus still goes on to explain the parable to them because once they have shown themselves to be good soil, they will receive more added to them (Matt 13:12).
Another reason Jesus chooses to reveal this truth to the disciples is that they are the ones who will be founding the church, and their evangelism will result in the various types of growth Jesus illustrates. He is painting a picture of the kingdom that will exist between the time He leaves the earth and the time He returns (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1199). “This is the turning point in Matthew’s gospel. Already sensing His impending rejection, Jesus now expresses the “mystery” form of the kingdom which will be the church. His early ministry involved a proclamation of the spiritual principles of the kingdom. The Jews, seeking a political and nationalistic kingdom, were now rejecting Jesus’ concept of a kingdom of spiritual character. To bring in a political kingdom before men were born again would be a travesty. Therefore, an interval is now announced between the Messiah’s original appearance and His final return. That interval is the Church Age, during which believers are citizens of the kingdom which is within them (Lk 17:21). The distinction between the church and the kingdom is not that one is more spiritual than the other. The church is the present (realized) form of the kingdom of God. The millennial kingdom, which is to come in the future (Rev 20:4) is another transitional form of the kingdom which will ultimately be presented to the Father to be the eternal kingdom of God (Rev 21)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1198-1199).
This story is additionally an encouragement to the disciples when they go into the world and preach the Gospel. The Word in Life Study Bible admonishes that Christians are called to bear witness but not to convert – conversion is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit. Our conversion rate is not a measure of our success, but if we love others and are fulfilling our calling, that is success in itself. “One thing we as “farmers” can’t do is change the soil. But we can offer good seed and do the best we can to nurture whatever faith sprouts up … How others react is between them and God” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1719). “Jesus taught His disciples that they would sow much seed, but should not be distressed by seemingly poor results and some cases of apparent salvation which were in reality nothing but an outward emotional experience” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1275).
Despite any attempts at alternative interpretation, parts of these passages still seem to point to predestination, and if you look at the cross-referenced verses at the bottom, the case grows significantly stronger in favor of predestination.
Romans 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.
This is one of those times when, if we come to understand something about God that interrupts our worldview, we may be tempted to distance ourselves from “a God who would do something like that.” What I find important to bear in mind when I come across passages like this is: 1) My capacity for understanding is infinitesimal when compared with God’s capacity for design and creativity, and 2) whether I like something or not has no effect on its absolute truth. Regarding point number 1, I often find writing by others, to whom God has revealed greater wisdom, and I see things in a completely different light than I had first interpreted them. This is just a tiny glimpse into the vast knowledge I do not possess, and it helps humble me in my ignorance. Regarding point number 2, my job is to investigate the truth and then adapt my life to it, not the other way around; truth is not relative based on my feelings. I don’t enjoy healthy eating or exercise, so I could reject the idea that I need either in my life. I could, like so many times in my life, embrace “me,” in a lifestyle of obesity and lethargy. However, it would not change the evidence that points to obesity as a contributing factor in various deadly diseases that will likely kill me before my time.
So, knowing that I may or may not interpret this passage correctly, my first goal is to seek out truth about predestination. Because it is such a hotly debated topic, I may not be able to find a definitive answer, in which case I need to determine whether the acceptance of predestination affects the way I live out my faith or affects my personal salvation. I believe my salvation is unaffected by either view, and I would argue that I need to live out my faith as if we are not predestined (in the sense that I am still compelled to point others to Christ and pray for their salvation) because, when I take it in the context of the rest of scripture, it is clear my job is to point others to Christ, regardless of the way God chooses to move on their hearts. Also, the concept of predestination does not create a conflict with the messiahship of Jesus. In fact, Jesus points back to some of the prophetic text in Isaiah to support His points with His disciples. As I have mentioned in the past, if I can remain focused on the purpose of my study, which is to give credence to Jesus as the Christ, it can help put peripheral topics into perspective.
I took a long break between posting my last study and this one, partly because I spent some time reading the book Chosen But Free by Norm Geisler, to give some clarity on this topic. One of the first things Geisler says in the book is that ideas have consequences, so it’s important to ensure you’re sharing solid ideas. Below are some notes from the book.
The Bible makes it clear that God has foreknowledge of who will come to Him in the end, and there are several places where the language indicates that God even chooses those people who will ultimately be saved. What if, instead of being selective, God “chooses” everyone, but some people “choose” to reject Him? That’s how the Bible can say only those God chose can receive salvation and yet preserve the idea that free will allows us to deny salvation. And once we have denied it, the Holy Spirit can choose to stop trying to persuade us, and He allows our hearts to harden.
Response to John 6:65 This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him. – “the real question is, “Does God give to all people the ability to come to Jesus?” The answer is that there is nothing here or anywhere else to say God limits His willingness to provide this ability to only some. Indeed, the Bible is clear that He is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and that He “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3; see also Ezek. 18:32)” (Chosen But Free, pg. 58-59).
“God is found by those who seek Him, yet when they find Him, they discover that He first sought them” (Chosen But Free, pg. 60).
Geisler writes an interesting parable on page 67. A man, Jim, has a decision to make – will he marry or won’t he? The decision is his own free choice to make, and he decides he would like to marry. He loves two women, Joan and Betty, and he happens to know that Joan would say ‘yes’ to a proposal (with possibly a little pursuit and persuasion), and Betty would say ‘no.’ So, he proposes to Joan. He didn’t predetermine what Betty’s response would be, but because he anticipated her response, he didn’t choose her. If Joan and Betty didn’t have free will, or if Jim could force either one of them to marry him, he could coerce Betty into marrying him. But then she wouldn’t really love him, and what kind of relationship would that be? Did he love Betty, and is he sad? Yes. But short of shackles, could he ever be married to her? No.
Here’s another example. My son has been told many, many (many, many, many) times never to leave his dirty clothes on the floor, yet I can tell you with about 99% certainty that, when he changes into his pajamas tonight, he will drop his clothes on the floor. You could say I “foreknow” that he will sin (by sin, I mean disobedience to what he has been told to do by his mother and father), but I do not cause him to sin. It is possible that I could stand over him while he changes (since he’s only 6), and I could force him to put the clothes immediately into the hamper. However, I know he really needs to be held accountable for personal responsibility. Therefore, even though I know he will drop the clothes on the floor, and I choose not to intervene, I would still be justified in punishing him or removing rewards when he chooses to do something he knows is wrong.
Geisler makes another analogy that is helpful. If you record a football game, and you watch it later, you can watch it as many times as you want, and the action won’t be any different, although it was freely chosen in the first place. Because God foreknows everything that will happen, it’s all sort of playing out like a recorded program to Him. He knows what will happen, and although He doesn’t force people to do something against their free will, He, in a sense, predestines it because He allows it to play out in the way they have chosen. As Geisler says, no analogy is perfect, so each will shed light on a different aspect of the mystery at hand. This analogy, for instance, does not resolve the way God intervenes in some situations and not others. However, I hope these analogies were helpful in shedding some light on the concepts of foreknowledge and predestination.
Isaiah 29:11 And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to a reader, he will say, “I cannot read it, because it is sealed.”
Matthew 19:11 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.
Matthew 20:23 “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
Mark 10:40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
John 6:65 Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 2:2 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
1 John 2:20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Matthew 13:12
Matthew 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Luke 8:18 Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Luke 12:48 But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
Luke 19:26 He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
James 4:6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 13:13
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Isaiah 42:19 Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?
Isaiah 42:20 Though seeing many things, you do not observe. Though your ears are open, you hear nothing.”
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 20:49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?'”
John 9:39 Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Romans 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Matthew 13:14
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Isaiah 6:9 And He replied, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.'”
John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Acts 28:26 Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Acts 28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
Romans 10:16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
Romans 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Matthew 13:15
Psalm 119:70 Their hearts are hard and callous, but I delight in Your law.
Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure–who can understand it?
Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Luke 19:42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
John 8:43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Acts 28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
2 Timothy 4:4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
Matthew 13:16
Matthew 16:17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Luke 10:23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
Luke 10:24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Matthew 13:17
Luke 10:23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
Hebrews 11:13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who foretold the grace to come to you, searched and investigated carefully,
Matthew 13:18
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
Matthew 13:19
Ezekiel 31:18 Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.'”
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Matthew 12:26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
Matthew 13:20
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 13:5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Matthew 13:21
Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
Matthew 13:22
Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Matthew 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 2:6 Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom–but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Matthew 13:23
Matthew 13:8 Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop–a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop–a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:10
Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:11
Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
1 Corinthians 5:12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
Colossians 4:5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
1 Timothy 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
Mark 4:12
Isaiah 6:9 And He replied, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Isaiah 43:8 Bring out a people who have eyes but are blind, and who have ears but are deaf.
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Romans 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Mark 4:14
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Mark 4:15
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:3 And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
Mark 4:16
Matthew 13:5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Mark 4:17
Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Mark 4:19
Proverbs 23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Luke 21:34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life–and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Mark 4:20
Matthew 13:8 Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop–a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Luke 8:10
Isaiah 6:9 And He replied, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Acts 28:26 Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Luke 8:11
1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Luke 8:12
Matthew 13:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
Luke 8:14
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
Luke 8:15
Luke 8:16 No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.
Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
66 – Parable of the Sower; Matthew 13:1-10; Mark 4:1-10; Luke 8:4-8
Matthew 13:1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And [a]large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell [b]among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, [c]let him hear.”
Mark 4:1 He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, 3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, [a]let him hear.”
Luke 8:4 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the [a]air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, [b]let him hear.”
At the opening of this passage, we find Jesus once again entering a boat because He was unable to teach effectively when crowds pressed against Him. I pulled a couple of verses from the scripture reference section, as reminders of the way this preferred platform came about.
Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.
Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
Verse 3 tells us Jesus began to teach them in parables, and, although we have seen a few brief parables previously, this is effectively an introduction to this teaching method within Jesus’s ministry. “Whereas before, He had used parables to illustrate His messages, now they formed the basis of the message” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1199). Parables are a format that carry over from the Old Testament. “For example: Nathan’s parable of a rich man who took a small ewe lamb belonging to a poor man (2 Sam. 12:1-4); the wise woman of Tekoa’s parable of a widow whose two sons fought until one was killed (2 Sam. 14:5-7); and Solomon’s parable of the sluggard (Prov. 24:30-24)” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1718). The original Greek word for ‘parable’ comes from two words, meaning ‘beside’ and ‘to cast’. A parable differs from an allegory or fable, in that parables are true to life in every respect, whereas allegories or fables tend to personify animals or objects in order to illustrate concepts (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1275). “Thus, a parable is a rhetorical device to explain truth” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242).
The visual images in the story at first seemed questionable to me because I couldn’t understand how a farmer so carelessly scattered his seeds onto places that didn’t seem likely were part of his field, but I found some information that was helpful. “The way side is the path trampled through the field. It was hard-packed and the seed found no root, thus the birds (demons? Vs. 19, wicked one(s)) snatched it away… The second category is called stony places or the rock ledge beneath a thin, shallow layer of soil. This thin crust would warm quickly causing the seed to sprout instantly but without adequate rootage or moisture… The third group of seeds fell among thorns which had not been plowed. The thorns (wild growth) choked out the crop. The good ground represents well-plowed and prepared soil capable of producing a large crop” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1199). These four types of soil could easily be found within the same field.
Jesus devised these parallels from practical experience of His own that was relatable to His audience. “Jesus may have continued His occupation even after He began to teach and travel. Rabbis (or teachers) of the day commonly spent anywhere from one-third to one-half of their time working (most likely with their hands) to provide for themselves. And while Jesus’ opponents, many of them rabbis, attacked Him on numerous grounds, they never accused Him of laziness or freeloading. Indeed, He was known to them as a carpenter” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1654). The Word in Life Study Bible argues that Jesus taught in parables in order to meet the people where they were and to give them a better opportunity to understand, through practical illustrations. However, when Jesus goes on to explain the parable to the disciples in private it seems pretty clear that part of His objective was to mystify the people, instead. In another article, The Word in Life Study Bible clarifies this by saying just because the parables have vivid illustrations doesn’t mean “they are always easy to understand. Even Jesus’ disciples were sometimes confused as to the meaning of His parables (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). Furthermore, Jesus sometimes spoke in parables to reveal truth to His followers but to conceal it from those who had rejected Him (Matt. 13:10-17; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10). Thus He fulfilled the prophecy of Is. 6:9-10. Like a double-edged sword, His words cut two ways – enlightening those who sought the truth but blinding the disobedient” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1718).
“Especially in His lessons on the kingdom Jesus employed these story illustrations and with two effects: to believers they disclose truth; to unbelievers they hide it” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242). “Jesus used parables for at least five reasons. (1) To attract attention. They have tremendous interest value, and everyone likes a story. (2) To prevent hearers from being repelled too quickly by normal direct statements. (3) To stimulate inquiry and to teach. These stories could easily be remembered, and were thus good vehicles for preserving the truth. (4) To reveal the truth, as some could understand a story taught in parabolic form more easily than regular teaching. (5) To conceal the truth. Often a story would protect the truth from the mockery of a scoffer who could not understand the meaning. One’s spiritual condition frequently determined how much he would understand of what Jesus said” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1275).
“It should be noted, however, that parables did not always convert unbelievers who were often confused about their meaning. Tasker (p. 134) comments: “Jesus deliberately adopted the parabolic method of teaching at a particular stage in His ministry for the purpose of withholding further truth about Himself and the kingdom of heaven from the crowds, who had proved themselves to be deaf to His claims… from now onwards, when addressing the unbelieving multitude, He speaks only in parables (thirty-four in number) which He interprets to His disciples in private”” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1199). Below are some of the reference verses that further reinforce the concept of man’s weak inability to overcome his own bias.
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Acts 28:26 Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
In addition to Jesus’s purpose in protecting the truth, specifically the parable of the sower demonstrates Satan’s role in keeping people from internalizing the message of the gospel. In the illustration of the birds eating the seed before it has a chance to get into the soil, we can see the influence of Satan, removing the Word from view and preventing it from having a chance to flourish. This idea is underscored in 2 Cor 4:4, which says, “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” As we know from other biblical context, the god of this world refers to Satan, and this verse, combined with some of the previous insights above, begin to bring into focus the spiritual warfare that goes on all around us while we go about our lives.
On the positive side, Jesus makes a point of saying the plants could bear different amounts of fruit and still be successful plants. This is an encouragement to those who are manifesting their talents to different ends within the scope of their role in the body of Christ. He then closes this teaching session with the common exclamation, “He who has ears, let him hear,” which “aims at man’s tendency to ignore or make light of truth. The statement is another way of calling the listener to pay close attention” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242). When I read it, I also get a sense He was reinforcing the idea that the ones who understand the story are the ones whose hearts are in the right place, whereas those who don’t understand should evaluate their motives for listening to Jesus teach.
Matthew 9:28 After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
Matthew 13:2
Luke 5:3 Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
Matthew 13:3
Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Matthew 13:4
Luke 18:35 As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
Matthew 13:7
Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
Matthew 13:8
Genesis 26:12 Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and in that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,
Matthew 13:9
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear.
Mark 4:23
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Mark 4:1
Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.
Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs.
Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.
Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
Luke 5:3 Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
Mark 4:2
Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables,
Mark 10:1 Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.
Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Mark 4:8
Ephesians 2:21 In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Mark 4:9
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear.
Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Luke 8:5
Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Luke 8:8
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear.
Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 14:35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
65 – Redefining Family; Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21
Matthew 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”[a] 48 But [b]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:31 Then His mother and His brothers *arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” 33 Answering them, He *said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34 Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Luke 8:19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Footnotes
a. Matthew 12:47 This verse is not found in early mss
This passage begins with a reference to Jesus’s mother and brothers. We of course know who Mary is, and four of Jesus’s brothers are mentioned by name in Matthew 13:55 (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas). I have mentioned before that there is a debate over the perpetual virginity of Mary, and, while I do not find this issue to be crucial to salvation, I have read the arguments in favor of both her perpetual virginity and her commencement of normal marital relations after the birth of Jesus. This article generally sums up where I landed after studying the Bible passages and the opposing arguments https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-siblings.html. To the arguments in the attached article, I would like to add a couple of thoughts of my own. From the time of creation, God designed man and woman to have a certain companionship, and marital intimacy is part of His design. Paul mentions that those who are able to remain single, in order to focus on their relationship to God, should do so. However, he says that if they marry, they should not withhold themselves from one another, except during periodic and mutually agreed-upon episodes of concentrated worship. God did not tell Mary to remain single. The angel who spoke to Joseph went as far as to dissuade Joseph from divorcing Mary and instead encouraged the union, per God’s plan. Although God dictated a temporary period of celibacy prior to the birth of Jesus, there is no indication that God deviated from His original design for marriage or His command to “be fruitful and multiply.” It would have been cruel and unusual for Him to ask Joseph to marry and then require him to withhold himself from his wife for the rest of his life. Maybe if God had created a situation in which the two remained single, I would believe Mary never engaged in intimate relations during the course of her life, but since God encouraged Mary and Joseph to marry, there is nothing about His direction to them or His design for marriage that indicates to me they should have remained celibate for life while having to live with one another.
This brings us to the idea of Jesus’s blood family (His half-brothers and sisters). Because blood relationships were greatly emphasized in ancient culture, Jesus’s speech “must have sounded quite foreign to the crowd. He seemed to be breaking with tradition and disowning His family. But notice: Jesus didn’t deny that the woman and the men at the door were His family. He merely pushed beyond the normal understanding of family to a larger reality – the claims of spiritual kinship. This new “family” included anyone who does the will of the Father in heaven” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1655). “Jesus called attention away from earthly relationships to more important spiritual relationships. A believer is even closer to Christ than to a physical relative. This saying was not intended to be one of disrespect to Mary or to His brothers, for they too would come to share that spiritual relationship” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1198).
His lack of urgency to see them may have come, in part, from the exchange we read about in Mark 3:20-21. “’His own people’ had already shown that they understood very little about Jesus or the values of His kingdom (3:20-21). They were limited by their own sinfulness, and needed God’s help like everyone else” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1717). “One need not suppose that Mary agreed with her sons’ conclusion about Jesus. She probably joined her sons to prevent them from doing something rash” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242).
Switching focus from Jesus’s blood family and looking at the family Jesus claimed while He was talking to the crowd, we see Jesus own His relationship with His disciples. “The beauty of this passage can be seen in the fact that while they had left all and followed Him, they were still often “of little faith” (8:26). Yet He was not ashamed to call them brothers (see Heb 2:11)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1198). This gives us hope for ourselves and our own redeemed relationship to God, through Jesus. The concept of ‘redemption’ is one that was familiar at the time because it usually referred to a kinsman who would buy back his family member and restore his or her rights within the family. The idea also applied to paying a ransom or purchasing the freedom of an enslaved person. Knowing this adds so much depth to our understanding of Jesus’s redemption of the world. In this small picture of brotherhood with His disciples, we see Jesus redeeming people from their sin and restoring them to their place as part of God’s family. They were enslaved, but now they are elevated to a position of power and authority as representatives of God. That is powerful.
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with Child through the Holy Spirit.
Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
Luke 1:43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 2:33 The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
Luke 2:48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
Luke 2:51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was subject to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
John 2:12 After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.
John 7:3 So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
John 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
John 7:10 But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went–not publicly, but in secret.
John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
Acts 1:14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
Galatians 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
Matthew 12:50
Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Mark 3:31
Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
Mark 3:30 Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Mark 3:34
Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.
Hebrews 2:11 For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Luke 8:21
Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Commentary
Mark 3:20 And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
Matthew 8:26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
Hebrews 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Matthew 12:38-45 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a [a]sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a [b]sign; and yet no [c]sign will be given to it but the [d]sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”
There are a lot of stories from the Old Testament that we look to and see foreshadowing of the Messiah, but I find it interesting that Jesus calls out the story of Jonah from among the others. Apparently, the story of Jonah is and was controversial, but Jesus alludes to it as verified reality. In verse 40, we read the term “sea monster,” which is a literal translation from the Greek word “ketos”, and the controversy surrounding the story has to do with the specific type of fish that might be capable of swallowing a man.
At the time, the Jewish audience believed that, when God prepared a fish to swallow Jonah, He actually created a new creature specifically for that purpose. However, some scholars present a different view. “As it occurs in the text, the word means “to appoint, ordain, prepare, or order.” The idea is one of commission rather than creation. The fish, then was not one that was created specially for a task, but rather was one already in existence and commissioned for a specific mission, the preservation of God’s prophet” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1037). Although many people believe the fish was a whale, some have pointed out that the biology of a whale’s mouth and stomach would not allow it to swallow a man. Of course, if God had to “prepare” the fish, He may have made some adjustments to the physiology in order to allow for it to swallow a whole man and leave him undigested for three days. There are other plausible theories about fish that have demonstrated the ability to swallow large, live objects. “Other commentators have suggested that the fish was a dogfish, which has a stomach so large that once the body of a man in armor was found in it. Still others suggest that the fish was a shark, some of which grow to a weight of ten thousand pounds and to a length of thirty to forty feet, and in whose stomachs full-grown horses have been found. The Smithsonian Institution has on record an incident in which one fish swallowed another fish that weighted fifteen hundred pounds. The precise identity of the fish is not important. Apparently, God has a number of fish in His repertoire capable of the feat” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1037). While it is not critical to understand exactly how this miracle transpired, we can rely on Jesus’s acknowledgment of the story as proof.
The point of Jesus’s reference, however, was not to settle a dispute about the fish, but to compare God’s people to the people of Nineveh. In the story of Jonah, the Ninevites were an evil pagan people who were enemies of Israel. Despite this, God desired to turn their hearts and sent Jonah to preach to them. Almost unbelievably, when Jonah spoke to them, they immediately repented and turned to God. This is not the first time Jesus has embarrassed His Jewish audience by pointing out that Gentile people have outperformed Israel in humble repentance and worship of God, and He goes on to cite yet another example with His reference to the Queen of the South.
The story of the Queen of Sheba is found in 1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9. The Queen had heard reports of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth, so she came to see for herself. She put together a showy, extravagant caravan (presumably assuming that she would be able to humble Solomon with her status), and she prepared difficult questions to ask him. However, when she saw the beauty of Solomon’s temple, observed the happiness of his attendants, and heard the depth of his wisdom as he responded to her queries, she declared that Solomon must have been appointed by God to “do justice and righteousness.” She verbally blessed God and proceeded to lavish gifts on Solomon. A woman who had come with a haughty spirit left with a humble and awed attitude toward God and the king of Israel. As Jesus asserts through His comparison, even a Gentile with no understanding of Israel’s God was able to see immediately that He was sovereign, and she was not too proud to lower herself in the presence of one who was greater. However, the Jewish people, for all their study of this story and that of Jonah, refused to humble themselves in front of the Messiah.
In the passage, Jesus goes on to make another comparison between a man with an unclean spirit and the Jewish people. I didn’t entirely understand the analogy of the spirits returning to an empty house, but it helped me to read the short article about this passage in The Word in Life Study Bible. It explains that the man in the parable did not fill his heart with good things, but rather left it empty. The author of the article encourages us not to rest in our pursuit of God because when we stop growing or fall away, that is when our soul becomes an empty vessel, ready to be filled with anything that comes along (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1655). The connection Jesus draws is to the Jewish people, who have been “cleansed from their idolatry by the severity of the Babylonian exile” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1198). However, once liberated, they leave themselves them ill-prepared for the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus because they aren’t close enough to God to recognize the Messiah when they see Him.
Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 16:1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
Mark 8:11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
Mark 8:12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Luke 11:16 And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
John 2:18 On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
John 6:30 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do?
1 Corinthians 1:22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
Verse 39
2 Kings 14:25 This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.
Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,
Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
Mark 8:12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
Verse 40
2 Kings 14:25 This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the stomach of the fish.
Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Matthew 28:6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.
Verse 41
Jonah 1:2 “Arise! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
Jonah 3:4 On the first day of his walk, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”
Jonah 3:5 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.
Matthew 12:6 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Romans 2:27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the Law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
Verse 42
1 Kings 10:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
2 Chronicles 9:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.
Matthew 12:6 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
Verse 43
Luke 11:24 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
Verse 44
Luke 11:25 On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
Verse 45
Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
Luke 11:26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
Hebrews 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
2 Peter 2:20 If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
63 – An Accusation by Pharisees; Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30
Matthew 12:22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to [a]Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by [b]Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “[c]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and [d]any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he [e]is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by [f]Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever [g]speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever [h]speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak [i]what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure [j]what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure [k]what is evil. 36 But I tell you that every [l]careless word that people [m]speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For [n]by your words you will be justified, and [o]by your words you will be condemned.”
Mark 3:20 And He *came [a]home, and the crowd *gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat [b]a meal. 21 When His own [c]people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” 22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by [d]Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but [e]he is finished! 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Early in the passage, we are presented with the pivotal question of the gospel; is Jesus the Messiah? “The question, “Is not this the son of David?” is definitely a messianic title (see 9:27)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1197), referring to the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line of David. It was a question posed by the general population, and the scribes began plotting their public response to it. “These scribes probably were more prominent than others, because of their location, from Jerusalem. They presented an official evaluation of this new prophet to the public” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242). In a preemptive response, Jesus then flips the phrase used by the people and calls the Pharisees’ disciples “sons”. Jesus was very gifted at playing with language in a way that highlighted the flaws in other arguments.
Since the scribes could not deny that Jesus was performing miracles, but they did not want to ascribe the power to their God, they claimed Jesus was getting His power from Beelzebul. Beelzebul was “a heathen god considered by the Jews to be the supreme evil spirit” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1717), and it is the name the Jews often used to refer to the prince of darkness. Jesus tells them this is not possible, offering the metaphor of a house divided. “It is worth noticing that, apart from all metaphor, the peasants’ houses in some districts of Palestine are built of such poor material as to easily give way and burst in half (cf. Thomson, ‘Land and the Book,’ p. 390, edit. 1887)” (https://biblehub.com/matthew/12-25.htm).
Jesus then says in Matt 12:27-28, If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. This first line is a really good question the scribes, and it occurred to me that if Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the scribes had to be drawing from the same power, also. However, Jesus does not treat them as spirit-filled worshippers of God. Why not? In order for God to confer on them the power to do miracles, such as exorcism, they must have been serving Him in a way that made God see fit to give them credence as His messengers. I think the answer lies in the phrase, “the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Until that point, the Pharisees and scribes had been a dim light in a dark time, guiding the people with what little remained of their devotion to true worship. Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God, offering new and fresh teaching, which the leaders should have been wise enough to understand and adopt, but they denied Him at this pivotal point in history, simultaneously turning their backs on the Holy Spirit, the very being Who had carried them through their ministry to that point.
As they contrive lies about the Holy Spirit, on whom they had founded their own authority, they commit the worst kind of betrayal. Jesus’s warning of unpardonable sin in this passage has been much debated and commented upon. Even though Jesus died on the cross to cover all the sins of the world, He says in this passage here that all sins will be forgiven, except one: blaspheming the Holy Spirit. First, what does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Blasphemy is lying, or testifying to something that is untrue with the objective to paint the subject in a negative light: for instance, saying that the Holy Spirit is actually the Devil, which is what the Pharisees do in this passage. Some scholars interpret this accusation by the Pharisees simply as evidence of their hard and permanent rejection of the salvation offered by Christ, and this is why it is unforgiveable: because their hearts will obviously never soften to the extent that they would repent for this egregious claim (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1653). “The reason for this is that it is the Holy Spirit who brings the offer of salvation to the heart of man. To reject Him is to” deny the very offer of God’s grace and salvation, therefore putting oneself out of reach of redemption (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1197).
Jesus leaves the scribes without excuse for misinterpreting His ministry because He points out the evidence of His goodness with several illustrations. Knowing a tree by its fruit is an important example of Christ’s point. He is saying that if His power comes from Satan, He cannot simultaneously hurt Satan’s cause. Conversely, if He “bears good fruit”, He cannot be a bad tree. Fruit, in this case, is not only the gift and use of power, but also speech. “By thy words does not refer to justification or condemnation on the basis of what one says, but to the outward evidence of the inward attitude of the heart” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1197).
In the middle of Jesus’s series of arguments, we see an isolated statement about who is for and against Him, and it made me think of another passage that seemed to say the opposite. In Matthew 12:30, above, Jesus asserts that anyone who is not with Him is against Him, whereas in Mark 9:40, He makes the opposite statement: that anyone not against His cause is for His cause. In the latter statement, He seems to be referring to minor denominational differences among believers, whereas in the former warning, “those who fail to affirm Him as the divine Son of God are ultimately against Him, no matter what kind of “appreciation” they claim to have for Him” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1197).
Meanwhile, the scribes are not the only group who oppose Jesus in this passage. The phrase “His own people” in Mark 3:21 refers to Jesus’s family, who had not yet come to believe He was the Messiah and who tried to remove Him back to His home where he would not cause them (or Himself) any further harm or embarrassment. We can see in the footnotes that the literal translation of “His own people” is “kinsmen.” This group may have included siblings, cousins, aunts or uncles (not Mary, of course, because the angel had told her who Jesus was before He was born, and not Joseph because, by this time, he had passed away). These relations had known Jesus from a baby, and it was very difficult for them to acknowledge His position of authority over them. They instead thought He had lost His mind and, because they loved Him, they wanted to prevent Him from further injuring His reputation and theirs by continuing to preach what they thought was irrational nonsense (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1242). Although the accounts in Matthew and Mark do not show Jesus specifically addressing this group of people, this surely was an example of those not for Him being against Him. Imagine how it must have damaged Jesus’s credibility that His own family thought He was certifiably insane. Even though we know that at least His brother James (author of the book of James) later came to believe in Him, there may have been many lost opportunities in the meantime when others were allowed to observe Jesus’s family trying to hush Him.
This idea challenges me, personally. I have often disagreed with certain aspects of various ministries, and I have shared those misgivings with unbelievers in the context of conversations about my faith, thinking that they will be more inclined to consider their own faith if some of their objections are shared. However, it more likely discredits the entire Christian faith when we demonstrate division or imply that other believers are emotionally or intellectually impaired. It’s the same principle that applies in customer service when a front line employee, not wanting to take personal blame for a failure, shifts responsibility to the back of the house by way of excuse to the customer. This does not restore the customer’s faith in the organization or make them any more likely to do repeat business. It instead indicates poor communication and disorganization, and it further solidifies the customer’s impression that the failure they experienced is systemic and repeatable. “A house divided cannot stand.”
Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.
Matthew 9:32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Luke 11:14 One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
Luke 11:15 but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
Matthew 12:23
Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
John 4:29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
Matthew 12:24
Matthew 9:32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Luke 11:14 One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
Matthew 12:25
Matthew 9:4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
Luke 11:17 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
Matthew 12:26
Matthew 4:10 “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'”
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Matthew 12:27
Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Acts 19:13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
Matthew 12:28
Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.
1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
Matthew 12:29
Isaiah 49:24 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?
Matthew 12:30
Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Mark 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
Luke 9:50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Luke 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Matthew 12:31
Leviticus 24:16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must to be put to death; the whole assembly surely must stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Matthew 12:32
Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Matthew 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Mark 10:30 will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life.
Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Luke 16:8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
Luke 18:30 will fail to receive many times more in this age–and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Luke 20:34 Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
Luke 20:35 But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
2 Timothy 4:10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
Titus 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Hebrews 6:5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age–
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Matthew 12:33
Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Luke 6:43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Luke 6:44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, people do not gather figs from thornbushes, or grapes from brambles.
John 15:4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
Matthew 12:34
1 Samuel 24:13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Isaiah 9:17 Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
Isaiah 32:6 For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; He leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink.
Matthew 3:7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.
Matthew 23:33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
Luke 3:7 Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
Matthew 12:35
Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Matthew 7:17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 13:52 Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Matthew 12:36
Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Matthew 12:37
Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Mark 3:20
Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
Mark 2:1 A few days later, Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard He was home,
Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 7:17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
Mark 9:28 After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Mark 3:21
Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
Mark 2:1 A few days later, Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard He was home,
Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 7:17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
Mark 9:28 After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Mark 3:22
2 Kings 1:2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.”
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,
Mark 3:23
Matthew 4:10 “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'”
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 4:2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,
Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables,
Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Luke 11:17 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
Mark 3:26
Matthew 4:10 “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'”
Mark 3:27
Isaiah 49:24 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?
Isaiah 49:25 Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of a tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.
Mark 3:28
Leviticus 24:16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must to be put to death; the whole assembly surely must stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
Matthew 9:3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mark 3:29
Matthew 9:3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mark 3:30
Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
Luke 8:1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
Commentary
This is a very short passage, but there are a few things to glean from what we read here. Similarly to so many other passages or introductions in the gospel accounts, we find Jesus travelling through the cities and villages, proclaiming the kingdom of God. I liked this short exposition of the word proclaiming: “Note the theme we have seen in earlier studies, of Jesus’ emphasis on preaching and teaching God’s Word. “Proclaiming” is the word often translated “preaching” which means to proclaim as a herald. The herald announced to people the word of the king. He never made up his own message, but rather relayed what the king wanted his subjects to know” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3).
This time, we learn that, not only were the 12 original disciples with him, but also some women. It was very unusual for women to accompany men, for several reasons. At that time, the Jewish culture dictated that men were to stay away from women, to avoid being ensnared by their wiles. In fact, most Jewish rabbis wouldn’t even look at women. Jesus, a travelling rabbi, was breaking with tradition by allowing the women to minister to Himself and His disciples.
The second point of interest is that these women had their own means. Women at the time were not generally in control of the family assets and would not have had liberty to travel and spend money freely. However, perhaps because of the miraculous healing these women had experienced, they had either received permission from their husbands or had parted ways with their family and taken some of the family’s wealth with them.
The first woman mentioned is Mary Magdalene (meaning ‘from Magdala’). “Mary Magdalene, had been delivered from evil spirits. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no evidence in the Bible that Mary had been an immoral woman. When Luke states that seven demons had gone out of her, he probably means the number literally. But, also, seven is the number of fulness and so he probably means that her life had been completely dominated by evil spirits” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3). In addition to Mary Magdalene, we are told in this passage that the other women in the group were also healed of illnesses or possession, as well.
The second woman mentioned by name is Joanna, the wife of Chuza. “Chuza managed the king’s household, so Joanna had access to Herod’s court – infamous for its extravagant parties and sexual immorality” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1794). We do not know if Chuza was a Christian or not, but it is unlikely Jesus would have encouraged Joanna to accompany Him if He knew her husband disapproved. “Imagine the gossip that must have surrounded Joanna back in Herod’s court! It would be like one of the Kennedy heirs leaving her mansions and social circles to join an itinerant bunch of evangelists in Mexico! But Joanna’s entire value system was transformed. Formerly she had lived to enjoy the good life of the wealthy and famous. Now she lived to serve her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3). Due to her experience, we can only hope that Chuza came to know the Lord, as well.
Joanna is also mentioned in Luke 24:10, but the next woman mentioned by name, Susanna, is only found in this passage in Luke. I find it interesting that her name was so prominent and recognizable that Luke thought it worthy to mention her by name to Theophilus, but her presence was not called out specifically in any of the other gospel accounts. However, this is more evidence of Luke’s treatment of women in his account. He did his best to put them in the same place of importance Jesus had when He taught women and allowed them to be in His presence.
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Luke 9:6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
Luke 20:1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.
Verse 2
Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.
Matthew 27:55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
Matthew 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.
Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
Mark 16:9 After Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
Luke 23:49 But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
Luke 23:55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.
John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
Acts 1:14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Verse 3
Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
Matthew 14:6 On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
Matthew 20:8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’
Matthew 27:55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
Commentary
Luke 24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
Luke 7:36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to [a]dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a [b]sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a [c]sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he [d]replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred [e]denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say [f]to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
To set the scene, Jesus had been invited to Simon the Pharisee’s house, and was approached by a woman who entered the house via unknown means. “Extensive Jewish religious laws had developed in the first century to ensure moral purity. Many men suspected women of being sexually aggressive and eager to trap unsuspecting men. So Jewish men in general and teachers of the Law in particular – such as Simon and Jesus – were to have as little to do with women as possible” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1791). Not only was she a woman, of course, but the term “sinner” in the text would have been a euphemism for a prostitute or adultress, making her that much more untouchable.
She has come prepared to see Jesus, as she has brought her expensive jar of perfume (or ointment). Alabaster, in Biblical times, referred to a type of marble that was often used to make ointment jars (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 1 pg. 95). Some versions refer to perfume and others to ointment, but it would likely have been heavily scented to ward off body odor, and it would have been very expensive, possibly even a family heirloom (perfumes of the day were known to maintain their scent for centuries sometimes).
She both humbles herself and honors Jesus in several ways:
She positions herself behind Him, demonstrating her position as far less than His and unworthy for Him to look at.
She anoints His feet. Anoint – “The English word “Messiah” is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew word “anointed.” In a literal sense the reigning king in OT times was the Messiah” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 1 pg. 172). She recognizes Him as royalty.
She forfeits all her wealth (or surely near all) to offer Jesus comfort and preference.
She cries, demonstrating how overcome she is by the weight of her sin and the grace Jesus shows her by allowing her to touch Him.
She wipes her tears with her hair, further humiliating herself and manifesting her sense of worthlessness and filthiness.
There is a really cool study of this passage here (https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/forgiveness-leads-to-love), and John Piper reviews one of the problems of common misinterpretation by explaining how verse 47 does not necessarily imply the woman’s sins are only forgiven because of her outward displays of affection, but that her displays of affection are evidence of her change of heart. One thing Piper does not review in the lab is the fact that the woman had not been forgiven before she already demonstrated the acts of love, whereas Jesus’s parable implies her forgiveness preceded her love. This is challenging to convey, but I wanted to present an idea regarding this issue.
In Part 2 of Piper’s study of this passage (https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/gods-love-for-the-worst), he demonstrates there are many kinds of love and that this parable is simply an example of one kind, which may not necessarily have relevance to all in His audience.
Piper also mentions in part 1 of the study that the debt of sin had to do with the perception of the weight of sin each one carried.
One of the ways this woman demonstrated love to Jesus was simply to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, and this was demonstrated through her utter humility in his presence. We now know that believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord are the keys to salvation, but she would not have had assurance on entering Simon’s house, that her sins would be forgiven during this exchange with Jesus. He does not tell her that her faith saved her until afterward.
However, the parallel Jesus makes for Simon, before He even forgives the woman, is that the weight of her perception of her sin brought her so low that her acknowledgment of Jesus resulted in acts of love, whereas Simon’s perception of his own sin did not bring him low and did not result in demonstrable affection.
So, while Jesus did ultimately forgive sins, the parallel He draws for Simon may prove that a person’s posture when approaching Jesus is more relevant than any act of sin or righteousness that preceded it.
Jesus’s message speaks to Simon because He reveals Simon’s perception of his own sin. A Denarius was about the size of an American dime. Footnote ‘e’ says a denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages, so in Jesus’s parable, the man who was forgiven 500 denarii would have been forgiven for a year and a half of income, versus about two months of income for the man who was forgiven 50. Jesus understood Simon’s thought process, not only because He had insight from the Holy Spirit, but also because of the lack of deference Simon had shown Him as a guest. If Simon thought he was a tenth of the sinner the woman was, he didn’t even offer a tenth of the affection she did, however. Jesus’s teaching succinctly points this out.
Luke 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Verse 37
Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper,
Matthew 26:7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Verse 38
John 11:2 (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, would later anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
Verse 39
Isaiah 65:5 They say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
Matthew 21:11 The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Luke 7:16 A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
John 4:19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I see that You are a prophet.
Verse 41
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 18:28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’
Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”
Verse 42
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 18:25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
Matthew 18:27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
Verse 43
Matthew 18:27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
Verse 44
Genesis 18:4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 19:2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
Genesis 43:24 And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
Judges 19:21 So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
2 Samuel 11:8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
1 Timothy 5:10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
Verse 45
2 Samuel 15:5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Verse 46
2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psalm 104:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine and bread that sustains his heart.
Ecclesiastes 9:8 “Let your clothes always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.”
Daniel 10:3 I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
Verse 48
Matthew 9:2 Just then, some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
Verse 49
Matthew 9:10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
Luke 5:21 But the scribes and Pharisees began to contemplate this and ask, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Verse 50
1 Samuel 1:17 “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”
Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.
Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!”
Luke 8:48 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 17:19 Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!”
Luke 18:42 “Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”
Matthew 11:20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His [a]miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the [b]miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in [c]sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the [d]miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
25 At that [e]time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all [f]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [g]easy and My burden is light.”
It’s interesting that we hear a lot of these cities mentioned frequently, but not Chorazin. Chorazin was only about two and a half miles north of Capernaum, so Jesus certainly would have spent time there, teaching, healing, and performing miracles (as he makes allusion to in this passage). It was “known for the black, volcanic rock ruins of its synagogue. The famed cathedra Mosis, a carved judgment seat of Moses (compare Matt. 23:2), has been found there (in modern-day Khirbet Kerazeh)” (Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1651). Despite the amount of time Jesus must have spent there in order to perform so many signs and wonders, we do not hear the city mentioned by name in the gospel accounts at all, except for the condemnation Jesus pronounces on it in Matthew 11:20 and Luke 10:13. In Luke, Jesus speaks almost the identical phrases to what we see here in Matthew, but because the context is completely different, it made sense to leave the other passage for another study.
In contrast to Chorazin, Tyre and Sidon have been mentioned many times, generally as examples of immoral living. We discussed in a previous study that many people from these cities were attracted by Jesus’s healing and were being converted. Jesus points out that if the entire cities realized the error of their ways, they would demonstrate their grief by wearing sackcloth and ashes (a common outward symbol of mourning) because they would be horrified at how much damage their immorality had wrought.
Even Capernaum, which has been called Jesus’s own city, does not escape wrath. When Jesus says Capernaum will descend to Hades, this is an allusion to Isaiah 14:13,15, where the same curse was “spoken of the king of Babylon and probably refers to Satan himself” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1196). This is a harsh sentence for the people of the town, but Jesus had so consistently made His deity obvious through His teaching and miracles that they, of all people, should have been overcome by the truth, instead of actively resisting it. It should have given his audience pause when he placed their city below even Sodom, which was made famous in the story of Lot. The Old Testament gives a descriptive history of Sodom’s sins in Genesis 19:4-5 and Ezekiel 16:49-50, and we see the New Testament reaffirm these in Jude 7 (see scripture references below). But these sins did not compare to the sin of denying the Messiah.
In particular, Jesus points out that the intellectual class seems to be the one missing the point, whereas the uneducated labor class is inclined to believe and accept Him. As Jesus praises God the Father for His superior plan, Jesus goes on to make an observation that I had never fully taken in from verse 27. I have often heard the phrase, “no one knows the Father except the Son,” but I don’t think teachers commonly cite the latter part of the verse, which says, “and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” This implies a shared ownership of the outcome, between Father and Son, that Jesus can elect to reveal the Father to whom He pleases.
Despite this statement of favoritism toward some and condemnation of others, Jesus still encourages those who will to come to Him. When Jesus says His yoke is easy, this distinction is made by contrast with the Pharisees’ teaching, which was extremely tedious, as well as Roman rule, which was felt to be particularly oppressive. He gives His audience hope and expresses an openness and willingness to redeem any who are prepared to apply themselves to His teaching. When Jesus further reports, “you shall find rest for your souls,” this recalls Jeremiah 6:16, which says, “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: Where is the good way? Then walk in it and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’” This brings the lesson back full-circle. The audience is at a crossroads, and they can choose the good way, but most will say, “We will not walk in it.”
While this passage has a grim outlook for many, I saw a glimmer of encouragement. So often, I want to throw up my hands and accept that my habits and inclinations will always inform my actions, no matter how I try. However, this passage reinforces the notion that I have a choice. In that split second when my rage swells against my children or husband, or when my tongue lifts to blurt out some indiscretion, I can choose to remember my Lord’s will, instead of my own. Resigning myself to my generational bonds is equal to the stubborn statement, “I will not walk in the good way.” I can find rest for my soul by making a different choice.
Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
2 Corinthians 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
Verse 21
Joel 3:4 Now what have you against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia–are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense on your own heads.
Amos 1:9 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.
Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.
Mark 7:31 Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
Luke 4:26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.
Luke 6:17 Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.
Luke 9:10 Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 10:14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
John 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
Acts 12:20 Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
Acts 27:3 The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.
Revelation 6:12 And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,
Revelation 11:3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Verse 22
Joel 3:4 Now what have you against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia–are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense on your own heads.
Amos 1:9 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.
Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Verse 23
Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.
Isaiah 14:15 But you will be brought down to Sheol to the far reaches of the Pit.
Ezekiel 16:48 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done.
Ezekiel 26:20 then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 31:14 This happened so that no other trees by the waters would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the depths of the earth, among the mortals who descend to the Pit.’
Ezekiel 32:18 “Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign to the depths of the earth both her and the daughters of the mighty nations, with those who descend to the Pit:
Ezekiel 32:24 Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword–those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.
Matthew 4:13 Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Luke 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!
Luke 16:23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
Acts 2:27 because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
Acts 2:31 Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
2 Peter 2:6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;
Revelation 1:18 the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Revelation 6:8 Then I looked and saw a pale horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 20:13 The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
Verse 24
Jeremiah 23:14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Ezekiel 16:48 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done.
Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Luke 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Verse 25
Job 37:24 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
Psalm 8:2 From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
Matthew 21:16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered, “have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
Luke 10:21 At that time, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
Luke 22:42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
John 12:27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Verse 26
Luke 22:42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
John 12:27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
Verse 27
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
John 7:29 but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me.”
John 10:15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
John 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
John 17:25 Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
1 Corinthians 15:27 For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
Verse 28
Isaiah 28:12 to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.
Jeremiah 31:25 for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”
John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Verse 29
Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
Psalm 116:7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
Isaiah 28:12 to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.
Isaiah 29:19 The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: Where is the good way? Then walk in it and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
John 13:15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
2 Corinthians 10:1 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you–I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
Ephesians 4:20 But this is not the way you came to know Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
Verse 30
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
Commentary
Genesis 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”
Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. 50 Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.
Jude 7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
On The Path 