Parables…

31 He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 32 It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.” 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that somebody hid in a field, which someone else found and covered up. Full of joy, the finder sold everything and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he owned and bought it. 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that people threw into the lake and gathered all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they pulled it to the shore, where they sat down and put the good fish together into containers. But the bad fish they threw away. 49 That’s the way it will be at the end of the present age. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the righteous people, 50 and will throw the evil ones into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?”Jesus asked. They said to him, “Yes.” 52 Then he said to them, “Therefore, every legal expert who has been trained as a disciple for the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings old and new things out of their treasure chest.” (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, CEB)

It seems from reading this that the kingdom of heaven is a hidden thing…

The Kingdom of Heaven is something people look for but can’t find. Maybe that is because they really don’t know what they are looking for.

We all have a picture of what Heaven looks like, some of that is probably from what we have read in the Bible about Heaven, and some of it is probably from what we learned in Sunday School or other places. But what is right about that?

This passage also makes me think of our current state of affairs in the United States and how we are fighting over wearing masks or not. And how much different would that and all discussions be if we actually thought of the other before ourselves?

You see the second parable Jesus told the disciples was that the kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman hid in a bushel of flour. Have you ever tried to remove yeast from flour once it’s been added? It is impossible to remove yeast from flour Once you put it in, it is leavened, and there is no going back.

Makes me think of 1 Corinthians 13:12 “Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known.” I only know partially now, but I will know everything when the kingdom is complete, now I look in a mirror, but then I will see face to face. I think Paul is saying the kingdom of heaven is all around us, and we can’t see it yet completely because of our flesh and sinful nature, but when the completion of what God is doing is here we will see what is all around us.

We need to know that God is present in everything around us and know that God’s love is needed in the world. We are the leaven, the yeast, the kindness the world needs. So don’t look in the mirror and see what people show you, look with eyes of God’s love, and spread kindness wherever you go.

Here’s your sign…

38 At that time some of the legal experts and the Pharisees requested of Jesus, “Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you.” 39 But he replied, “An evil and unfaithful generation searches for a sign, but it won’t receive any sign except Jonah’s sign. 40 Just as Jonah was in the whale’s belly for three days and three nights, so the Human One will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The citizens of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it as guilty, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah’s preaching. And look, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will be raised up by God at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:38-42, CEB)

Why do we want a sign?

Is it easier for us to believe if we see something?

When I read passages like this I am reminded of The Santa Claus 2, which has the line, “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing.”

When we believe something we see it. I can not explain it to you if you do not believe it and you will ask to see it so you can believe it. But you won’t see it until you believe it.

We want the empirical proof, but sometimes there isn’t any proof. That is where faith comes in. You see one of my favorite songs is Hold it up to the Light by David Wilcox. I listened to it a lot when I was trying to decide to go to seminary or not. Because there were so many reasons not to go. So many things that would keep me from doing this. But I needed to step out in faith. The song has these lines in: “I said God, will you bless this decision? I’m scared, Is my life at stake? But I see if you gave me a vision then I would never have reason to use my faith?” We don’t have to see it to trust in God.

Don’t ask for a sign, believe the promise, and step out in faith.

And here is the David Wilcox song for your listening enjoyment:

Have you kept it?

44 “The tent of testimony was with our ancestors in the wilderness. Moses built it just as he had been instructed by the one who spoke to him and according to the pattern he had seen. 45 In time, when they had received the tent, our ancestors carried it with them when, under Joshua’s leadership, they took possession of the land from the nations whom God expelled. This tent remained in the land until the time of David. 46 God approved of David, who asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built a house for God. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in houses built by human hands. As the prophet says, 49 Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. ‘What kind of house will you build for me,’ says the Lord, ‘or where is my resting place? 50 Didn’t I make all these things with my own hand? 51 “You stubborn people! In your thoughts and hearing, you are like those who have had no part in God’s covenant! You continuously set yourself against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did.52 Was there a single prophet your ancestors didn’t harass? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one, and you’ve betrayed and murdered him! 53 You received the Law given by angels, but you haven’t kept it.” (Acts 7:44-53, CEB)

The tent of meeting was put together as Moses was told, and then David wanted to build a temple for God, but even though God approved of David, he was not able to build the temple, but Solomon did, but eve then, God was not contained to it.

We want to keep God in our box, in our house, in a space where we control God.

But God is not controlled by us.

We do not see what God has sent us or follow where God is leading us. Our ancestors killed the prophets and harassed them. We betrayed and murdered God’s son, who was sent to show us the love God has for us and how we should live.

Do we follow what God has given us? Do we keep the commandments God has given us?

Do we live as we should?

How can we be the people God has created us to be?

a warning

14 I’m not writing these things to make you ashamed but to warn you, since you are my loved children.15 You may have ten thousand mentors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. I gave birth to you in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 16 so I encourage you to follow my example. 17 This is why I’ve sent Timothy to you; he’s my loved and trusted child in the Lord; he’ll remind you about my way of life in Christ Jesus. He’ll teach the same way as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant as if I’m not coming to see you. 19 But, if the Lord is willing, I’ll come to you soon. Then I won’t focus on what these arrogant people say, but I’ll find out what power they possess.20 God’s kingdom isn’t about words but about power. (1 Corinthians 4:14-20, CEB)

What power do arrogant people have? Some people yield power through who they are and some through who they know. People will sometimes do whatever it takes to get their way.

But when we are born of God, we need to put aside our arrogance and follow after what Jesus told us to do. We need to not look out for our own needs or our own desires, but what is best for the community and others. And by doing this we will live the life that God has gifted us within the way that Jesus called us to live. We will look out for the other and will, therefore, be looked out for by others.

So don’t be arrogant, and love others as God loved you.

 

Healing the crowd

15 Jesus knew what they intended to do, so he went away from there. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. 16 But he ordered them not to spread the word about him, 17 so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: 18 Look, my Servant whom I chose, the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure. I’ll put my Spirit upon him, and he’ll announce judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He won’t argue or shout, and nobody will hear his voice in the streets. 20 He won’t break a bent stalk, and he won’t snuff out a smoldering wick, until he makes justice win. 21 And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name. (Matthew 12:15-21, CEB)

Jesus was healing everywhere He went and people were believing in Him because of this. His name was spreading and people were hearing and coming to find Him.

Do you tell people about what Jesus has done for you?

What has Jesus done for you?

Think about all the things in your life and discover what God has done for and in your life. Make a list if you have to, a written list.

And know that God did this because God loves you. God created you as you are and God loves you and gives you blessings not because you deserve them or earned them, but because God Loves you.

Then share that with the world so that others will seek Jesus and fund the love God has for them,

Slave vs Free

21 Tell me—those of you who want to be under the Law—don’t you listen to the Law? 22 It’s written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 The son by the slave woman was conceived the normal way, but the son by the free woman was conceived through a promise. 24 These things are an allegory: the women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to slave children; this is Hagar. 25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because the city is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 It’s written: Rejoice, barren woman, you who have not given birth. Break out with a shout, you who have not suffered labor pains; because the woman who has been deserted will have many more children than the woman who has a husband. 28 Brothers and sisters, you are children of the promise like Isaac. 29 But just as it was then, so it is now also: the one who was conceived the normal way harassed the one who was conceived by the Spirit. 30 But what does the scripture say? Throw out the slave woman and her son, because the slave woman’s son won’t share the inheritance with the free woman’s son. 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we aren’t the slave woman’s children, but we are the free woman’s children. 1 Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again. (Galatians 4:21-5:1, CEB)

This is an interesting passage. One child was born the natural way and one was because of promise. In today’s time, this is a slippery slope. One is born of promise and one is not. One is slave and one is free. We need to understand what this means and not go the wrong direction, but what does it mean?

It says that those born of Hagar are not a part of the promise to Abraham, and that is how the Hebrew Scriptures have been read by Jews and Christians for as long as I know. But Muslims say that Hagar’s children are part of the promise. Who is slave and who is free?

We are all slaves to sin and slaves to anything that makes us do things we do not want to do. We are freed in Christ. Christ has freed us. Christ has set us free, and that is the promise that gave Abraham children, So anyone who is freed by Christ is free and a part of the promise.

So are you slave or free?

Two harvests

12 This calls for the endurance of the saints, who keep God’s commandments and keep faith with Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Favored are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their labors, because their deeds follow them.” 14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud. On the cloud was seated someone who looked like the Human One. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple, calling in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: “Use your sickle to reap the harvest, for the time to harvest has come, and the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who has power over fire, came out from the altar. He said in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle to cut the clusters in the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle into the earth, and cut the vineyard of the earth, and he put what he reaped into the great winepress of God’s passionate anger. 20Then the winepress was trampled outside the city, and the blood came out of the winepress as high as the horses’ bridles for almost two hundred miles. (Revelation 14:12-20, CEB)

He put what he reaped into the great winepress of God’s passionate anger? What is that?

But did you notice the 2 harvests? First, there is an angel who calls for the one on the cloud to use their sickle to reap the harvest and they swung their sickle over the earth and the earth was harvested. Then another angel comes out of the temple and also has a sickle, and then another angel with power over fire came out and said to the angel with the sickle to cut the clusters in the vineyard of the earth. And it was done.

What does all this mean?

And why is there blood flowing from the winepress as high as horses’ bridles and for almost 200 miles? That is a lot of blood.

Sometimes, I have to be honest, I read passages like this and go, “what does this mean?” God, I really don’t get anything out of this. I want to think that it’s because we have taken this passage out of context. It could also be because this is from Revelation and that book is always a bit confusing. We read it as an end-times narrative, and maybe it is, but it is a vision of what is and what will be and we can not read it as a this is going to happen.

The part I got out of this passage for today is, Favored are the dead who died in the Lord. Be favored and follow Christ, so you will be one of the dead in the Lord.

Parable of the weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like someone who planted good seed in his field. 25 While people were sleeping, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the stalks sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’ 28 “‘An enemy has done this,’ he answered. “The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 “But the landowner said, ‘No, because if you gather the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow side by side until the harvest. And at harvest time I’ll say to the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and tie them together in bundles to be burned. But bring the wheat into my barn.”’” 36 Jesus left 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.” 37 Jesus replied, “The one who plants the good seed is the Human One. 38 The field is the world. And the good seeds are the followers of the kingdom. But the weeds are the followers of the evil one.39 The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the present age. The harvesters are the angels. 40 Just as people gather weeds and burn them in the fire, so it will be at the end of the present age. 41 The Human One will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin. 42 He will throw them into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Those who have ears should hear.” (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, CEB)

Didn’t you plant good seed in your garden? How is it that there are weeds?

Would we ever plant weeds? Can you think of a time when you wanted to cause harm to someone? That you did something that you knew would result in someone being hurt? That is planting weeds. I think we all plant weeds sometimes because of our sinner nature. We do things to make us happy which we know will have an adverse effect on someone, or maybe we don’t know it will. Like telling something we think if funny, but is actually not funny because it makes fun of someone for how they were born, or it is racist or sexist.

I feel like we are all wheat and all weeds. We are Saint and Sinner. But remember even the wheat is beat and separated with the winnowing fork. The chaff is burned and the kernel is used.

We all have within us the ability to follow after Christ and show forth the love that was given to all of us.

So go and show God’s love.

tree and fruit

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are vicious wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruit. Do people get bunches of grapes from thorny weeds, or do they get figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and every rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit. And a rotten tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will know them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20, CEB)

You can know them by their fruit?

So what is your fruit?

I have been called fruity by some, but that isn’t what Jesus is talking about here. YOu see if your life is connected to Christ then you will produce good fruit, and you will be able to tell who is connected to Christ and who isn’t. Those who aren’t connected will not be able to do anything good.

So watch the fruit and know who you are dealing with.

hope in Jesus

13 When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. 14 He said, I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants.[a] 15 So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience. 16 People pledge by something greater than themselves. A solemn pledge guarantees what they say and shuts down any argument. 17 When God wanted to further demonstrate to the heirs of the promise that his purpose doesn’t change, he guaranteed it with a solemn pledge. 18 So these are two things that don’t change, because it’s impossible for God to lie. He did this so that we, who have taken refuge in him, can be encouraged to grasp the hope that is lying in front of us. 19 This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 That’s where Jesus went in advance and entered for us, since he became a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:13-20. CEB)

Abraham received the promise because he believed what God was telling him and his life was proof of that.

You see as the text says it is impossible for God to lie, therefore what God has told us is true and will come to be if it already hasn’t.

In this, we can take refuge and solace. God’s promises are true.

We have a hope in Jesus that will not disappoint.