Reflections on Matthew 13:1-9

 

If people have the opportunity to create their soil, then the parable takes on a more positive aspect. In Yeshua’s time, he is implying that a person does have the opportunity. It is what a person does with the talents, gifts, and situation that will determine the type of soil the person lives in. This is very easy to say but very difficult to do. Growing up in a non-religious household where God was never spoken about the soil was very rocky. It was a personal determination to leave that soil and to find the rich soil of the LORD. Not everyone can find that opportunity. However, Yeshua is saying that one must try to find better living conditions that allow for faith in the LORD to develop. It is the responsibility of the righteous to help the sinners to learn about the LORD and to change their life’s direction to the positive and to the LORD. Yeshua is an excellent catalyst to make this happen.

Thoughts on Matthew 13:1-9

It is clear that out of four possible ways to live that there is only one way to become a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The seeds that landed on the fertile soil and grew up well will become the vegetation that the sower planed. The LORD has planted every spirit into a human body. Unfortunately, some circumstances prevent some of the seeds to grow into righteous people. From Yeshua’s point of view in Judea and the Galilee, He said that every soul has the chance to become righteous and right with God.

 

Thoughts on Matthew 12:46-50

The new spiritual family is a cornerstone of the Kingdom of Heaven. Yeshua made sure that His disciples knew that the spiritual family was to come before the earthly family. It is clear from history that this concept never took form. Paul wrote in his letters that he conflicted with the Jerusalem leaders. The 48 CE council was held to resolve the issues. Paul left with a compromise and then proceeded to ignore his agreement. If a founding member of the church could not follow Yeshua’s definition of a spiritual family, why would Yeshua expect us today to be a spiritual family? Being a spiritual family is one of the things that Yeshua spoke about that the church ignored. The church is anything but united. The church will never be united as one spiritual family. It seems that Yeshua was speaking of a utopian dream. Sadly if the early disciples would have melded into a cohesive spiritual family, then it would have been passed down through the generations to us. Loving one another is one of the most challenging commandments that Yeshua has given us.

Reflections on Matthew 12:46-50

When I joined the local church, I thought that family in the church would be different from family life at home. I was separated from my parents for several reasons. One strong reason was becoming a follower of Yeshua. Since Yeshua represents the love and grace of the LORD I thought that people in the church would love each other. Wow was I wrong. Inside of this spiritual family was every aspect of the biological family, and sometimes it was worse. There is usually a line in every family that nobody crosses. At church, there does not seem to be a line at times. As a pastor in several churches, I saw and felt the anger people had toward change, for example. Even just adding a new ministry to the church was meant with such negativity and aggressive behavior to prevent the change that the church did not even resemble a biological family in a dispute. It is difficult to comprehend why people say they love Yeshua but do not follow His words. All faithful disciples of Yeshua are a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. This kingdom is a spiritual one, and the link between the separate people is Yeshua. Why cannot the people of the church become one family?

Reflections on Matthew 12:38-45

The lesson of the Ninevites can be applied to Yeshua’s churches today. How many churches are lukewarm? Churches that are not fulfilling the mission of making disciples and educating them in the faith are not doing the work of Yeshua. Most churches are inward thinking. These churches may do something in the community in an attempt to spread the Gospel, but it is not a sincere attempt. Approximately fifteen percent of the Sunday worshiping attendees will do outreach and evangelism for the church (the percentage is probably lower today). For the small church that leaves very few workers. A church cannot grow if its members are not going out to beat the drum for Yeshua. The commitment of the church is to make disciples for Yeshua, but their actions are not there. Unfortunately, there are circumstances where the church has no choice but to go into survival mode. This mode will eventually lead to the closure of the church. There is always an alternative to closing, and that is to get the entire congregation to participate in a blitz effort to make disciples for Yeshua. Doing the work that Yeshua left for us will receive blessings from heaven.

Thoughts on Matthew 12:38-45

The attitude of people toward Yeshua the Messiah is similar to that of Jonah in Nineveh. When some tragedy strikes, either personal or communal, then people come racing into the local churches to offer prayer to the LORD. An example of this is when the terrorist attack of 9/11 occurred. The churches located in lower Manhattan and northern New Jersey were filled. For months the churches had to quickly figure out how to hold worship times for so many people. Within six months of the attacks, the attendance at these churches had returned to its pre-9/11 sizes. What happened? It is the Jonah story. The people of Nineveh became followers of the LORD after Jonah brought them the prophecy of their destruction. However, after some time, the fear wore off, and the Ninevites returned to their evil ways. Their repentance was temporary.

 

Another example is when the “Passion of the Christ” movie was released. Christians left the theaters and swore a renewed allegiance to Jesus Christ and church. That renewed allegiance lasted a couple of months. Churches surged in attendance and participation only to return to what their attendance levels were before the movie’s release. These types of people are being addressed in this narrative. Yeshua said in the Revelation that he does not want lukewarm people. If one commits to the teachings of Yeshua, then Yeshua expects it to last a lifetime.

Reflections on Matthew 12:33-37

The Pharisees saw Yeshua in a negative light. No matter what Yeshua did, He was accused of being an agent of Satan. The Pharisees would not allow themselves to see that Yeshua brought the power of the Kingdom of Heaven to them. They could not distinguish between good and evil. It is sad when a pastor, a representative of Yeshua, says that he only sees the negative aspects of everything. How can a congregation stand to hear that they were rotten people week after week? Why was such a negative person ordained in the first place? An individual cannot gain encouragement from such a negative person. This person’s bad fruit should have been identified and controlled.

 

Thoughts on Matthew 12:33-37

The topic of persons demonstrating high levels of piety but who are actually sinners is a topic that comes up often in Matthew’s Gospel. It is unfortunate that this situation is in the church today. The question all disciples of Yeshua must ask is, “why am I doing this?” In the Indiana Jones movie, “Indiana Jones and the Final Crusade.” Jones is asked why he was searching for the Holy Grail, the cup that caught Christ’s blood on the cross. Was the search for Christ’s glory or his glory? Everything that is done for the glory of Yeshua should be done for His glory. When one walks into a typical church, what does one see? Different items in the church have nameplates identified with them. In many churches, the stained glass has the name of the persons, family, or Sunday school class who donated the window. Was the donation made for the glory of God’s house, or was it done to immortalize the person, family, or class’s name for as long as the church building stands? Anonymous donations are the best kind. These donations are for the glory of the LORD and not for personal glory. What would happen if a church decides to remove all means of identifying who the donors where? The objection would probably be loud.