The Light came into the World—The Light gave Life (John 1:9-13)

“There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:9–13, NASB95)

In the next verses after these we will read that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. One of the fifty-cent descriptive words used by Christians that is not found in the Bible is the word “incarnation.” It is a Latin term “en carne” or “in flesh,” and in using this they are specifically speaking about the Son of God, being fully God becoming also fully man. We will look at this again in the next verses, but for now John is telling us that the Christ (Jesus) who is the Word and the true Light did indeed come into the world. And being in the world He enlightens or gives light to ever man. He did not come to shine on only a few but to shine on all. The problem is that not all were receptive, and because of their hardness of heart and their unbelief they were left in darkness—not receiving the Light. This was true of the people He personally encountered and it has been true of people since who have heard of Him and yet have refused to believe. This was particularly true of the Jews that He walked among and with whom He spoke and before whom He performed miracles. His own people—the Jews, rejected Him.

John went on to say that Jesus even went to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. At the end of Matthew chapter 13, after Jesus had finished speaking the parables recorded earlier in the chapter, He went back to His hometown. They saw Him as the son of the carpenter and Mary. They knew Him and his brothers, and His sisters were still there. They did not believe Him to be who He was proving Himself to be. They denied the truth in order to appease their perceptions. Matthew records, “And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:57–58, NASB95) And as such they remained, at least for the time being, in unbelief.

The amazing thing with God in passages such as this is the “but.” Here we read, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God….” While there were and continue to be many who reject Jesus, there are those who didn’t and haven’t rejected Him but have received Him. To these, the ones who received Him, they were given the privilege of becoming children of God. When we look at the word “received” it has the meaning of taking it into our hand or taking a hold of it. These who receive are the ones who hear the message, believe it, and take the gift given them into their hands for themselves. It is one thing to know all of this to be true, and to believe that Jesus is even capable of doing all that He said and that Scripture declares that He was sent for. But having this knowledge alone is worthless, unless it is acted on. In receiving or personally accepting His salvation for ourselves we take the gift off of the shelf and make it personal, and we do this by belief. It is one thing to know that chairs are for sitting in, and that a particular chair is trustworthy to hold you, but to actually sit on it takes action—action which in this case is personally accepting for ourselves God’s gift of salvation. One commentator put it this way: “To receive Him who is the Word of God means to acknowledge His claims, place one’s faith in Him, and thereby yield allegiance to Him.” (MacArthur Study Bible)

Obtaining the right to become children of God not a path that we are then set on, which if we continue along we will achieve the goal of becoming children (as some teach). But it is something given to us fully at the point that we accept God’s gift. It is something that we then own; it is ours, and what is ours is that we become children of God. Having accepted Jesus we then have the full authority—the right—to claim our position as children of God. Paul wrote in Romans 8:15, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”” (Romans 8:15, NASB95) And in verse 17 he added, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17, NASB95) In the American Declaration of Independence we read of certain inalienable rights, meaning not to be separated from as they were not given by man and man cannot sever them. Having the right to become children of God is a right given to us at salvation and it is one that cannot be severed. It is who we then are, and God will not let go.

John went on to clarify this in the rest of the passage we are looking at today. “…even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” The way we gain this right is by belief in His name—the name and the person of Christ. These are the ones who are born again of God. We were all born of flesh and as flesh we will one day die (unless Jesus returns for His church first). This is the course of man since the fall—since man first sinned in the garden through Adam. At that time man spiritually became darkened and was judged dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Man needed to be saved, and he was unable to do this for himself. He was and is guilty, and he is subject to the consequences of guilt, which is death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NASB95) Here is where God provides another “but” in the free gift of eternal life given to us by God through His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

Man cannot be born again physically as if to start all over again. Reincarnation is a fanciful pipe dream of man—a pipe dream of trying over and over again until he gets it right. But the reality is that he will never get it right and he will never be good enough in his own effort. This is not what the Bible speaks of when it says that we must be born again. New life is given to us by belief in Christ, and this life will never perish but is eternally ours as children of God. And this life is given to us by the Light who came to shine and illumine our hearts, and more than that, to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us new life.

The Light is Proclaimed—Christ is the Light (John 1:6-8)

“There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.” (John 1:6–8, NASB95)

For hundreds of years God had spoken through His prophets of a Savior and King who would come to save mankind, and in particular through the Old Testament, the people of Israel—their Messiah. Some had been waiting for this Deliverer to come, while most lived as if it didn’t matter if He ever came. And as time progressed fewer and fewer people listened and things grew darker for the people of the promise. This continued until the last of the prophets recorded in the Old Testament—Malachi. Following Him Scripture is silent for over 400 years.

But Malachi was not to be the last messenger sent by God to speak of the coming of the Lord. Malachi himself wrote as God spoke to him, “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1, NASB95) Later he wrote, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” (Malachi 4:5, NASB95) And Malachi was not the only one who spoke what God had told them about this coming messenger who would precede the coming of the Lord. Isaiah wrote, “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”” (Isaiah 40:3, NASB95)

In Luke’s record of the birth of Jesus he also includes the record of the birth of this coming messenger of God. We read, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”” (Luke 1:11–17, NASB95)

Even from the womb we know that John recognized the Lord and His coming. After Elizabeth had conceived John, Mary was told that she also would become pregnant—this time with the Son of God. “The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35, NASB95) And after she had conceived she went to spend time with her relative Elizabeth. The Bible tells us, “Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”” (Luke 1:39–45, NASB95)

Surely enough John grew up to do as the prophets had said as they themselves were spoken to by God and as the angel had told John’s parents. Then one day… “The next day [after John was questioned as to who he was and whether or not he was the Christ] he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”” (John 1:29–31, NASB95)

This man John was the final messenger who preceded the coming of Christ, and he went before Jesus telling the world of the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). God had sent His herald to proclaim the coming King. This herald was not the King, but one who pointed people to Him—He who is the Light in whom there is no darkness.

Responding to the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:58)

This morning I had the opportunity to deliver the morning message at a small church in northeastern California. It was a real blessing to be there. The download link for the text and the audio are accessible at:

Responding to the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:58) (audio) - The audio file can also be listened to online.
Responding to the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:58) (.pdf)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Christ is Light—Christ is Life (John 1:4-5)

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4–5, NASB95)

Life and light go hand and hand in Scripture as do death and darkness. Life and light are qualities shared among the Godhead, and they also reflect what God gives back to man. We’ve already discussed the fact that all that has been created has been created by the Son in cooperation with the Father. God gave life to man as we read in Genesis 1. And when man sinned he did not immediately die physically, but he did become spiritually darkened and separated from God. The Bible describes this as death, and this became the condition of all men. And this would have remained the condition of man, lost in darkness, except that God revealed Himself to man and called Him to walk by faith trusting in the Light which John says is the light of men. Even before Jesus was born, Scripture proclaimed His coming and men looked forward to their redemption by faith in that which they did not see.

In a physical sense at Jesus’ conception this human life was given to the infant born of Mary. But His life was more than physical, because He was born without sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and not of man. In God’s wisdom He chose this means as the means to bring salvation to man, and to return to him the life that was originally given at creation.

Man being lost in darkness needed the Light in order to see, and God sent light to man in the person of His Son. Later in the gospel of John we read, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12, NASB95) Jesus was speaking to a mixed crowd where some believed and some did not (verse 31).

As Jesus continued to speak we even read of Him giving sight to a blind man in order to demonstrate His authority over enabling man to see. He used a physical miracle to demonstrate a spiritual truth. In doing so He said, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5, NASB95) But even in saying this He also told them that at some time He would no longer be in their physical presence and that He as the Light would no longer be visible. The crowds did not understand this as they were expecting that the Christ would remain forever. They did not understand that in order to give life to them He first had to die then to be resurrected, but that He would later return. “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”” (John 12:35–36, NASB95)

Having said this we immediately see in the Bible how pervasive the darkness was in many of their hearts and minds. “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.” (John 12:37, NASB95) In the verses which followed, John wrote about how this response was a fulfillment of prophecy when eyes would be blinded and hearts deadened.

The thread in John linking light and life contrasted to darkness and death is very strong, and the center of both—the hinge determining whether people live in the light or remain dead in darkness—is the person of the Christ. Later in John chapter 12 we read, “And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”” (John 12:44–46, NASB95)

Of believers we read, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light” (Ephesians 5:8, NASB95) As children of the Light we have the Light of Christ shining through us, and as we live before them we serve as His ambassadors to a world that desperately needs to see, understand, believe, and trust. Paul wrote that we become that source of light by how we live our faith writing, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,” (Philippians 2:15, NASB95)

Clearly not everyone will desire to move from darkness to light, and not everyone will look at us and see the difference that Christ makes in our lives and the hope that He gives. But, just as many did believe Him while He was present, and many believed the words of the prophets, so there have been and will be those who believe as we go into the world.

And one day all who believe have the great hope of abiding forever in the glory of God illumined by the lamp which is the Lamb. “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;” (Revelation 21:22–25, NASB95) 

Created by Christ - Created by God (John 1:2-3)

“He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:2–3, NASB95)

In addition to Jesus being God the Son, we also read that it is through Him that all things were created. In Genesis 1:3 we read, “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3, NASB95) These words, “Then God said” were repeated in verses 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, and 29 as we read about the unfolding of God creating not only light as we read in verse 3, but all that was created culminating in man. When God had finished we read in verse 31, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31, NASB95)

The apostle Paul wrote in Colossians, “For by Him [Jesus Christ] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16–17, NASB95) These passages clearly state that God the Son was God the Father’s agent for all that was created, with John adding that apart from Him NOTHING came into being that has come into being. This wording extends far beyond the six days of creation, but includes all that ever came to exist.

In Psalm 139 we read, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16, NASB95)

Think of this—our Lord brought about the beginning of all life and He is the One who brings to us new life for all of eternity. He was involved with the Father at creation, and He remains involved with the Father in the furtherance of all that has been or ever will be created.

And as fully God becoming also fully man without either being diminished in any way, God spoke visibly through His Son giving us not only the Spirit breathed words of men moved by God, but also the actual personally delivered words of God spoken through His Son. The writer of Hebrews began his letter with these words, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:1–2, NASB95)

Jesus (God the Son) has been given full authority over all of creation, and He will one day purge the world of sin and abide side by side in a newly recreated heaven and with God Almighty (God the Father). The Lamb will then abide with the bride—all who believe and whose names are written in the Book of Life. As the revelation of God drew to a close, Jesus spoke these words, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”” (Revelation 22:12–13, NASB95)

God the Father created through God the Son. God the Father brought salvation through God the Son, and God the Father will bring about the end of all sin and usher in the fullness of eternity through God the Son. Indeed He was there in the beginning and will be there in the end, and through Him all of these things have and will come to pass.

The Word is Christ—the Word is God (John 1:1)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NASB95)

This is one of the most profound verses in all of Scripture. It makes three statements that grow in scope. The first of them was that the Word was in the beginning. Genesis 1 tells us this, after all God said and creation happened. We read over and over again, “And God said…” People of faith know this and stand on this fact that God created. But this is not what the first part of John 1:1 is saying. It is not saying that God spoke and creation happened, but that in the beginning was the Word, and this word “Word” is referring to someone or something that existed not something that was said. The word “was” tells us that this Word pre-existed the beginning. “Was” tells us that when the beginning happened that the Word was already existent. So, who or what is “the Word?”

In Revelation, at the second coming of Christ, we have a description of Him. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11–13, NASB95) His name is called “The Word of God.” There are a number of other passages we could look to, and they all point to the fact, even as we will see just a few verses later in John 1, that Jesus Christ is the Word. The next thing we read in John 1:1 is that “the Word was with God.” In this statement we see the added piece that the Word is somehow separate from God being with God in the beginning. And the last piece of the verse adds that the Word who is Christ is God, and will always be God—known as God the Son being one with God the Father.

Going back to Genesis 1:1-3, knowing Jesus as the Word, we find the third person of the Trinity also mentioned as being present in the beginning with God. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1–3, NASB95) In these verses we read of God being in the beginning as pre-existent without beginning. Along with God we find His Spirit moving over the surface of the waters, establishing that the Spirit is also eternally pre-existent, Then we read that “God said,” and knowing Christ to be the Word, we see Him also pre-existent there as well, just as we read in John 1:1.

Our God was present as one God in three persons at creation, and our God is shown to be present in three persons many times throughout Scripture. One of those notable occasions is at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”” (Mark 1:9–11, NASB95) At the commissioning of Jesus for the purpose for which He came again our One God in three persons was present—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This time the Son, rather than appearing as the Word was now being presented as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. “The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NASB95)

This is what the gospels are all about, and John the apostle begins his letter by establishing first and foremost that this Lamb—the Word—was none other than God the Son become man to fulfill the will of God the Father.

Seeing is Not Always Believing (Matthew 13:53-58)

“When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:53–58, NASB95)

At the end of chapter 13 Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth. Of course, this is not where He was born, but it was the town His family was from and it was where they were raised and still lived. They knew Him as one of Joseph and Mary’s kids. They knew his brothers, and his sisters were still there. He was a hometown boy that had grown up, left for a while, and then returned a man—but had returned to do things that did not match with what they knew of Him before He left.

After a series of parables spoken to the crowds that many did not understand, including His disciples except for the fact that He explained each one to them, Jesus went back to where He was from and He began to do the same things He had been doing elsewhere to the amazement of the crowds and even befuddlement of many. Those others were people who did not know Him, but had heard of the miraculous things He had been doing and things He had been saying. Among them He had gathered quite a following and had even developed quite a few enemies. But returning home and hearing Him teach and watching Him perform miracles the people from His hometown were dumbfounded—astonished. He obviously was not the Jesus they had last seen, the carpenter’s son—oldest of kids in a big family who they all knew.

They could not rectify the two and began to take offense or become indignant toward Him. They did not recognize the authority with which He spoke nor the power with which He acted. They discounted all of this in light of their conception of who they thought He really was. Sure they heard and saw, but they could not bring the pieces together.

In response to their unbelief we read that Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” Luke recorded that Jesus had told them that “no prophet is acceptable in his hometown” (Luke 4:24). And John wrote that Jesus had testified that “a prophet has no honor in his own hometown” (John 4:44). Some commentators on this passage indicate that this was an ancient proverb with the common meaning of one we might be familiar with: “familiarity breeds contempt.” In other words, they thought they knew Him so well that they could not believe what they saw of Him right before their eyes. And so, Scripture records that Jesus did not do mighty miracles in their presence because of their unbelief. For them there was no reason to demonstrate the power of God because they would not accept the One who was sent—the God-man in their presence.

I can’t imagine how it was for Jesus, but for me I can imagine that this must have been a difficult thing to experience. John wrote just a few chapters later, “For not even His brothers were believing in Him.” (John 7:5, NASB95) I think many of us who have trusted Christ for our salvation have probably experienced this rejection in some way. For some of us it has been fairly mild with others just ignoring this fact of our lives, but for others it has resulted in a total rejection of their relationship. In some cases it has even led to death. Even today the name of Jesus evokes strong responses and is accompanied with great disdain for those who are called by His name and who stand in His truth. Jesus is and has been an affront to many.

But this rejection is not the end of the story for some. Whereas John had said at one point that even Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him, we read later in Scripture that this changed. After Jesus had risen and later ascended to heaven, prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, we read that all of the disciples had gathered together in a room where they had been staying and praying. Acts 1:14 gives us the names of some others who were there with them. “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” (Acts 1:14, NASB95) While we read no mention of his brothers being at the foot of the cross we do find them here praying with their brother’s disciples and their mother who God had blessed to birth, love, and raise the Savior of the world. The brother who they played with and loved had also become their Lord.

But this is not the last mention of some of Jesus’ brothers. Sometimes if can get a bit confusing reading that not only was one of Jesus’ disciples named James (the brother of John) but so was one of Jesus’ brothers. As we move past the gospels and into the book of Acts we find a transition in which James is being referred to. In Acts chapter 1 we find James the disciple who Jesus chose listed with his brother John and the rest of the disciples, and then in Acts 12 we read that Herod killed this same James. This meant that from that point forward any mention of a living James had to be one other than the one who was chosen among the twelve. Later in the same chapter, after Peter had been rescued from the same fate as James the disciple, Peter appeared freed at the door of Mary (John’s mother) knocking. When the door was finally answered he gave them a message to be sent to James and his brothers (obviously another James—the brother of Jesus).

The next mention of this James is when he takes the lead in making a declaration concerning the Gentiles at what is known as the Jerusalem Council, including, “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles….” (Acts 15:19, NASB95) In Acts 21 we read of Paul recognizing James having risen to a position of leadership of the believers in Jerusalem when he reported to him what God had been doing among the Gentiles. “And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God….” (Acts 21:18–20, NASB95)

Lastly, it is believed that the author of the book of James (written primarily to the Jews who had been dispersed) is none other than Jesus’ brother. And it is likely that another of His brothers wrote the next small letter—Jude (earlier recorded as Judas). “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James….”

For a long time we have been praying for family members who are not saved, and who do not believe Jesus to be who He really is. Some of these even shake their heads at times over the life of faith we have chosen to live. Sometimes it is easy to grow weary in waiting on their salvation and easy to forget to pray. But as I reflected on how Jesus was received by his own brothers I am encouraged to keep hoping and asking God to do the same in the hearts of those we love. There was a point that Jesus’ brothers saw Him for who He really is, and it is our prayer that others might see Christ in us and also believe. I know in this that I am not alone, and I pray that you also are encouraged as you reflect of how our God even changed the hearts of our Lord’s flesh and blood family so that they became joint heirs of His eternal one.

I’ve often head the phrase, “Seeing is believing.” Well, this is only partially true, because sometimes seeing is not truly seeing. But once our eyes are truly opened it results in understanding leading to belief which opens up all of eternity before us. “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.”” (Luke 8:10, NASB95) Continue praying for sight and understanding.

Old and New Treasures (Matthew 13:51-52)

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”” (Matthew 13:51–52, NASB95)

After sharing this series of parables with the public and then explaining them to His disciples in private, Jesus asked His disciples if they had understood all that He had shared and explained. To this they responded that they had. It is then that Jesus uses one more comparison to make a point. In order to better understand what He was saying let’s look at one of the terms He used.

First of all, he spoke of “scribes.” Scribes are mentioned many times in the Old and New Testaments, and generally they are referred to as secretaries who are charged with telling, retelling, and/or recounting information on behalf of an authority. But there is one particular scribe, Ezra, in Scripture who stands as an example for our learning. The book of Ezra picks up where 2 Chronicles ends with King Cyrus having sent a group of Jewish exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (538 B.C.). Ezra was selected to lead additional Jews back from exile.

Chapter 7 describes Ezra for us. “…This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.” (Ezra 7:6, NASB95) In verse 11 the following is added, “Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel: “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now….” (Ezra 7:11-12, NASB95) From these verses we see that Ezra was both a priest and a scribe. He was skilled in the law of Moses—meaning that he knew it extremely well. Verse 11 adds that his knowledge of the law included him being well-learned in the commandments of God and His statutes given to the people of Israel. He knew God’s Word and was well respected for both his knowledge and the way he lived out his faith. He was trained and he was known for holding to the training he received. In verse 21 we read that when Ezra the priest and scribe was sent, he was sent with the authority of the king. “I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently,” (Ezra 7:21, NASB95) In Nehemiah chapter 8 we find Ezra standing on a platform reading from the law of Moses from morning to midday and the people were attentive to his reading of the law. And, in Ezra 8:13 we find the priests and Levites coming to him in order to learn the “words of the Law.” Ezra was a follower of God who hid God’s Word in his heart and lived it in his life. He was accurate in his knowledge and he was faithful in sharing it with others whether that be in large groups or more intimate times of learning. In every sense of the word Ezra was a faithful disciple of God sent to proclaim His Word, bringing to others the riches of God’s perfect truth.

Jesus was preparing His disciples to do likewise. For them this preparation was knitting together the previously recorded statutes and ordinances of God and the mysteries that Jesus had been revealing in their private discussions. Jesus was opening up for them the prophecies of old such that they would understand what was coming as new. In that sense they were being given the precious old treasures from the hands of their Master along with the incredible new treasures that even they had yet to fully understand. And as His disciples, who were taught first hand, they were also going to be the ones sent by their Lord and King to convey these truths to others with full authority and inspired accuracy.

Jesus told His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:25–26, NASB95) Jesus knew that there was much to share, but He also knew the His Father through the power of the Spirit would make sure that this information was not only remembered, but was remembered accurately.

Consider the words of Peter, who years later would write, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:16–21, NASB95)

Paul, who was not one of the original disciples, but who Jesus called and personally set aside for ministry wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NASB95) The word translated “inspired” is the Greek word “theopneustos,” and it literally means as we find in other translations “God-breathed” (NIV) or “breathed out by God” (ESV).

God’s Word is given to us, both Old and New Testaments as His inspired Word without error in the original writings. It is the complete revelation of God of His will for the salvation of mankind, and it is the final authority for all Christian faith and life. It is not just a good book. It is not just something to influence how we live or what we do. It is not to be picked through and selectively adhered to as one feels comfortable.

Some might respond, “Well that may very well be the case, but how do we know what we have today is really what God said?” In response to this there are many arguments, but consider first of all the question, “If God was powerful enough to create all the exists, and if He was powerful enough to do all that Scripture says He did, then why would He not be powerful enough to protect what He said?” But if you want to dig deeper, I’ve included the link to an excellent Focus on the Family article which you might further consider to help answer questions concerning the reliability of the Bible. Is The Bible Reliable?

One of these eyewitnesses, the apostle John, wrote at the crucifixion of Jesus, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”” (John 19:35–37, NASB95) In this statement concerning our Savior’s death on the cross, John reminds us that this fulfillment of God’s salvation for all was a fulfillment of words He had spoken through His prophets in years past.

And as the ones personally selected by Jesus, the Son of God, these men proved along with the prophets to be the foundation through whom our faith was revealed. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,” (Ephesians 2:19–21, NASB95)

The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47–50, NASB95)

A number of years ago one of our sons was given the opportunity to spend his summer before his senior year of high school in Alaska fishing with a close friend and his family. They had a commercial salmon fishing permit, and they would go every year there to fish with nets. And as they pulled in the nets they had to sort through and separate the flounder and others from the salmon. One they kept and all of the others went right back into the water. According to this parable the kingdom of God is like a dragnet cast into the sea which would be used to gather in all of the fish, without any escaping. Once the fish are brought in they likewise will be separated with the good fish (salmon in the case of our story) being kept and the bad (everything else) not being thrown back to continuing swimming, but thrown away—cast into the furnace of fire.

This is ultimately a picture of two kinds of fish and two destinations. There are no other options. Scripture tells us that one day we will all appear before God some to inherit life and some cast away into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” (Revelation 19:20, NASB95) … “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10, NASB95) … “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14–15, NASB95)

Clearly we can see from these verses that God is not playing games with eternity. What happens when the net is pulled in has eternal consequences. The good fish, who Jesus named as the righteous, will receive eternal life and the bad fish, who Jesus named as the wicked, will be thrown into a lake which in this case is the lake of eternal fire and is known as the second death. For them it is the second death because physically we all die unless we are taken when the Lord comes or are separated at the end of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 25). But for those who are declared righteous, they will only experience death once as they are the recipients of eternal life.

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:27–28, NASB95) Throughout time there have been those preachers known as fire and brimstone preachers. These are the ones that drive home the destiny that awaits those who reject salvation in Jesus Christ. They speak of an eternal future that is certain in its torment and wailing. They plead with people to “turn lest they burn.” For those who reject God their future will be one of total separation from Him, with no change of course at any time. It will be a permanent judgment, and the only way to avoid this is to accept God’s gift of salvation in His Son—to believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, NASB95) … “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–26, NASB95)

For those of us who have trusted Christ and who have the assurance of salvation and eternal life, we have been entrusted with the greatest message man can ever know. We have been called by God to be His ambassadors to the fish who are dying. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17–21, NASB95)

As Jesus called His disciples, so do we also have the opportunity to be a part of the greatest catch ever made. Consider the words of Jesus and the response of Peter and his brother, Andrew, “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18–20, NASB95)

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45–46, NASB95) 

This parable is very similar to the previous parable of the hidden treasure. Both of them speak of a person coming across something of great enough value that he would sell everything he had to acquire it for himself. Many commentaries or Study Bible footnotes combine them into one discussion, but in walking through the parables I chose to consider each of them for the value which they contained that might be different from the others, even if subtle.

In the last parable we seem to have an individual who stumbled across something of great value which he wanted for himself. So, he reburied it and then went and bought the field so that he could not only have that treasure, but also have whatever other treasures he might additionally find in the field. In this parable we have an individual, who different than the other, was a merchant of pearls. His business was buying and selling fine pearls. This is something he was known for. He would have been someone who people having pearls would go to in order to sell them, and he would have been the individual buyers would go to in order to make their purchases. He was a pearl middleman, and as such he had to not only know what made one pearl better than another but also how to value them. It is this man who found a pearl of greater value than any other he had probably ever come across or might even have imagined coming across. He immediately recognized the pearl’s great value and he sold everything he had to get it.

Contrast this man to another man of immense resources and power who came to Jesus asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18) In response Jesus questioned him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” (Luke 18:19-20) Notice that Jesus did not answer his question, but rather questioned the ruler about what would qualify one such as him to inherit this benefit—his adherence to the Law. And of course, the man responded just as expected by saying, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” (verse 21)

Next, “When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he [the ruler] had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”” (Luke 18:18–30, NASB95)

The man had asked about the price of eternal life. What must he give or do to inherit it? He had expected that Jesus might pat him on the back and say, “You’ve done well. Surely eternal life is yours” (my words). But this is not what Jesus did. Jesus told the rich ruler that his desire for eternal life would have to dwarf anything else he values. And of course the rich ruler’s countenance dropped when he considered the cost and decided that he could not justify the price in his own heart. At this the others listening, and who likely did not have the resources of the ruler or who would not make that same sacrifice themselves, wondered just what they could do to be saved. They asked the same question, and this time Jesus responded, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Even his disciples wondered at this response. Peter spoke up and reminded Jesus of what they had given up to follow Him. Truly they had done just as Jesus had said, and surely they must have met the requirements. In response Jesus assured them that the price of their giving up everything to follow Him would result in much more than they could ever imagine in the age to come as they inherit eternal life and receive lasting rewards in the kingdom of God.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, NASB95)

In this encounter with the rich man we have someone who would not pay the price and others who paid it gladly. But not one of them would ever inherit the kingdom of God on their own. It is impossible for imperfect and sinful man to pay God’s price. But God could pay it, which He did and He then gave eternal life to us as a gift received by faith—by believing and trusting. It was Jesus who accomplished this for us. This was something that God did for us gives to us by faith. It was Jesus who was to accomplish this by going to a cross and paying the penalty for our sins though His death, and then establish forever His power over death and His ability to give life through His resurrection. It never was about how much we can give to pay the price, but rather about what God gave for us to pay the price.

The pearl which the merchant sold everything to get was because he saw the great value. In this picture he gave fully everything he had to acquire this precious thing. The kingdom of God is eternal and far above anything we can ever acquire or experience in this life. But that does not mean that this life is a futile exercise of buying time. No, Scripture tells us that it is a time to follow God by faith in full and obedient service, recognizing that He has things He intends to accomplish through us and for which He will one day reward us in heaven. In this sense, because of the great price of our salvation paid on our behalf we give ourselves fully back as a reasonable spiritual response of worship. God’s kingdom is eternal as are His rewards. It is as we invest of our lives in the things that matter to God and have eternal significance that we demonstrate our recognition of the great gift we have been given and the great cost which His Son paid on our behalf.

Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NASB95)

In working through the parables I noticed that Matthew used a different phrasing than the other gospel writers. Rather than saying “kingdom of God” which is consistently used elsewhere, Matthew used the phrasing “kingdom of heaven.” The reasoning for this is likely that his gospel was tailored more toward Jewish readers who were sensitive to saying the name of God, and rather than offend their sensibilities he substituted “heaven” as a euphemism for “God.” Whatever the actual reason, we can be assured that they are one in the same kingdom which for now is in our midst, but one day will result in Christ returning to reign.

The Jews had been looking for a Messiah who would come to conquer and physically reign, and they were not prepared for what Jesus was presenting to them. The Pharisees, not believing Jesus to be the Messiah, questioned Him about when the kingdom of God would come. They were likely expecting to expose Him as a fraud or false teacher and false Messiah and also as an insurgent against Rome. They were expecting that He would respond by saying that this millennial reign was imminent and that Rome would soon be overthrown. However, Jesus did not respond as they had expected, saying “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20b–21, NASB95) While the prophets did speak of a time when the Messiah would reign here on earth, this was not to be that time. What the Pharisees and others were missing was that Christ must first be rejected and suffer death on a cross for the sins of man. They were also missing that the Messiah (Savior) would then rise from the dead on the third day, be seen by many for a time, ascend to heaven for a time while His church grew here on earth, and then ultimately return after the Great Tribulation to bring all of Israel to Himself. In the time between His ascension and His coming to remove His church His temple was to be here on earth and He would rule in the hearts of those who believe.

In our parable for today Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field, and being so excited about what he found he bought up the whole field. To those who do not know God and are perishing their pursuits in life may vary depending on what they value or maybe even what they fear losing. This living of life apart from God will continue until Jesus returns, and when He returns it will be a day of great distress for those who did not look to Him. Jesus compared this to the days of the great flood and the destruction of Sodom. “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26–30, NASB95) Clearly we read in Scripture that for all of man there is a day that will be too late. Whether this happens prior to Christ’s eventual return or in death, one day all who reject Him will be judged guilty of their sins and eternally separated from God.

These are the ones who have no idea of the great value lying, as in Jesus’ parable, just below their feet or right in front of their eyes. There are the ones about whom Paul wrote, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 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.” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4, NASB95) But then Paul went on to write, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” (2 Corinthians 4:5–7, NASB95)

Imagine going out into a strange field and finding the tip of a treasure that sparks your interest. Not wanting to lose what you stumbled across and knowing that it is not yours, you bury it again and immediately go buy the entire field with all of the mineral rights. Then you return to not only dig up the initial find, but you then explore the entire field for its hidden riches. It might be compared to the prospector who found gold, secretively hid its location, and rushed to the closest land office in order to file his claim. Being saved is just the tip of the riches, but we don’t have to hide it and run off to file a claim. We have been given the great privilege of stopping right where we are when our eyes are opened to speak to God who holds the rights to life, and simply ask Him. Scripture tells us, “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21, NASB95) In Romans we read, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;” (Romans 10:9–12, NASB95)

The one who finds salvation in Christ finds the ultimate treasure in a restored relationship with the Living God, and as a result his entire life is changed beginning right away. Salvation is a gift from God, not as a result of anything we have done. In fact we really don’t even discover it, as it is God who gives us the faith to believe. It is not a profit of our pursuits and our accomplishments. It is not a trophy that we won to display on our shelves. God loved us so much that He subjected His Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might believe and be saved and come to know Him in richer and richer ways. With our salvation comes our adoption as His children and a forever relationship with our God who is without limit in any way. There is no greater gift, no greater hope, and no greater treasure. And there is enough to go around for all who believe.

Parable of Leaven (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21-21)

“He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”” (Matthew 13:33, NASB95) 

Most commonly when we think of leavening bread we think of adding yeast such that it causes the bread to rise and become less dense. Otherwise it might more closely resemble a cracker if thin enough or a brick if not. Yeast is a single-celled fungus that consumes sugars and excretes carbon dioxide and alcohol. This is the driving source behind the fermentation process. In breads it has several primary functions. The most well-known is that of leavening which is the process that causes bread to rise. It is this leavening that takes the lump of flour when mixed with water and causes it to grow before our eyes as the yeast enzymes break down the flour’s starch molecules, converting them to sugar which is consumed by the yeast, resulting in air bubbles being deposited and trapped by developed gluten throughout the bread dough. It is during this leavening process that the yeast permeates the entirety of the mixture, leaving no area untouched.

It is this leaven which is spoken of here positively in Jesus’ parable and elsewhere negatively as representing sin and rebellion. Leaven is first mentioned in the Bible with the institution of Passover as an ongoing feast to be observed. The people of Israel were to remove all leaven from their homes and eat unleavened bread for seven days introducing the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was to be done to commemorate God bringing His people out of bondage in Egypt, and it was to be taken seriously with banishment for those who consumed leaven (Exodus 12:14-20). In Leviticus 2:11 the people were instructed that no grain offering burnt to the Lord was to have leaven in it.

The first instruction we have in Scripture where the people are actually instructed to bake with leaven is in Leviticus chapter 23 at the Feast of Weeks (or Feast of the Harvest) which was to dedicate the first fruits of the wheat harvest. We read, “‘You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:17, NASB95) This feast was to occur on the 50th day after the Sabbath preceding the Feast of Firstfruits. In Acts chapter 2 we read as the people had gathered on Pentecost (Greek for 50th day) or the Feast of Weeks or Harvest that the Holy Spirit came, leading to three thousand people being saved on that day.

When leaven is first mentioned in the New Testament by Jesus it is here in this parable, and it is in the context of the work that God was going to do in bringing people to Himself that it was used. While later passages may compare the leavening process to the power of sin to spread and destroy, it is not the intended usage here. It is significant to note that the work that God began with His church began on the day that the people of Israel had been given to celebrate the harvest. And as we look at the leavening process it is important to remember that it begins with a small amount of yeast. In the last parable we read about the smallness of the mustard seed leading to the greatness of the kingdom of heaven. Here we read of the power of yeast to do the same.

God sent His Son as that yeast that would bring new life to mankind who was lost in his trespasses and sins. And in His leaving to return to the Father, He continued to work through His church to bring people to Himself as His witness. This lump has grown and it will continue to grow until such time that God determines its rising is complete. One day Jesus will return for His church and it will be taken to be with Him, but even then it will not result in the fullness of all who are saved. During the Tribulation period many people will still be saved in addition to all of Israel. It is here as we look at the salvation of Israel (the Jewish people) that we are reminded of the first usage of leaven, where they were to remove it from their presence and not eat it for seven days. It is during this seven year tribulation period (this last week) that God purifies for Himself the nation of Israel and purges it of rebels.

““As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord GOD. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 20:33–38, NASB95)

Individually we are not this lump and it is not intended as a parable for individuals, but rather as one pointing to the blossoming power of leaven to grow and grow and grow God’s kingdom. However, we are instructed concerning leaven in our own lives both individually and corporately. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians,

“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 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. 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.

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.” (1 Corinthians 5:6–13, NASB95)

And in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 he added, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, NASB95)

As people purified and made righteous by the blood of Christ we are to live as pure unleavened bread while together we add to the growing number that will comprise the entirety of His kingdom—the fully leavened lump.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)

“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; 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 air come and nest in its branches.”” (Matthew 13:31–32, NASB95)

“And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “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, 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 air can nest under its shade.”” (Mark 4:30–32, NASB95)

“So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? “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 air nested in its branches.”” (Luke 13:18–19, NASB95)

I’ve included all three passages where this parable is retold for us in the Bible. Notice that all of them are consistent and not in conflict with each other while each of them brings varying amounts of detail. The record of Mark is the most complete, and following Mark’s retelling of this parable he also wrote to inform us that while Jesus continued to speak in parables He also continued to explain His parables privately to His disciples. “With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.” (Mark 4:33–34, NASB95)

For those of us who would have liked to continue reading the rest of Jesus’ explanations we are left to study the Scriptures and looking to what else God’s Spirit has disclosed to us through His inspired Word. But I think the apostle John explained for us maybe why not each parable’s explanation was not given when he wrote in the last words of His gospel account, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, NASB95)

First of all, we read that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Jesus had just spoken two parables including seeds. The first had to do the ground in which the seed is planted, where only one soil was found to take root, grow, and produce fruit. The next two had to do with the types of seed. In the parable of the wheat and the tares we find two seeds planted side by side—one good and one bad—which were going to be separated at the time of harvest. This we know represents both those who are saved and inherit the kingdom of God and those who are lost and suffer eternal separation in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. In this third parable we have another seed, the mustard seed, which is of no significance when compared in size to other seeds. In the notes of the ESV Study Bible we read this about the mustard seed and its ultimate size at maturity, “It was the smallest of all agricultural seeds in Palestine. The mustard “tree” grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet.” While it is actually a shrub and not a tree, its size clearly would cause it to dwarf much of what it surrounds such that birds could rest in its shade and nest in its branches. What is most significant in the parable is the contrast between its beginning and its end.

In sharing this parable Jesus also quoted Old Testament Scripture which some of His hearers would likely know whether they made the current connection or not. In Ezekiel we read of the downfall of King Zedekiah and the nation of Judah. The Lord God described what He was going to do for His people with these words, “Thus says the Lord God, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”” (Ezekiel 17:22–24, NASB95) In these words we read that God will take a sprig—a remnant—of the lofty cedar (Israel) and that He would plant that sprig on the high mountain of Israel and that the tree would grow strong and mighty such that all of the trees of the field would know that He is the Lord. It is in this tree that we read both of the birds finding shade (Mark’s account) and nesting (Matthew’s account).

We recently looked at the end times when Christ returns to deliver His people Israel and to establish and earthly reign of 1,000 years. It is during at His return that we read the mountains will literally be thrown down and that Jerusalem will be raised up. It is from there that Jesus would rule during the Millennium. It is under His rule that all of the promises of Scripture concerning preserving a remnant of Israel and returning all of Israel to God are fulfilled. It is in these promises that mankind will physically see the King of kings sitting on a throne before His people, and it is following this period when all of those who are saved will enter into the new heaven and the new earth where man will live in the presence of God for all eternity.

And as we look at all of the prophecies concerning our coming Savior we find our God bringing Him through a single people group among all the possible nations, through a singular lineage among all of the lineages, born to an insignificant young virgin among all of the women in a small and seemingly insignificant town. Our God works all of this in His incredibly amazing way. I was reminded of this again as I thought about a Moabite widow who would become the great-grandmother of King David and mentioned in by Matthew in the lineage of Jesus. Consider the blessing the people gave Boaz when he came before the elders to redeem this destitute widow and take her as his wife along with caring for her mother-in-law, “All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”” (Ruth 4:11–12, NASB95)

Truly our Lord has come as the fulfillment of the seed that was planted in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the tribe of Jesse and the lineage of King David. And truly through this seed of Abraham, born by the women spoken of in Ruth, all of the nations will be blessed and those who are saved will find their eternal home in His presence.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, NASB95)

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16, NASB95) 

Parable of Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; see also Mark 4:26-29)

“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; 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 AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”” (Matthew 13:31–32, NASB95)

“And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “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, 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 AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”” (Mark 4:30–32, NASB95)

“So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? “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 AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”” (Luke 13:18–19, NASB95)

I’ve included all three passages where this parable is retold for us in the Bible. Notice that all of them are consistent and not in conflict with each other while each of them brings varying amounts of detail. The record of Mark is the most complete, and following Mark’s retelling of this parable he also wrote to inform us that while Jesus continued to speak in parables He also continued to explain His parables privately to His disciples. “With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.” (Mark 4:33–34, NASB95)

For those of us who would have liked to continue reading the rest of Jesus’ explanations we are left to study the Scriptures and looking to what else God’s Spirit has disclosed to us through His inspired Word. But I think the apostle John explained for us maybe why each parable’s explanation was not given when he wrote in the last words of His gospel account, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, NASB95)

First of all, we read that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Jesus had just spoken two parables featuring seeds. The first had to do the ground in which the seed is planted, where only one soil was found to take root, grow, and produce fruit. The next two had to do with the types of seed. In the parable of the wheat and the tares we find two seeds planted side by side—one good and one bad—which were going to be separated at the time of harvest. This we know represents both those who are saved and inherit the kingdom of God and those who are lost and suffer eternal separation in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. In this third parable we have another seed, the mustard seed, which is of no significance when compared in size to other seeds. In the notes of the ESV Study Bible we read this about the mustard seed and its ultimate size at maturity, “It was the smallest of all agricultural seeds in Palestine. The mustard “tree” grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet.” While it is actually a shrub and not a tree, its size clearly would cause it to dwarf much of what it surrounds such that birds could rest in its shade and nest in its branches. What is most significant in the parable is the contrast between its beginning and its end.

In sharing this parable Jesus also quoted Old Testament Scripture which some of His hearers would likely know whether they made the current connection or not. In Ezekiel we read of the downfall of King Zedekiah and the nation of Judah. The Lord God described what He was going to do for His people with these words, “Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”” (Ezekiel 17:22–24, NASB95) In these words we read that God will take a sprig—a remnant—of the lofty cedar (Israel) and that He would plant that sprig on the high mountain of Israel and that the tree would grow strong and mighty such that all of the trees of the field would know that He is the Lord. It is in this tree that we read both of the birds finding shade (Mark’s account) and nesting (Matthew’s account).

We recently looked at the end times when Christ returns to deliver His people Israel and to establish an earthly reign of 1,000 years. It is at His return that we read the mountains will literally be thrown down and that Jerusalem will be raised up. It is from there that Jesus will rule during the Millennium. It is under His rule that all of the promises of Scripture concerning preserving a remnant of Israel and returning all of Israel to God will be fulfilled. It is in these promises that mankind will physically see the King of kings sitting on a throne before His people, and it is following this period when all of those who are saved will enter into the new heaven and the new earth where man will live in the presence of God for all eternity.

And as we look at all of the prophecies concerning our coming Savior we find our God bringing Him through a single people group among all the possible nations, through a singular lineage among all of the lineages, born to an insignificant young virgin among all of the women in a small and seemingly insignificant town. Our God works all of this in His incredibly amazing way. I was reminded of this again as I thought about a Moabite widow who would become the great-grandmother of King David and mentioned in the book of Matthew in the lineage of Jesus. Consider the blessing the people gave Boaz when he came before the elders to redeem this destitute widow and take her as his wife along with caring for her mother-in-law, “All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.”” (Ruth 4:11–12, NASB95)

Truly our Lord has come as the fulfillment of the seed that was planted in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the tribe of Jesse and the lineage of King David. And truly through this seed of Abraham, born by the women spoken of in Ruth, all of the nations will be blessed and those who are saved will find their eternal home in His presence.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, NASB95)

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16, NASB95)