Harvest 100-60-30 Fold (the Parable of the Soil)

And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to spread some seed. As he was scattering the seed, some seeds fell by the road; and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil. They sprang up immediately, because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched; and because they had no roots, they withered away. Other seeds fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked them out. But others fell on good soil and were producing fruit. They yielded a crop—some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9

If you have spent any time in church, you have heard this parable. It is referred to as the Parable of the Sower but my pastor and bible teacher both refer to it as the Parable of the Soil.

What is a parable? It is a short, instructive and often metaphorical scenario from ordinary life used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. A parable prompts the listener to make a judgment and self-reflect. The dictionary says it is a simple story (wildly inaccurate) with the universal truth (agreed).

I think the soil parable has a clear surface message. One farmer. Four kinds of soil. Each soil results in a different outcome for the seed.

One rabbinical teaching method that Jesus readily employs is called, pardes. Pardes literally means orchard but it is also an acronym (keep in mind that Hebrew doesn’t us vowels):

Peshat: literal or simple meaning. Simple does not mean easy. This level of understanding is critical. The inability to understand the literal meaning will skew further interpretation.

Remez: hinted meaning. These hints point us back to same words used in other passages of scripture typically within the Tanakh or Old Testament that further explain the concept.

Drash: expounded meaning. A creative process calling us to explore, search and develop a deeper understanding of the text and the scripture it points back toward. Examples are the Midrash or Biblical commentaries.

Sod: secret meaning. A meaning that cannot be taught but only revealed by God, Himself through the Holy Spirit or Ruach HaKodesh. The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Jesus answers the question why parables in Matthew 13:10-16 (the verses directly following the parable of the soils), The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (6:9-10):

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.  For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Recently after reading the Parable of the Soils, I was struck by the crop yields mentioned. Why did Jesus list the numbers in reverse order, and what is the significance of those numbers?

I want to back up just for a second to point out that we STILL struggle today with hearing, understanding, seeing and perceiving. As Christians we are quick to judge but if you look in the mirror, I think you will see an accurate reflection of the western church. Read Revelations.

Reversing the numerical order. Can I know if Jesus did this himself or if it was Matthew or even the translator? No. I cannot know if Jesus reversed the order or if Matthew wrote it down accurately or purposely changed the order (Mark has it 30-60-100), or if the translator changed what was written. Does it matter? Perhaps but perhaps not.

Significance of the numbers. Without going down too much of a rabbit hole, there is meaning in these numbers. My opinion, Jesus is pointing us to the idea of pardes and progressive spiritual growth. The goal is the hundred times harvest which could be why it is mentioned first BUT if you have ears and you hear, you WILL reap something regardless …hundred, sixty, thirty.

One hundred (100) implies holiness. The letter representing the number of 100 is kuf which is the “k” sound. Kuf points us to kadosh (holiness) which in turn leads us to Kedushah. Kedushah are prayers based on Isaiah 6:3 and Ezekiel 3:12 which exalt the HOLINESS of God. 1 Peter 1:16, Instead, just like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in everything you do. For it is written, “Kedoshim you shall be, for I am kadosh.” Leading us straight to Leviticus 11:44-45, “For I am Adonai your God. Therefore, sanctify yourselves, and be holy, for I am holy. You are not to defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. For I am Adonai who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. Therefore, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

Sixty (60) represents blessing. The letter is samech. It sounds like “s”. Samech means support, abundance, the infinite presence of God or divine providence. Numbers 6:22-27, The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” This is known as Aaron’s or The Priestly Blessing. It was bestowed by Adonai upon the priests called to spiritually lead a nation or kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:9).

Thirty (30) is ministry. Specifically, it is age at which you were mature enough to begin ministry. Joseph become administer of Egypt at 30. David took the throne at 30. Jesus becomes rabbi at 30. At age thirty, Levitical priests were eligible to serve in the tabernacle or temple. Numbers 4:3-4, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath (son of Levi and grandfather of Moses, Aaron and Miriam) in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. Thirty is the letter lamed. Lamed sounds like “l”. Its meaning is related to teaching and learning. It signifies a readiness to lead, dedication, strength, responsibility and energy. It is also the symbol of the King of Kings representing royalty and authority.

Scholars from the catholic faith associated these numbers with levels of chastity (snort laugh):

30: Represents those who are married and live a life of faithfulness and good works.

60: Represents chaste widows who have chosen to devote their lives entirely to God after the death of their spouse.

100: Represents virgins and clergy who have taken vows of celibacy, signifying the highest level of dedication.

Protestant scholars settled on spiritual growth (eye roll):

30: Represents the initial conversion and the first fruits of a believer's life.

60: Represents a deeper commitment and more productive phase of ministry and service.

100: Represents the highest level of spiritual maturity, which may include martyrdom or a life of perfect self-sacrifice for the gospel. 

Here are my insights. Use them as you see fit. Each choice carries its own reward.

We accept Yeshua as Messiah which is salvation (peshat). The reward of salvation is eternal life and relationship with God. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, surrendering our will, and thereby granted authority and ministry, thirtyfold (remez). We diligently seek Him, sixtyfold (drash). We seek righteousness, hundredfold (sod).

Mic drop...SNORT

Love God. Love people. - Warren Beemer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Love God. Love People.

Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Nevi’im. I did not come to abolish but to complete. Mattityahu 5:17 Orthodox Jewish Bible

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 New International Version

The older and hopefully wiser that I get, the more I study scripture. I am gripped by this verse. Yeshua came to fulfill not abolish. Jesus came to satisfy not replace.

I have been unable to find anywhere in the Gospels or the New Testament where Jesus says, or the apostles teach that He came to toss out Judaism and begin anything new. Jesus was not a Christian.

Jesus was a JEWISH rabbi. His disciples, opponents, and the broader public all referred to Him in this manner. Rabbi means my master or my teacher. It is a term of respect within the Jewish community and represents the bond between teacher and student.

Reaching the status of rabbi took hard work. It wasn’t for everyone. After attending Beit Sefer (ages 5-9), He would have continued to Beit Talmud (ages 10-13). School was held at the local synagogue. Early emphasis was literacy and memorizing Torah. School ended at manhood, around age 13. Most Jewish men would go on to study a trade, generally that of their father.

Side note: Everyone was allowed to attend Beit Sefer even girls.

Only the brightest students, those capable of memorizing accurately great portions of the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim, would be invited to continue onto Beit Midrash (ages13-15). After Beit Midrash, was apprenticeship. Students became disciples under established rabbis beginning an intense period of learning and fellowship. Rabbi and disciple spent a great deal of their time together just as Jesus did with his disciples.

Becoming a rabbi required a semikha or ordination. Your rabbi would lay hands on you, transfering authority. This process of transferring authority has been passed down since Moses received the Torah on Sinai. Just like today, qualification for ordination reflects knowledge of language, history, text, philosophy, and law. Yeshua went through this entire process. No lost years but rather years of rabbinical study and hard trade work. Most rabbis learned a trade because one was not allowed to accept money for teaching Torah.

Side note: Jesus was referred to as rabbi (Hebrew) or teacher (Greek) 63 times in the Gospels and his followers as disciples 275 times in the New Testament.

You should understand that I am not a fan of organized religion. Most organized religion seeks its own gain. MANY atrocities have been committed in the name of religion that had little or nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus or the Tanakh.

I am not saying I am not a Christian but I also not saying that I am as I would need to understand your definition to allow myself to be labeled by you. I prefer to call myself a believer.

Jews did not coin the name “Christian”. To do so would have given credence to Yeshua being the Messiah. Non-Jewish inhabitants of Antioch, as described in the Book of Acts, were the first to apply the term "Christian" to Jesus' followers. It was not a name chosen by Jesus or the apostles or His disciples. Scholars agree that it would be used contemptuously but over time the offensive was reclaimed as a designation.

Before anyone called them anything, Jesus called his followers disciples. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John13:34-35).

The Book of Acts mentions “The Way” several times. In Acts 9, Saul is looking to arrest anyone belonging to The Way. Acts 19, Saul now Paul faces opposition from those speaking evil of The Way while in Ephesus. In chapter 24, Paul identifies himself as a worshiper of God according to The Way.

Consider the following:

• If we are to reflect God and God IS love why are so many churches full of condemnation, criticism and hate?
• Why create rules beyond those contained in the Bible?
• Why choose division instead of mercy, grace and forgiveness?
• Where is our reverence of God? 

 Who needs hell when we have each other? Yeshua understood.

Jesus pissed off the establishment. I would argue that it was part of the plan. Currently, over 45,000 denominations of Christianity exist globally. It wasn’t quite as drastic during the first century.

The Sadducees originated from the priestly lineage of Zadok, who served as high priest under King David and became the inaugural high priest of Solomon's Temple. Think of wealthy aristocracy in the fashion of those underneath the direct royal line in England. They reject belief in afterlife, resurrection, angels and spirits. No coming messiah. Only what is WRITTEN in Torah alone.

Pharisees believed in written and oral Torah. Oral Torah is eventually written down and is comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemarah, collectively known as the Talmud. They come from varying economic classes NOT priestly heritage. They do believe in afterlife, resurrection, angels, spirits and a coming messiah. They are strictly adherent and devoted to the law. EXTREMELY pious.

Pharisees had two prominent schools of thought at the time of Jesus:

• The House of Hillel the Elder accentuated tolerance and empathy. “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah; the rest is the explanation; go study it.”
• The House of Shammai emphasized strict obedience and a stringent application of law in Jewish life. “Say little and do much.”

Zealots. Fiercely opposed to any foreign occupation as God ALONE is the ONLY legitimate ruler of Israel and are willing to take violent action to achieve liberation. Think of a Pharisee with a sicarii or dagger.

Lastly, the Essenes are a sect of Judaism so fed up with the corruption of the Sadducees and Temple life that they haul ass out to the desert to set up shop. They are isolated and communal. Observant. Celibate. Pacifist. Focused on purity and holiness. We are generally familiar with them in connection with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some scholars suggest that John the Baptist, whose father was a priest, may have been trained by the Essenes rather than the Sadducees which is why he chose a desert lifestyle and focused on water baptism.

God sends Jesus into a faith that is arguing over not only interpretation of Torah but the legitimacy of the Nevi’im (prophets) and Ketuvim (writings), an Israel that is aggressively occupied by Rome and world that is being reshaped by Hellenism culture (think if it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad…and yes, I am singing Sheryl Crow).

Side note: Marty Soloman from the BEMA Discipleship podcast points out that Jeus lived among with Pharisees for 3 years without losing His life but after one week with the Sadducees, He was hung on a Roman cross.

Swing back to the text: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Seems clear, yes?

I am not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I am not creating anything new. Everything I am saying and relating and ministering is in the text (Old Testament). I am not replacing anyone or kicking them out. I am including the aliens, the outcast and the homeless.  Everyone is welcome. Everyone has ALWAYS been welcome. You have misread and misinterpreted the text. You have misjudged the intentions of Adonai. BUT! He IS love and so sent me to help you refocus, remind you of the story, and to reclarify the point.

Side note (thank you, Donald Miller): “You’d think God would come right out and tell us what to do in the Bible, but He doesn’t. He mostly tells stories, and He rarely stops the story to say what the point is. He just lets the characters and conflict hang in the air like smoke.”

What is the point?

My friend and pastor, Warren Beemer summed it up simply: Love God. Love People.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah? And He said to him, ‘You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment (Deuteronomy 6:5). And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). The entire Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40

Jesus consistently directs us back to God, to the sacred texts, and to the unfolding narrative. God is weaving a grand story that stretches across the cosmos and through all of time…a tale that has unfolded for millennia and continues to be inscribed in this very moment. It is a saga of extravagant, unrelenting love, ever in pursuit. This promise extends to all the children of Abraham, just as He vowed, embracing you and me despite our status as Gentiles—strangers, outsiders, wanderers without a home. Every one of us qualifies for His boundless love; no soul is left out.

I've often pondered why God permitted the diaspora of His people. There's much to explore in that question, but one truth stands out starkly: the Jewish people have been scattered across the globe, becoming neighbors to all humanity in the process.

Love God. Love people.

One reason God is thought to have chosen Abraham was his renowned generosity and hospitality.

Love God. Love people.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Love God. Love people.

The outsider dwelling among you shall be to you as the native born among you. You should love him as yourself for you dwelled as outsiders in the land of Egypt. I am Adonai your God. Leviticus 19:34

Love God. Love people.

Jesus did not come to usher in a new faith or a new people but rather to bring us all back to the original plot by expanding our understanding.

Love God. Love people.

I invite you to reinvent your faith by resubscribing to the OG story: Love God. Love people.

Walk This Way

I often find myself struggling to trust God for myself. I have great faith for others but when it comes to me, I almost fail. I wrestled with my A-type personality for years. I understand the necessity of being able to prostrate myself before the King of the Universe and my Messiah but having that be my go-to position is a difficult task. Trusting. Not leaning unto my own understanding. Acknowledging in all my ways. Yikes! Bring me a straight path!

Thankfully God gave me the tools I needed to understand how to get where He wanted me to go including bending my will to His. He lovingly gave me chapter names to a book He wanted me to write. Obediently, I wrote what came bursting out of me diligently for months but to this day, I do not know if the book is done…though I have a sneaking suspicion that it is not quite finished yet.

The chapter names are as follows: Faith. Be Patient. Be Still. Be Love. Be Fearless.

I am not big on “Christian” formulas. I feel they are a bit misleading and perhaps a way of trying to get around just living out your faith every day, day in and day out. If you do not know what I mean by formula, I mean those sermons or teachings that go something like 12 steps to prosperity/healing/salvation or 50 ways to leave your lover (just kidding that’s a Paul Simon song). And yet, there is a pattern to what God showed me in the names of those chapters.

Faith is defined in the Bible (Hebrews 11:3) as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of realities not seen. For by it the elders receive commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible.

What does the Word mean when it says the elders receive commendation? Other translations say that they obtained a good report or were praised or won God’s approval. I think anything that brings with it the approval of Adonai needs to garner our attention, yes?

The rest of the chapter provides many examples of faith noted for dying without receiving the things promised—but they saw them and welcomed them from afar, and they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth (verse13). Important to note here that our Biblical forefathers understood even before Yeshua’s arrival that Earth is not their forever home and like us, the longed for the heavenly city God is preparing.

Yet more examples follow, none of them pleasant, but the author ends the chapter thusly, and all these, though commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised— because God had provided something better for us, so that only with us would they reach perfection. I have read and reread this portion of the chapter. I even considered leaving it out, but we cannot just leave out the parts of God’s Word that we do not like because we are uncomfortable. Instead, we should seek out meaning and understanding.

We reach perfection together as the Kingdom of God is fully established at the end of time. However, we are called to work towards being perfect just as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  The Greek word used here is téleios meaning complete, mature, fully grown. Chapter 12 goes on to explain that we have a cloud of witnesses surrounding us and this should help us throw off sin and run the race Jesus set out before us. He is our example on how to run it successfully.

The act of being patient and being still are often confused as being the same thing but ARE NOT. I no longer pray for patience without being super specific, but I pray freely and regularly to be still.

Synonyms for patience are tolerant, long suffering, composed, even tempered.

Synonyms for still are unmoving, motionless and immobile.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). What is patience? The dictionary defines it as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting upset or angry. It is the ability to endure without complaint showing self-restraint in the face of provocation or affliction. In short, it means you can suffer with a smile. Patience is about you. Your submission.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14). The Hebrew word for still here is tacharishun meaning silent, speechless or to hold one’s peace. Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted among nations. I am exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10). Differently, the Hebrew word in Psalm 46:10 is raphah which means to relax (release tension or anxiety), sink down (surrender), cease striving, stop fighting, quit resisting or let it go…let it go (do you hear Elsa singing #snort) but really it is let go. Being still equals shut up, block out noise, submit, and let God do God. Stillness is about God. Your trust.

Love. God is love. I have written extensively about Love and God being Love and that we are to reflect His Love and what that is supposed to look like as we walk our daily lives. Just to recap though in case this is the first time you have stumbled upon my blog…the greatest act of LOVE was Jesus crucified for you and me. Love is not a warm fuzzy feeling though we do associate feeling with love but rather a choice to put the needs and sometimes wants or desires of others before those of ourselves. It is reflected most accurately via sacrifice not euphoria.

In 1 John 4:18, the Bible states that perfect love casts out fear and that there is no fear in love. God’s love is perfect and unconditional. It was manifest to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as well as every word in the Bible. Love creates security and inspires courage. Love replaces loneliness and anxiety. It transforms.

Be fearless. Everyone is afraid of something. Even people that jump out of airplanes or purposely walk into what they believe is a haunted house. Fear defined is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. Supposedly, there are 365 verses in the Bible telling us not to fear or be afraid or something akin…one for each day of the year. I won’t be counting them for myself, but I do know there is A LOT of scripture addressing fear. Out ability to overcome fear is obviously something that concerns God.

In Luke 12:7, Jesus points out that God knows the number of hairs on our head as proof that we are important. “Aren’t five sparrows being sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” We are called to live a life without fear. This is an undoubtable fact made apparent to me as I study the scripture both old and new. Yet, I would argue that today more than any other time throughout history, fear is prevalent and rising.

Harnessing the ability to walk without fear is the key to walking properly in faith and Love. It allows us to go where He calls without faltering. It allows us to not just believe in every good thing but trust in every good thing. I argue that faith, patience, stillness and love are building blocks to living a life free of fear. Our prayers should echo the lyrics of Hillsong’s Oceans:

You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail and there, I find You in the mystery in oceans deep, my faith will stand. And I will call upon Your Name and keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace for I am Yours and You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide where feet may fail, and fear surrounds me. You've never failed, and You won't start now. So, I will call upon Your Name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace for I am Yours and You are mine.

Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior. I will call upon Your Name. Keep my eyes above the waves. My soul will rest in Your embrace.

I am Yours and You are mine.

We should actively ask for our faith to stretched and tested making us more resilient so that we grow in patience, expand our ability to be still, reflect better the unconditional love of God and finally be able to walk out life fearlessly…knowing without a shadow of a doubt that God is good. He is GOOD! He is kind. He is patient. He does not envy. He does not brag. He is not puffed up. He does not behave inappropriately. He does not seek His own way. He does not provoked. He keeps no account of wrongdoing. He does not rejoice over injustice. He does rejoice in the truth. He bears all things. He believes all things. He hopes all things. He endures all things. He never fails. He has no favorites. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. These facts alone about our God should administrate shalom.

I no longer want to be afraid of the future or what comes next. I do not want to be afraid of failing. I want to walk upright in righteousness having a testimony that shouts to the world that my God is an AWESOME God. I want to trust that He will never leave me or forsake me. I want to KNOW He will not allow all that He has planted within me to wither and die but rather He guarantees it will to come to complete fruition and be harvested. I want to say no to fear! And that isn’t to say there isn’t sometimes pain along the way because we live in a broken world, but I want to be the dangerous one. The battle was won on The Cross and satan is supposed to be our bitch not the other way around.

I want to WALK THIS WAY.