Matthew 13:47 - An Uncomfortable Truth

 

An Uncomfortable Truth - November 5, 2021

 

Matthew 13:47-50, The Message - “Or, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That’s how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won’t do any good.”

 

Today, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet.  Lots of fish are gathered into the net and brought in to shore.  There is a sorting process.  The edible (kosher or legal to eat according to Jewish law) fish are collected and the inedible are thrown out.  This process was one every first century Jew would have been familiar.  Children would often go out to watch when the fishermen would come in and the sorting would begin. 

                The meaning is pretty straightforward, but also more than a little disturbing.  The kingdom draws many in, but not all are righteous. Some who hang around in the kingdom aren’t there because of a relationship with or trust in Jesus.  They are found with God’s people, but they have not made the decision to BE God’s people.  They might even pretend to be followers of Christ, but they are not.  Jesus says there is a time when those who have not accepted the gift of God in Christ will be separated.  But like the weeds in an earlier parable in this same chapter, it is the angels acting on God’s authority that will do the separating.  The “bad fish” face a grim fate – the garbage or as another translation puts it, “a fiery furnace.”  It’s not a pretty picture, but if we are to take Jesus seriously, we need to take this message to heart. 

                Simply attending church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than going to a car dealership makes you car.  Authentic faith is what Jesus is looking for in those would embrace Jesus’s kingdom.  This message is reinforced through the gospel of Matthew.  Though we are not to make judgements about who is good fish and bad fish or good seed or weeds, that judgement will take place.  Though we might like to downplay this, it is scriptural truth. 

 

Question:  What are the deepest reasons for your association with God’s people/church?

 

Prayer:  God, help us to see our need for your grace and redemption.  May we embrace your gift offered to us to become your children.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for civic leaders and officials today.

 

Song:  Oceans (Where Feet May Fall) – Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga3DmPRPAQQ

Matthew 13:44 - The Twin Treasure Parables

The Twin Treasure Parables - November 4, 2021

 

Matthew 13:44-46, NRSV - “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 

                Today, we have two parables told together to seemingly to make one point. I’m not too sure about that. My contention is that the parables each say something distinctive and when we put the two meanings side-by-side, it packs a powerful one-two punch. 

                If these parables are to be taken together (and I assume that they are), we need to look at each one individually and after that, combine the meanings.  As I have pointed out with other parables, the most important part of interpreting parables is the subject.  Jesus always identifies if by saying, “the kingdom of heaven is like ________.”  In the first parable, the subject is like a “treasure.”  In the second parable, it is like a “merchant.” 

                The treasure in the first story is hidden, but discovered by an unnamed individual.  This tells us that it can anyone, including you or me.  This lucky one finds the treasure in someone else’s field.  Possession is, as they say, nine-tenths of the law, so the lucky discoverer realizes that he does not own the treasure. In order to do so, he will have to own the field.  He re-hides the treasure and goes about securing ownership.  Turns out, he has to give up all that he has to purchase the field.  He gladly does this because he knows the value of the treasure far exceeds everything he has.  The kingdom of heaven is like that treasure; it’s value is so much greater than all we have that we’d be fools not to make the exchange.  We leave the life we know for something we know is SO MUCH better.

                At this point, I want to purposely throw a wrench into that interpretation.  I do this to make my final point later.  A problem I have always had with this story is that, from my perspective (and I know I’m not alone in this), the finder of the treasure has a moral obligation to tell the landowner about the treasure.  Of course, he can’t do that if he wants to get the treasure, because the landowner will never sell the land if he knows what he has.  There is no moral way to gain access to this treasure – it is out of reach.  The treasure is simultaneously worth everything and unattainable.  The kingdom of heaven is like that.  Hold on to that for a minute while we talk about the second story. 

                In the second parable, the kingdom is like the merchant who is specifically looking for pearls and finds one of exceptional value.  Again, he gives all he has to acquire it because he knows he exactly what he’s getting.  The merchant here is God.  God is looking for pearls of great price and he finds one – you.  He gives everything (His very own son) to secure you for His own. 

                Taken together, the life God offers (the treasure in the first parable) is way better than the life we have before embracing it.  We are crazy not to let go of what we have to pursue the kingdom. But we cannot rightfully secure it on our own.   But we don’t have to secure it for ourselves, because the King/God, who is looking for a pearl of great price, finds that pearl (it’s you!), and gives all so that you can be His.    Amazing!  The kingdom of heaven is exactly like that!

 

Question:  Have you ever considered the reality that you are the pearl of great price?

 

Prayer:  God, we have trouble seeing how we are worth the price Jesus paid, but we gladly give up what we have to accept the treasure you offer.  Amen.

 

Prayer focus:  Pray for people who feel like a forgotten treasure buried in a field to be “found.” 

 

Song:  You are My Treasure – Matt Hammit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIjkVe_9pLY

Matthew 13:24-30 - "Triggered!"

 

Triggered!

 

Matthew 13:24-30, CEB - Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like someone who planted good seed in his field.  While people were sleeping, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and went away.  When the stalks sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

“The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’

“‘An enemy has done this,’ he answered.

“The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’

“But the landowner said, ‘No, because if you gather the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow side by side until the harvest. And at harvesttime I’ll say to the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and tie them together in bundles to be burned. But bring the wheat into my barn.”’”

 

                Today, we have another parable where Jesus intends for us to see another facet of the kingdom of heaven.  We always need to pay special attention to the object of Jesus’s phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like…”  In this case, Jesus suggests that the kingdom is like a someone who planted good see.  Jesus is instructing us to pay attention to that “someone,”  not the seeds, the enemy, the weeds, or anything else.  To see the nature of the kingdom, we watch the seed-planter in the story.

                The planter plants good seeds.  This is the work of the kingdom.  But there are enemies working to sabotage our good seed-planter.  They plant weeds in hopes of choking out the new seedlings as they begin to grow.  But the enemies obviously aren’t good planters themselves, for if they were, they would know that their plan won’t work.  The wheat and weeds will grow up together.  At harvest time, separating the weeds and wheat is a nuisance, but the harvest is not lost.  The plan will not work, unless…

                The plan will work if the planter over-reacts to his would-be saboteurs.  If he has his servants remove the weeds before harvest time, at least some of the wheat will be lost.  Jesus is saying that the kingdom is like a seed-planter who doesn’t over-react when enemies try to disrupt good growth.  Instead of getting “triggered” by the enemies, the kingdom remains focused on the good growth, not the activity of the enemies’ schemes, for those schemes will come to nothing more than a nuisance at harvest time.  Preserving the harvest is the focus, not reacting to enemies. 

                This wisdom is easier to explain than it is to live out.  When someone seems to be trying to sabotage us, our outrage and frustration often drive our response.  We often get distracted by a desire to “undo” the work of our enemies instead of remaining focused on the good work we’re called to do.  But if we can resist getting triggered, the results of our good work will lead to good results while the work of those who would see us fail will come to nothing useful.  The “wheat and the weeds” will be seen for what they are.  The vindication is the harvest, but that vindication never comes if we allow ourselves to get triggered. 

                Almost all the time, when we’re doing something good, there will be “weeds.”  Just accept that now, so when the weeds start shooting up, we won’t overreact.  We can acknowledge the weeds while remaining committed to helping the intended crop grow.  If we get triggered and “pull up the weeds,” the enemies win and our good work suffers.  The kingdom is like a good (and patient) seed planter.

 

Questions:  When was the last time you got “triggered” by some resistance to something good you were trying to do?  How did you reaction affect the result?

 

Prayer:  God, your call is to plant the seeds of the kingdom, not to pull weeds.  Help us live out this wisdom in our daily lives.  Help us be aware of our “triggers” so we can avoid getting distracted by our enemies.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Today is All Saints Day.  Spend some time thanking God for the people who are in heaven who helped you have the faith you have today.

Song:  Visiting Hours – Ed Sheeran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHpRYt6kuWg