Matthew 13

 Wow! What a crazy few days! I hope you all survived the wind and the power outage and the rain from last night! Crazy weather these last few days!! No power for many hours, followed by no internet for over a day! It is amazing how dependent we are on technology! Worship filled weekend for me too! Led worship at Little Meadows at 9AM (with some unusual excitement) and then worship at Apalachin UMC (filling in for July as they search for new pastor) and then led worship at Good Shepherd Village in Endwell at 2PM. Is there such a thing as church over-load?! We did celebrate my 10 year anniversary at Little Meadows. Ten years?! My first message there was my "envy" of Moses. He got to hear God's voice coming out of the burning bush saying take off your sandals because you are walking on Holy Ground. God then tells Moses that he is selected to lead the Hebrew people. I still envy Moses- I want to see the bush, on fire, right here, and hear God's voice! My congregation gave me a Euonymus plant ("Burning Bush") and a butterfly gazing ball in celebration!

The stand was made by paternal great- uncle about 80 years ago. The original globe was a hand made (by him also) 24" diameter mirrored gazing ball that I accidentally broke this spring. This butterfly one is a great replacement. After my dad died, my mom would say when a butterfly was visiting that it was Dad checking up on us. Now that she is also in Paradise, I think the same thing when I see butterflies- she and dad are with me.

So, let's begin with Matthew 13! Matthew 13 is filled with parables...stories used by Jesus to teach.  We have read many of these and heard many of these before. I am goin to start with VV 10-17- Jesus explains his use of the parables.

Jesus begins with the story about planting seeds, and then the disciples ask, "Why do you use stories to teach people?" (v 10). Sometimes the stories/ parables are more confusing than just staying what Jesus means! Jesus explains that he uses the parables to teach so that the hearts of those that reject the message won't be hardened any more. Parables are "earthly stories with a heavenly message."  Those that are open to the message will gain much more meaning from them; those that reject the message will end up in a worse condition. Not a good situation to be in! There is a statement that I have used a few times in worship: the same heat that softens a potato also hardens the egg. What is good for one person may not be so good for another. The use of parables will enhance the understanding of those that are spiritually in tune, yet will not confuse or cause "others" to reject the Gospel more. I get and understand some of the  parables, but am really confused at others- where does that put me in the continuum of spiritual openness?!

Back to v 1 and the first parable of the sower (or the seed or the soil- depending on how we look at it!). Jesus is creative in his teaching positions. Today, he uses a boat slightly off shore. That distances him somewhat from the  crowd, but also amplifies his voice. I can remember a few times in school, I would use a tree stump or larger rock to stand on when talking with my kids when I was outside- same idea! Definitely not a "synagogue approved" method of teaching- I could just hear the elders of the synagogue saying, "You can't do that!" It reminds me of the movie "Dead Poet's Society" when Robin Williams has his students stand on top of their desk to get a different perspective; the head master of the school comes in and there is shock and disapproval on his face!

Anyway- this first parable is planting seeds in various soils. Agricultural to those that don't have "spiritual ears" yet a heavenly message for those that are open to God and the Kingdom. Planting seeds in/on a hard path (v 4), rocky ground (v 5-6), over-fertile soil (v 7), and just right soil (v 8). Jumping ahead to v 18- Jesus begins to explain the story. The hardened path is like those that have hardened hearts- they hear the words but it is quickly snatched away by the "Evil One" (the birds). I wonder how many listeners of the word have been too "sermonized" that we have become like the hardened path. We hear the words, but they just bounce away and get snatched up! Any thoughts? The seeds on rocky soil represent the people that are full of enthusiasm, but then "burn out" quickly (vv 20-21). It isn't the sudden acceptance, it is the lack of depth that causes these to wither and fall away. In my ministry at Little Meadows, I have experienced this a few times. People full of energy and full of the desire to know, but when something difficult comes or they get shaken in their faith- they fall away. No depth. The thorny weeds (vv 22) may represent the riches of our world that we have that cause us to stumble or be chocked out when we hear the Word. It is the over fertilized life that causes all things to grow up in our life and take us away from God and the kingdom. We need a good balance (v 23) of soil and fertilizer and water to be productive members of the Kingdom. The seed is the same, the sower uses the same method- it is the soil (the person) upon which the seed was sown that makes the difference. What type of soil are you?

 

 

The next parable (vv 24- 30; 36-43 explained)- about the wheat (good plants) and tares (weed-like plants) is about the corruption and bad influences that are among the people of God. Tares probably refers to a plant called darnel- a poisonous relative of wheat that looks like wheat up until the heads of grain form- thus the reference to the final harvest (v 30). When the final harvest comes, when the Kingdom of God comes to fruition, then the weeds will be thrown into the fires! The "frightening aspect of this is that we don't know the difference between the good wheat and the bad tares. Who are those "tares" in your life? Are you one?

 

And we just lost power…again!

 

Two hours later we are back- but now no internet!

 

Our next parable is the familiar mustard seed yeast (vv 31- 35). On the outside, it looks like a parable of the dominance of the church- the mustard seed growing to a huge tree. Something so tiny (the initial church) becoming so large that it dominates the landscape. The church began like that-  av small group of people going out and planting seeds; eventually the church became one of the major influencers of the world. However, as we look more into it, we see the birds begin nesting in the tree (v 32). This portrays a beautiful picture for us. The issue is, when we look back at v 4 and the birds came by to eat the seed- birds are symbolic of the evil in the world. In many Hebrew texts and old world literature, the bird  was a symbol for Satan and the evil powers of Satan. So, the church is now beginning to harbor evil! Do we see "birds nesting" in our churches? In the same fashion, the leaven (the yeast) reference (v 33) is a reference to evil and corruption. Remember the story of the Exodus Passover meal- use no yeast- so the loves were unleavened. There is a hint also in the word usage, "…the woman hid it in the meal…" Hiding something is usually a symbol for something bad. This may be a reference to the outside pagan influences that are part of the world and are counter to the church. What "leavening" do we have in our communities?

 

The hidden treasure (v 44) is an interesting parable. The idea here is that, according to Judaic law, if a man finds a treasure or something in a field and digs it up, it becomes the property of the owner of the field. So the man (in this case representing Jesus), buys the field and the treasure (humanity) becomes His. Similarly, the pearl (humanity) is so precious, that the man (Jesus) would do whatever he could to obtain that valuable piece of property. Do you feel as if you are a hidden treasure or a worthy pearl in the eyes of God?

 

The final parable is one about  the end times (vv 47- 50). The world will remain divided, even up until the end; there will be good and bad coexisting at the same time.  When the Kingdom of God is ushered in, the angles will be there to assist God in separating the good fish (and adding them to the Kingdom) from the bad fish (and throwing them into the eternal flames)! What a great movie this would make!

 

Jesus then questions the disciples, "Do you guys get this?" They respond, "Why certainly, rabbi!" Did they? Do we? Jesus then essentially then charges them with taking their understanding and giving/teaching to others. The disciples (v 52) now know the old ways (Jewish laws and customs) and the new ways (Jesus' life and ministry). Do we accept that charge from Jesus- to go and teach?

 

Jesus leaves the area and goes to his home town (Nazareth, although some texts claim Capernaum is Jesus' "home town" as he spent most of his ministry there). He must have had a typical, unspectacular childhood as the villagers comment, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" (v 55). They seem torn that He could be doing miracles and healings in his home town, yet "just be the son of a carpenter".  Do we question peoples' faith/belief systems based on their earlier life? The list of siblings that Matthew provides shows us that Jesus had a "normal" family; the Roman Catholic church desires perpetual virginity for Mary, so Jesus' family is usually left out of their texts! The word choice, "…this man…" (v 56) by the villagers (and by Matthew) give us the impression that they are not very welcoming or friendly to Jesus. Jesus recognizes this and calls them out saying. "A prophet is not welcome in their home town." I have used that line a few times when I made some "controversial" remarks at several meetings at a former church of mine. I get what Jesus is feeling and saying. Sometimes, people don't want the truth. Jack Nicholson in one of his movies (no internet here yet, so can't look it up!) says, "You can't handle the truth!" I think that is what Jesus is saying here. Have you ever felt that-- telling the truth but then becoming alienated because of it?

 

Well my friends…this post has been done for a few hours, but alas, there is still no internet…so it will appear when Spectrum figures out what is wrong with the web!

 Internet finally is on (after about 6 hours). Sorry this is late but it is here!!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul