By Hazel Holland
As I finished reading the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:3-9, this familiar phrase of Jesus at the close of the parable caught my attention. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” I was reminded that the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation each end with that same familiar phrase. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Obviously then what is being taught by Jesus in this parable is important. He desires that we grasp the significance of His parabolic teaching.
Later when Jesus was alone, the disciples came to Him wanting to understand the meaning behind this parable that He had spoken to the large crowds that day. They had ears that wanted to hear. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding…’” (Mark 4:11-12).
Then Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). He then began to explain to them the meaning of the seed that fell by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns, and on good ground. He told them that the seed represented the word of God and that the ground represented people’s hearts (Mark 4:14-20).
The Secret of the Kingdom
So what is the “secret of the kingdom” that this parable reveals that was not only given to the disciples, but has also been given to us? What is the parabolic teaching that Jesus wants us to hear and understand? In fact Jesus seems to be saying that without an understanding of this parable we will not be able to rightly discern the hidden meaning behind His other parables.
The point that Jesus is making here in this parable is that there are different types of ground (hearts) upon which the gospel seed falls. But only the good ground (prepared heart) receives the gospel seed and produces a lasting harvest. The soil of the good ground (heart) is called “good” because it has already been plowed up by the work of the Holy Spirit in order to break up any hard ground and make it soft and ready to receive the gospel seed.
In other words, Jesus is teaching in this parable that when the gospel is preached there will be true conversions resulting from hearts that have been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit, and false conversions that have not been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit. Evidently, the fruit of a lasting harvest distinguishes the true from the false.
As I thought about this principle of true and false converts being alongside each other in the church, the light began to dawn about what Jesus taught in other parables about the kingdom of God. Parables such as, the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the wise and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-51), all teach that the true and the false remain together until the Day of Judgment.
Apparently false believers have a degree of spirituality about them so that they are not easily recognized for what they truly are. Clearly, none of the disciples suspected Judas would betray Jesus. Instead they suspected themselves! “Lord, is it I?” they each asked.
So it seems to me that the thrust of Jesus’ message in His parables is to challenge us as believers to honestly examine our own hearts in order to make sure we are continuing to walk in the way of the Master. Are we the “good soil” that produces a fruitful harvest? Are we wheat and not tares? Are we the wise and not foolish virgins? Are we sheep and not goats? Does our profession of faith reveal that we not only know Him, but more importantly, does He know us?
Recognized by Our Fruit
Scripture teaches us that God knows us because He recognizes us by our fruit—the fruit of obedience. In the same way we will recognize those who know Him by their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit anymore than a bad tree can bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18).
Furthermore, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers (literally means you who practice lawlessness)!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Listen to what Jesus will say to many people on that day. “Although you healed the sick, and you cast out demons, and you did many mighty miracles in My name, I NEVER knew you! Although you professed to know Me, I NEVER knew you because you did not do the will of my Father! Therefore, you cannot enter My kingdom. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
How tragic! How could this possibly happen? Apparently the list of “good works” that the many people performed is not the good fruit that Christ or the Father are looking for! These people cannot enter the kingdom, because Jesus did not know them because they did not do the will of the Father!
So if I understand this passage of Scripture correctly, it becomes vital that we understand how to do the will of the Father. What obedience is the Father looking for that will give us entrance into His kingdom? Usually I have stopped reading with verse 23, but today I continued to read the next few verses and discovered the answer as to why “many” people will be barred from entering the kingdom of heaven on that day.
I Never Knew You
Notice that the very next word in verse 24 says, “Therefore…” That means we are going to get an answer as to why many people who say, “Lord, we did this… and we did that… in Your name” will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead they will be told to depart from Christ because He never knew them.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it has its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).
Aren’t these verses telling us that Jesus is the Rock upon which we must build our house of faith? Only if our house of faith has its foundation on the Rock—Jesus Christ…only if we are grounded securely in Him, will we be able to withstand the winds of adversity and the flood of overwhelming deception that is coming upon the earth to deceive those who do not have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. (See Revelation 14:1). The Scriptures tell us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:26-27). We may and indeed must remain in Him—our Rock!
God wants our faith firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. For it is Jesus’ finished good work that God is looking at—not our good works. Because the Scriptures tell us that even our good works—even our righteousness is still filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)! Our confidence and hope must be in Him—not in ourselves!
Hence, it appears to me that the “many” who will say to God on that day, “Lord we did all these wonderful things in your name” have not built their house of faith on the righteousness of the Rock—Jesus Christ, but rather on their own righteous accomplishments (sand). Tragically they proudly believe that their good works (sand) have some merit that will entitle them to an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
Christ’s Good Work Alone
In essence, the Father will say to the “many” who hold up their good works as a ticket to enter the kingdom of heaven, “No! Only those who do My will have the ticket that entitles them to enter My kingdom. And what is My will? What must you do to do the works I require?
You must believe in the One I sent (John 6:28-29). For My will is that all those who enter My Kingdom will trust only in My Son’s righteousness—not their own. For it is my Son’s perfect obedience—My Son’s good work that fulfills the demands of the Law.”
“Your prophesying, your casting out demons, and your performing of many miracles are not the good works that can ever fulfill the demands of the Law, because the Law demands perfect righteousness. You have not attained what I require. You have falsely believed that your righteousness—your good works have some merit that would gain you an entrance into My kingdom.”
“By your erroneous beliefs you have trodden underfoot the blood of the covenant. You have trodden underfoot My Son—the ONLY righteousness that I freely provided for you in the atonement (Heb.10:28-29). You proudly thought that your good works could be added to My Son’s good work. But your good works that you offer Me are nothing more than filthy rags that are an offense to My nostrils!”
“Sadly you stand naked before Me in your own righteousness instead of My Son’s (Revelation 3:16-17). You failed to obey My will by placing your faith in My One and Only Son—The Rock that cannot be shaken! You are a lawbreaker because your “good” works do not fulfill the demands of the Law. Therefore you are an evil-doer—one who practices lawlessness, and I must cast you away from My presence…”
And the many houses that were built on sand fell with a great crash. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!
The Rock is Forever
"My beloved children, this is the hour when everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). I would remind you that these days were prophesied about long ago."
“These are the days of Elijah”, not because you (would-be "Elijah’s") are performing more "signs and wonders" in My name, but rather because these are the days when there is increased lawlessness, not merely in the world, but more importantly in the church."
"These are the days to stand up and cry out in repentance! All your flesh—all your works must fade away and fall to the ground like the grass and flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:8). This is the time to let go of trusting in your good works. For only the work of the Son of God abides forever. All the sand is washed away, but The Rock is forever!"
------------------------------------
This post can be considered as "Part 2"of the post I wrote earlier... He Who Has An Ear to Hear...
Also several years ago Yoko (Ramone's wife) had some 'apocalyptic' visions about being weighed on the scales. Specifically, the "rock" vs. "sand" parable in Matthew that I have written about seems to be exactly what she saw! The pictures can be seen here.
As I finished reading the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:3-9, this familiar phrase of Jesus at the close of the parable caught my attention. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” I was reminded that the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation each end with that same familiar phrase. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Obviously then what is being taught by Jesus in this parable is important. He desires that we grasp the significance of His parabolic teaching.
Later when Jesus was alone, the disciples came to Him wanting to understand the meaning behind this parable that He had spoken to the large crowds that day. They had ears that wanted to hear. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding…’” (Mark 4:11-12).
Then Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). He then began to explain to them the meaning of the seed that fell by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns, and on good ground. He told them that the seed represented the word of God and that the ground represented people’s hearts (Mark 4:14-20).
The Secret of the Kingdom
So what is the “secret of the kingdom” that this parable reveals that was not only given to the disciples, but has also been given to us? What is the parabolic teaching that Jesus wants us to hear and understand? In fact Jesus seems to be saying that without an understanding of this parable we will not be able to rightly discern the hidden meaning behind His other parables.
The point that Jesus is making here in this parable is that there are different types of ground (hearts) upon which the gospel seed falls. But only the good ground (prepared heart) receives the gospel seed and produces a lasting harvest. The soil of the good ground (heart) is called “good” because it has already been plowed up by the work of the Holy Spirit in order to break up any hard ground and make it soft and ready to receive the gospel seed.
In other words, Jesus is teaching in this parable that when the gospel is preached there will be true conversions resulting from hearts that have been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit, and false conversions that have not been prepared by the work of the Holy Spirit. Evidently, the fruit of a lasting harvest distinguishes the true from the false.
As I thought about this principle of true and false converts being alongside each other in the church, the light began to dawn about what Jesus taught in other parables about the kingdom of God. Parables such as, the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the wise and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-51), all teach that the true and the false remain together until the Day of Judgment.
Apparently false believers have a degree of spirituality about them so that they are not easily recognized for what they truly are. Clearly, none of the disciples suspected Judas would betray Jesus. Instead they suspected themselves! “Lord, is it I?” they each asked.
So it seems to me that the thrust of Jesus’ message in His parables is to challenge us as believers to honestly examine our own hearts in order to make sure we are continuing to walk in the way of the Master. Are we the “good soil” that produces a fruitful harvest? Are we wheat and not tares? Are we the wise and not foolish virgins? Are we sheep and not goats? Does our profession of faith reveal that we not only know Him, but more importantly, does He know us?
Recognized by Our Fruit
Scripture teaches us that God knows us because He recognizes us by our fruit—the fruit of obedience. In the same way we will recognize those who know Him by their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit anymore than a bad tree can bear good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18).
Furthermore, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers (literally means you who practice lawlessness)!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Listen to what Jesus will say to many people on that day. “Although you healed the sick, and you cast out demons, and you did many mighty miracles in My name, I NEVER knew you! Although you professed to know Me, I NEVER knew you because you did not do the will of my Father! Therefore, you cannot enter My kingdom. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
How tragic! How could this possibly happen? Apparently the list of “good works” that the many people performed is not the good fruit that Christ or the Father are looking for! These people cannot enter the kingdom, because Jesus did not know them because they did not do the will of the Father!
So if I understand this passage of Scripture correctly, it becomes vital that we understand how to do the will of the Father. What obedience is the Father looking for that will give us entrance into His kingdom? Usually I have stopped reading with verse 23, but today I continued to read the next few verses and discovered the answer as to why “many” people will be barred from entering the kingdom of heaven on that day.
I Never Knew You
Notice that the very next word in verse 24 says, “Therefore…” That means we are going to get an answer as to why many people who say, “Lord, we did this… and we did that… in Your name” will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead they will be told to depart from Christ because He never knew them.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it has its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).
Aren’t these verses telling us that Jesus is the Rock upon which we must build our house of faith? Only if our house of faith has its foundation on the Rock—Jesus Christ…only if we are grounded securely in Him, will we be able to withstand the winds of adversity and the flood of overwhelming deception that is coming upon the earth to deceive those who do not have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. (See Revelation 14:1). The Scriptures tell us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:26-27). We may and indeed must remain in Him—our Rock!
God wants our faith firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. For it is Jesus’ finished good work that God is looking at—not our good works. Because the Scriptures tell us that even our good works—even our righteousness is still filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)! Our confidence and hope must be in Him—not in ourselves!
Hence, it appears to me that the “many” who will say to God on that day, “Lord we did all these wonderful things in your name” have not built their house of faith on the righteousness of the Rock—Jesus Christ, but rather on their own righteous accomplishments (sand). Tragically they proudly believe that their good works (sand) have some merit that will entitle them to an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
Christ’s Good Work Alone
In essence, the Father will say to the “many” who hold up their good works as a ticket to enter the kingdom of heaven, “No! Only those who do My will have the ticket that entitles them to enter My kingdom. And what is My will? What must you do to do the works I require?
You must believe in the One I sent (John 6:28-29). For My will is that all those who enter My Kingdom will trust only in My Son’s righteousness—not their own. For it is my Son’s perfect obedience—My Son’s good work that fulfills the demands of the Law.”
“Your prophesying, your casting out demons, and your performing of many miracles are not the good works that can ever fulfill the demands of the Law, because the Law demands perfect righteousness. You have not attained what I require. You have falsely believed that your righteousness—your good works have some merit that would gain you an entrance into My kingdom.”
“By your erroneous beliefs you have trodden underfoot the blood of the covenant. You have trodden underfoot My Son—the ONLY righteousness that I freely provided for you in the atonement (Heb.10:28-29). You proudly thought that your good works could be added to My Son’s good work. But your good works that you offer Me are nothing more than filthy rags that are an offense to My nostrils!”
“Sadly you stand naked before Me in your own righteousness instead of My Son’s (Revelation 3:16-17). You failed to obey My will by placing your faith in My One and Only Son—The Rock that cannot be shaken! You are a lawbreaker because your “good” works do not fulfill the demands of the Law. Therefore you are an evil-doer—one who practices lawlessness, and I must cast you away from My presence…”
And the many houses that were built on sand fell with a great crash. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!
The Rock is Forever
"My beloved children, this is the hour when everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). I would remind you that these days were prophesied about long ago."
“These are the days of Elijah”, not because you (would-be "Elijah’s") are performing more "signs and wonders" in My name, but rather because these are the days when there is increased lawlessness, not merely in the world, but more importantly in the church."
"These are the days to stand up and cry out in repentance! All your flesh—all your works must fade away and fall to the ground like the grass and flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:8). This is the time to let go of trusting in your good works. For only the work of the Son of God abides forever. All the sand is washed away, but The Rock is forever!"
------------------------------------
This post can be considered as "Part 2"of the post I wrote earlier... He Who Has An Ear to Hear...
Also several years ago Yoko (Ramone's wife) had some 'apocalyptic' visions about being weighed on the scales. Specifically, the "rock" vs. "sand" parable in Matthew that I have written about seems to be exactly what she saw! The pictures can be seen here.
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Several years ago Yoko (Ramone's wife)had some 'apocalyptic' visions about being weighed on the scales. Specifically, the "rock" vs. "sand" parable in Matthew that I have written about seems to be exactly what she saw!
ReplyDeleteLast November Ramone started to put them on paper with ink as he had visualized what she described (except for the first picture, which he came up with based on how the visions started and the meaning). The pictures can be seen at http://art-for-jesus.blogspot.com/2007/11/balances.html