(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
When something goes missing, if it is important, it can cause some anxiety, especially if it is taken from us.
One of the most common rhetorical devices Jesus used in his preaching and teaching was the parable, and the gospels record over forty of them. While the majority of parables appear in only one of the gospels, six parables made a significant enough impression that all three synoptic writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—recorded them.1 One of those six, "The Different Soils," Jesus tells to a large group that has gathered to hear him, now well into his public ministry.
Parables are an indirect way of stating a point, intended to make the listener think. In this case, rather than saying simply that it matters how a person responds to what Jesus says, he talks about different soils and their effect on crop yields. It is not the most transparent means of communication, but its purpose is not to be so obvious that people dismiss it out of hand:
In a private session, Jesus' disciples express their curiosity about this methodology.
* LVI The Foremost Confiscation2
...Which is part of...
As I thought about this passage, it struck me how relevant Jesus' words are to the current political debate, and I would be remiss if I did not at least mention it and offer some biblical perspective on it. There are two competing economic philosophies today.
This emphasis does not mean you should be oblivious to the needs of others. Paul said...3
The disciples have responded well to Jesus' instruction, but the majority of his audience has not. So he tells the parable of "The Different Soils."4 In it, he contrasts those who 'have' from those who 'have not.'
The same still true today, true for everyone who hears Jesus' words. There are limited options, actually only two.
The fate of this second group in Matt 13:12 will be devastating, because they will lose whatever they have. Whether or not they give much thought to eternity, it will not be pleasant for them when they get there. They will experience The Foremost Confiscation, which is part of God's penalty for those who ignore the rabbi's instruction. Thankfully, your experience will be different, quite different, because you embrace the rabbi's instruction.
Having considered The Foremost Confiscation, we will look next at The Foremost Continuation, which is in the permanence of God, in Matt 25:46.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
As Joe left the meeting and walked toward the parking lot, he hunted for his keys. They were not in his pockets. A return to the meeting room revealed nothing. Then it dawned on him; he must have left them in the car. He headed for the parking lot again, remembering how his wife would often scold him for leaving the keys in the ignition. His usual response was, "The ignition is the best place not to lose them." "Some day," she would reply, "that car will be stolen." Reaching the parking lot, Joe came to a terrifying realization. Her prediction had come to pass. The parking lot was empty. He immediately called the police, gave a description of the stolen vehicle, and confessed that he had left his keys in the ignition. Joe waited a bit, then made the most difficult call. "Honey," he stammered—Joe always called her "Honey" at times like these—"I left my keys in the car, and it's been stolen." There was a period of silence. Then he heard her voice. "Oh, Joseph!" She always called him "Joseph" at times like these. "I dropped you off!" ...Now it was Joe's turn to be silent. Embarrassed, he said, "Well, would you please come and get me." "I will," she replied... "as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car."When something goes missing, it can cause some anxiety. Jesus describes something far more important than a vehicle as we continue to answer the question of our series What Is Foremost? This morning we will consider The Foremost Confiscation.
One of the most common rhetorical devices Jesus used in his preaching and teaching was the parable, and the gospels record over forty of them. While the majority of parables appear in only one of the gospels, six parables made a significant enough impression that all three synoptic writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—recorded them.1 One of those six, "The Different Soils," Jesus tells to a large group that has gathered to hear him, now well into his public ministry.
Parables are an indirect way of stating a point, intended to make the listener think. In this case, rather than saying simply that it matters how a person responds to what Jesus says, he talks about different soils and their effect on crop yields. It is not the most transparent means of communication, but its purpose is not to be so obvious that people dismiss it out of hand:
Yeah, everybody knows that, Jesus. Tell me something I don't know.A parable is designed to engage an audience and make people think about what Jesus wants them to understand before they dismiss it.
In a private session, Jesus' disciples express their curiosity about this methodology.
Matt 13:10 [They] asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"Jesus' answer may evince some frustration.
Matt 13:11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."The disciples, because of their positive response to Jesus' instruction, have access to information not available to the general public, and their positive response will work to their ultimate advantage. The outcome for others, though, will be decidedly negative, resulting in...
* LVI The Foremost Confiscation2
...Which is part of...
- The penalty of God (Matt 13:12)
Matt 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.This may seem a bit cryptic, but it is apparent that Jesus has not been pleased with peoples' general reception to what he has to say, in part, because that reception will have eternal consequences.
As I thought about this passage, it struck me how relevant Jesus' words are to the current political debate, and I would be remiss if I did not at least mention it and offer some biblical perspective on it. There are two competing economic philosophies today.
- The one view stresses personal responsibility, that whether an individual succeeds or fails is ultimately up to him; it depends on the effort he makes. This view also advocates the accumulation of wealth, and that a person should use what he accrues as he sees fit.
- The other view stresses social responsibility, that whether an individual succeeds or fails is ultimately up to others; it depends on the effort they make to help him. This view also advocates the redistribution of wealth, that a person should use what he accrues for the common good (i.e., as others see fit).
Matt 6:3a ...when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,He does not, however, say that everyone should have the same financial status, that the economic playing field should be leveled, and his mission was not to give money to the needy but to give them hope. He told John's disciples...
Matt 11:4 ...report to John what you hear and see: 5f [that] the good news is preached to the poor.Likewise, Jesus' disciples were to have other priorities. When a woman came to anoint Jesus with expensive perfume, Judas asserted that she should have reallocated her resources.
Matt 26:9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said... "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me."In response to the rich man who asked what was required for him to gain eternal life, the purpose of Jesus' admonition was not to redistribute the man's wealth but to remove the obstacle to his discipleship.
Matt 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.As is evident in other parables, Jesus championed personal responsibility, warning of loss and punishment for those who shirked their duty. In "The Parable of the Ten Virgins," Jesus singles out the five who did not come adequately prepared and then expected the others to make up for their poor planning.
Matt 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.... 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.The only redistribution of wealth Jesus advocates is not in this life but in the next, and it is not to the poor but to the wealthy. In the parable of "The Ventured Capital," the servant who failed to invest what he had eventually lost it, not to a servant who had less but to a servant who had more, much more.
Matt 25:28 "Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.This is also what Jesus says in v. 12 of Matt 13.
Matt 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.Whatever position you take in the current political debate—and you must take a position if the Bible makes one clear—your position must accord with God's position, and He advocates personal responsibility over social responsibility.
This emphasis does not mean you should be oblivious to the needs of others. Paul said...3
Gal 6:10a ...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people....Yet even here, the goal is not to restore some grand social balance, as if there ever was such a thing or as if God ever expected man to establish it. Moreover, the focus of such efforts when they appear in scripture is meeting the needs of God's people above others. Again, Paul said...
Gal 6:10 ...let us do good...especially to those who belong to the family of believers.On a grander scale, social balance will only come about when Jesus establishes it during his messianic reign.
The disciples have responded well to Jesus' instruction, but the majority of his audience has not. So he tells the parable of "The Different Soils."4 In it, he contrasts those who 'have' from those who 'have not.'
- Like the seed that falls on good soil, the disciples have tried to understand and implement Jesus' teaching. Therefore, he will continue to teach them and will do so clearly.
- They are the 'haves,' those to whom the mysteries of the kingdom have been revealed.
- They will be given more and will have an abundance.
- Like the seed that falls on poor soil, most others have not taken Jesus seriously, often regarding him as a mere curiosity. Therefore, he will continue to teach them but will do so obscurely, through parables.
- They are the 'have nots,' those who have "experienced the ministry of Jesus without becoming aware in any significant sense of what is happening in relation to the kingdom of heaven" (Nolland 2005:534).
Jesus' instruction in v. 12 to his followers, including you, is twofold...5
- They do not have much and, eventually, will lose what little they have.
1. Your use of divine (temporal) resources now, namely in accepting what Jesus teaches, will result in eternal gain later.6Do not, however, be like others in his audience, because...
2. Your waste of divine (temporal) resources now, namely in rejecting what Jesus teaches, will result in eternal loss later.Notice that Jesus does not nuance the description of the second group. He does not distinguish between a neutral, non-committal response and a negative, hostile reaction. People either accept him or reject him. There is no middle ground. This accords with what he says elsewhere, indicating that there are only two sides in the cosmic spiritual struggle. There are no non-aligned parties. Hence, Jesus said...
Matt 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matt 12:30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Matt 25:31a When the Son of Man comes... 32 ...he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Matt 25:46 Then [the wicked] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.There is no neutral ground with Jesus. You are either for him or against him.
The same still true today, true for everyone who hears Jesus' words. There are limited options, actually only two.
- There is the disciples' response, which is to accept what Jesus says by implementing his words about what God expects.
- There is the crowd's response, which is to reject what Jesus says by ignoring his words about what God expects.
Matt 16:27 ...the Son of Man is going to...reward each person according to what he has done.Your only limitation is your own dedication.
The fate of this second group in Matt 13:12 will be devastating, because they will lose whatever they have. Whether or not they give much thought to eternity, it will not be pleasant for them when they get there. They will experience The Foremost Confiscation, which is part of God's penalty for those who ignore the rabbi's instruction. Thankfully, your experience will be different, quite different, because you embrace the rabbi's instruction.
Having considered The Foremost Confiscation, we will look next at The Foremost Continuation, which is in the permanence of God, in Matt 25:46.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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Jim Skaggs