The Wheat and the Tares

Matt 13:24-30 & 36-43:
He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’ “
Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field." He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus Himself explains what this parable means, so I am going to simply comment on some different points.

Satan has sown his weeds among the wheat It is called ‘tares’, but the more technical term is ‘darnel’, which is why it is described as such in this version (NAS). Darnel looks just like wheat while it is growing, up until it bares fruit, IE: comes to seed. Now the wheat in this parable are Christians. Note that the darnel did not “appear” until it came to bring forth fruit. It LOOKS just like the wheat. While everything was growing side by side, it looked like everything was going fine at first. These would be people who look like Christians, act like Christians, possibly even “talk” like Christians. However, when they come to “bear fruit”, they are markedly NOT Christians. The bible says we shall know a person by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-23) – “fruits” being the results of their actions, and not necessarily the words that come out of their mouths.

Note also that satan has sown his weeds among the wheat – the greek would imply sown right over what was previously sown. The implication is that the weeds are intermingled with the wheat. Make note that these “weeds” do not choke out the Christian as the weeds did in the previous parable of the sown seeds. They simply grow alongside. So now we have something that looks Christian, acts Christian, but it is NOT Christian. And to top it off, it is so intermixed, that it cannot be removed without damaging the ‘real’ Christians. When the servants ask if they should pull up the weeds, Jesus says not to for fear that you may root up the wheat with them. In trying to “weed out” the fakes, we may, in fact, cause damage to a true believer, either directly by “pulling them out” by accident, or indirectly by tearing up the true believers “roots” as we uproot the weeds. And any plant, when uprooted, dies no matter what the reason for being uprooted.

Then we come to “harvest time”. Both types of people have “ripened” to their fullness, either to salvation or to damnation, but it is not up to us to determine that. The reapers at this time will pull up the weeds first, and they will be cast into the fire. Note that Jesus is not concerned at this point about pulling up the wheat because the wheat is pulled up right away anyway. The wheat, however, is brought into His “barn”, that is, heaven. There is an implication that the weeds will be cast into the fire before the wheat is brought into the barn, thus giving the “wheat” an opportunity to witness the end of the wicked. After this, the righteous will “shine forth”. The language used implies a “bursting forth” of light, so to speak. It is as if the presence of “imposters” has been hindering the light that would have otherwise been shining even more brightly all this time.

The Sower

Mark 4:3-20
"Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN." And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Since this is one of the longer parables, I am only specifically listing the passages from Mark. The parable can also be found in Matthew 13:3-9 & 18-23 and Luke 8:4-15.

The seed in this parable is the word of God as heard or read or seen by a person. When someone hears the word of God spoken, or reads the bible, or sees the actions of a true Christian, then the “seed” of Christianity is sown into that person. If that seed of Christianity is allowed to grow, it will extend its roots downward and grow upward, producing “fruit” in the person’s life.

Satan does not want that seed to grow. He will come against it directly and indirectly. There are nearly infinite variations used, but it boils down to three basic tactics.

Satan will snatch that seed away. The word of God, once put into your life, cannot be “removed”. IE: You cannot “unheard” or “unread” something. Instead, what satan does is discredit it. Through the application of worldly wisdom, or the influence of others in the persons life, the seed sown can be disregarded. This is effectively “stealing away” the seed that was planted. This is a person who hears the gospel, sometimes on multiple occasions, but does not pursue it, does not believe it, or openly scoffs at the notion of salvation through Christ Jesus.

Satan will come against it directly. Notice in the second example that the seed grew quickly, but had no root. Jesus later explains that affliction or persecution arise “because of the word” that was sown into the persons heart. Satan will attack people new to the faith as they can be easy targets if they are not careful. The plant withers and dies. This is a person who has begun to follow the faith, but after problems arise decide that it is not worth the effort, and thus fall away from the faith. They have not made a true commitment to Christ.

Satan will sow his own seeds (of weeds) around us. In the third example, the seed has grown, but satan’s seeds have also grown up around it. Worries, money, lying and worldly desires have grown up around the Christian and choked out their spiritual growth. They are no longer a good witness for Christ. Through reading the parable, it would appear that the person in this third example is, in fact, a true follower of Christ and therefore “saved”, but they are not being productive in expanding the kingdom of God. This is a “second best” option for satan. He may not have prevented this person from accepting salvation, but at least they are not bringing others to Christ.

When satan fails in his three basic tactics we see the results in the fourth example. Here the person has accepted the word of God as truth, has allowed the seed to extend its roots deep into their spiritual being, and they have kept their surroundings free from satans “weeds”. When this happens, we see the results. They bear fruit “thirty, sixty and a hundredfold”. The fruit here, I believe, regards the expansion of Gods kingdom – IE: bringing other people to a saving knowledge of the gospel.

Luke has a slightly different ending with the seed that produces fruit. He writes (Luke 8:15) “That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

We are to be honest and have a good heart. We are to hold the “seed” tightly. We will bring forth fruit “with patience”. The truth shall set you free (John 8:32). Don’t let satan steal your seed. Don’t worry if you don’t see growth immediately. Keep satans “weeds” away from you and allow your spiritual roots to grow, and you will eventually see outward results.

The Unclean Spirit

Matt 12:43-45. Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

Luke 11:24-26. "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Here we have an “unclean spirit”, or demon, that goes out of a man. The original language in both Matthew and Luke would imply that it has been forced out of the man, and not simply left voluntarily. This demon then goes out among waterless places seeking rest.

The imagery is that of a dry, barren, hostile land. A land not “watered” with the gospel. Where else would a demon go? Then it says to itself “I will return to my house from which I came”. Here, the language is that of one who left voluntarily and now decides to go back. The demon says to himself “I was not cast out, but left of my own will”.

Returning to the house (the man), the demon finds it “swept and put in order”. It is clean, but it is vacant – empty. There is no one or nothing to guard the house from intruders. Notice here that the demon does not immediately reoccupy the man, but goes out and brings back seven other “spirits more evil than itself”. He goes and gets his friends, who are worse than he is, to come live with him in the man.

The man who had the demon cast out, had his “home” cleaned and put in order. His life was together. He “cleaned up his act”, so to speak. Unfortunately, he did not replace the evil influence (the demon) with any type of good, or positive, influence. A house needs someone to watch over it – to guard it. Jesus says that if we abide in Him, He will make His home in us (John 14:23). Who better to guard over you than Jesus? In one of our earlier parables, Jesus explained that the home of a strong man cannot be invaded unless the strong man is first bound (parable of divided kingdom). There is none stronger than Jesus. He cannot be bound. If your home (yourself) is filled with Christ, nothing can overtake you.

If your home (yourself) is not filled with Christ, however, any vacancy created by “cleaning house” will only be filled by other influences. Notice that the first demon brought back others that were worse than he was. Whatever vacancy that was created originally is now filled with something worse.

Now look at the parable again, but replace “demon” with “habit” or “addiction”. We all have habits or addictions that are not healthy. It can be overeating, smoking, drinking, pornography, gambling, etc. We all can clean up our lives on our own to a certain extent, but there comes a time when we have to let Jesus take over. Otherwise all we are creating is an empty house. Empty houses attract vandals. Vandals start small – just looking in the windows. If nothing is done to deter them, however, they will become bolder until they have broken into the house and destroyed the inside. The “house” is then worse off than it was in the beginning. Jesus Christ is the ultimate deterrent.

Are we fighting off the demons in our lives only to be beaten back time and again? We succeed in one area of our life only to struggle in another area? Sometimes things will go great for a long time. Everything is perfect. But nothing lasts forever, except, that is, Jesus Christ. He alone is eternal and never changing (Heb 13:8), and only He alone can make permanent and eternal changes in our lives. Jesus is the ultimate, eternal deterrent, but He can only take care of you as long as you give Him the keys to the door.

Sign of Jonah

Matt 12:38-42. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”

Luke 11:29-32. As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”


The old testament is a foreshadowing of the new testament. Jonah, of course, is the foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Effectively “dead” for three days in the belly of the whale, Jonah was “resurrected” when the whale spit him out onto the dry land. He then went forth to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people there. They listened to him, believed him, and turned from their sin, saving them from the wrath of God. They did not seek after any signs, but simply believed the words that Jonah spoke.

Jesus is the very Word of God (John 1:1-3). He came to earth to show the Jews the way of salvation. The Jewish leaders of the day did not believe Him. They wanted to see a miraculous sign. The sad thing is, that Jesus had already performed miraculous healings and the feeding of the 5,000 with only a few loaves and fishes. The leaders were blind to it all, either through arrogance, ignorance, or the will of God, but blind nonetheless. These leaders were spiritually “adulterous” as they had drifted away from the true worship of the true God.

Though they sought after a sign, Jesus told them that the only sign they would be given was the sign of Jonah the prophet. As Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so Jesus would be a sign to this generation. Jesus would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (in the grave). To truly “match” the sign of Jonah, Jesus would have to be returned from the grave (resurrected) in order to show the way to salvation.

Jesus called these leaders on their spiritual adultery. They had the word of God in their possession in two forms. First, through the old testament. These Jewish leaders knew the old testament forwards and backwards, but they had drifted away from the spirit of the word and immersed themselves into the law, going so far as to create laws of their own that were outside of the bible. Second, they had the living Word of God standing right in front of them in the form of Jesus Christ. He represented not only a new covenant, but also a return to “spirit” of the old testament – that we should love God and worship Him in truth, and do our best to listen to Him and obey Him.

The queen of the south (Sheba) and the men of Nineveh would rise up with this generation and condemn them. For both Sheba and the men Nineveh at least understood the truth when they heard it. Now something much greater than what they had heard was walking the earth (Jesus), and the Jewish leaders of the day could not see Jesus as the Messiah that He was. Sheba and the men of Nineveh would condemn the Jewish leaders for not being wise enough to know the living Word of God when they had Him standing in their very midst.

Today, we have the word of God given to us in the form of the Bible. Do we believe the Word of God, or are we seeking after signs? Do we need God to do something miraculous in order for us to believe in Him, or is faith through the reading of the word enough for us (Romans 10:17)? Will Sheba and the men of Nineveh point the finger at us along with that “adulterous generation”? Have we drifted away from the Word of God?

Have we drifted away from Jesus?

Divided Kingdom

Matt 12:24-30
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons." And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

Mark 3:22-27
The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons." And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”

Luke 11:14-23
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.”


The Pharisees, faced with the undeniable facts of the miracles performed by Jesus, must come up with some way to explain the power of Jesus. Unable to accept the fact that He is God, they must turn to the position that Jesus is “possessed by Beelzebul”, that is, Satan. They then devised a plan to denounce Jesus in front of the people. It had to be in front of the people as the people were beginning to come more and more to the realization that Jesus just might, in fact, be the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament.

Jesus, however, “knew their thoughts” and took them to task. Jesus then asks them how can Satan cast out Satan? If Satan is casting out the very demons that he is the ruler over, how long will his kingdom last? Jesus also asks the Pharisees, as recorded in both in Matthew and Luke, how their own disciples can manage to cast out demons? Is their power also given by Satan?

Jesus then makes the “dividing line” statement: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” What He is saying here is that if His power is derived from God, then He is, in fact, the Messiah prophesied of in the Old Testament. Either a person believes that, and stands at the right hand of Jesus, or a person does not believe it, and stands at the left hand of Jesus. There is no in-between. You cannot straddle the line. You cannot say there is a “gray area”. Since His miracles are not in dispute, you must either believe that Jesus is of Satan or Jesus is of God.

Jesus further explains that no one can plunder a strong mans house unless that man in bound beforehand. Satan is that “strong man”, and his house is earth. Jesus has come to earth, He has bound Satan, and He is now plundering Satan’s valuables (ie: casting demons out of people).

Jesus then further defines the “dividing line” by saying “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.” If you are not with Jesus, you are against Him. If you are not helping Him gather together souls, then you are scattering souls away. There is no neutral ground in this spiritual battle.

If you are not a believer in Jesus, and active in His service, then you are against Him.

When we stand before Christ, He will ask us if we were a faithful servant or a rebel. There is no other choice.

Children in the Market

Matt 11:16-19. "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

Luke 7:31-35. "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

Here Jesus is comparing “this generation” (ie: the Pharisees, Sadducees and Jewish leadership) to petulant children who are going to bite their noses off to spite their faces. First offered to “play the flute”, they do not want to. Then offered to “sing a dirge”, they did not want to. In the original language, this was, in effect, playing “wedding” and playing “funeral”. These were make believe games that children of the day would play in the market place to pass the time. They are also about as opposite each other as one can get.

The Pharisees, however, were not satisfied with either of these options.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, but he was very strict in his livelihood. He did not indulge in fancy food and did not drink wine. The “generation” that Jesus spoke of said that John “had a demon”. They did not want to believe in what he was saying.

Jesus entered into His ministry and He would often teach at the dinner table. There would be food to eat and wine to drink. The leaders of the day then accused Jesus of gluttony and being a drunkard. Jesus was neither, of course, but “this generation” did not like what Jesus was saying, either, and they needed an excuse not to listen to Him.

“Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds (or children).” We can see that God has prepared a way using two very different techniques. John was a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for Messiah. While stern, he used the law to show the need for repentance and turning to the coming Messiah. Jesus, while acknowledging the justice of the law, and the need for it, emphasized more the love of God. Using two different approaches, God provided for the salvation of His people.

“This generation” that Jesus speaks of, however, was not happy with either choice, so they had to find ways to criticize and marginalize both of them. They wanted their own personal version of the Messiah – not God’s version of Messiah.

This is idolatry – placing our own version of what we think God SHOULD be ahead of what the bible says God IS. We see this very much in today’s generation. People are too wrapped up in what they believe God should be, and not wrapped up enough in the word of God (the bible) to KNOW who God is.

New Cloth & New Wine

Matt 9:16-17. "But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."

Mark 2:21-22. "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

Luke 5:36-39. And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'"

With these two parables, we see three main driven home by Jesus. They are as follows:

First, The old cannot contain the new. New wine cannot be put into old wineskins. The old wineskins represent the Old Testament and the covenants contained therein. The new wine represents the new covenant that Jesus is offering to the world. New wine will ferment, and as it does, it creates gas that forces the wineskin to expand. Old wineskins have already “expanded” all they can. Any new pressure put on them by the new wine will cause them to burst, ruining the wine and destroying the wineskins. I think it is interesting to note that the parables seem to indicate that we do not want to ruin the old wineskins – that they still have value. Indeed, God will still honor the covenants and promises He made in the Old Testament, so they do still have value. However, a lot of the Old Testament promises are specifically for the Jews, and most will not be fulfilled until the tribulation and/or millennial kingdom.

Second, The old cannot just be “patched”. God desired a completely new covenant with His people. A covenant that would be available to all the people of the earth. We can see in Matthew and Mark that the new cloth is referred to as “unshrunk”. The result of sewing an unshrunk cloth onto an old garment would be that the new cloth would pull away (shrink) from the old garment, causing a worse tear than before. In Luke, however, it is viewed from a different perspective. Taking a piece of cloth from a new garment and sewing it onto the old garment does two things. It ruins (tears) the new garment, and the patch does not match the old garment. So not only will the original tear get worse (from shrinkage of the new patch), the new garment has been ruined, and the old garment has a glaring, unmatched, torn patch on it.

Third, man often desires to stay with the old and not embrace the new. The last line in Luke says “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough’”. The implication here is that the Jewish leadership (ie: Pharisees & Sadducees) was more comfortable with their position and authority under the “old wine” (the old testament covenants and man made laws they had devised) than they were with the “new wine” of salvation that was offered through Jesus Christ. Man is often times more comfortable with what they know, rather than something new that could mean less authority, even if the new is ultimately in their best interest.

The Grooms Attendants

Matt 9:14-15. Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Mark 2:18-20. John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

Luke 5:33-35. And they said to Him, "The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink." And Jesus said to them, "You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? "But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."

This parable requires a little historical background in order to fully understand it. There were only 3 days of the year where it was REQUIRED (scripturally) to fast. However, the Pharisees, and other strict Jewish sects, had evolved over time the requirement of fasting twice a week (apparently on the second and fifth days of the week). This parable takes place at a feast provided by Levi (Matthew) after he was called by Jesus to follow Him. This feast, quite probably, was happening on one of those fasting days. The followers of John the Baptist could have been fasting as a result of John being in prison. It is also possible that they, too, observed the strict schedule of fasting days.

But what I find of interest is this: two opposing sides (Pharisees and disciples of John) have come together to criticize Jesus and His followers. Even though John pointed to Jesus as “the lamb of God”, the disciples of John may very well have lost their spiritual direction without their leader present. They both come together to ask Jesus why He and His disciples are not fasting when they should be.

Jesus counters with the statement that it is impossible to fast so long as the attendants (His disciples) are in the presence of the bridegroom (Jesus Himself). This would probably have particularly stung the disciples of John as he had described Jesus in just those terms prior to his arrest (John 3:29), but it also describes how the mourning and sadness associated with fasting just simply should not apply while in the presence of Christ. The imagery of a bridegroom with his attendants is that of a happy wedding feast, and it also identifies Jesus with the bridegroom allegory often used in the old testament (see Hosea 2:19-21 for an example).

Jesus also foreshadows His crucifixion, though, when He indicates that the day will come when the bridegroom (Jesus) will be taken away from them. In that day, the attendants (followers of Jesus) will fast. That fasting could take on many different meanings. It could mean a physical fast, where His followers fast in mourning of His death. It could mean a spiritual fast, where His followers are lost without Him.

Every fast, though, comes to an end eventually.

Jesus rises from the grave! The fast (physically or spiritually) comes to an end! His followers are once again able to partake in the glory of His presence. We, too, are able to partake in the glory of His presence. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, takes residence in our hearts when we accept the gospel of salvation (John 14:23). We can know a true personal relationship with Jesus Christ and not have to endure another day of fasting in a world of spiritual darkness.

We will often see “two opposing sides” come together to oppose Jesus – sort of along the lines of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. We are not to worry about coming up with our own answers to their criticisms. God has supplied us with all the information we need through the scripture of the Holy Bible.

Perhaps more importantly, we should remember that those who oppose Jesus are experiencing a spiritual “fasting” that they don’t even realize. We should try to do our best to show them that they do not need to be starving for the truth when they can sit at the banquet table right next to us.

The Great Physician

Matt 9:10-13 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mark 2:15-17 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Luke 5:29-32 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."


Jesus Christ is the great physician. The greatest physician in the universe, however, cannot do anything for a person who does not think they are sick, or who will not accept His healing.

Here we have two groups of people. The “sick” – the tax collectors and sinners; and the “healthy” – the Pharisees. The world is broken down into the identical two groups. Those who know they are sinners and are in need of a savior, and those who believe they are “healthy” and do not need a savior. The Pharisees ask Jesus’ disciples why they are eating with the sinners, for this association with “unclean” people defiles them (in the sight of the Pharisees). In the minds of the Pharisees, no man of God in his right mind would want to defile himself in such a manner. The savior that they were looking for was not Jesus.

But Jesus is the one who replies to their question. He tells them that He is there to call the sinners, those who are sick spiritually. These are the people who know they are spiritually stricken. They need the healing and comfort of the savior, and they can see that in this man Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees, however, in their self-righteousness are blind to their own need for salvation. They have become so wrapped up in doing things by the “letter of the law” that they have forgotten the spirit of the law. This is why we see Jesus say in Matthew “I desire compassion, and not sacrifice”. Jesus was paraphrasing Hosea and Isaiah:

Hosea 6:6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings

Isaiah 1:11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle; and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.

One must read all of Isaiah 1:1-20 to get the full impact of that passage (you can read it here), but it can be summed up in verses 18-20:

Isaiah 1:18-20: "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword " Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Pharisees had gotten so caught up in doing right by the law, even to the point of creating even stricter laws than those dictated by God, that they had lost sight of compassion and consenting to the will of the Lord. They were so blinded by the fact that this man who would be God was defiling Himself by eating with sinners, that they could not see the compassionate Savior sitting right in front of them. They were rebelling against God and refusing to see that He was who He claimed He was.

The Wise Builder

Matt 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

Luke 6:47-49 "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."


Whenever we hear the word of God, our life meets a fork in the road. We can choose to act on the word of God, or we can choose to not act on the word of God. This can happen many times in our lives. The primary, or most important time that this occurs is when we first hear the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. All the other “forks in the road” are secondary to this one.

What, however, is the word of God. Primarily, the word of God is the bible, but it is also Jesus (John 1:1-14). Therefore, when Jesus talks about “hearing these words of Mine”, we need to pay close attention to what He is actually saying. While Jesus’ “words in red” are important, He is also talking about the ENTIRE bible here.

With that in mind, who is the person who acts on His words? This person is compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Luke goes even further to explain that this person has “dug deep and laid a foundation” on the rock. We can equate that to “digging deep” into the bible - searching it out, exploring it, clarifying meanings when we are unsure. There are precepts in the bible that are important to our lives, but we will not know about them unless we have read them. Jesus gives us new commandments and there are new “rules to live by” in the new testament, but a person is unaware of them unless they have read them. Unless they have “dug deep” into the word – “dug deep” into the heart of Jesus. Doing so will bring a person to the “rock”. The solid rock that is our salvation. Jesus Christ is that rock. We are to build our foundation upon Him, and the things that He stands for and teaches us through the words of the bible. Once we have built our foundation upon Jesus, we can build the rest of our house upon our foundation.

Notice that it does not detail the type of house that is built. Neither man in the parable (the wise or the fool) is assumed to have built a “bad looking” or shoddy home. No. It is the foundation that is the key. Our foundation is the core beliefs of Christianity that we must hold dear and true. What have we been taught, what have we read (in the bible and elsewhere), what have we heard (on TV and radio, etc.) – these things that define what Christianity is to us – that is our foundation. The rock (Jesus Christ) will ALWAYS be there. However, WE build the foundation. All of the “building blocks” are given to us in the bible. It is up to us to believe in them, and put them properly into place. Our “house” (our life) is then built upon our foundation.

A person can be a humble, devoted servant of the poor all their life. They can have a great looking “house” (their life), but if their foundation is not built upon Jesus Christ it is all for naught. The flood, rain, and torrents can take on many forms in this parable, but the ultimate form is death itself. When death comes upon us, it is the ultimate “flood” over our lives. It is at this time when the foundation of your life will be tested. No one knows when death will happen, but when it does, if your foundation is not built upon Jesus Christ, the ruin of your house (your life) will be great indeed. And it will be eternal.

For the Christian, when we hear the word of God, and do not act upon it, I do believe that it is akin to us allowing a little bit of our foundation to deteriorate. The rock (Jesus) will never deteriorate, but we can allow our foundation, which is our responsibility, to crumble a little. We can also repair it by going back and acting upon the word of God.

Our “house” is always under construction. As we grow older (physically and spiritually), we are always making renovations and additions. The foundation, however, always needs to be maintained. That way, when the storms of life do crash around us, we are secure in our knowledge that our foundation, and the rock that it is built on, will never give way beneath us.

Christian Light

Matt 5:14-16. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Mark 4:21-23. And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

Luke 8:16-18. "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”


What does it mean to be the “light of the world”?

We are to “let our light shine” so that the people of the world may see our good works and glorify God (our Father).

Our light is our Christian witness through our actions. It is how people “see” us. In a field of pitch black, even a small pinpoint of light would be visible for quite a distance. What that light does will be manifestly evident to every person around it.

We are not to hide our light. Our light is not meant to be put under a basket or hidden away. In other words, we are not to “fake” being worldly. Let your Christianity show through! You will be different, and others will see it and be drawn to it. This is what God wants. If we do not illuminate the way, if we do not light the path, how will the unsaved come to know the Lord? Don’t get me wrong. God is omnipotent, and can do whatever He wishes. However, He has decided to us Christians as His personal lighthouses (so to speak). God uses Christians as beacons of hope in a world of darkness.

Also note that “nothing is hidden except to be revealed, nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light”. What does this mean? I’m not sure if anyone knows, and many scholars disagree, but note that it is all eventually revealed or brought to light. Perhaps a persons salvation is delayed for a purpose only God knows? Where at that time of salvation, said person will be even more vocal in their proclamations of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Perhaps a person is saved, but unable to be a beacon to others for whatever reason. At the point of revelation, however, their witness is all that much more potent? But know this – we are not to actively try to hide our Christianity. If God ordains a covering (for whatever reason), that is one thing, but we are not to cover ourselves.

The world is filled with darkness, and Jesus Christ came into our world to be our true light, but the world would not accept Him (John 1:9-10). Christians are to continue being light in this world of darkness. We are to be individual beacons where the light of Christ can shine through us - drawing the lost to Christ.

To cover that light would be to make ourselves like everyone else. It would be the same as being ashamed of the light of Christ, which is to be ashamed of Jesus Himself.

Salt without Taste

Matt 5:13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

Mark 9:50"Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Luke 14:34-35 "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."


The parable of the salt losing its saltiness can be looked at two ways: individually and the church as the body of Christ.

Each one of us can be compared to a few grains of salt (individually) within a larger container of salt (the body of Christ).

What does salt do? It preserves, it flavors, and it creates thirst.

Salt was used to preserve meat prior to refrigeration. We are called to the preservation of the peoples of the earth through the proclamation of salvation through Christ (Matthew). We are also called to preserve ourselves (Mark).

Salt adds flavor to food. Too many people have the misconception that being a Christian means living a boring “rules and regulations” life. It is too bad that many Christians seem to foster that very image by being judgmental and harsh, both towards non-Christians and towards fellow believers. In Mark it says that we are to have salt in ourselves, and be at peace with one another. There is nothing wrong with having “flavor” in your life.

Salt creates thirst. The Holy Spirit is often depicted as water. Jesus also said “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14). As Christians, we are sent out into the world to create a thirst for Jesus Christ. A significant portion of our witness is how the world witnesses our actions. They see what we “have” and want to know where we “got it”. If a person does not see the satisfaction of our own quenched “thirst”, why would they desire to seek it for themselves?

The emphasis, however, seems to be on the salt “losing its saltiness”. How does salt lose its saltiness? Can a grain of salt actually become “unsalty”? Salt can become “unsalty” only through one process – dilution. When other material gets mixed in with the salt, it loses its “saltiness”. It becomes less effective.

How do Christians, as salt of the earth, become diluted?

We become diluted when we mix too much of the world in with our witness and our lives.

When we are diluted, our ability to witness is compromised and we become unable to preserve others through a clear, accurate, and concise presentation of the gospel of Christ.

When we are diluted, we lose our own flavor and begin to look and act like everyone else. We also have a difficult time being “at peace with one another”. We become too rigid and legalistic.

When we are diluted, we no longer create a thirst in other people. Why would someone want what we have, when it is the same thing they have?

What happens when salt loses its flavor? It becomes useless. Does this mean that a Christian, as salt, loses their salvation? No. It means that their Christian witness becomes useless. It is no longer effective towards the furthering of the kingdom of God and is to be “trampled under foot”.

We need to take a thorough and honest look at ourselves every day and ask ourselves if we have become diluted. Are we allowing too many of the worlds standards to take the place of the Godly standards in our lives? If so, we need to “undilute” ourselves. It may be painful, it may take a long time (one grain at a time), but I would rather that, than see those footprints on my forehead when I look in the mirror.

John 21:15-17

21:15 Then when they broke fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
21:16 He said to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My sheep.
21:17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

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Here we have Jesus asking Peter three times if Peter loved Him.

First, let’s set up this scene.

Peter and some other disciples had been out fishing, with no luck. Jesus comes along and tells them to put their net in one more time. This time, the catch is so great that it nearly capsizes the boat! It is then that John realizes that it is Jesus on the shore and tells the others. Peter jumps out of the boat and swims to shore while the rest bring the boat and the fish in.

When they get to shore, there is already a fire going and a fish roasting, and bread ready (John 21:9). This one passage shows that Jesus is always ready to supply our needs. After the disciples brought forth the fish that “they” caught (through the providence of Jesus), they all had breakfast around the fire. This is where Jesus asks Peter these three questions.

I remember the first time I read this passage. I kept thinking “What? Are these guys deaf? They have to go over the same thing three times?” But there is imagery and meanings and definitions that go far deeper than simply the same question stated three times.

Peter denied Jesus three times. This question is asked of Peter three times.

Where was Peter when he denied Jesus? He was standing next to a fire to keep warm (Luke 22:56, 60-62). Yet, here he is now standing (or sitting) next to a fire, in the presence of the Lord, affirming his love for Jesus three times.

But perhaps one of the more interesting items is something that does not come through well in the English translations. It is the use of the word “love”. You see, there are several different words in the Greek for love, but there are two of them specifically used here in this passage.
When Jesus asks Peter the first time “Do you love me more than these?”, He is using the word “agape”. Agape love is more of an “intellectual” type of love. It is considered, chosen, and thought out. It can sometimes be referred to as the “nobler” type of love, and also as the “colder” type of love. Agape love is a conscious choice that a person makes regardless of how the other person feels. Jesus is also asking Peter if he loves Him more than the other disciples love Jesus, not if Peter loves Jesus more than he loves the other disciples. A subtle, but important distinction.

Peter replies with “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Here, though, Peter uses the word “phileo” for love. This is more of a “heart” love, with personal attachment, sentiment and feelings. Peter also does not say that he loves Jesus more than the others love Jesus. Perhaps he is thinking back to his boastful statement made during their last Passover meal (Mark 14:29-30).

Then Jesus asks again “Do you love Me?”. This time, Jesus has dropped the “more than the others” part, but still uses the word “agape”. Peter responds identically to this question as to the first.

Then Jesus asks the third time “Do you love Me?” But this time, Jesus uses the word “phileo”. It is almost like Jesus is saying do you really love me like you say you do? Almost as if Jesus doesn’t believe him. Here Peter is hurt deeply. The word used for grieved is “lupeo”. It means to be distressed, sad, full of heaviness or sorrow. Peter does not immediately say “yes, I love You.” He first says “Lord, You know all things,” then says “You know that I love You.” Peter is declaring that Jesus knows his heart. This would, in fact, be an invitation for Jesus to search Peter’s heart to determine if he loves Jesus.

Jesus does know Peters heart, and He can see that Peter does, in fact, love Him.

It was over a fire that Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter ran from that fire hurt, bitter, and full of doubt and fear.

It was over a fire that Peter declared his love for Jesus three times. Peter followed Jesus from that fire (verse 19) healed and restored.

Which fire are you standing over?

If Jesus were to stand before you and look you in the eyes and ask you “Do you love me?” what would you say?

Jesus knows your heart, too. Would you ask Him to search it, knowing full well that nothing can be hidden from Him?

Matthew 15:7-9

Mat 15:7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

The scribes and pharisees had come to Jesus and asked why His disciples did not follow the guidelines that had been laid down by previous rabbis and jewish scholars.

Jesus replies with these verses. He tells these people that they are hypocrites. Isaiah foretold of this (Isa 29:13). The people speak of God and honor Him with their words, but their hearts are not in it. They don't really believe it when they worship and honor God. When they talk about God, they don't really believe it. God (Jesus) is not in their hearts.

This makes me think of John 15:4-6
Joh 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

In verse 9, Jesus tells them that they worship God in vain. Why is their worship in vain? Because they have put their own rules and beliefs before those of God. The doctrines (beliefs) that they teach (and practice) are their own. Not only are they not found in the bible, but often times would run counter to the spirit of the written word of God.

At the time, the bible consisted solely of the old testament, but we can apply these verses to our lives today. As such, we would also have to apply the new testament to our lives.

Are we putting our own beliefs and wishes before the word of God? Do we say that because "my God is a loving God, so He won't get mad", or "God will forgive me if I do this, so it must be OK." If so, it is a dangerous place to be.

People often times put too much faith in simply saying "Jesus is my saviour" without knowing exactly why Jesus is their saviour, or what Jesus (or the old testament) taught. The only way to know the will of God is to have read His bible.

Do you know your doctrines (beliefs)? Do they agree with the bible? Have you checked to see if they agree with the bible? If not, you should. If you have, and the bible does not agree with what you believe in, what are you going to do about it?

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FP adds the following commentary:

I have found in every denomination certain practices and doctrines, dogma, that have some basis in scripture but usually are developed by church leaders for some particular agenda or purpose.

No communion; closed communion; no bulletin; no Lord's prayer; no alcohol; infant baptism, water [immersion] baptism; sprinkling baptism; confirmation; no confirmation; no repentance; scripted prayers; vain repetition; idolatry; indulgences; selling artifacts; co-redeemers; worshipping big name Christians; non-biblical sermons; book studies rather than bible studies; Sunday only religiosity; born-again speaking in tongues as only ones saved; too much tongues; craziness in worship; stifled worship...

Pharisees reborn to some extent in every kind of church.

Tithing lectures; big church buildings.......Holier than thou attitudes......Hell and No Hell.....Dress Codes and come as you are........ offering plates and bozo buckets.........Grape Juice and Mogen David...........Church Leaders and Church Peons........Den of thieves or????................Real worship or pretense??.....

Where is the discernment??

No wonder believers that love the Lord Jesus are church shopping.

Enforced Unity Message- do not disagree with our tenets or you are guilty of being a heretic….Phony TV faith guys selling you cloths, water, etc, from wherever….Touch the TV screen as a point of contact……….Screaming TV preachers…..Preachers claiming they do not sin anymore…..Church leaders covering up for underlings that abuse kids….Preachers that tell you to have faith for your finances but do not have the faith to pray themselves for God to supply rather that beg and cry for viewers to supply. Oh, ye of little faith…

How can the believer trust when the Leaders do not trust themselves??

Church guys selling vitamins………Using the church as a sales platform for personal businesses…….Sermons where Jesus is not even mentioned, even once………..

No wonder the unsaved avoid us like the plague. Scary aint it!!

I have seen just about everything, brother!!

Did I leave out any general practices of men??

How was that for a good all-purpose venting??