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In Matthew 19.13-15 we see that Jesus welcomes little children to come to Him:

Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them; and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.…

In Mt. 19 these are literal children whom Jesus accepted and blessed. However, in this post, I look at children of a different sort: metaphorical. Earlier to this instance of Jesus blessing literal children, the occasion arose to teach adult disciples about what type of person is viewed by Jesus as being the most spiritually accomplished (or greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven). Mt. 18.1-5, Mk. 9.33-37, and Lk. 9.46-48 are the relative sections.

One aspect of the promised New Covenant that all of the accounts emphasize: New Birth. Most all Christians are familiar with John 3.3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus: unless one is born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God. While this statement is unique to John, the same concept appears in The Synoptic Gospels in the account about becoming like little children where additional concepts of ministry are also taught.

Mt. 18.1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. (NET)

Mk. 9.33-37

Then they came to Capernaum. After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (NET)

Lk. 9.46-48 

Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (NET)

Harmonizing the Synoptic Accounts

Comparing these discrete writings by different authors and at relatively different times there is no real disunity in the message. On the surface, however, the occasion for the teaching may at first seem problematic. If we think of the probable flow of the narratives, the solution is apparent.

1. The disciples argue “who is the greatest”
2. Jesus discerned their thoughts
3. Jesus asked: “what were you discussing on the way?”
4. The disciples asked: “who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?”

Children in Malice

The Corinthian church were confused about spiritual gifts and Paul spent three chapters (1Cor. 12-14) detailing aspects of various gifts to correct the chaos in this church. It is notable that these Corinthians knew the New Life in Christ featured some aspect of child-likeness. Paul gives the scope of childlike innocence by defining exactly what areas they should focus in 1 Cor. 14.20:

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. (NLT)

Serving by God’s Ability

The first Epistle of Peter gives many practical exhortations after the teaching sections which lay the groundwork. Peter urges his readers to not rely upon themselves and their natural abilities in the area of church life and general ministry:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet. 4.10-11 NIV) 

Notice that “gift” implies an unlearned and non-native ability. Peter wants the churches to glorify God by allowing Him to work among and through them. This is not by serving with natural wisdom or practiced techniques, instead, by God’s Spirit who indwells them.

Returning to the texts about “being the greatest” and ministry in the Synoptics, Jesus says the same thing which Peter obviously learned in part from this teaching. A disciple (an adult) needs to become childlike and dependent upon God and not rely on their own devices and native ability to serve spiritually. Further, Jesus says that when a disciple depends on God that those who accept the disciple’s message receive Him (since He is empowering and with the disciple).

This teaching of Jesus enabling ministry culminates in the last words recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt. 28.18-20 NIV)

 (Photo Credit: Andrew Shiva)

Mark 13.1-31

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,  “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”  Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many.  When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains. “You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.  First the gospel must be preached to all nations. When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house. The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time. But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Luke 21.5-33

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.

Luke 21.20-24

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

I went to schools for my theological training where marginalization of blacks, though outwardly condemned, was justified at least on a personal level. Several students believed  in and justified their racism by appealing to the bible’s account of the sin of Ham and his son Canaan. They identified Ham with the African Continent and said that blacks were cursed to be slaves somehow and they did not want to break the rules of the curse or something along those lines. In actuality, it was Canaan who preemptively defamed Noah in some way and received a curse. It had nothing to do with black people at all. Another false justification was that God had separated the peoples and it was wrong to intermarry with others of different ethnicity somehow. God clearly approved of Moses marrying a Cushite woman who was black when Aaron and Miriam objected and Miriam was cursed with leprosy temporarily (see Num. 12 cf. Jer. 13.23). It baffles how some justify their racism.

The well known story of Jesus turning water into wine is found in the second chapter of John. In the account is what I always thought a curious feature: stone water pots for cleansing-Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. (John 2.6)

The rationale of strictly observant Jews (Pharisees and others) is a parenthetical explanation in Mark 7.3-4: For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archeologists-unearth-2000-year-old-stone-vessel-production-center-502056

Yardenna Alexandre, an archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority who specializes in the study of Roman Era Galilee adds: “Throughout the years we have been discovering fragments of these kinds of stone vessels alongside pottery in excavations of houses in both rural and urban Jewish sites from the Roman period, such as at Kafr Kanna, Sepphoris and Nazareth. Now, for the first time, we have an unprecedented opportunity to investigate a site where these vessels were actually produced in Galilee”. According to Alexandre, “The fact that Jews at this time used stone vessels for religious reasons is well attested in the Talmudic sources and in the New Testament as well”. She explains that the phenomenon appears in the Wedding at Cana narrative in the Gospel of John, where the water-turned-to-wine is told to have been held in six jars made of stone: “Now there were six stone water jars set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each” (John 2:6).
A tantalizing link to the Gospel narrative lies in the location of the excavations at Reina just south of the modern village of Kafr Kanna, identified by many scholars as the site of Biblical Cana. “It is possible that large stone containers of the type mentioned in the Wedding at Cana of Galilee story may have been produced locally in Galilee” says Alexandre.

During my training for an M.Div (now 40 years ago), my Systematics Professor sought to describe the meaning of “holy” as “otherness” or “out of the ordinary” which conformed with the then-current scholarship. The Hebrew of the biblical text is only consonants and the vowels need to be supplied. The form of the term “holy” is qds or its root: qd. My professor illustrated this “unusual” aspect by noting that the term “prostitute” is the same one as “holy.” He explained the conception of these terms: As the prostitute was outside the normal bounds of society, so “holiness” was something humans in their natural selves needed as being “outside” themselves.

This conception, of course, stayed with me as I sought meaning in my bible reading subsequent to my training. Somehow, the idea did not reconcile itself very well with the general tenor of scripture. This lack of cohesiveness, I believe, has been explained by further analyzing the term. This current understanding, however, was not readily accessible to most Christians and Peter Gentry has helped bring it to light. John Meade summarizes Gentry’s hour-long address:

It seems to me, Gentry had three objectives: 1) to summarize biblical scholarship on Hebrew qds (holy, consecrated, belonging to)(Baudissin to Costecalde) and to place the results of these technical studies in the context of systematic theology (e.g. H. Bavinck et al.). According to Gentry, through the past 100+ years systematic theology has understood qds through the lexical analysis of Baudissin, which suffered from an etymological analysis, which concluded that the original meaning of qd meant “to cut”. Costecalde’s study of 1985, almost 100 years later, was exhaustive and more linguistically thorough and he concluded that the evidence from the ANE and the Bible indicates that qds means “consecration” or “devotion” or “belonging to” not “separate” or “otherness”. The former study emphasized distance between God and man, while the latter emphasized “devoted to” or “belonging to”.  Unfortunately, this study was published in French and many systematic theologians have not utilized it. 2) To exegete the key texts where qds is used: Exodus 3 (“holy ground”), Exodus 19 (“holy nation”), and Isaiah 5-6 (Holy Lord, Holy, Holy, Holy, indicating that YHWH is devoted to social justice in the context). 3) Gentry closes his lecture with an exhortation to systematic theologians to continue the work of exegesis and not to continue accepting the viewpoints of the status quo.

https://septuagintstudies.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/peter-gentrys-faculty-address-at-sbts-fall-2010/

Just recently I heard a message on the Sower and the Soils from the Gospels. Of course, I have read, studied, and heard many sermons on this familiar parable given by Jesus. This time, though the preacher did not expound on the point, I finally realized the meaning of the various results of the good soils. The parable and its interpretation by Jesus is found in the three Synoptic Gospels: Mt. 13.3-9, 13.18-23; Mk. 4.2-9, 4.13-20; Lk. 8.4-8, 11-15.

It is only the grain He did not interpret but the meaning is obvious though I had not heard it identified nor did I understand the reference. Previously, I thought the different quantities might refer to spiritual fruits or converts we helped influence for Christ. While sitting in the pew and having the parable read and expounded the understanding identifying of the grain became apparent. The different amount of the good soils produced was not the conundrum since this is obvious in that various Christians both have diverse callings to various ministries and different levels of dedication to service. Defining the grain was my question.

Perhaps I focused on the negative soils to make sure I did not have any of them or avoid those same tendencies in my life. Maybe I should have meditated on it more or tried to find the meaning in a commentary. By the way, the best commentary on the bible is the bible itself. If we would just read it more in context and with more frequency then we build ‘live memory’ or an accessible ‘data bank’ of biblical truth which helps us combine the various passages to make sense of the whole.

Anyway, the figure of the parable is clear: the grains are just what has been previously dispersed, other grains of witness and preaching. Neither Jesus, Paul, nor the others won over everyone to whom they witnessed. Therefore, it is our responsibility to give the word, but the enlightening by The Spirit and giving of faith belongs to God. We should seek to tell forth His word but leave all the results to God alone.