Daily Writing

Friday, 17 October 2025

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, Matthew 13:41

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“The Son of Man, He will send His messengers and they will gather from His kingdom all the snares and those doing lawlessness” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that just as the darnel is gathered and burned in the fire, so will it be at “the age’s consummation.” Now, to explain the exact meaning of that, He says, “The Son of Man, He will send His messengers.”

The word aggelos, messengers, is used. The word can signify heavenly beings, people appointed for a task, or even a natural event. For example, it can refer to a pastor or a person sent by someone else to carry a message. It can also speak of the wind being sent as a messenger from God.

To translate this as angels immediately instills a bias in the mind that may not be correct. As noted in verse 39, these could be people sent out to do the job of rounding up the bad people. It could also be humans who returned with Jesus in glorified bodies, a possibility based on Revelation 19 –

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Revelation 19:11-14

This actually seems like a likely explanation of the thought, but it is speculation. Whoever the messengers are, He next says, “and they will gather from His kingdom all the snares.”

The word skandalon, a snare, is introduced. It is specifically a trap-stick, a bent sapling, that provides tension on the trap. It thus speaks of the trap of someone getting caught in his own devices or an unsuspecting person getting trapped in wrongdoing. Such people who have either deceived themselves or who are lulled into deception will be gathered. Along with them, Jesus says, “and those doing lawlessness.”

The word signifies illegality, coming from a, the negative particle, and nomos, law. This word doesn’t speak of the Law of Moses, but of any law that is set forth and which is ignored or willfully disobeyed. In fact, it is contrasted at times to those who are under the law and who violate that law (as all do), as opposed to those who are righteous in Christ.

Such people are the darnel of the field, who will be gathered and chucked into the fire.

Life application: In our world today, laws are set forth by governments. For example, there are laws in the United States and other countries that regulate immigration, what to do with illegals, etc. They are existing laws set forth by the duly elected representatives of the nation.

When a federal law is passed, it applies to all people, councils, counties, states, and those in the federal government. Unless the law is found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, it stands as the law of the land.

Despite that fact, the immigration laws passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president at the time it was enacted have been ignored by those on the left millions of times in recent years, from the president down to the lowest levels of government. Even private citizens have engaged in and profited off of this lawlessness.

When those on the right who are in power over a particular part of the government, be it federal, state, or local, have tried to enforce those laws, states and local governments have ignored the law and the authorized authorities and claimed themselves “sanctuary cities” or “sanctuary states.”

This has caused tension within the land, as there is a state of lawlessness that now exists. It is an untenable situation in any nation that must be corrected. If it is not, then lawlessness will only increase. This has been markedly seen in the United States in the early 2020s. A nation under such lawlessness cannot stand.

This is a communist attempt to undermine the structure and enforcement power of the government. With such chaos in place, it becomes certain that, in due time, the nation will collapse. With such a void, the same type of power struggle that occurred in both Russia and China will take place. Millions will be slaughtered.

This is something occurring in Europe and elsewhere as well, and it explains how the world can easily fall into the chaos prophesied in Revelation. It is this belligerent attitude that must be removed from the world before the millennial reign. This is what Jesus is telling His disciples. There will be no such lawless attitude. Rather, people will understand what is right and accept it.

Imagine a world with no lawlessness! Houses will not need locks, people will not need to carry weapons to defend themselves, and little children will be able to take a bus or train without fear of being abducted or physically abused.

Think of why you feel you must lock your car before going shopping. Think of the wasted time and expense there is in the world around you because of those who attempt to steal what you have rightly earned. These things cannot be a part of what Christ will grant to the world upon His return. Oh, happy day it will be!

Lord God, no wonder You told Your people to pray for Your kingdom to come. When You establish the millennial reign of Christ, it will be a time that humanity cannot truly imagine. Our lives are so overwhelmed with fear that we don’t even realize we exist with it. It is just a state that exists in almost everything we do. Thank You that You will show the world what it is like to live in peace, contentment, and harmony. May that day be soon. Amen.

Thursday, 16 October 2025

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. Matthew 13:40

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Therefore, just as it is gathered, the darnel, and fire – it consumed, thus it will be in the age’s consummation” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explained who the enemy is, what the harvest signifies, and who the reapers are from His parable of the darnel. He next says, “Therefore, just as it is gathered, the darnel.”

In the parable, the darnel was gathered first. As noted previously, this cannot be speaking of the end of the church age without severe modification of the typology, something that would make no sense. This is not only true from the idea of keeping the parable comparable to actual events, but also because of who Jesus is speaking to.

Speaking about the church, something not yet understood by the disciples, would be comparable to someone today speaking about the terrible job the next administration is doing in handling the economy. The next administration is years away, and the candidates haven’t even been selected.

Therefore, at the end of the age of Israel’s interaction with the law, meaning the end of the tribulation, the darnel, the sons of the wicked one, will be gathered up first. From there, Jesus says, “and fire – it consumed.”

Before the wonderful millennial reign, the agents of Satan will be identified and eliminated. Like darnel, fire will consume them. Only then will the world be ready to enter into the final dispensation. To sum up this thought, Jesus says, “thus it will be in the age’s consummation.”

The word aión, age, is used. This is not its first instance, but as a reminder, it speaks of various things based on the context. It signifies an era or time span. HELPS Word Studies says it is “characterized by a specific quality (type of existence)”.

In this case, it does not have to mean the end of the church age, even if that is what comes next. The type of existence that Jesus is currently speaking to (and about) is Israel under the law, not yet having received Him. It is the consummation of this age, this type of existence, that is being referred to. Keeping the boxes straight will keep students of the Bible from having actual contradictions in their biblical understanding.

Life application: In this parable, Jesus speaks of fire as the disposition of the darnel. It is rather popular for people to overlook or diminish Jesus’ judgment and the resulting effects of it. Some say, contrary to several passages, that condemnation is not eternal. Rather, people are just snuffed out and done.

Others say that nobody will go to hell. Such notions would mean that the Bible is actually untrue in its statements and depictions. Rather, judgment lies ahead for all humanity. For believers, their judgment for salvation or condemnation was realized in their receiving Jesus’ punishment, meted out to Him vicariously, at the cross of Calvary.

However, even believers have a judgment of fire coming. To understand that, or to refresh yourself, Paul says –

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

Real judgment lies ahead for each of us. In Christ, it will be a judgment for receiving rewards or for the loss of what we could have received. How will we live our lives in Christ? The choice is up to each of us.

When we fail to live appropriately, we will suffer loss, but praise God! We will be saved. Jesus has paid the full price for our sins. Condemnation no longer hangs over us. This is one of a long list of verses that assure us of eternal salvation. Thank God for His grace. Hallelujah and amen.

Lord God, may we be faithful in our walk with You. We received Jesus’ work, were saved, and at that time we were sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. May we now reflect that in our daily walk, pressing forward with Jesus as the fixation of our eyes. Amen.

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Matthew 13:39

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the enemy, the ‘having sown them,’ he is the Traducer. And harvest – it is the age’s consummation. And harvesters – they are messengers” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued the explanation of the parable of the darnel. His continued words of explanation are, “And the enemy, the ‘having sown them,’ he is the traducer.” This is the first time the devil, or traducer, has been mentioned since Chapter 4. Jesus is the Sower. He sows good seed, but along with His efforts, the traducer sows his bad seed.

As the seed grows and matures, there has to be a separation between them. But Jesus, not wanting to harm the progress of His efforts, leaves them until the end. That is seen in His next words, “And harvest – it is the age’s consummation.”

A new word, sunteleia, is seen here. It is derived from suntelo, to complete entirely. Thus, it is an entire completion. Strong’s adds to the meaning, saying, “of a dispensation.” As this is so, something that can be understood from the context, the logical question to ask is, “What dispensation?”

The most common answer by scholars throughout the centuries is, “The church age, of course.” Two points immediately dismiss that. First, Jesus was speaking to His disciples about Israel under the law. Regardless of what their ministry will later be, that is the context. Second, the church age had not yet been introduced. So poignant is this the case that as Jesus was departing to heaven, this exchange is seen –

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ ⁷ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Acts 1:4-8

The disciples were wondering when the kingdom would be ushered in, as if it would be soon. Jesus didn’t tell them there would be no kingdom for Israel. Rather, His plan for them is one that encompasses the duration of the church age. The period of law, for Israel, never ended. They have been under the curses of the law for having rejected Him.

The church age is given to bring salvation to the world through the gospel, but that is not its only intent –

“But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
‘I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.’” Romans 10:19

“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.” Romans 11:13, 14

Properly understanding the dispensational model addresses the issue that cannot be rightly understood otherwise. So profound is this truth that even those who hold to dispensationalism still mix their theology and take the words of Jesus as referring to the church age. This is incorrect. Understanding this, He next says, “And harvesters – they are messengers.”

There is no article before messengers. What type of messengers is not stated. The vast majority of translations and commentaries say they are angels. Though this is possible, it is not a necessary deduction. For all we know, it is earthly people appointed to decide the matter of who is who at the end of the tribulation.

Either way, this is referring to Jesus’ words found in Matthew 24. In 24:3, the disciples ask about the sunteleia, the end of the age or consummation. Jesus then explains what will take place in verse 24:31. He notes that He will send His messenger to gather the elect. He then gives the details of that through the end of the chapter.

None of what He says refers to the church or the rapture. They are words of the elect being gathered and the others having judgment brought upon them. Only then will the earthly millennial kingdom be ushered in.

Life application: Though not yet complete, there is unexplained wording in Jesus’ parable. There are also unexplained concepts not specifically stated. In other words, and for example, after Jesus’ explanation is complete, nothing will have been said about why He allowed the traducer to sow bad seed.

Jesus died on the cross and defeated sin. Why didn’t He just take care of him and all of the world’s mess at that time? The answer is not so that the church could usher in a state of perfect harmony before Jesus returns.

The answer is found in His covenant promises to Israel. Israel rejected Him. But their rejection does not negate His faithfulness to His words of promise to them. In order for these things to be realized, He began the new dispensation, that of grace.

During this age, the whole world is evangelized, and the eternal kingdom is being added to daily throughout the world. Eventually, His plan will lead back to Israel being the focus of attention. That is beginning now. Though they are not His people (ammi: My people) at this time, according to both the prophets and Paul, they will be at some point.

The world, including Israel, is being prepared for that day. At some point, the rapture will take place. When that occurs, the events of the end time will start to unfold, leading to the fulfillment of His parables and explanations of those times. Get ready! Israel is back in the land. The end of all these things is being prepared.

Lord God, thank You for Your faithfulness to Israel. In seeing how You deal with them, we can know that You will deal the same with us. We are so unfaithful, but You are faithful and true. Help us to realize this and to honor You all the more for Your kind grace directed toward us. Amen.

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. Matthew 13:38

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the field, it is the world. And the good seed, these, they are the sons of the kingdom. And the weeds, they are the sons of the evil” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus began His explanation of the parable of the darnel, explaining that the One sowing good seed is the Son of Man. He continues with, “And the field, it is the world.”

The word kosmos is used. It signifies an orderly arrangement. By implication, it thus speaks of the world. However, that can be the world as the globe, the inhabitants of the world, the state of the world (as in “they are not of the world”), etc.

Jesus’ parable goes far beyond a single field or the several fields of a landowner. As such, it would explain why the parable would not be understood without really thinking things through, and maybe not at all.

When evaluating such things, the human mind will make images of what is happening, such as in the sowing of a field. To expand out to the entire world takes a real leap in thought. Jesus continues, saying, “And the good seed, these, they are the sons of the kingdom.”

Having already heard the explanation of the parable of the sower, the imagery here is understandable. The seed reflects people. Obviously, if the sower wants a good harvest, he will sow good seed. The same would be true with Jesus. He will only bring forth that which is good. However, “And the weeds, they are the sons of the evil.”

Pretty much every translation adds in the word “one,” saying, “sons of the evil one,” “wicked one,” etc. This is a correct thought, but it is not a true rendering. It only uses the adjective as a descriptor. Hence, italicizing it is appropriate. Jesus will continue the explanation in the next verse.

Life application: There is a standard method of interpreting Scripture that has been set forth for eons: “Let Scripture interpret Scripture.” In other words, when something is recorded in the Bible, the way to interpret it, first and foremost, is to let the explanation of it be what the Bible says about it.

For example, the story of Sarah and Hagar is recorded in Genesis. For almost 1500 years, it was “just a story” with a meaning that was not understood. Scholars would give their ideas about why it was included in Scripture, normally ensuring that it was understood that the line leading to the Jewish people was highlighted as the true line, chosen of God.

This is not incorrect, but it is incomplete. There are exacting details in the narrative that could have just been left out, and that premise would still be understood. But every word of Scripture has a particular reason for being there.

Only in the coming of Christ and the introduction of the New Covenant is the reason for the story understood. Paul gives a brief explanation of it in Galatians 4, stating “which things are symbolic” in verse 4:24. As Paul has given the explanation under the inspiration of God, we do not need to look for any other explanation for the story. We are thus letting Scripture interpret Scripture.

This is true with incense. In both testaments, incense is explicitly stated as being a metaphor for prayer (see Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8). Therefore, we don’t need to speculate about its set typology when looking at the times when incense is mentioned in the Bible.

In Exodus, great detail is given concerning incense. Understanding that it signifies prayer, the meaning of all of those details becomes evident and can be properly analyzed. This is true with something found in the parable of the darnel. In this verse, Jesus said, “And the field, it is the world.”

Therefore, because Jesus has explained what the field signifies (in Hebrew, sadeh means field), we don’t need to go anywhere else to understand what is being seen in the typology of a given passage. All we need to do is consistently stick to what Jesus has said.

Unfortunately, translations may fail to translate sadeh as field at times, or they will translate something else as field from another word that actually has a different meaning. Therefore, we can make errors in our figuring out typology by trusting in a given translation that has failed to be consistent. An example would be Genesis 32:3 –

“And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom” (KJV).

The KJV failed to translate sadeh as field, instead rendering it “country.” The NKJV followed that translation, but they thankfully footnoted it as “field.” If one were to read only the KJV, he would never know that it was a faulty rendering of the word. If he were attempting to typologically explain the passage, his explanation would be faulty because of the already faulty translation.

Therefore, when doing an analysis of a passage, attempting to understand what it means, 1) first and foremost, let Scripture interpret Scripture, 2) be consistent in your typological meanings, (if you are to divert from a particular typology, you must have a valid reason for doing so), 3) don’t trust a single, faulty translation (like the KJV), and expect proper results. Check with the original. It is not difficult to do, and it will keep you on a sounder, surer path of properly explaining the passage.

Lord God, may we be careful with Your word, never making stuff up in order to provide an explanation that we want. Rather, may we go where You are leading as we carefully evaluate the set purpose and intent that You have for each passage. Amen.

Monday, 13 October 2025

He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. Matthew 13:37

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And answering, He said, ‘He, the ‘sowing the good seed,’ He is the Son of Man’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him to explain the parable of the darnel. Therefore, Matthew records, “And answering, He said, ‘He, the ‘sowing the good seed,’ He is the Son of Man.’”

His words reveal that this is not just a parable without an exact meaning, like a fable or a general metaphor that can be equated to various things. Rather, it is a specific parable that provides specific information.

Because this is so, even though truths from it may bleed between dispensations, the most likely explanation is that it is an overall truth applying to only one. This was discussed in the comments provided when the parable was given to the crowds by Jesus.

Jesus is the Sower. Therefore, the parable is referring to Him and cannot be transferred to anyone else as an example of their life or ministry.

Life application: As noted in an earlier commentary (Matthew 13:30), if the words of this parable are referring to the church age, there needs to be a specific spiritualization of some of what is being said.

This is generally what people do, attempting to fit themselves and their situation into parts of the Bible. Passages, for example, that provide hope to Israel in exile to Babylon, such as are found in Jeremiah, are transferred to our lives. Although they are words of hope, they are intended for a particular audience.

We can learn about God’s mercy and compassion from those passages, but we should not endeavor to place ourselves into what is being stated. The words of this parable are specific and have an intended audience.

We can learn truths from it, and we can also see parallels in our dispensation to some of the things that happen, but the best course of action when reading it is to understand that it is dealing with Jesus and Israel.

Lord God, help us to understand Your word as You intend for us to understand it. Keep us from making faulty or illogical connections that are not intended by You. Rather, may our time in Your word be for understanding Your nature and Your care for humanity as You interact with us at any given time. Amen.