Daily Writing

Tuesday, 7 October 2025

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, Matthew 13:31

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).

“Another parable He presented them, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens, it is like a mustard kernel, which a man, having taken, he sowed in his field’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus completed the parable of the sower. Without any intervening thoughts, it says, “Another parable He presented them.”

Whether this was actually stated one parable after another, or if this one is just placed here by Matthew categorically may be debated, but either way, the information is presented to continue to illuminate Jesus’ instruction through this teaching method. Understanding this, He was “saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens, it is like a mustard kernel.’”

Two new words are introduced. The first is kokkos, a kernel of seed or simply a grain. As a different word is used for seed, that is not a great choice for translation, although some versions use it. The second word is sinapi, mustard. Strong’s said the word may be derived from sinomai, to hurt. Thus, it would explain the biting flavor of the herb.

Those listening would know immediately what Jesus was referring to. Being an agrarian society, the people would understand the various seeds that were available. Further, Mom would have them all around the house for use in the kitchen. In this case, the reason for using the mustard seed in His example will be seen in the next verse, but the people would know it already.

Therefore, His words are not an explanation of the seed. Rather, they will be used as a comparison. As such, it isn’t cheating to explain that the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers in the land at the time. Of this eensy weensy seed, Jesus next says, “which a man, having taken, he sowed in his field.”

Mustard seeds grow into mustard plants. These bear more mustard seeds (see Genesis 1:11). Mustard seeds have many uses. They can be kept whole or ground up when used in cooking. They are prized for their nutty, spicy flavor, which is used in dishes such as curries, pickled treats, dressings, marinades, etc.

They are also used in condiments. Beyond these culinary-type applications, they are considered to have health benefits. They can also be used to make mustard oil. These and a host of other uses explain why farmers would have mustard plants in their gardens. Jesus will make His comparison as He continues.

Life application: In Mark 4, the same parable says the following (as translated by the NKJV, et al.) –

“Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth.”

This seems to be an error on Jesus’ part. The mustard seed is not the smallest seed on earth. How will you take that newly presented information? If Jesus is God incarnate, wouldn’t He know this? Will you now close your Bible and give up on your faith?

A few points should clear this up. The first is that despite other seeds being smaller, such as types of orchids, man doesn’t sow them into the ground for food, which is what Jesus just implied in His words. There may be seeds that are smaller that are sown (point 1) for food (point 2), though. What if there are?

The word translated as earth in Mark 4 is gé. It does not necessarily mean “the inhabited globe known as Earth.” Rather, it is just as often, or even more commonly, translated as soil (Matthew 13:8), ground (Matthew 10:29), or land (Matthew 10:15), etc. In other words, there is a context to what is being said. When speaking of the coming Messiah in Matthew 4, the word is used when referring to the land (gé) of Zebulun and the land (gé) of Naphtali.

Jesus is sitting in Israel talking to people who live in an agrarian-based economy. When He tells them this is the smallest seed used for sowing in a plot of land in Israel for gardening, He is telling them both the truth and something of which they were perfectly aware.

He was not concerned about orchid seeds in the Amazon jungle, nor were His listeners. There must be a context to every statement made by Jesus, or a challenge against His words is simply given to form a pretext.

If you are presented with a difficulty in what is said in the word, don’t close your Bible, curse God for having fooled you into believing He exists when He doesn’t (which is kind of ridiculous, because if you are cursing God who doesn’t exist, you are wasting your breath!), and then spend the rest of your life mocking Christians for being so blind.

Rather, check out what you have been told, consider the information from the context presented, and understand why Jesus says what He says. When you do, you will find that His detractors are the inane ones. Your faith is well placed. Your hope is in a real Savior who came from the true God who created all things.

Jesus Christ is not wrong in His words about the mustard seed. His detractors are the ones who will stand before Him in judgment someday. Hold fast to your faith.

Glorious God Almighty, thank You for the wisdom of Your word. It is a marvelous place for us to find the truth, to rightly direct our hope, and to find the love that extends from You for Your creatures. Thank You above all that in it, we find Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 6 October 2025

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:30

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).

“You allow both to co-grow until the harvest. And in the harvest season, I will say to the harvesters, ‘You gather first the darnel, and you bind them into bundles to incinerate them, and wheat you collect into my barn’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said that the servants of the landowner were instructed not to gather up the darnel, lest they should also uproot the wheat with them. He continues the landowner’s words, saying, “You allow both to co-grow until the harvest.”

A word is seen only here in Scripture, sunauxanó, to co-grow. It is derived from sun, with or together, and auxanó, to grow. As for the words of the landowner, there is no point in causing harm to the efforts of the sower and those who then tend to the wheat as it grows.

Leaving the darnel, though it may affect the growth of surrounding plants due to soaking up needed moisture, is not something that will destroy them. As the labor needs to be done at one point or another, there is no reason for causing more harm than good while the crop is maturing. As such, he continues, “And in the harvest season.”

The Greek reads, “and in season the harvest.” The article is before harvest, but it is lacking before season. There is a season when the harvest will be ready. It is then that the harvest is gathered. At this time, the landowner continues, “I will say to the harvesters, ‘You gather first the darnel.’”

Although the truths found in the parable can apply to any dispensation to some extent, these words negate the parable being applied specifically to the church age. There is no indication in Scripture, and every reason to reject the notion, that false teachers will be gathered out of the church before the pre-tribulation rapture.

The timeline for the rapture is set by God through Paul’s writings. It is his writings that revealed the mystery, including its very specific details concerning the event and its timeline.

As such, though points from the parable can be used to refer to truths within the church age, such as not pulling up the darnel before the harvest, the gathering of false teachers before the rapture is not something that will occur. As for this harvest, the landowner continues, “and you bind them into bundles to incinerate them.”

Unless Jesus is simply making a point about false teachers being spiritually gathered for the day of judgment, having been identified as such at the time of the rapture, these words continue to dispel the notion that this is referring to the church age.

Such an analysis, though highly unlikely, is not out of the realm of possibility, but the gathering and binding of false teachers is not a physical event that will take place during the church age.

Therefore, if these words are referring to the church age, there needs to be a specific spiritualization of some of what is being said. Based on Jesus’ coming explanation, the points He makes do not accurately fit into the doctrine of the rapture at the end of the church age. Either way, the landowner finishes his instructions with, “and wheat you collect into my barn.”

John the Baptist has already given hints of this event and what precedes it, saying, “Whose winnower – in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor. And He will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will incinerate – fire unquenchable.”

Therefore, there is judgment on those who are considered darnel, there is a separation of those who are considered chaff, and then there will be a time when these will be cast into unquenchable fire, incinerating them for eternity.

Jesus will explain this parable later in the chapter, but its truths are readily discernible by understanding the metaphors He uses.

Life application: As noted, this parable, though containing truths that exist in the church age, does not fit the sequence of events as laid out by Paul concerning the rapture. The sequence of events as the church age closes out is carefully detailed by him –

1) Rapture of the church, 2) the falling away and the revealing of the Antichrist, 3) the day of Christ (Day of the Lord).

The rapture is an event that will have no sign preceding it. It will occur suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, and the church age will end. Until that day, we should be about the business of the church. Too many hours are squandered away by believers who have an unhealthy fixation on the rapture.

Be productive, know that Christ is coming, and in the flash of an instant, we shall be gathered to Him. This is great news for those who are His. For the rest of the world… not so much.

Glorious God, what a wonderful hope we possess because of what You have done in the sending of Jesus. May we be busy in sharing this news with others as we await the wonderful day when we are gathered and brought into Your glorious presence. Amen.

Sunday, 5 October 2025

But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Matthew 13:29

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 he said, ‘No! Not lest gathering the darnel, you should uproot with them the wheat’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said that the servants of the landowner asked him if he wanted them to gather up the darnel from the field of grain. He continues now with, “And he said, ‘No! Not lest gathering the darnel, you should uproot with them the wheat.’”

A new word, ekrizoó, to uproot, is seen. It is derived from ek, from or out of, and rhizoó, to root. Hence, it is to uproot. If you’ve ever worked in a garden, you know the wisdom of the landowner’s decision. When you have weeds around the plant you are growing and pull them out, you can often damage your plant’s roots or even pull the plant out with the weeds.

In the case of the darnel, its roots would be entangled with the good stalks, easily ruining them if you try to pull it out. There is also the chance of treading on the good stalks while going through the field to get the darnel.

And even if both of those were avoided, as noted above, the soil around the good stalks could be disturbed enough to negatively affect or kill those nearby. It is not worth the risk to take such chances.

Life application: Think of the patience and wisdom of the Lord. The devil has his dirty fingers all over the church, even since the very beginning. At the earliest days of the church, Paul and the other New Testament writers were writing letters of warning to the churches concerning those who were harmful darnel within the good crop –

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17, 18

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” James 5:1-3

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John -9-11

“These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. ¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” Jude -16-19

Think of it. These people were writing in the very earliest days of the church. Each personally encountered the risen Christ. And yet, they were already warning of the proverbial darnel among the wheat. But the Lord’s example in this parable was to allow them to continue lest good stalks were harmed in the process.

But can’t these false teachers harm the crop as well? The answer is, “Most assuredly.” This is why these warnings have been written. But how are you, a stalk of good grain in the body of believers, going to avoid being harmed by them? By knowing what the word says!

It is not sufficient to trust your pastor. He could be one of the false brethren noted above! Didn’t the church suffer (and it still suffers to this day) through the teaching of people like Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Ellen G. White, and innumerable other false teachers? Haven’t countless people lost their lives to false teachers like Jim Jones and David Koresh?

Display wisdom! Know what the Bible says by reading it daily. When a false teacher enters into your sphere of existence, you will be able to identify him (or her!) and alert others. Be sure to do so. The Lord will take care of them in the end, but we have our part to do now.

Glorious God, give us wisdom in identifying false doctrine and those who teach it. May we responsibly handle Your word, learning it and being on the lookout for those who might harm the crop the Lord is preparing. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 4 October 2025

He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ Matthew 13:28

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 he said to them, ‘Enemy! A man did this!’ And the servants, they said to him, ‘You incline, therefore, having gone, we should gather them?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the servants of the landowner came to him and asked him whether or not he had sown good seed in his field because there was also darnel growing in it. Jesus continues, saying, “And he said to them, ‘Enemy! A man did this!’”

The owner, without throwing an unfounded accusation at anyone in particular, identifies the problem immediately. An enemy has entered his field and sown darnel in with his good seed. In stating it this way, it could include or exclude anyone, even if the owner had already identified in his mind who was responsible.

Further, it could be that there is a main enemy who has used agents to accomplish his destructive work. Nothing is excluded by the way the statement has been presented. With this stated as a certain fact, Jesus continues, “And the servants, they said to him, ‘You incline, therefore, having gone, we should gather them?’”

With the understanding that there is a problem, and that it has been caused by an enemy, the servants are desirous to see the matter resolved. However, they intend to do whatever the master has determined, and so they ask his opinion. In essence, “We can take care of the darnel now if you want. We can identify it and remove it right away.”

The choice of what to do with it is now in the landowner’s court. Whatever he decides will be what they follow through with.

Life application: This parable presents a truth that is not limited to a particular dispensation. During the time before the flood, there were those already identified as “sons of the God,” meaning those who were of faith in the promise of God concerning the coming of a Messiah. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” from this line.

The world was filled with darnel that needed to be removed. The same is true after the flood. Job was of the “sons of the God.” The implication is that there were others who were not, simply because the group he worshiped with was. A contrast between the two exists. Likewise, during the time of the law, there were those who were of faith and those who were not.

That truth exists in the church today. There are those who are sons of God, a term noted in verses such as Romans 8:14. The context of Paul’s words indicates that there is a contrast between them and those who are not sons of God.

Within these groups are obviously those who claim they are of the seed of God who are not. They may look like true sons. But eventually, they will fail to produce the proper fruit and other characteristics that sufficiently identify who is of the true seed.

Whatever dispensation Jesus is equating His thoughts to for the sake of the parable, it is a truth that has existed and which continues to exist in the world. It may be that the parable is intended to cover any such situation.

Understanding that there are such people in the world, even in government or private entities, we can more carefully consider what is going on around us. For example, if you are employed by the government, there are certainly bad actors who have been planted in your area by those who intend harm.

Communist countries like Russia and China have cultivated people for eons to enter into the military and steal information as well as sow discord. They look like anyone else in uniform, but they are there with evil intent.

This is true with any branch of government. People elected to office, even in the highest positions in the land, have been groomed by unfriendly governments to infiltrate and ruin our society. It is our responsibility to carefully evaluate those around us, whether in our workplace, church, government, etc., and be careful not to allow those who bear bad fruit to ruin the efforts of those who are working for the proper purpose intended by the one in charge.

In the case of the church, Jesus has set the standard. It is recorded in the word. When we find that someone has entered into the church at large who is bearing bad fruit, it is our responsibility to identify him as such.

At times, however, some take this to unintended extremes, identifying every little pet peeve of theirs as proof of someone being a false prophet or a false teacher. Likewise, false teachers level accusations against true believers, claiming what is sound doctrine is actually false.

The only way to sort through this mess is to read and know what the Bible says. It is our blueprint for proper living and a right understanding of what is true and what is false within the church. Know your Bible!

Lord God, it is hard to sort through all of the accusations directed at people in the ministry, claiming they present a false message of some sort. Help us to go to the source for understanding this, Your word, in order to rightly identify what is true and what is false. Help us in this, Lord. Your word is big and filled with a lot of information. Give us understanding in it as we seek out Your truth. Amen.

Friday, 3 October 2025

So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ Matthew 13:27

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 having come, the servants of the housemaster, they said to him, ‘Lord, not good seed you sowed in your field? Whence, therefore, it has darnel?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued the parable of the wheat and the darnel. He continues further, saying, “And having come, the servants of the housemaster, they said to him, ‘Lord, not good seed you sowed in your field?’”

It is an obvious question to set the tone of voice for what will next be said. There is darnel rising in the field along with the wheat. Rather than abruptly telling the master it is so, making him look incompetent, it is natural to ask in a positive manner. It will allow him to deduce on his own what must have taken place. As such, they continue with, “Whence, therefore, it has darnel?”

A new word is introduced, pothen, whence. It gives the sense of from which or from what. In this case, a single word to define the intent and speaking style would be whence. They know the answer to their own question, it being rhetorical in nature. Therefore, they continue with an obvious follow-up question to help alleviate the owner’s tension.

Life application: Having tact when approaching a sensitive matter is important. Barging up to someone and telling him that his brother just died without showing care and empathy would be considered rude. The same is true with any sensitive matter.

In some cases, people can get upset or angry over things we might not even consider sensitive. Such instances cannot be helped. But we can take the general idea of tact that is understood in a given society with us when we talk to others. Being the bearer of news means that responsibility is attached to the delivery.

As some people lack any sense of tact at all, it is good to identify them and make a mental tag, never assigning them to passing on sensitive matters. They may even be close friends, but it is important to make these types of divisions in our minds and remember them. Learn who around you can’t keep a secret.

Such a person might be the nicest guy around, but he just cannot keep quiet when entrusted with information. So mark him as such and keep from sharing things that may be sensitive with him. This thought can even extend further, such as knowing personal relationships that exist around you. Someone who is normally trustworthy may have a beef with someone or a group of people.

Knowing this and keeping harmony between the disaffected parties is important. So the more situational awareness you have, the more effective you will be in keeping seemingly little things from getting out of hand. Pay attention to such things. Work on developing your skills in identifying who should carry a word or message about a matter, and then deploy this knowledge wisely. Such things are seen even in Scripture –

“Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.’
²⁰ And Joab said to him, ‘You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.’ ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, ‘Go, tell the king what you have seen.’ So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.” 2 Samuel 18:19-21

Lord God, grant us the wisdom to be situationally aware concerning matters of tact, diplomacy, and trust. The world is a place where people can get easily hurt or offended. So help us to be wise and discerning in matters that require special care. Yes, Lord, be with us and help us to grow wise in such matters. Amen.