The doctrine of sowing and reaping is a principle of the Old Testament Law, which the Church is not under. In the Old Covenant you had to do something in order to receive something.
In order to be healed, you had to walk in all God's statutes and commandments.
Ex 15:26...If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
To prosper, you had to walk in all the commandments.
Josh 1:8...This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
To be blessed financially, you had to pay a tithe.
Mal 3:10...Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Under the Law, you had to pay a tithe for God to open the windows of heaven and bless you and to rebuke the devourer. The devourer is not the Devil or demons. The devourer is insect's that destroy the crops. If man pays a tithe just to be blessed by God, he is a selfish person. He is giving to God's work just because he wants to receive something back. There is a big difference between giving simply out of the love you have for God and giving because you expect God to pay you something in return. In reality you are only worshipping God when you give out of an unselfish love for Him.
The same tithe system teaches a doctrine of fear-that you will have devourers attacking your crops unless you pay the tithe. You should never give out of fear of the consequences if you don't give. It is said by some that Abraham "paid" a tithe, but the Scripture says he "gave" a tithe. Abraham gave the tithe out of love. Jacob gave the tithe out of love.
Heb 7:2-4...To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Under the economy of the Old Testament Law, you paid a tithe because you had to. Under the New Covenant, God blesses you so much that you give more than a tithe. Teach the believer to legalistically pay the tithe and he will limit his giving to the tithe. Teach him the limitless sacrifice of Christ and he will cheerfully and willingly give more than a tithe. The early church did not teach the tithe system, yet there is no record of the early Church ever being in want of anything. They had so much left over; they took care of the poor saints at Jerusalem. If those that name the name of Christ today did what they should, we could do away with Social Security in this country!
The first-century Jewish Christians sold all their possessions and laid them at the Apostles' feet. They could trust the Apostles with all their money.
Acts 4:35...And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
The Church today can no longer trust the minister with all their money because preachers are always begging "pay, pay, pay; money, money, money."
At this point you're probably asking, "What about Luke 6:38?"
Luke 6:38...Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
If you apply the above verse to giving money to the Church so that this giving will be multiplied; you are misapplying a Law from Genesis. You are also saying that the seed you've sown has within itself the ability to multiply. Luke 6:38 does no talk about tithing or giving to the Church. It is under the Covenant of Law, and it deals with the prophetic message concerning the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel.
The first portion of Luke 6:38 addresses's the moral condition of Israel at that time. *
Luke 6:38...Give, and it shall be given unto you;
*They were to have been so liberal that they would freely give to any Israelite on need. By becoming liberal in giving to each other, they would begin to recognize that the Kingdom was at hand. This would create a climactic condition proving that the Kingdom Age would soon begin. Christ would rule on the throne of His father David. The wheat fields would flourish and the vine and fig tree would give forth their strength. The wolf would lie down with the lamb and the lion would eat straw like an ox. The glory of the Lord would cover the earth, and all the Hebrew nation would be gathered out of the nations where they had been scattered.
This portion of Luke 6:38 deals with the prophetic truth of the Gentiles giving their wealth to Israel in the Kingdom of Heaven. *
Luke 6:38...good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
*The Gentiles would take notice of Israel's giving and liberality to one another. They would give their wealth and money to the Jewish people. This part of the verse points out how Gentiles will give unto the bosom of Israel, their wealth and riches. This is prophetically spoken.
Zech 14:14...And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
Many Scriptures such as Luke 6:38 have been taken out of context, twisted, and perverted. This has caused many people to fall from the faith.
Imagine a man who is running a factory. He has been taught prosperity based upon what he does and gives. As a result, he gives away all of his necessary capital for running his business, and his company begins to fail. He is so nervous and torn up that he quarrels with his wife. Because his business is a failure, he begins to take things out on the godly Christian woman who has brought his children into the world and gone through the trials of life with him. Discouraged, he takes off with his secretary and divorces his wife. His home is broken up and he no longer attends church. He is no longer interested in the things of God. He has departed from the faith.
Now picture a widow who has husband's savings in a bank to supplement the Social Security she receives. Because of false teaching, she believes she is going to prosper according to what she gives and does. Hoping for a "100-fold return," she gives all of her husband's savings to the Church. When the money does not come in, when her "seed" is not multiplied, she drops out of the Church. Now she spends her time looking at the television set every night without God. She has lost her faith.
When I hear the "seed faith" teachings across this country, I feel like saying with Paul,
2 Tim 2:17-18...And their word will eat as doth a canker, who concerning the truth have erred, and overthrow the faith of some.
Showing posts with label Sowing and Reaping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sowing and Reaping. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The faith of a seed and the parables of our Lord
In spite of all this miraculous power being manifested, the Nation of Israel still rejected the King. When the disciples returned from their first missionary journey, they boasted that even demons were subject to them. In Matthew 17, the disciples accompanied Jesus to a mountain where they witnessed His transfiguration. Yet immediately after coming down from the mount, they could not cast the demon out of the father's lunatic son because of their unbelief. Shortly after this, Jesus proclaimed judgment upon Israel. From then on, His message was not that He was to establish their Kingdom but, that He was to die.
After the message of the Kingdom was rejected and no longer preached, the sowing of a seed is only mentioned once. It deals with a mustard seed and it is not to praise the disciples for having "seed faith" but rather to reprove them for not having the faith of a seed.
Let us get the true picture in context. Jesus said that if you had the faith of a mustard seed, you could say to the mountain "remove hence" and it would happen.
Matt 17:20...if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;
Two days before He made this statement, Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He pronounced judgment upon the city, then judgment upon the temple, and then judgment upon the disciples' lack of faith. If they had exercised the faith of a mustard seed, they could have said to the mountain ..."Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you." Jesus is reproving them for not having faith as a mustard seed. A mustard seed, though the tiniest of seeds, grows to become the greatest of herbs; a great tree with spreading branches. If they had this kind of faith, they would have spread the message through all Judea, Jesus would have ruled the earth, the millennial Kingdom would have begun, and every mountain and all of nature would have been subject to the disciples!
When Christ sent the disciples out two by two into the cities of Judea, the authority and power He gave them was to establish and confirm one message only, that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. This message was to be given to Israel only. It was for this very reason they were to have no sandals on their feet. Their feet must touch the ground promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If in any city they entered into the people rejected their message of the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, they were to shake the dust off their feet. The dust on their feet represented the land God promised to restore. When a Jew left the land of promise and re-entered, he would take his sandals off and shake the dust off his feet to signify that he did not want even the dust of the heathen's land but only the land God promised Abraham.
This message and the parables of the Kingdom, which were rejected by Israel, also reveal the rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus. The reason that Israel did not accept this message is proved by the following facts:
Jesus placed judgment upon the disciples for not having the faith of a mustard seed. As we have stated, the mustard seed, which is the tiniest of seeds, when sown, becomes a great tree with branches spread. If the disciples would've had the faith of a mustard seed, the Messiahship of Jesus would have been spread throughout Judea, Christ would have reigned over earth, and every mountain would have been subject to any one of the people of Israel. Any Jew would have said to the mountain "Move" and it would have moved.
The Parables
The parables of the Kingdom were not given to the Gentiles but only to the Nation of Israel because Israel was the subject of the parables. Israel was blinded to the Messiahship of Jesus Christ. Jesus' reason for speaking in parables is given in Matthew 13:14 where He quotes from Isaiah,
Matt 13:14...And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
The parables of the Kingdom show Israel's rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 is an example. The people are likened to the different types of soil. The message of the Kingdom is sown on four different types of soil. Only one€the good ground, produced a crop, teaching that the majority of Israel was going to reject the Kingdom.
Matt 13:3-13...And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables:
In the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-41, the lord of the vineyard sent his servants to collect his share. The wicked tenants beat his servant's and stoned them to death. Finally the owner said, "Then will I send my son". When the son arrived, the people said, "He's the heir. Let's put him to death." So they killed him. Likewise, Jesus Christ the Son was rejected and put to death. The Lord will come and bring vengeance on the caretakers of the vineyard.
Matt 21:33-39...Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
Throughout the parables, we see object lessons of good fish and bad fish, wheat and tares, foolish virgins and wise virgins, all part of the message being given to Israel. But these parables do not teach the mystery of the Church. There is a vast difference between the church and the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. *
Some teachers in our generation have misapplied the parables to the Church and taught "sowing" money as seed, expecting to get 30, 60, or 100-fold as a return. The 30, 60, and 100-fold increase was to the Israelites that received the message of the Kingdom and had no reference to the Church or to money. There is no "sowing of money" in the parables of the Kingdom to Israel. Also, they could not sow the message of the Kingdom to the Gentiles for it was given to Israel only.
After the message of the Kingdom was rejected and no longer preached, the sowing of a seed is only mentioned once. It deals with a mustard seed and it is not to praise the disciples for having "seed faith" but rather to reprove them for not having the faith of a seed.
Let us get the true picture in context. Jesus said that if you had the faith of a mustard seed, you could say to the mountain "remove hence" and it would happen.
Matt 17:20...if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;
Two days before He made this statement, Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He pronounced judgment upon the city, then judgment upon the temple, and then judgment upon the disciples' lack of faith. If they had exercised the faith of a mustard seed, they could have said to the mountain ..."Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you." Jesus is reproving them for not having faith as a mustard seed. A mustard seed, though the tiniest of seeds, grows to become the greatest of herbs; a great tree with spreading branches. If they had this kind of faith, they would have spread the message through all Judea, Jesus would have ruled the earth, the millennial Kingdom would have begun, and every mountain and all of nature would have been subject to the disciples!
When Christ sent the disciples out two by two into the cities of Judea, the authority and power He gave them was to establish and confirm one message only, that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. This message was to be given to Israel only. It was for this very reason they were to have no sandals on their feet. Their feet must touch the ground promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If in any city they entered into the people rejected their message of the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, they were to shake the dust off their feet. The dust on their feet represented the land God promised to restore. When a Jew left the land of promise and re-entered, he would take his sandals off and shake the dust off his feet to signify that he did not want even the dust of the heathen's land but only the land God promised Abraham.
This message and the parables of the Kingdom, which were rejected by Israel, also reveal the rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus. The reason that Israel did not accept this message is proved by the following facts:
Jesus placed judgment upon the disciples for not having the faith of a mustard seed. As we have stated, the mustard seed, which is the tiniest of seeds, when sown, becomes a great tree with branches spread. If the disciples would've had the faith of a mustard seed, the Messiahship of Jesus would have been spread throughout Judea, Christ would have reigned over earth, and every mountain would have been subject to any one of the people of Israel. Any Jew would have said to the mountain "Move" and it would have moved.
The Parables
The parables of the Kingdom were not given to the Gentiles but only to the Nation of Israel because Israel was the subject of the parables. Israel was blinded to the Messiahship of Jesus Christ. Jesus' reason for speaking in parables is given in Matthew 13:14 where He quotes from Isaiah,
Matt 13:14...And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
The parables of the Kingdom show Israel's rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 is an example. The people are likened to the different types of soil. The message of the Kingdom is sown on four different types of soil. Only one€the good ground, produced a crop, teaching that the majority of Israel was going to reject the Kingdom.
Matt 13:3-13...And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables:
In the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-41, the lord of the vineyard sent his servants to collect his share. The wicked tenants beat his servant's and stoned them to death. Finally the owner said, "Then will I send my son". When the son arrived, the people said, "He's the heir. Let's put him to death." So they killed him. Likewise, Jesus Christ the Son was rejected and put to death. The Lord will come and bring vengeance on the caretakers of the vineyard.
Matt 21:33-39...Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
Throughout the parables, we see object lessons of good fish and bad fish, wheat and tares, foolish virgins and wise virgins, all part of the message being given to Israel. But these parables do not teach the mystery of the Church. There is a vast difference between the church and the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. *
Some teachers in our generation have misapplied the parables to the Church and taught "sowing" money as seed, expecting to get 30, 60, or 100-fold as a return. The 30, 60, and 100-fold increase was to the Israelites that received the message of the Kingdom and had no reference to the Church or to money. There is no "sowing of money" in the parables of the Kingdom to Israel. Also, they could not sow the message of the Kingdom to the Gentiles for it was given to Israel only.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Sowing and Reaping
By studying the Law of Moses, we find that every six years, Jewish farmers were to allow the land to rest for one full year. Likewise, they could do no sowing in their fields on the seventh day or weekly Sabbath.
Ex 23:10-11...And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still;
Lev 25:3-4...Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Unfortunately, Judah violated this law for 490 years. Because of this violation, God took the land away from them for exactly 70 years during the Babylonian captivity!
2 Chron 36:21...To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
While this particular obligation of the Law dealt strictly with agriculture, "sowing" under the Old Testament covenant is also used metaphorically as in,
*Sowing righteous works and in due course...reaping a blessing.
*Sowing wicked works and in due course...reaping the curse.
The sowing of works and reaping the blessing or the curse is a principle of the Law (Deuteronomy 28) and not found in the New Covenant. Please read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28.
After Christ appeared in the fullness of time the concept of "sowing and reaping" took on a different meaning. In the teachings of Christ, what was "sown" was a message, and what was "reaped" was the result of that message. Likewise, in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles to the churches, we find numerous examples where a message is sown and the results are reaped. This New Covenant reaping is not the same as in the agricultural life. In farming, you only reap one plant from each seed you sow, but in sowing the message of the Kingdom, as in Matthew 13, you can reap 100, 60, or 30 people who receive that message!
Matt 13:18-19...Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side
Christ concludes this parable by saying:
Matt 13:23...But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Herein is the real 100-fold return: "Preaching the message of the Kingdom and reaping 100 souls who receive that message!"
In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, the "sowing of the message" about the needs of the poor saints at Jerusalem is a good example. The message is sown but money is reaped. By sowing throughout Asia Minor bountifully, they would reap alms more bountifully to give to the poor saints. Conversely, by sowing the message sparingly, they would reap sparingly. Again, it was the message sown.
2 Cor 9:5-13...Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
Be careful to note three things:
1. The message was not the financial needs of the local Church, but the financial needs of the poor saints at Jerusalem.
2. The message could be sown either bountifully or sparingly.
3. The reaping was the money received- not the "money sown".
We shall see that there is no reference to the "sowing of money" in the entire Bible. This reference of sowing the message for the poor saints at Jerusalem was mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16. Here Paul asks them in advance to start collecting a special offering on the first day of each week. Upon Paul's arrival, this entire collection was sent for the relief of the poor saints at Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:1-3...Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
Paul's letter to the Galatians is another example of a message being sown. The "sowing and reaping" in Galatians 6 was sowing a message to the flesh or to the Spirit. Sowing to the flesh is teaching human works. Sowing to the Spirit is teaching who Christ is and the work He does within the human soul.
Gal 6:7-8...Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Ex 23:10-11...And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still;
Lev 25:3-4...Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Unfortunately, Judah violated this law for 490 years. Because of this violation, God took the land away from them for exactly 70 years during the Babylonian captivity!
2 Chron 36:21...To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
While this particular obligation of the Law dealt strictly with agriculture, "sowing" under the Old Testament covenant is also used metaphorically as in,
*Sowing righteous works and in due course...reaping a blessing.
*Sowing wicked works and in due course...reaping the curse.
The sowing of works and reaping the blessing or the curse is a principle of the Law (Deuteronomy 28) and not found in the New Covenant. Please read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28.
After Christ appeared in the fullness of time the concept of "sowing and reaping" took on a different meaning. In the teachings of Christ, what was "sown" was a message, and what was "reaped" was the result of that message. Likewise, in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles to the churches, we find numerous examples where a message is sown and the results are reaped. This New Covenant reaping is not the same as in the agricultural life. In farming, you only reap one plant from each seed you sow, but in sowing the message of the Kingdom, as in Matthew 13, you can reap 100, 60, or 30 people who receive that message!
Matt 13:18-19...Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side
Christ concludes this parable by saying:
Matt 13:23...But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Herein is the real 100-fold return: "Preaching the message of the Kingdom and reaping 100 souls who receive that message!"
In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, the "sowing of the message" about the needs of the poor saints at Jerusalem is a good example. The message is sown but money is reaped. By sowing throughout Asia Minor bountifully, they would reap alms more bountifully to give to the poor saints. Conversely, by sowing the message sparingly, they would reap sparingly. Again, it was the message sown.
2 Cor 9:5-13...Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
Be careful to note three things:
1. The message was not the financial needs of the local Church, but the financial needs of the poor saints at Jerusalem.
2. The message could be sown either bountifully or sparingly.
3. The reaping was the money received- not the "money sown".
We shall see that there is no reference to the "sowing of money" in the entire Bible. This reference of sowing the message for the poor saints at Jerusalem was mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16. Here Paul asks them in advance to start collecting a special offering on the first day of each week. Upon Paul's arrival, this entire collection was sent for the relief of the poor saints at Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:1-3...Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
Paul's letter to the Galatians is another example of a message being sown. The "sowing and reaping" in Galatians 6 was sowing a message to the flesh or to the Spirit. Sowing to the flesh is teaching human works. Sowing to the Spirit is teaching who Christ is and the work He does within the human soul.
Gal 6:7-8...Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The four Gospels teach...a Kingdom message sown in Israel
The sowing of the message of the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be the same message Paul preached because it was given under the dispensation of the Law. It was a message given exclusively to the people of Israel. It was a message given before the death of a testator, under the Old Covenant and under the Law. The following verses all indicate that Christ was born, lived, and started His ministry under the Law of Moses.
Born under Law...Gal 4:4...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law
Circumcised under Law...Luke 2:21-24...And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Appeared in the Temple...Luke 2:42-52...And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Ministry started under the Law at a lawful age...Num 4:23...From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation
Christ taught the Law. He told the rich ruler that if he would enter into eternal life, he must keep the commandments.
Matt 19:16-17...And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He told the lepers that were cleansed to offer the sacrifices Moses had commanded.
Luke 5:14...And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Luke 17:13-14...And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
The teachings of Christ during His earthly ministry were not Christianity but Judaism.
Matt 15:24...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel
John 1:11...He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Jesus preached the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist preached the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus sent His disciples to preach the message of the Kingdom of Heaven, saying,
Matt 10:5-8...Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The record is clear in this matter; Jesus did not preach a single sermon to the Gentile world. His earthly ministry was to the Hebrew nation only. His message was Judaism, not Christianity. If this message had been received, two Kingdoms would have been restored to Israel...the spiritual Kingdom and the visible Kingdom.
1. The Spiritual Kingdom...the Kingdom of God
2. The visible Kingdom...the Kingdom of Heaven
The message dealing with sowing is the message of the earthly reign of Christ and was preached only to the Hebrew nation. If His disciples had preached the message of sowing and reaping recorded in Matthew 13 to the Gentiles, they would have been openly defying Jesus' instructions in Matthew 10:5-8.
All the teachings of Christ concerning the Kingdom of Heaven prove if Israel had received Christ as Messiah, they would have received the divine nature, the Kingdom of God, and Christ would have begun to reign on the earthly throne of His father David. They would have had both Kingdoms restored which were lost in the fall. All Israel would have been in the divine image and had dominion over all the earth, over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and every creeping thing. Everything that moved on earth would have been subject to them.
When Christ sent the disciples out with His message, it was only to the nation of Israel and the cities of Judea. They were not to take any purse or silver or gold. They were not to wear sandals, yet they were to trod scorpions underfoot and not be harmed! They were to cast out demons and not be harmed. They had authority over all diseases and were to heal the sick. This power was given to them to prove that Jesus was the Messiah that had come to Israel to establish the Kingdom.
Born under Law...Gal 4:4...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law
Circumcised under Law...Luke 2:21-24...And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Appeared in the Temple...Luke 2:42-52...And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Ministry started under the Law at a lawful age...Num 4:23...From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation
Christ taught the Law. He told the rich ruler that if he would enter into eternal life, he must keep the commandments.
Matt 19:16-17...And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He told the lepers that were cleansed to offer the sacrifices Moses had commanded.
Luke 5:14...And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Luke 17:13-14...And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
The teachings of Christ during His earthly ministry were not Christianity but Judaism.
Matt 15:24...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel
John 1:11...He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Jesus preached the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist preached the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus sent His disciples to preach the message of the Kingdom of Heaven, saying,
Matt 10:5-8...Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The record is clear in this matter; Jesus did not preach a single sermon to the Gentile world. His earthly ministry was to the Hebrew nation only. His message was Judaism, not Christianity. If this message had been received, two Kingdoms would have been restored to Israel...the spiritual Kingdom and the visible Kingdom.
1. The Spiritual Kingdom...the Kingdom of God
2. The visible Kingdom...the Kingdom of Heaven
The message dealing with sowing is the message of the earthly reign of Christ and was preached only to the Hebrew nation. If His disciples had preached the message of sowing and reaping recorded in Matthew 13 to the Gentiles, they would have been openly defying Jesus' instructions in Matthew 10:5-8.
All the teachings of Christ concerning the Kingdom of Heaven prove if Israel had received Christ as Messiah, they would have received the divine nature, the Kingdom of God, and Christ would have begun to reign on the earthly throne of His father David. They would have had both Kingdoms restored which were lost in the fall. All Israel would have been in the divine image and had dominion over all the earth, over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and every creeping thing. Everything that moved on earth would have been subject to them.
When Christ sent the disciples out with His message, it was only to the nation of Israel and the cities of Judea. They were not to take any purse or silver or gold. They were not to wear sandals, yet they were to trod scorpions underfoot and not be harmed! They were to cast out demons and not be harmed. They had authority over all diseases and were to heal the sick. This power was given to them to prove that Jesus was the Messiah that had come to Israel to establish the Kingdom.
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