Continuing: In the prior post we discussed the need for faith and understanding that brings good judgment, there specifically defined as moral and religious substance that cause a person to live up to a standard they themselves have come to intellectually apprehend. We know from our resent discussions this comes from first a deep conviction of knowing the need, then a diligent search leading finally to coming face to face with it in a comprehensive and cohesive awareness. What we find in this perfection is the supernatural person of God, meaning understanding his purpose (will,) objective and His plan to bring each of us to this same state of enlightenment, and these as the character identifying Him.
In this we see the intended substance of the now cliché that first asks, “Do you know the LORD?” and if the answering is no, the follow-up question, “Would you like to receive Him.” A “yes” answer to the second question is not an end, but rather a beginning that must accompany conviction. Without conviction there is no sincere admission of need to change, if contented by a conscience seared of cooled there is no diligent seeking the characteristics of change, without which there is no resulting comprehension and instead continued stagnation or regression into a further fallen state.
This same dilemma is occurring in our time in mass with the vast majority of those answering the first question, “Yes.” These lack the evidence (reprobate – without proof) that comes from knowing Him, His mind and character, which is then His person manifested in us, reproduced in His image to further reproduce after His own kind (some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.)
In this light we see in total what we have seen in part in the LORD’s parable of the sower, and of His earlier telling of the many in this time calling Him LORD, and He saying to them, we have never met.
Matthew 13
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speak you unto them in parables?
11 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.
12 For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah [6:9 & 10,] which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross [their right reasoning has been overcome by the press (pressure) of the culture,] and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For truly I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hearing the word of the kingdom, and understanding it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches [snatches] away that which was sown in his heart [his reasoning mind.] This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon [at that moment] with joy receives it;
21 Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not you sow good seed in your field? from where and when then has it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy has done this. The servants said unto him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof [as does those hearing and understanding the word, and bearing much fruit.]
33 Another parable spoke he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened [corrupted as the tares are worked into the field of wheat.]
34 All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sell all that he has, and buy that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus says unto them, Have you understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, LORD.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
It is essential to understand what the LORD is saying in verses 14 & 15 above when He speaks of this people become unable to hear and see the deep meaning fulfilling the words of Isaiah 6. Isaiah goes on from this quoted portion to more thoroughly describe “how long” this will go on. He tells of it being until all has become desolate and there is a great forsaking in the land when men have been removed far away. This is speaking of the falling away (the apostasy) spoke of by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and is after the corruption, as leaven worked in by the tares among us, has been fully worked in and done its work of desolation. Isaiah then tells of the good seed as the “holy seed,” and of the great trees that will grow and having the substance of life in them.
Isaiah 6 begins with telling of the earth being filled with the Glory of the LORD, and as with Amos 9:1 of the posts of the door being moved at this His presence [see the prior post.] What follows is Isaiah coming under conviction and seeing His own state of need, and then we see the ensuing willingness to change and the change come from the LORD touching His mouth – silencing his own word and replacing them with the words of the LORD. The fruit is seen in the tenth of the people, as the remnant being those who are thereby reproduced and saved in their returning from the fallen away state. These are the trees and the leaves spoken of in Revelation 22:2 that are for the healing of the nations, and fed by the waters coming from the throne, and are also the leaves shooting forth the LORD speaks of in Matthew 24:32 – 34.
Isaiah 6
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear you indeed, but understand not; and see you indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
11 Then said I, LORD, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
12 And the LORD has removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
Matthew 24
28 For where-so-ever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together [as in the mustard tree.]
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken [as the carcass become dead by the corruption as leaven did its work of desolation, and their governments and people no longer shining God’s light on the earth by rightly dividing (judging) the word:]
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven [the place where the word is divided:] and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven [the clouds causing the shadow of death by confusion come from wrong judgment] with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves [as the LORD sends his messengers to gather the holy seed,] you know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
The idea of right judgment if what the LORD is speaking of as Matthew 7 begins. The false teaching rejects the full context replacing it with only verse 1, and thereby removing its meaning found in the following verses. It is in full context telling of not judging if you’re incapable of right judgment, and the LORD then calls us to purify our vision so we see clearly to be able to judge rightly. This is the meaning of rightly dividing the word.
Matthew 7
1 Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why behold you the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?
4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.
6 Give not that which is holy [judgment] unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine [contented to wallow in the mire they have returned to, as dog to their own vomit,] lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you [by their corrupted judgment.]
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asks [for clarity] receive; and he that [diligently] seeks finds; and to him that knock it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads [away from the holy city] to destruction, and many there be which go in there-at:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way [requiring a coming together,] which leads unto life , and few [a tenth] there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves [see the previous posts.]
16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
21 Not every one that says unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
