07.13.09
Hearing Results in Action
In Matthew 13: 1-3 large crowds gathered to Jesus and He spoke to them in parables.
From the seat of a boat Jesus spoke the Parable of the Sower to the crowd on the beach.
After speaking the parable to the crowd Jesus says in Vs 9, “He who has ears, let him hear.”
The gender specific words of “he” and “him” were added by the translators. They do not exist in the original text. Vs 9 simply says, “possesses ears hear.”
Speaking to the crowd – which certainly contained men, women, and children – Jesus instructs ALL who are in possession of ears which have the ability to understand to hear the parable with understanding.
Jesus DID NOT limit those who could hear with comprehension to men alone — He told ALL who possessed ears with ability to understand to hear with understanding.
After being questioned by His disciples as to why He spoke to the people in parables. Jesus tells them, “to you has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (Vs 10-15)
His disciples had been granted the privilege of knowing – being taught by Jesus – the true meaning of each parable. The crowds were not granted this explanation from the Jesus. His disciples were granted the privilege of receiving this explanation so that they would know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
In Vs 16 and 17 Jesus tells His disciples “blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see , and to hear what you hear, and did not hear. ”
[It should read "many prophets and righteous desired to see...", the word "men" was added by the translators.]
Jesus’ disciples were BLESSED because they had been granted the privilege of seeing the works of Jesus and the privilege of hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven revealed -explained to them by Jesus.
In Vs 18 Jesus says to His disciples, “Hear then the parable of the sower.”
Jesus grants His disciples the privilege to hear and understand a revelation of a mystery of the kingdom of heaven as He unfolds the meaning of the parable to them.
Matt 13:19-23 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Jesus begin His explanation of this parable by saying “when anyone hears the word of the kingdom.”
When speaking to the crowd Jesus DID NOT limit hearing the word of the kingdom with comprehension to men alone — He told all who possessed ears to hear and understand.
When revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples Jesus DID NOT limit hearing to men alone. Jesus reiterated to His disciples ANYONE could hear the word of the kingdom with understanding.
The Greek word translated as “anyone” is “pas” which means “all, the whole, any. whosoever, whoever, anyone.” The gender specific pronoun “him” in Vs 19 is an added word by the translators. It does not exist in the original text.
Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He says, “This is the one.”
The Greek words translated as “this is the one” are ” houtos houtoi hautè„ hautai” which mean “this man, this woman, that man, that woman, this, that, these, they, who, which”.
[In Vs 20 the word "man" is added by the translators.]
Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He expounds on this parable to His disciples. He uses the same Greek phrase translated earlier as “this is the one”. Thus Vs 20 DOES NOT read in the original text as “this is the man who hears the word” BUT it reads as “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hear the word.”
[In Vs 21 both uses of the gender specific word "he" has been added by the translators.]
[In Vs 22 and 23 the word "man" is added by the translators.]
Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He expounds on this parable to His disciples. He uses the same Greek phrase translated earlier as “this is the one”. Thus Vs 22 and 23 DOES NOT read in the original text as “this is the man who hears the word” but it reads as “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hear the word.”
Jesus DOES NOT limit receiving of revelation knowledge as a privilege of the male gender alone. All could and did receive revelation knowledge of the kingdom of heaven as Jesus taught them.
Jesus specifically chose non gender terminology as He unfolded the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples.
In Vs 23 Jesus says, “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hears the word and understands it indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
The men and women who hear and understand the word of the kingdom BEAR FRUIT and BRING FORTH a harvest from their understanding, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
Anyone – male or female – who hears the word of God with understanding will BEAR FRUIT and BRING FORTH a harvest !!!
Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
All – male or female – who hear the word with understanding bears fruit in every good work and increases in the knowledge of God.
The hearing of the word of God with understanding produces action – these actions are good works. These good works bear fruit which produce an abundant harvest.
Jesus says in Matt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Hearing God’s word we are to put it into action !!! Our actions which follow hearing the Word bear fruit and bring forth a harvest.
How can limits based on gender be placed upon who can labor in the work of God’s kingdom when Jesus made no such distinction? Jesus said EVERYONE who hears His words with understanding is to act upon them. These good works bear fruit and bring forth a harvest.
John 4:35-36 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
[In Vs 36 all uses of the gender specific word "he" has been added by the translators.]
The actions which follow the hearing of God’s word include the labor of sowing the seed of God’s word and reaping. Those who reap gather the ripe for harvest fruit from the field – this fruit is gathered and bundled unto life eternal.
1Corinthians 3:7-10 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
[In Vs 8 both uses of the gender specific word "he" and "his" has been added by the translators.]
The actions which follow the hearing of God’s word include the labor of planting the seed of the word, watering the planted seed, and building on the laid foundation of the gospel.
Women ARE NOT excluded from the labor of the kingdom. The word translated as “man” in vs 10 is “hekastos” which means “each man, each women, each one, every man, every woman, every one.”
Each man and woman who performs the labor of God’s kingdom must be careful how they build.
Col 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
[In Vs 28 the word translated as "man" is a non gender specific word which means "human being."]
The men and women who labor in God’s kingdom through the power of God which works mightily in them proclaim Jesus, admonish all, and teach all with all wisdom. The purpose of their labor is to present all complete in Christ.
Both men and women are called to labor in God’s kingdom and bear fruit which brings forth a harvest.
Jesus DID NOT exclude women from the work of the kingdom, neither should His church.
