Monthly Archives: December 2024

Parable of the Lamp – Mark 4:21-25New American Standard Bible

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There are multiple sermons on this passage. Each one seems to have a slight, if not major, spin. We will delve into that which is not often emphasized in these sermons or Sunday School lessons.

Menorah. I spoke to a pastor in the parking lot of a major lumber company. He was so excited that he had finally discovered what he deemed as the meaning of the 9 candles of the Hanukkah Menorah. He was so off base it was obvious he had a very creative mind. What was concerning, the next day was Sunday. He was about to preach a falsehood. I wanted to offer him a coffee and try to explain his misunderstanding. A menorah during hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. It is lit one candle one day at a time during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold lights that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday, not nine. The ninth branch holds a candle, called the shamash (“helper” or “servant”), which is used to light the other eight.” This is the only time of the year that the nine candle Menorah is used. The usual menorah has 7-candle holders.

What does a minister, S.S. teacher, or Bible study leader mean when s/he says, “The lamp”? We all know that a lamp or any form of light is to help one see his or her surroundings and the path. Here is the short of it…

Mark 4:21 And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed, is it? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” [Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in 1987. In the book A Kosher Christmas: ‘Tis the Season to Be Jewish]

Matthew begins this passage about the need for a lamp. Then he switches to hearing in the same statement. Why? Let’s look more closely at this parable.

“A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed, is it? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 

Might this reflect our attitude and actions during our lifetime? We hide things by putting a lamp of exposure under a basket. Social, political, family, community, and too often, Christian lamps under the basket. Why? One may not wish to expose that which has been deliberately hidden. One thing is a ringer almost every time… Christian practices and witness. Some hide the fact of claiming to be Christian when outside of Christian circles.

The sentence at the end of verse 4:22 “…nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.” The obvious self-question is with this being so, why do we try to keep inner secrets? Dr. David Guzik adds… (commentary) “Some professing Christians have no root in themselves. Their root is some professing Christians have no root in themselves. Their root is in their parents, or in their Christian friends, or in their pastor, their church, or in enthusiastic surroundings...” Now we add from this passage, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

In this blog on ahabiblemoments, the above quotes are the roots of this parable. Some professing Christians have no roots. This means, s/he goes with the crowd and surroundings in which they find themselves. Some if not many people go to church for all the wrong reasons. They aren’t there to blend him or herself into the worship but to be seen or out of habit or tradition. They know little beyond the “stories” found in the Bible or preached from the pulpit. To them, that is what they are… stories or a Bible lesson to which they do not really hear what is being said.

The second part of Dr. Guzik’s comments tell us like it is. “These people’s roots are in their parents, or in their Christian friends, or in their pastor, or in enthusiastic surroundings.” Note what should be the elephant in this quote. There are no roots other than in others. When left on their own, who knows where they would be… neither do they. They have no Bible roots  other than what has been told them IF he or she listened. They have no time, desire, or claim to scripture because “they claim to not understand it.” What is there to understand…?

…“Some professing Christians have no root in themselves. Some professing Christians have no root in themselves. Their root is in their parents, or in their Christian friends, or in their pastor, or the church.” A more basic explanation, something left unread will never become knowledge. Understanding will always follow gained knowledge. Such a person is on thin ice with the sun shining brightly. Others require enthusiastic, dance to, stunning, and emotional sermons. Once their light losses the emotion, it loses its purpose as a light.

ALERT: This takes us to the final sentence in this parable. WE close this blog with another Dr. Guzik quote from his commentary on the Book of Mark, chapter 4:21-25…

“With the same measure (of effort to hear) we use, it will be measured to you: This is why it is important to take heed what you hear. God will respond to us as we have responded to Him, His word, and others.” Just as in the Lord’s Prayer, Forgive us just as we forgive others. Yes, this means forgiving ALL who have offended us. The Lord’s Prayer leaves no room for selective forgiveness. That is the standard with which God will forgive us.

Rev Dr Jstark – 2024

Parable of the Seed Growing- Mark 4:26 – 29

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In this passage of Mark there are two parables of a seed. One is of it growing and the other of a mustard seed. Today we look deeper into the parable of seed growing.

One could easily conclude this parable to be of the obvious. But… what about its personal application and implication? A seed of any kind needs to be planted. Holding it in one’s hand will not allow it to produce a fruit or vegetation. Leave it to the birds does not grow a crop. But where one plants it matters greatly. There is a cartoon caption of a person who planted grass seed in his new yard. The second caption is him staring at a yard with little to no grass but the cracks in his driveway have sprouted nicely. This is spurious growth. That is not central to this parable.

(New American Standard Bible – Mark 4:26-29)

26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up daily, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 Now when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Does the seed plant itself? Does it find fertile ground on its own? Does it know when it is in season to plant and grow? How does it get from the seed bag to the ground? Each of these questions has but one answer. What we do know is that the seed did not begin in a plastic or burlap  bag. Planting anything is a personal option. One must decide to purchase then plant any seed on prepared ground. Plants have their personal requirements for good growth.

This passage begins with “the Kingdom of God.” The word “kingdom” is basileia in the Greek. It is the same in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew and Luke) as in this passage in Mark. One probably imagines a piece of property when considering a kingdom. However, the word basileia has additional meanings. The Greek word for “kingdom” is basileia (βασιλεία). It can mean a kingdom, palace, queen, princess, reign, or royal status or power.

“The soil produces crops by itself” Seldom is it understood that we are commanded only to plant the seed, i.e. a witness of what God has done for us. The ground (souls) it falls on is either ready or rubble; NOT to be productive or accepting. This does not mean to be judgmental and witness only to those who we think may be fertile ground. Remember in the parable of the different soils, the planter in Matthew 13:1-8 tossed the seed on many different ground conditions. All the seed that fell on soil did not produce a maximum crop… 60, 80, or 90 fold.

In witnessing terms, this phrase means that some who are witnessed to will be like the seed in this parable. The seed is THE WORD OF GOD. We are not commanded to expect nor to harass one(s) we witness to, to decide to accept Christ. This has the same result as a seed that falls on rocky soil. It is the Word of God (the soil) that brings forth the fruit or crop. But… we are commanded to share/plant the seed. One might recall a Sunday when the minister or evangelist will sing “Just As I Am” until someone finally comes forward or raises his or her hand. These converts tend to be shallow. They wither when the heat (sun) comes on them.

The line of this verse that follows the sowing of the seed is… first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Here is a danger point in the new life of a believer. Jesus called it discipleship. In our life we have heard or heard of new converts who are given responsibilities at a church way before they have matured as believers. How dare we do that! Only the “head” of the eventual fruit or grain may have been established. This parable is clear. Only after time of discipleship then the mature grain in the head. The new convert needs to be protected from weeds and nourished. Only after it matures is it ready to serve.

Bonus:

The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13)

Matthew 4:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2024

The Beginning – Book of Mark

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NOTE: The Book of Mark is perceived by many Bible scholars to be the first book written of the New Testament books. They feel that Luke and Matthew followed, reflecting on what Mark wrote. Luke, possibly of non-Jewish heritage, but a Gentile doctor, and Matthew, a Jew who wrote to the Jews of his time, were possibly written after the Book of Mark. We are NOT going to argue for an alternative sequence of New Testament books. All the New Testament books were written; inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to be read. One thing is certain, the New Testament was written AFTER Christ’s birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. The early church, not having the New Testament, relied mostly on the book of Isaiah.

The Book of Mark is filled with parables. We know many of them by attending church, but, depth perception comes from listening to these sermons. Listening to understand is why Jesus used parables. Intense listening helps with understanding. One can hear without grasping the meaning of a parable. Some of Jesus’ parables cover more than the obvious. We will offer some of the “between the lines” meanings, implications, and understandings in our series on the Book of Mark. One may be amazed with what is there.

Mark begins his New Testament gospel by identifying Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus had already been crucified and returned to heaven some 30 to 35 years earlier. It was somewhere between 55 and 65 A.D.

GOD is… (Genesis 1:26)
Father – Jesus – Holy Spirit

NOTE: This verse does NOT use the plural (Images). It is singular – Image. This is an example of how we are made in the three-part image of God… BODY, MIND, & SOUL.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our image; …”

Mankind is… (Genesis 1:26)
Mind – Body– Spirit (soul)

During this time, the Romans tended to associate this new religion of Christianity as an offshoot of Judaism. They treated Christians with the same distain as the Jews (Israelites).

Mark writes in verses 4-11 of the calling of John the Baptist and then his baptism of Jesus.  Mark then follows with the temptations of Jesus in the Wilderness by none other than Satan. Here follows something rarely addressed… verses 29 to 30:

Mark 1:29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of *Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

Mark 1:30  Now *Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him (Jesus) about her. *Simon is Simon Peter. This means Peter was in fact married.

Mark 1:31  And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 

Yes… Ahamoment: Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. Peter was married to her daughter.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2024