Kalos is associated with good things

Jesus used several Greek words to refer to “good” fruit. They are:

1. Kalos (G 2570) found in Mt 13: 8, 23 and Mk 4: 8, 20. Kalos is translated to mean “beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy, morally good, noble”.
2.  Agathos (G 18), which is  found in Lk 8: 8, 15.

The word kalos is used to mean:

• good fruit
• good works
• good tree
• good ground
• good seed
• goodly pearls
• meet (mt 15: 26)
• good work (s)
• better (better to enter into heaven with one hand than having two and go to hell)
• salt is good (no  good without flavor)
• good measure
• good wine
• good shepherd
• honest
• good fight of faith
• good foundation
• good thing committed unto you
• good word of God
• good conscience
• good conversation
• good stewards of the manifold grace of God

God wants a lot of good things. Blessings and have a great day!

 

(http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2570&t=KJV)

Some seed fell into good soil

INTRODUCTION

Jesus ended the parable of the sower by teaching about the seeds that fell into good ground:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

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 (Mt 13: 8, 23).

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred (Mk 4: 8, 20).

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience (Lk 8: 8, 15)

CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEED THAT FELL ON GOOD GROUND

Jesus taught us that the seed is the word of God and that the soil or ground in the parable refers to the human spirit.  He revealed the key characteristics of the spirits in which the word of God would take  root and remain as fruit bearers:

• This individual produces fruit. I wrote previously to explain that fruit referred to the evidence of God in the individual as well as other people who would follow the way of the Lord.
• These  persons produce  increase of thirty, sixty, and one hundred percent.
• They have good and honest hearts
• They hear and keep the word
• and bring forth fruit with patience. This final phrase implies that they are confronted with the same temptations and trials like the others who did not remain. The key to their success was obedience to the word and patience in sufferings

WHAT DOES THE WORD GOOD MEAN?

Jesus used several Greek words to refer to “good” fruit. They are:

• Kalos  (G 2570) found in Mt 13: 8, 23 and Mk 4: 8, 20. Kalos is translated to mean “beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy,  morally good, noble”. 
• Agathos  (G 18) is found in Lk 8: 8, 15.

More when I return!! Have a great day.

The kinds of lusts that can kill the human spirit

INTRODUCTION

This is the final post on the nature of the lusts that can enter in and kill the human spirit, by literally drowning the word of God.  Epithymia, the   Greek word that Jesus used for lusts in Mark  4: 19, is also used by other writers in the  scriptures.

LUSTS THAT CAN KILL THE SPIRIT ETERNALLY

Usage of the word also indicates  the following about lusts that believers can allow to enter their spirits:

• they are fleshly and war against the spirit (1 Pet 2: 11)
• lusts can be incited by other people, but they  are contrary to the will of God  (1 Pet 4: 2)
• Apostle Peter identified the lusts of lasciviousness … excess of wine , revellings, banquetings, and  abominable  idolatries. Lasciviousness is defined in the Greek as “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence” (1 Pet 4: 3). Revellings and banquetings bring the revellry of carnivals and partying to mind and we know that idolatry is associated with all kinds of immoral and sexual licentiousness.
• Apostle Peter spoke about homosexuality as a lust of uncleanness (2 Pet  2: 1-10).
• There are scoffers or unbelievers who live by their own lusts (2 Pet 3: 3).
• The world and its lusts will pass away (1 Jn 2: 17)
• Peter spoke of those who entice others into unclean lusts by using words and wanton or uncontrolled behavior. These people live in error (2  Pet 2: 18)
• God will judge those who live lustful lifestyles, just as He judged the heathen (Jude 1: 14-16)

CONCLUSION

The believer has been given the assurance that we can partake of God’s divine or holy character and escape the corruption of the world. I  want to live a  clean, holy life. What about you? Apotle Peter taught:

“…His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet 1: 3 , 4).

It is amazing that we can become like God. That is why we should add righteousness and not lusts to our spirits:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (moral goodness); and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins (1 Pet 1: 5-9).

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1939&t=KJV&page=2

Lust can kill the human spirit and choke the word of God

INTRODUCTION

I’ve been writing about the lusts of other things that enter into the human spirit and choke the word. We need to pay attention because this is the teaching of the Lord Himself:

“the lusts  of  other things  entering in, choke   the word and it becometh unfruitful” (Mk 4: 19).

I came up with compelling truths during a  word search  on Epithymia, the Greek word used by the Lord Jesus for lusts. Jesus taught us that lusts are the devil’s brain child. He also said that those who permit lusts to enter their spirits are the devil’s children. 

In the previous post I spoke about the   usage of the word and will complete the findings today.   What are the “other things” that are revealed in scripture when the word Epithymia is used?

• Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to “flee also youthful lusts: but  follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with  them that call on  the Lord out of  a pure heart” (2 Tim 2: 22). His writings indicate that there are lusts are a problem for young people.  We know that the raging hormones of youth can lead young people into all kinds of unlawful sexual and immoral behavior (unlawful in the eyes of the Lord). The Apostle also identified the virtues that oppose lusts. We know that   there are many social pressures that encourage youths to live a lustful lifestyle.  For example, these are portrayed in the immoral influences of music, reality shows, College breaks such as spring break  partying, carnivals etc.
• In 2 Tim 3: 6, Apostle Paul warned about false teachers who will enter  the homes of silly women and captivate them with various  kinds of lusts, indicating that an individual can  be possessed by more than one lust. Sadly, religious teachers can entice and exploit women in order to fulfull their own lusts.
• Apostle Paul warned us that people will forsake right scriptural teaching, but will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear (2 Tim 4: 3). This is why there are so called churches for homosexuals, ordaination of homosexual preachers etc, marriage of same sexes etc.These are just  examples.
• Lusts are ungodly and worldly and contrary to the kingdom of heaven (Titus 2: 12).
• Scriptures reveal that those who live in lusts are foolish, disobedient and deceived. For example,  the lusts of malice, envy, hatefulness , [and] hating one another are contrary to the way of  God (Titus 3: 3; 1 Pet 1: 14).
• Apostle James spoke of the process by which an individual allows lusts to enter the spirit - he/she  is enticed (baited is the greek meaning) or tempted(tested maliciously is the Greek meaning), deceived and drawn away.   Sin and death  result when lust has been conceived or put into action (James 1: 14, 15) .The temptation of Eve is a classic example. However, Jesus showed us in the  temptation in the wilderness that we can overcome  lusts  by abiding in the word of God, rebuking the devil and by desiring to do the will of God.

CONCLUSION

Lusts are contrary to the way of God, whether they are in the flesh, actions or thoughts. Those who live to please  God  will exhibit the fruit of God in their lives rather than the lusts of the  devil. Jesus taught that if the believer allows lusts to enter in, these lusts will choke the word, causing the believer to become unfruitful and die spiritually.

Do you prefer to  live a lifestyle of lust and die spiritually, eternally separated from God? The choice is yours. If you live to please God you will live. Blessings!

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1185&t=KJV

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3985&t=KJV

The lusts of other things also enter in and choke the word

Epithymia is the word that Jesus used in Mark 4: 19 for when He spoke of “the lusts the lusts  of  other things  entering in, choke   the word and it becometh unfruitful”.   The word lust can be generally defined as “desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust” (blueletterbible.org).  The word  epithymia  is used as follows in the New Testament:

 

1. Jesus identified lusts as the fruit in the lives of those whose father is the devil. You are the child of the one   you obey. Jesus identified lusts as murder and lying because the devil is a murderer and a liar (Jn 8: 44)

2. Apostle Paul spoke of sexual uncleanness as a lust and in particular the issue of homosexuality (Rom 1: 24)

3. Any sin  committed in the body is lust (Rom 6: 12; Rom 7: 8; Gal 5: 6)

4. covetousness (Rom 7: 7)

5. Lusts bring about corruption or death e.g HIV etc (Eph 4: 22)

6. uncleanness , inordinate affection, evil  concupiscence, and covetousness, which  is idolatry  (Col 3: 5).  The Greek words for these concepts indicate the following:

• Uncleanness  refers to the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living, impure motives
• inordinate affection  means depraved passion, vile passions
• evil concupiscence to desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust
• Colossians 3: 5 teaches that idolatry is a craving after another god

7. The lust for riches can cause people to fall into snares (1 TIm 6: 9)

 

Blessings and more to come

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1939&t=KJV

•  

 

What are the deceitfulness of riches in the parable of the sower?

1. INTRODUCTION

Yesterday the Lord showed me that riches were personified in the parable of  the sower:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful (Mt 13: 22).

When something is personified, it is represented as having personality or the qualities, thoughts, or movements of a living being (dictionary.com). The question is why did Jesus personify riches as being deceitful?   A word search revealed that apate is the Greek word for deceitfulness.  It is found only  7 times in 7verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV:

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful  (Mk 4: 19).

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (Eph 4: 22)

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Col 2:

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thes 2: 10).

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3: 18)

And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you (2 Pet 2: 13).

The preceding scriptures link the word apate with a noun which is personified as a result. For example, we learn about deceitful lusts, vain deceit, deceivableness of unrighteousness, deceitfulness of sin, sporting with one’s own deceivings. Deceitfulness is portrayed as a dangerous person who will bring about your:

• unfruitfulness
•  corruption
• spoilage (in the Greek it means to take you captive/bring you into bondage)
• destruction
• hardening/stubbornness
• self-deception

Apate comes from the Greek word apataō (G 538) which is found only three times in the New Testament:

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience (Eph 5: 6)

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression (1 Tim 2: 14).

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain (James 1: 26).

2.  What can we learn from apataō?

Satan is the root of deceitfulness. He used vain words to deceive or trap Eve into lusting after the forbidden fruit which c0uld refer to a literal fruit or some action that he offered that would bring about corruption. Satan deceived Eve into believing that something bad was really good for her. The wrath of God, separation from His presence, came on Adam and Eve as a result of their disobedience.

Now, Jesus is not saying that riches are bad. However, they  become deceptive when the love of m0ney lures an individual into doing evil

3. Biblical examples about the deceitfulness of riches

One of these is the rich young ruler. Jesus called him, but he left sorrowful because he was wealthy. His problem was that he valued his “great possessions”  more than following the Lord and therefore lost out for eternity (Mt 19: 16-22).

Judas was so greedy for wealth that satan tempted him to steal from Jesus’ money bag.  He eventually betrayed the  Lord for thirty pieces of silver. We know that he regretted his actions when he came to himself and committed suicide.

Solomon used his wealth to make wealthy connections that led him into idol worship and eventual loss of his kingdom.

The rich man hoarded his wealth and gave none for God, causing God to call him a fool and to kill him

Demas forsook Paul because he loved the “present world” and its wealth. What was his eternal fate – Hell or heaven? (2 TIm 4: 10)

According to scriptures, ”Abram [was] very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” (Gen 13: 2). He acquired his wealth in exchange for the capture of his wife by two wealthy rulers. Note that Jesus made him swear not to take any goods from the King of Sodom, who was a sodomite and a wicked man. The lesson is that we should not try to acquire wealth by any mean possible since God will not bless any thing that is corrupted by sin (Gen 14: 23).

Again, I recall the incident of Achan who took wealthy goods from the city of Ai, which Israel had been sent to destroy entirely. He brought a curse and death on himself and his family because he disobeyed God’s command that the Jews should not take any of the accursed things (Joshua 7)

4. JESUS ON RICHES

Jesus said that it is very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Is it because the rich have everything and become self sufficient, feeling that they need nothing else? This is what He said about riches:

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God

When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life (Mt 19: 23-29).

From the preceding conversation, I deduced that the disciples had been wealthy and before they had left their businesses to follow the Lord.  However, the Lord promised that the key to wealth is to follow Him first then He would bring the rewards, just as He had done for Abraham. The most important thing is to inherit eternal life. What good will riches after this life? One cannot take them to the grave. Why gain wealth and lose one’ s spirit in hell? Riches will lure the individual into wealth at any cost. However, God promises true treasures which we will do well to pursue.

God bless.

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1423&t=KJV

What did Jesus mean when He said that the word become unfruitful?

On September 8th at 5.10 pm, I was asked the question, “why does the word become unfruitful?” Here is one related text in which Jesus said:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful (Mt 13: 22).

Akarpos (Strong’s G175) is the word that Jesus used for  unfruitful. Strong’s says that its biblical usage means to be without fruit, barren, not yielding what it ought to yield.  To glean a greater understanding of the word fruitless, I searched further on  karpos (Strong’s/G2590) which is  the root word for akarpos. Karpos means  fruit or deeds produced by an individual that are evidence of an inner condition of the spirit. Here are examples of its usage:

1. Evidence of an inner  change or condition

John the Baptist told the people to bring forth therefore fruits or karpos meet or worthy for repentance. The NIV translates this as “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance  – Mt 3: 8.  Fruits therefore serve as markers or evidence of the condition of the spirit.  Karpos is also used in conjunction with the types of fruit produced by an individual. Fruit can be good (Mt 3: 10),  evil or  corrupt ( Mt 7: 17, 18).   Jesus said that we are known by the kind of fruit we produce.  He taught us that a  good tree will produce good fruit while a corrupt tree or spirit will produce corrupt fruit (Mt 7: 16-20)

2. Evidence of the holiness of God in the believer

The word Fruit (karpos)   is also used to  indicate  the evidence   of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (Galatians 5: 22, 23, Rom 6: 22). The virtues of righteousness and holiness are indicated by the word

karpos in scripture (Rom 6: 22; Phil 1: 11; Heb 12: 11; James 3: 18).

3. Karpos or fruit was also used by Apostle Paul  to denote good results in  the lives of the believers as a result of his  ministry among them  (Rom 1: 13).

4. Karpos is used for the words that come out of the mouth of the believer

Apostle Paul taught us that we should  ”offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit/akarpos  of [our] lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb 13: 15).  The ESV translation says that we should “… continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

We can draw on a reference from Old Testament scriptures  which reveal the power of God’s words. His word is compared to rain and snow that water the earth to cause it to bring forth fruit. God said that His word will not return to Him void (Isa 55: 10, 11). The believer who abides in  Christ will become a word bearing tree, operating in the same power to produce results when he/se speaks the word of the Lord.  The  Lord Jesus confirmed this by saying that we can speak to mountains and cast them into the sea. What is the word bearing ability of believers under our care?

5. The fate of unproductive trees

Jesus taught a parable that corresponds with that of the parable of the sower. In this parable, He spoke of a farmer who for three years tried to gather fruit from a fig tree. Seeing no result, he decided to cut down and burn the tree (Lk 13: 6-9).

6.  Summary on productivity

Any tree that abides or continues in Christ will become fruitful. His plan is that we should bring forth enduring fruit (John 15). God loves fruitfulness in the believer. Based on the usage of the words karpos and  akarpos, I will summarize by saying the following about the believer who was  choked by thorns:

•  does not produce a life resembling God. That is, he or she does not live a holy life
• that believer does not disciple others to follow Christ
• he/she does not speak  forth the word of God with power

Hope that you are challenged to become a fruit bearing tree, even as I have been. Blessings!

 

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G175&t=KJV

 http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2590&t=KJV

Cares of life are thorns which grow up and choke the spirit of some believers

I was impressed to write about the cares of life since Jesus identified them as thorns which choke the spiritual life of some believers.   Me’-rēm-nä is the Greek word for cares and it refers to cares and anxieties.  Strong’s concordance show that it is found six times in the following scriptures:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful  (Mt 13: 22).

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,and it becometh unfruitful (MK 4: 19)

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with caresand riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection (Lk 8: 14)

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and caresof this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares (Lk 21: 34)

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches (2 Cor 11: 28).

 Casting all your careupon him; for he careth for you (1 Pet 5: 7).

Messages found in  and emerging from the Greek word Me’-rēm-nä

1. In order to understand the meaning of cares of this life in the parable, let’s just read the messages with the stated meaning. We learn from Jesus that the cares of life choke the word when they enter the spirit. That means that the individual has allowed the cares to overwhelm them.  I wrote in the last post about the choking and drowning of the spirit by cares.
2. Jesus warned the believers that they could become so overcharged with the cares of life and miss the day of the Lord’s return. This is how serious it is to be come choked by cares.  Bä-rü’-nō/G925 is the Greek word that the Lord used for overcharged and it is found only in Luke 21: 34. Bä-rü’-nō means to be  weighed down. It comes from the root word bä-rü’s (G 926) which means heavy in weight, burdensome,  severe, weighty. 
3. Usage of  bä-rü’s (G 926) indicates that cares of  this life can result from the ministry of false apostles and prophets as well as the  religious burdens imposed by religious leaders:

Jesus warned the disciples thath the scribes and Pharisees bound people with grievious heavy burdens that they themselves did not carry (Mt 23: 4)

These religious leaders paid more attention to religious rites in a    very mean way and omitted the weightier matters of the law such as judgement, mercy and faith and kept the people in bondange and fear  (Mt 23: 23)

Apostle Paul also warned the believers to beware of   grievious (barys)  wolves (false propjets and apostles as) who would enter in to devour the flock after  his departure (Acts 20: 29). 

     4.  Barys/ G 926  also stems from the same root as G 922 whose usage again confirms the following:

• burdens or cares  can be placed on believers when they are forced to obey the law and not live by grace. This was the reference in Acts 15: 28 in which the Jerusalem Council decided that  the Gentile  believers should not be forced to keep the Jewish law as taught by false teachers since it was a burden to them.
• cares can result when ministers of the gospel are burdensome to others (1 Thess 2: 6)

5. The care of churches or administration of churches etc can choke the word even in Apostles. Do I need to say more?

6. Jesus does not want us to be overcharged with cares since they can choke the word and told us to  cast them on Him. Halelujah

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G925&t=KJV

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G926&t=KJV

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G922&t=KJV

Apostle Paul on the fate of spirits that produce thorns

I found a very interesting text in Hebrews 6 in which Apostle Paul also spoke about thorns (akantha/G 173):

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment

And God permitting, we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,

if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned (Heb 6: 1-8).

Apostle Paul dealt with several issues in these verses:

1. the need for the Hebrew believers to move from elementary school to a higher dimension of learning in things pertaining to Christ. The King James version renders Hebrews 1: 1 as follows: -  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (teleiotēs); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Teleiotēs is translated  as the state of the more intelligent and  moral and spiritual perfection. It is found only in one other text and that is Colossians 3: 14.
2. The Apostle also spoke about the falling away of believers who were once tasted the Word of God. Based on the Greek word, to fall away means to deviate  from the right path, to fall away (from the true faith): from worship of Jehovah (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3895&t=KJV)
3. Just as Jesus did, Apostle Paul compared the spirit of the believer to the earth or soil. Soil drinks in the rain or word of God in order to produce useful, good fruit.  
4. While the Lord Jesus said in the parable that the believer with thorns do not bring fruit to perfection, apostle Paul added in his letter that these individuals will be burnt. In fact,  although the Lord left the outcome hanging in this parable, we know from His other teachings that the eternal future of these individuals is not a pleasant one.  Jesus said that they will not enter heaven (Mt 7: 15-23); they will be burned with fire (Jn 15: 6).

My encouragement is to remain in Christ.  When I return in the will of the Lord, I will write about the thorns that the Lord Jesus spoke about in His parable. Blessings!

 

 

Which seed fell among thorns?

INTRODUCTION

We have spoken about the seed that fell by the wayside and on stony ground. Let us continue to interpret  the parable and discover which seed fell among thorns. Here are the reports given by the various writers: 

 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and hebecometh unfruitful (Mt 13: 7, 22).

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful (Mk 4: 7, 17,18).

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection(Lk 8: 7, 14).

COMMON THEMES

• This person hears the word. However,
• thorns spring up with the word and
• choked the word so that the hearer
• yielded no fruit
• Jesus said that the thorns are the care of this world, deceitfulness of riches, lusts of other things and pleasures of [this] life.

WHAT IS THE GREEK WORD FOR THORNS?

Akantha  (G 173) is the Greek word for thorns. I decided to define it because I had wondered if this was the same word that Jesus used when He spoke about false prophets and apostles. To my consternation, I discovered that this was so:

 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns (akantha), or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SPOKE OF THE THORNS?

I believe that there is a dual interpretation in the word thorns:

• The thorns are the care of this world, deceitfulness of riches, lusts of other things and pleasures of [this] life.  The seed that fell among the thorns were choked (apopnigō/G638). This Greek word is  used three times in the New Testament and is interpreted as drowned because it is used  in reference to the choking of  the swine into which demons entered:

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked/apopnigō  (Lk 8: 33) 

• Based on the comparison with Matthew 7, I also believe that the the seed fell among fall prophets, who the Lord described as wolves in sheeps clothing. Jesus said that they  are  thorns which cause injury, bring forth bad fruit and devour the sheep. Please read in “False Apostles” at the right to discover more on the danger of these so called ministers of the gospel.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HUMAN  SPIRIT  CHOKES AND/OR DROWNS?

In a choking incident, an object blocks the airways, preventing air from entering the lungs for gas exchange. Death can result if this is prolonged since  there is an interruption of oxygen delivery to the brain and other body organs.  A drowning is caused by immersion in water which results in interference with  breathing and subsequent deficiency in oxygen supply to the vital organs.   

It is possible to see in the parable that the spirit of the one that fell among thorns experiences  an interruption to its spiritual life source, so the spirit becomes spiritually dead.

This is indeed a terrible state to be in.

Blessings and more to come! 

 

REFERENCES

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G173&t=KJV

http://pppministries.wordpress.com/category/false-apostles/

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/other/drown_7/