[A Review of the December 15, 2014 Watchtower article on page 6]
“Listen to me, all of you, and understand the meaning.”— Mark 7:14
This Watchtower article introduces some welcome simplifications to the way we understand four of Christ’s parables, specifically, the “mustard seed”, the “leaven”, the “pearl of great value” and the “hidden treasure.”
However, a word of caution to the reader: As you go through the study, apply the advice in paragraph 2 to the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses just as you would to any other Christian denomination.
Why did many fail to understand the meaning of what Jesus said? Some had preconceived opinions and wrong motives. Jesus said of such ones: “You skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:9) These people did not really try to get the meaning of his words. They did not want to change their ways and views. Their ears may have been open, but their hearts were tightly shut! (Read Matthew 13:13-15.) How, though, can we make sure that our hearts remain open so that we can benefit from Jesus’ teaching?
Paragraphs 3 thru 6 offer excellent advice for evaluating all we learn and we would do well to follow it as well.
The Mustard Grain
“He presented another illustration to them, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard grain that a man took and planted in his field.’” (Mt 13:31)
What is a kingdom? The word comes by combining two words: “domain” and “king”. A kingdom is the domain of a king; that over which he rules. Therefore, that over which Christ rules is likened to a tiny mustard seed that grows to become the “largest of vegetable plants”.
All is well with this understanding until paragraph 8 where we state, “Since 1914 the growth of the visible part of God’s organization has been phenomenal!”[A] By this we teach that the mustard seed has grown into us, the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are, therefore, the kingdom of the heavens Jesus was referring to. Accepting this, we fail to see the problem it creates.
“. . .The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness,” (Mt 13:41)
Limiting the mustard seed to the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses make it equivalent to the kingdom of the heavens. Therefore, the application of the weeds and wheat must also be restricted to the Organization. This means that Jesus will collect out of his kingdom—the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses—all things causing stumbling and doing lawlessness.
Indeed he will, but his kingdom is the worldwide Christian congregation of which Jehovah’s Witnesses must be a part for the illustration of the Wheat and Weeds to make any sense. Therefore, the mustard seed cannot refer exclusively to Jehovah’s Witnesses. We just can’t have our cake and eat it too.
The Leaven
The application of this illustration makes sense if, as before, we do not limit it to the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses exclusively. Consider the point made in paragraph 9 about the work that Edwin Skinner did in India starting in 1926. The brothers studying this article will think about how the seed grew and the leaven reached 108,000 individuals in India in the past 90 years, but will likely not realize that the work of our zealous brother was only possible because there was a large segment of Christians already living in that country. With few notable exceptions, all our success in that country to date is to be found within that Christian community, currently numbering about 24 million. That Christian population has been growing steadily like a mustard seed and spreading quietly like leaven since the time of the first century. Jesus’ prophetic parables clearly have come true in that country, but only if we disregard our self-serving myopic vision of events. In fact, the ratio of Jehovah’s Witnesses to population—if we factor in only those claiming to be Christian—is similar in India to what it is in other countries like Canada or the United States.
The Traveling Merchant And The Hidden Treasure
The application of these two parables seems logical and true. It is certainly consistent with reality. Of course, with an organization-centric view of things, it stops with a person becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, for many of us, it was the realization that many of the “truths” we believed all our lives were not scriptural that initiated our search for the pearl. Realizing that the truth was out there for the discovering we set out, and upon discovering it, have sold all we possess to have it. When one considers how many of us have dedicated our lives to the goals of the organization, thinking they were God’s goals for us, one realizes the enormous investment we have in the life of a Jehovah’s Witness. It is, truly, all we possess. Now we realize that we don’t have the truth, but the truth is within our grasp. We have but to purchase it. And many have, without hesitation, ‘sold all their possessions’ (readily giving up their position, status, and at times, all associates, friends and family) to grasp hold of that single pearl—the real truth of God’s word.
In Summary
It must be acknowledged that for the average Jehovah’s Witness, considering that the pearl of great value is something other than membership in the Organization is apostasy. Those who would reject any of our teachings, no matter how insignificant, are viewed as resisting the spirit of God. We have our traditions and we will not accept it if they are challenged, no matter how sound the scriptural reasoning may be. To such ones we say—taking our words from paragraph 2 of this study—‘Why do many fail to understand the meaning of what Jesus said? Some have preconceived opinions and wrong motives. They skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep their tradition. They do not want to change their ways and views. Their ears may be open but their hearts are tightly shut.’
The evidence of this is that these ones repeat the conduct of the first century opposers of truth, upholders of religious orthodoxy, and supporters of the authority of the central governing body of that time. To them, Jesus said:
“However, if YOU had understood what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice,’ YOU would not have condemned the guiltless ones.” (Mt 12:7)
As back then, today many guiltless truth seekers are condemned for daring to take a stand and purchase the pearl of great value.
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[A] If we accept this statement as true, then we have to acknowledge that the growth of Mormonism, Adventistism, and Fundamentalism has been even more phenomenal. Such is the problem when one measures God’s blessing by the unscriptural standard of growth in numbers.
[…] This parable has been well covered by a previous article on the Beroean Pickets Archive. To read it, click on Listen and Understand the Meaning. […]
I have two JW publications where one States Satan planted the “Mustard Seed”, and the other states that Christ planted the ” Mustard Seed.” They are dated close to each other
“By this we teach that the mustard seed has grown into us, the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are, therefore, the kingdom of the heavens Jesus was referring to.”
That’s right. All this celebration of the kingdom (on its supposed 100th anniversary) is really just a celebration of us. We’re great, we’re beautiful, we’re the chosen ones.
Hi again A thought struck me yesterday, and I delved into it a bit more today. In the illustrations, Jesus tells us and anyone else who hears, that “The Kingdom of the Heavens are like …” and then, of course, we have the different analogies which He shares with us. For me, the key is “The Kingdom of the Heavens”. Therefore, I have a question. Where does the idea of the Kingdom message proposed in the article arise? For me, the message is a means to get something shared and delivered. The message of the Kingdom, for me, is a… Read more »
We went through mark 4 yesterday contains some of the same parables . I have read the watchtower and have just picked up on a few points . First of all i dont think the term illustration s is a good one . Illustrations .make things easier to understand and the purpose of these parables was not to make things easier to understand for the general populace but to hide the message . See matthew 13 v 10 and 11 . The parable of the sower and seed is the key parable for understanding gods word . For to really… Read more »
Oh meleti ive just read para 9 and 10 next week . Its shocking . Ill leave that one for you . .. kev
Thanks, Meleti; wondefully written. I appreciated your point about the traveling merchant selling all his belongings to purchase truth. I’m no longer serving as an Elder because I can no longer teach what is not the truth. I feel like a hypocrite going on the platform and agreeing with comments the friends make that I know are not scriptural. It hasn’t been easy because the body of Elders where I am now is putting pressure on me to serve again. I believe many brothers serving as Elders cherish their position more than they do truth, and will not even listen… Read more »
I sympathize with you and I’m sure our numbers are growing daily.
I know of a case where the body took great exception to a fellow elder applying Acts 5:29 as a principle to govern whether or not to obey the direction of the Governing Body. They felt that this scripture did not apply since the Governing Body spoke for God. To challenge them would be to challenge God himself. A truly mind-numbing degree of blindness.
Mind-numbing is right! I wanted to get up and leave the meeting yesterday after hearing the outrageous number of comments praising the GB and local Elders for the
“instructions” we’re going to receive during the GT. No mention of The Christ in any of their comments, as if he’s going to be in the bullpen just warming up, waiting to be called only if the manager really needs him. It appears to, Meleti, that we’ve become, not Christians, but Jehovists.
I would love to know what this life saving message is from the governing body of jehovahs witnesses . The revelation seems to suggest to me that true christians . Will be conquered by the wild beast and put to death before the end .revelation 6 v11 rev 11 v7 rev 12 v11 rev 12 v17 rev 13 v10 rev 13 v15 rev 17 v6 rev 18 v24 . As for the great crowd compare rev 7 v14 with rev 6v11 rev 12 v11 . Is there really a life saving message or do we have to prove faithful even… Read more »
Anonymous:
You and I may be thinking along the same lines in connection with the 144,000. See my posts here and here.
Bobcat
What i did notice in my research on revelation 6 v11 that the greek word for the full number of them is a different word than the one used at revevelation 7 where it says that the number was 144000 and then of the great crowd no man was able to number . This word is arithmeo which is familiar to us . To count . A literal number . The one used at rev 6 is pleroo . That means to fullfill or full up and perhaps not refering to a literal number and infact some translations leave out… Read more »
Thanks for bringing us this clarification.
To the brother who “stepped down” as an elder ( it should actually be “stepped up”), I thought I was the only one who felt like this. I served as an elder for a few years, I was a ms in a spanish congregation since 17. I “progressed” in the organization, but not true spiritual progress. Every convention I was used for speaking as Jehovah and Jesus mind had blessed me with the ability to speak in public. It has been one year since I decided that i would no longer serve as an elder because for too long Imwas… Read more »
On behalf of everyone behind the site, thank you for your words of encouragement. It helps us beyond measure to know that we are benefiting others and that all the hard work is not in vain.
Unfortunately again an example of speaking double tongues. In par. 3 it says: First, they were willing to ask questions and to search for the real meaning behind Jesus’ words. To what extend can JW’s ask questions and really search for the real meaning and what if that search leads to a completely different view on certain doctrines? The other so-called 2 reasons why the disciples understood has not really anything to do with their attitude. Both the second and third so-called reasons are shown to guide JWs to the GB teachings and to field service. Par 4 recommends: Next,… Read more »
Reblogged this on Jewish and Christian News.
Hi Meleti Thank you. I studied this piece just a short while ago today, and, as usual, I tend to put in my own thoughts and observations on the opening Scripture. And obviously, you tend to have a look at the complete verse, and maybe read the verses leading to and sometimes following that verse. And I would like to share my thoughts on this … This not only makes me think to really open my ears, but the brain and the mind and the heart – to get a more rounded meaning to what Jesus is teaching. And then,… Read more »
“Such is the problem when one measures God’s blessing by the unscriptural standard of growth in numbers.” I would just like to back this up with scriptural references. In plain language God says that he is unconcerned with the numbers: Deut 7:7 – The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples But IS concerned with those who are loyal to him, no matter how few they may be: 1 Kings 19:18 – “Yet I will leave 7,000… Read more »
Thanks Joel. This one is going in my “Scriptures to Remember” folder.
Not to mention ‘cramped is the road and few are the ones finding it’.