- *G1470 *1 ἐγκρύπτω (eng-kroop'-to) : from G1722 and G2928 κρύπτω; to conceal in, i.e. incorporate with:--hid in.
- ενεκρυψεν
- Matthew 13:33 ... which a woman took, and hid in three measures ...
- *G2928 *18 κρύπτω (kroop'-to) : a primary verb; to conceal (properly, by covering):--hide (self), keep secret, secret(-ly).
- εκρυβη *4
- Luke 19:42 ... peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
- John 8:59 ... him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of ...
- John 12:36 ... Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
- Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his ...
- εκρυψεν *3
- Matthew 13:44 ... like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for ...
- Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in ...
- Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took ...
- κρυβηναι *2
- Matthew 5:14 ... on an hill cannot be hid.
- 1 Timothy 5:25 ... otherwise can not be hid.
- εκρυψας
- Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, ...
- κεκρυμμενα
- Matthew 13:35 ... in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
- κεκρυμμενω
- Matthew 13:44 ... like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for ...
- εκρυψα
- Matthew 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in ...
- κεκρυμμενον
- Luke 18:34 ... this saying was hid from them, neither ...
- κεκρυμμενος
- John 19:38 ... a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, ...
- κεκρυπται
- Colossians 3:3 ... and your life is hid with Christ in God.
- κεκρυμμενου
- Revelation 2:17 ... to eat of the hidden manna, and will give ...
- εκρυψαν
- Revelation 6:15 ... and every free man, hid themselves in the dens ...
- κρυψατε
- Revelation 6:16 ... on us, and hide us from the face ...
20. Matthew 13:33 Encryption
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"κρυπτός" ≈ "hidden, secret" and is from the ancient Greek word
"κρύπτω" ≈ "hide, cover" and whose meaning may have been influenced by the ancient Greek word
"καλύπτω" ≈ "cover".
This Greek word for
"hide" is part of the Greek word for
"Revelation" which means
"uncovering" or
"revealing" as in a
"revelation" (the Latin word).
21. Revelation 1:1 Revealing an uncovering revelation
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: [kjv]
αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη [gnt]
The Greek word for "
hide" is part of the Greek word for
"Revelation" which means
"uncovering" or
"revealing" as in a
"revelation" (the Latin word). The name of the book of Revelation comes from the Greek word for
"uncovering". That ancient Greek word
"ἀποκάλυψις" ≈ "disclose, reveal" and comes from two Greek words.
- The ancient Greek word "ἀπο" ≈ "away from" which has the idea of separation from.
- The ancient Greek word "καλύπτω" ≈ "cover" which appears to be related or have influenced the meaning of the ancient Greek word "κρύπτω" ≈ "hide" as in the English words "cryptic" and "cryptographic".
22. Encryption
23. Usage - hide
*G1470 *1 ἐγκρύπτω (eng-kroop'-to) : from G1722 and G2928 κρύπτω; to conceal in, i.e. incorporate with:--hid in.
*G2928 *18 κρύπτω (kroop'-to) : a primary verb; to conceal (properly, by covering):--hide (self), keep secret, secret(-ly).
 |
Words: εκρυβη=4 εκρυψα εκρυψαν εκρυψας εκρυψεν=3 ενεκρυψεν κεκρυμμενα κεκρυμμενον κεκρυμμενος κεκρυμμενου κεκρυμμενω κεκρυπται κρυβηναι=2 κρυψατε
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24. Usage - hid
*G1470 *1 ἐγκρύπτω (eng-kroop'-to) : from G1722 and G2928 κρύπτω; to conceal in, i.e. incorporate with:--hid in.
*G2928 *18 κρύπτω (kroop'-to) : a primary verb; to conceal (properly, by covering):--hide (self), keep secret, secret(-ly).
It is interesting that the Matthew word appears
only here while the word used in Luke appears
many places in the
GNT.
The literal meaning in Matthew reminds one of
"encrypt" while the Luke word reminds one of
"crypt". Might there be some
"encryption" process by which the true word is being transformed into a
"leavened" word?
- How might someone hide "leaven" in "flour" without anyone noticing?
- How might someone hide "false doctrine" or "false teaching" in "true doctrine" or "true teaching" within the (written) word of God without anyone noticing?
- Knowing this would happen, how might Jesus have encoded (e.g., using steganography) unnoticed hints that this would happen?
25. Encrypting the word
Here are some possible ways that
"false doctrine" might be
"encrypted" or
"hidden" in the
"true doctrine".
- Change the meanings of the words.
- Mis-translate the words.
- Redefine the words
- Control who can read the original writings.
- Prohibit anyone from publishing any translations.
- Provide approved interpretations of all writings.
- Claim that the translation used is the one and only true word of God.
Exercise: Provide other ways to
"encrypt" or
"hide" the true word/teachings within the true word/teachings.
Modern way: Pick an English translation that
changes the original Greek and then allow people to think that this translation does
not change the original.
26. Usage - chart
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Words: εκρυβη=4 εκρυψα εκρυψαν εκρυψας εκρυψεν=3 ενεκρυψεν κεκρυμμενα κεκρυμμενον κεκρυμμενος κεκρυμμενου κεκρυμμενω κεκρυπται κρυβηναι=2 κρυψατε
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27. Matthew 13:33 Three measures of meal
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
An interesting part of this parable is the
"three" "measures" of
"meal".
The ancient Greek word
"σατα" ≈ "measure" may be from the Hebrew word
"סאה" ≈ "measure". The ancient Greek word
"τρία" ≈ "three" and is related to the English word
"three".
Greek allows a flexible word order. Why might the word order matter?
- "three" "measures" (English, more common word order for Greek)
- "measures" "three" (less common Greek word order used here)
In the local area, Aramaic (Hebrew) terms for places, landmarks, geographic features, measures, etc., would have made their way to Greek, usually by transliteration.
28. Haggai 2:16 Measure
Haggai 2:16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. [kjv]
τινες ητε οτε ενεβαλλετε εις κυψελην κριθης εικοσι σατα και εγενετο κριθης δεκα σατα και εισεπορευεσθε εις το υποληνιον εξαντλησαι πεντηκοντα μετρητας και εγενοντο εικοσι [lxx]
Jesus used an uncommon measure called the
"sata". The only other place that the ancient Greek word
"σατα" ≈ "measure" appears is in Haggai in the
LXX (Septuagint).
In Haggai, as is usual, the Greek has "
twenty measures" and not "
measures twenty".
- Haggai 2:16: "twenty measures" (normal phrasing).
- Matthew 13:33: "measures three" (not normal phrasing).
Other common measures include the "
omer" and the "
ephah".
29. Haggai 2:16
KJV: Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
Hebrew: מהיותם בא אל ערמת עשרים והיתה עשרה בא אל היקב לחשף חמשים פורה והיתה עשרים׃
Greek: τινες ητε οτε ενεβαλλετε εις κυψελην κριθης εικοσι σατα και εγενετο κριθης δεκα σατα και εισεπορευεσθε εις το υποληνιον εξαντλησαι πεντηκοντα μετρητας και εγενοντο εικοσι
30. Measures
Exodus 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. [kjv]
το δε γομορ το δεκατον των τριων μετρων ην [lxx]
Leviticus 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. [kjv]
ζυγα δικαια και σταθμια δικαια και χους δικαιος εσται υμιν εγω ειμι κυριος ο θεος υμων ο εξαγαγων υμας εκ γης αιγυπτου [lxx]
Common measures include the "
omer" and the "
ephah".
31. Exodus 16:36
KJV: Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
Hebrew: והעמר עשרית האיפה הוא׃
Greek: το δε γομορ το δεκατον των τριων μετρων ην
32. Leviticus 19:36
KJV: Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Hebrew: מאזני צדק אבני צדק איפת צדק והין צדק יהיה לכם אני יהוה אלהיכם אשר הוצאתי אתכם מארץ מצרים׃
Greek: ζυγα δικαια και σταθμια δικαια και χους δικαιος εσται υμιν εγω ειμι κυριος ο θεος υμων ο εξαγαγων υμας εκ γης αιγυπτου
33. Matthew 17:27 Temple tax coin
Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. [kjv]
ινα δε μη σκανδαλισωμεν αυτους πορευθεις εις θαλασσαν βαλε αγκιστρον και τον αναβαντα πρωτον ιχθυν αρον και ανοιξας το στομα αυτου ευρησεις στατηρα εκεινον λαβων δος αυτοις αντι εμου και σου [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"στατήρ" ≈ "weight, standard, stater coin". This
"stater", often translated as
"piece of money", was originally a weight of precious metal but eventually became known as a silver or gold coin of various values.
The "
temple tax" was "
two drachmas". For
two this would be a
"four drachma". Some modern Greek translations use the Greek for
"quad drachma". Jesus used the word for
"stater".
34. Matthew 13:33 Stater coin
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
There is an interesting possible pun-like connection to the ancient Greek word
"στατήρ" ≈ "weight, standard, stater coin". This word appears one time in the
GNT and not in the
LXX.
35. Strongs - measures
- *G4568 *2 σάτον (sat'-on) : of Hebrew origin (5429); a certain measure for things dry:--measure.
- σατα *2
- Matthew 13:33 ... and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
- Luke 13:21 ... and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
- *H5429 סְאָה (seh-aw') : from an unused root meaning to define; a seah, or certain measure (as determinative) for grain:--measure.
36. Usage - measures
For the conspiracy theorist, the ancient Greek word
"σατα" ≈ "measure" is a proper prefix of the ancient Greek word
"σατανά" ≈ "Satan".
*G4566 Σατᾶν (sat-an') : of Hebrew origin (7854); Satan, i.e. the devil:--Satan. Compare G4567.
*G4568 *2 σάτον (sat'-on) : of Hebrew origin (5429); a certain measure for things dry:--measure.
 |
Words: σατα=2
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*H5429 סְאָה (seh-aw') : from an unused root meaning to define; a seah, or certain measure (as determinative) for grain:--measure.
*H7853 שָׂטַן (saw-tan') : a primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse:--(be an) adversary, resist.
*H7854 שָׂטָן (saw-tawn') : from H7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good:--adversary, Satan, withstand.
37. Matthew 13:33: Woman's hat
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
The number "
three" creates connections with the "
Trinity" - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Which trinity?
The form used here is
"measures" "three" with the number after the
"measures". This form creates a play-on-words with the ancient Greek word
"σαταρίς" ≈ "woman's headdress".
One historical example would be the pointed conical hat used in some Catholic areas called the Capirote. Originally for punishment, it was later adopted as a badge of honor. This style of hat was later adopted by organizations such as the
KKK (Klu Klux Clan).
38. Play on words
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
Here are some play on word possibilities for (less usual)
"measures" "three". These do not work for the (more usual)
"three" "measures" or with another word for
"measures".
Can you think of ways that these allusions might be
"encrypted" in the
"wheat" or
"meal"?
☐ Greek: σατα τρια (sata tria) as "measures three" (as written)
☐ Greek: σαταν τρια (satan tria) as "satan three"
☐ Greek: σαταρίς τρια (sataris tria) as "woman's headress three"
☐ Greek: στατηρα τρια (statira tria) as "temple tax coin three"
☐ Greek: στατηρα (statira) as "temple tax coin"
The allusions meld together and need not be exact. The Greek for
"wheat" or
"meal" appears to be a play on word allusion to "
freedom".
39. John 8:31-36 The true reality of a free wheat harvest
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [kjv]
και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμας [gnt]
… cognoscetis veritatem … veritas liberabit … [v]
The ancient Greek word
"ἐλεύθερος" ≈ "free" as in
"freedom"
What might this often quoted verse mean?
- What does it mean to "know" something?
- What is "truth"?
- What does it mean to be "free"?
The
"make" is inferred and not in the Greek.
- As stated: You shall know the truth and the truth shall free you.
From what shall knowledge of the truth free you?
40. Historical interpretation of church history
 |
 |
 |
The probability that all three would be ordered together is 1 in 5040*5040*5040 or 1 in 128,024,064,000 ≈ 128 billion.
|
Some people prefer to just use church history to help remember the order of the churches, parables and beatitudes.
The horizontal scale is time. The vertical scale is the proportion that history evidences the traits of those verses. The historical interpretation is like a linear combination in mathematics in that what the verses say is more valid in some time periods than other time periods.
The probability that any
7 objects would be ordered at random in a given order is
7! =
7*6*5*4*3*2*1 or
1 in
5040. Note that there were many more possible churches or parables or beatitudes than used by Jesus.
In the historical interpretation, the parable of the leaven fits the time of the Catholic Church from after becoming the church of the Roman Empire until the Reformation.
41. Three grouped parables
Kingdom parables:
- 1. Sower
- 2. Wheat and tares
- 3. Mustard seed
- 4. Woman and leaven
- 5. Treasure in a field
- 6. Pearl of great price
- 7. Nets into the sea
- 8. Scribe and householder
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 |
The "
enemy" as the
birds snatched up the seed in parable 1 and appears to have deposited the changed
seed as
weeds in parable 2.
The
birds nest in the mustard
tree in parable 3. The
false doctrine gets mixed in parable 4. Is the woman a seed, a bird, a weed or something else?
Might there be a reason why parables 2 (wheat and tares), 3 (mustard seed) and 4 (woman and leaven) have been grouped together?
- Wheat and tares starts at verse 24.
- Woman and leaven stops at verse 33.
42. United Methodist Apostle's Creed
Versions:
Traditional Ecumenical
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker creator of heaven and earth;
And I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and was buried;
he descended to the dead
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
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and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come and will come again
to judge the quick living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
|
The
"catholic church" means the
"universal church" and
not the Catholic Church.
43. Acts 4:18 Catholic Church
44. Acts 4:18
KJV: And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Greek: και καλεσαντες αυτους παρηγγειλαν αυτοις το καθολου μη φθεγγεσθαι μηδε διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου
45. Ignatius: Letter to the Smyrnaeans

Early church father
Ignatius of
Antioch first uses the phrase
"catholic" "church" in his letter to the Smyrnaians in about 175 AD.
English: Wherever the bishop appears, there let the congregation be; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church. (Holmes, 2007, p. 255)
Greek: Ὅπου ἂν φανῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ἐκεῖ τὸ πλῆθος ἤτω, ὥσπερ ὅπου ἂν ῇ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ἐκεῖ ἡ καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία. (Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, 8.2)
In the historical interpretation, Ignatius writes this during the time of the "
wheat" and the "
tares". Some things are good. Some things are
not good.
46. Letter
This letter, and others, have many ideas that violate the principle of the parable of the wheat and tares. Throughout history, the Catholic Church has gone around pulling up (torturing, executing, etc.) what it claims are tares in violation of the parable of the wheat and tares.
This is related to fault tolerant computing theory where one needs to assume that the process itself can have errors or may go bad. Jesus builds these ideas into his guidelines but these guidelines are not always followed.
 |
Details are left as a future topic.
|
47. Interesting connection
48. Matthew 13:28 Nightmare
Matthew 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [kjv]
ο δε εφη αυτοις εχθρος ανθρωπος τουτο εποιησεν οι δε αυτω λεγουσιν θελεις ουν απελθοντες συλλεξωμεν αυτα [gnt]
There appears to be a play on words here.
- "ἔφη" ≈ "he said" (affirming or denying something)
- "αὐτοῖς" ≈ "to them".
Combining these words one has the following which would sound somewhat similar.
- "ἐφιάλτης" ≈ "nightmare" which relates to a "throttling demon". This word does not appear in the GNT.
49. Interesting connection
Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. [kjv]
εν δε τω καθευδειν τους ανθρωπους ηλθεν αυτου ο εχθρος και επεσπειρεν ζιζανια ανα μεσον του σιτου και απηλθεν [gnt]
13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
"καθολικός," ≈ "universal" is from
"καθόλου" ≈ "at all" is from:
- "καθ" ≈ "according to" and
- "ὅλος" ≈ "whole, all".
- Verse 25 start: "καθεύδω" ≈ "lie down to sleep, be still, be idle"
- Verse 33 end: "ολον" ≈ "whole" as in "the whole lump" (verse 33)
Verse 25 has the beginning of "
catholic" near the beginning and verse 33 has the ending of "
catholic" at the end. Is this just
random chance or might this have been on purpose?
50. All gone
The English word
"all" and makes no distinction as the Greek does.
- Question: Is there any bread left?
- Answer: No, it's all. (Pennsylvania rural saying, perhaps from the French)
- Question: All what?
Apparently, it goes without saying!
That is, the saying goes without saying gone.
What did the husband say when the wife told him that she saw a fox on the way to work?
Husband: Where does the fox work?
51. Matthew 13:24
KJV: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Greek: αλλην παραβολην παρεθηκεν αυτοις λεγων ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω σπειροντι σπειραντι καλον σπερμα εν τω αγρω αυτου
52. Matthew 13:25
KJV: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Greek: εν δε τω καθευδειν τους ανθρωπους ηλθεν αυτου ο εχθρος και εσπειρεν επεσπειρεν ζιζανια ανα μεσον του σιτου και απηλθεν
53. Review: Matthew 13 Woman and leaven parable 4
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake 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. [kjv]
αλλην παραβολην ελαλησεν αυτοις ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον [gnt]
Discussion: Is there any possible connection between the following?
☐ woman
☐ headdress
☐ false doctrine (encrypted)
☐ coins (wealth)
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☐ aspects of Satan
☐ historical context
☐ large church organization
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The Greek for "
hide" or "
encrypt" is a word similar to the Greek word for "
bake". If "
wheat" is "
baked" before the "
leaven" rises, the "
leaven" (false doctrine) can appear as "
unleavened" (true doctrine).
This fourth parable comes right after the third parable about the mustard seed growing into a tree and the birds.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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54. Matthew 13:31-32 KP3 Parable of the mustard seed
Matthew 13:31 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: [kjv]
13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [kjv]
The
"mustard seed" :
- is not the "smallest" of all "seeds".
- is not the "greatest" of all "herbs".
- grows into a bush, not a tree.
The
"birds" do
not (usually) nest in small bushes. Are the
"birds" good? What is a
"mustard seed"? What does a
"tree" represent?
The
KJV translates as
"least" the Greek word that means
"smallest". There is another Greek word for "
least".
55. Matthew 17:20 Faith as a mustard seed
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [kjv]
Some preach that "
faith as a mustard seed can move mountains".
- What is a "mountain"? Is moving a "mountain" (always) a good idea?
- Is this "any" mountain or the one and only "this" mountain?
- Is the "faith" or "belief" (same word in Greek) good, bad or indifferent?
- The "unbelief" is used for the Greek word "small belief".
- What is a "mustard seed"? Is that "faith" or "belief" "small" or "large"?
The verse does
not answer these questions.
56. Matthew Mustard seeds and moving mountains
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [kjv]
21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. [kjv]
The word
"mustard seed" , in growing into a "
tree", connects with
"this" "mountain". How much
"faith" is needed? Is moving
"this" "mountain" a good idea?
Moving
"this" "mountain" changes the location. Moving it into the
"sea" destroys/dissolves it.
Are we supposed to be moving mountains? Should we be telling it on the mountain?
57. End of page