24/04/13

The Word of God

Luke 20:14 - But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.


In Luke 20 Jesus gave the Jews who questioned His authority the parable of the vine grows (v9-v16). In the parable a man gives his vineyard to the tillers and goes on a long journey. At the season he sends his servant to get the yield of the land and the tillers assault the servant and send him back empty handed. The master then sends another servant and that servant too is treated shamefully and sent back empty handed. Then again the master sends a third servant and that servant too is wounded and driven away. The fourth time the master sends not his servant but his son thinking they will respect him. But the tillers this time just wound the son but killed him hoping they would inherit the vineyard. Then Jesus asks the Jews would not the master when he comes destroy the tillers of the vineyard and give the vineyard to others?

I was meditating on this parable and have heard others preach on it and they implied the vineyard as the Kingdom of God, but in my heart I did not accept this understanding. Important aspects we need to note is the master sends 3 servants before he sent his son and then after taking the vineyard from the tillers he gives the vineyard to others.

When we look at the Bible we see this parable come true with the Word of God. If we look at the Old Testament it is largely divided into 3 parts Moses (Pentateuch), David (Psalms) and the Prophets (books of the Prophets), then came Jesus (Gospels) NT before the Word was taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles.

The Word of God was given unto the Jews (the children of Abraham). Frist came the servant Moses and the Jews made the Law given through Moses in to traditions of man and was called the Law of Moses. They did not keep the Law of God but kept the Law of Moses which was nothing but traditions of man. They did the same with the book of Psalms and the books of the Prophets. These books too they did not understand nor live it in their lives.

Later the Lord sent His Son who was the perfect manifestation of the Word in the flesh. Him these Jews did not accept but killed Him. The Jews always believed that God was their property and the Word of God was given unto them alone. No one other than a Jew would have rights to scriptures or the Word of God.

Jesus then says those who go against the Word will be broken into pieces and against whom the Word goes would be made dust.

Jesus was the Word manifested in the flesh. His Word was rejected and today His Word has become the corner stone for mankind. Any person who is part of the Kingdom of God has only one corner stone to which he or she has to align their lives and that stone is the Word of God and we can see this Word as a living example in Jesus Christ.

The Hebrew words translated as word and connected to God are the words 'dabar', 'imrah', 'emer' and 'peh'. Each one gives different rendering to the aspect of the communication. One means talk, promise, command another broadcast (comes from the root meaning to scatter to all corners) like an announcement, proclamation and another expression or thoughts. When the Angels referred to the Word of God they called it the Words of Life (Acts 5:20). In the book of Moses it is also called the Book of Covenant / Law and in the book of Prophets it is called just Book or Instructions.

When Jesus said eat my flesh, He did not refer to His human flesh. It is only by our understanding of the Hebrew word 'basar' which means flesh and its root meaning which is tithing or preaching then we will know what Jesus meant. We may break bread physically in remembrance of Jesus Christ, but unless we do not eat (make part of us) His message we will not have life in us.

It is only when we understand the Hebrew words used, understand the books in the Bible and why man is different from other creatures, how the image of God is in us and the difference of the Word of God is in us and in the man Jesus Christ then only we will know how Jesus is a perfect manifestation of the Word. Then only will we have the real understanding of John 1:1-5.

The Word of God is also referred to as Manna (meaning what it is). The Jews never understood the Word of God but were possessive of it and since they had no understanding of it they abused the Word and did traditions in the name of keeping the Word.

When God gave them Manna to eat, unless the Manna was processed they were not to eat it. The communication given by the Lord needs to be processed in us and only when it is processed in us will it becomes a source of life. Jesus called the processed Word of God in us as Rivers of Living Water.

The Bible is like Manna many read it but do not understand it. When I started reading it, it was like a history book for me. It was only when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit the words of the Bible became Life in me and the Word became a Living Word. It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us process the Word and He brings us to the true understanding of the Word of God and makes it Word of Life in us.

Let us not be like the Jews hardening our hearts and not giving the yield of the Word. By our believing in Jesus Christ we are given the Holy Spirit. Let us let the Holy Spirit work in us and process the Word in us such that out of our bellies flow Rivers of Living Water that gives life unto others also.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray people do not eat Manna as the Jews ate the seeds that fell from the sky. Lord, we pray your people know the value of your Word and how it can transform us and bring live in us. That they know your Word is Life...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 20:9-16

Acts 5:20 - Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 7:38 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

John 6:58 - This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 6:51 - I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:53 - Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)