Wednesday, February 10
Happy are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.
Why were Jesus’ disciples able to understand when others were not? Because they were willing to search for the real meaning behind Jesus’ words, build on what they had already accepted, and use what they had heard in their personal lives and in helping others. If we want to understand Jesus’ illustrations, we need to follow the example of his faithful disciples. First, we need to be willing to take the time to study and meditate on what Jesus said, to do the necessary research, and to ask the appropriate questions. This leads to knowledge. Next, we need to see how that knowledge fits in with what we already know, discerning its benefit to us personally. That results in understanding. Finally, we should use what we have learned, putting it into action in our lives. This shows wisdom on our part.
COMMENTARY
Whoever writes these daily text comments should follow their own advice. To start, here are a few “appropriate questions” to ask:
If the angels have already been sent forth to accomplish the harvest why are there still numerous stumbling blocks and persons practicing lawlessness among Jehovah’s Witnesses? After all, the angels are dispatched for the express purpose of removing all evil “out from his Kingdom,” yet according to the Watchtower the weeds were uprooted from the Kingdom back in 1914.
But in what way were churchgoers in the Kingdom? And why would it be necessary to remove them if the Bible Students were already a separate and distinct sect, as was certainly the case in 1914?
Also, if the weeds have been bundled up over successive generations since 1914, when may we expect them to be cast into the fire? If it is during the tribulation, as the Watchtower states, wouldn’t weed-like persons who had already been uprooted back in 1914 have to be resurrected first in order to be thrown into the figurative fire? Or are we to assume they have simply received the sentence of the second death already?
Another question: How have the weeds been made to weep and gnash their teeth? Do we see this phenomenon now among the throngs of churchgoers? Amazingly, the Watchtower asserts that to be true. Below is a quote from the March 15, 2010 Watchtower:
How do the weedlike ones weep and gnash their teeth? “The sons of the wicked one” are tormented by the fact that “the sons of the kingdom” have exposed the spiritually poisonous condition of these weedlike ones. They also bemoan the diminishing support they receive from their church members, as well as their loss of control over the laity.
Another question to consider: Since Jesus undoubtedly based his parables upon the reality of the natural world, where the harvest concludes the yearly cycle of planting and growing, how is it that in the Watchtower’s “understanding” the harvest, planting and growing season run concurrently?
Perhaps the most telling question is, if the Watchtower’s explanation of Jesus’ parable were common knowledge wouldn’t most people question whether Jehovah’s Witnesses were of sound mind, not only for accepting such nonsense, but for boasting of their unique understanding?
Obviously, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not understand the illustration of the wheat and the weeds. Furthermore, they are not allowed to even entertain such questions as posed here.
Unfortunately, no amount of research, study or meditating will work for them. The reality is, the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses are stone-blind. They can no more cure themselves of their spiritual blindness than could a person afflicted with literal blindness.
Ironically, the only remedy for their blindness will be the stunning presence of Jesus Christ. Then, “The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace.There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Let the one who has ears listen.”
