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Originally Posted by Igzy
The two parables about pearls aren't about mixture. Why are they there?
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The pearl is good, desirable. The field is the world; ruled by Satan. The pearl is hidden within the field. There are two kingdoms simultaneously presented. That of heaven is hidden within that which has been corrupted and usurped by the evil one.
I am increasingly thinking that "leaven" and "birds" in Matthew 13 are neither expressly good or evil; there is the leaven of Jesus, and the leaven of the Pharisees; there are both swallows and eagles and turtledoves, and also vultures.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
... if the parable of the leaven is negative, it certainly comes across as defeatist. If negative, it flatly says that the KoH is something that gets totally corrupted. Plain and simple, end of story, no explanation, no resolution.
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I see a meta-narrative, where the only "end of story" is in Revelation chapter 22. Until then you see angels fighting, tares growing along with wheat, pearls hidden in fields, and nets pulling up gross and ugly fish along with tasty trout.
One story which really opened my eyes to the idea of "mixture" is in Matthew 16: Peter expresses the Father, then three verses later expresses Satan. And this "mixed Peter" continues, even after the resurection, and after the day of Pentecost, etc.
Peter once asked, how many times he needed to forgive his brother? Hundreds, the Lord replied. Don't even bother counting. And this is how many times Peter was destined to offend the Holy Spirit. Peter, an apostle and disciple and chosen vessel of mercy destined to shine forever in glory, was temporarily on earth "leavened" by dark forces, and alternately displaying both kingdoms. There is a mixture in Peter, as in us all. So there are many "defeats", and repentances (I hope), and lessons learned.
After the resurrection Peter went fishing, and got rebuked. Later, he shrank back from the Judaizers who came "from James", and got dressed down publicly by 'junior brother Paul'. Etc. We all do this. We are spiritual lions one minute, and mice the next. We can go from "clear" to "cloudy" in the blink of an eye.
It ain't over 'till it's over. Ultimately there is victory. We are sure of it. Else why would we struggle?