Seder 113: Numbers 14:22---"...these ten times"

 On the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai, God showed great patience with the Israelites, who understandably had difficulties adjusting to life in the wilderness as a nation with no fixed address.  But when the Israelites continued complaining after a year at Sinai, he imposed appropriate disciplinary measures.  

By his point God had done many mighty works on their behalf, and they were accountable for what they had experienced. These were people, he said, "who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice" (Num 14:22).  

This is one of several instances in the Bible where a reference is made to someone doing something "ten times" (see Ge 31:7, 41; Neh 4:12; Job 19:3).  This is a figure of speech that expresses the idea of someone doing something repeatedly.  So in Numbers 14:22, it wasn't that God was stating the results of a precise tally of Israelite faithlessness.  He was pointing out that the complaints went on continually and showed no signs of letting up.    

But since the biblical narrative mentions lots of examples, it's not surprising that lists of ten items have been compiled with examples that are recorded in the text. Here is one such list:

1. The complaints on the banks of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:11-12.
2. The grumbling about bitter water in Exodus 15:24.
3. The grumbling about lack of food in Exodus 16:2-3.
4. Trying to save up manna overnight--on a day other than Friday--in Exodus 16:19-20.
5.  Trying to gather manna on the Sabbath in Exodus 16:27.
6. Grumbling about lack of water at Rephidim in Exodus 17:2-3.
7. The golden calf (Exodus 32).
8. Complaints at Taberah in Numbers 11:1-3.
9. Demands for meat in Numbers 11:4-6.
10. Calls to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt in Numbers 14.1-4.

Seder 112: Numbers 13-14---Caleb and Hebron

The journey from Sinai was proceeding slowly.  Moses had his eyes set on the good (tov in Hebrew) awaiting them in the Promised Land, but too many of the people were focused on perceived negative aspects of their situation (ra in Hebrew).  The camp apparently spent a month at Kibroth-Hataavah and an extra week at Hazeroth.  The overall mindset of the group would have to change for progress to Canaan to be possible.     

So it was worth it for Israel to stay put for another 40 days while a group of 12 tribal leaders took a tour of the Promised Land.  If they could communicate to the group the attractions of the land, the people's minds could be changed.  

One of those attractions was the nearby town of Hebron, where Abraham had spent much time, and where the patriarchs and matriarchs were buried at Machpelah.  The idea of returning to the place where the bones of their ancestors lay had the potential to capture the imaginations of the Israelites.  

Jewish tradition (e.g., b. Sotah 34b) says that this potential was realized for just one of the scouts---Caleb.  The tradition is based on a couple of biblical passages.  One is Numbers 14:24, where God promises that Caleb's descendants would possess the land "into which he went."  Caleb later was granted Hebron (Joshua 14:6-15).  

The other is Numbers 13:22, where the Hebrew says that "they went up into the Negev, and he came to Hebron."  The conclusion is that "he" refers to Caleb, perhaps the only one of the group who bothered to visit Machpelah.  

Seder 111: Numbers 11---A Divinely-Hosted, Punitive Banquet

 Shortly after the Israelites began their journey from Mount Sinai to Canaan, some Israelites began demanding meat to relieve the monotony of their diet (Num 11:4-6).  The complaints were driven by lust rather than need, but those complaints quickly escalated.  

Seeing disaster on the horizon, Moses' interceded on behalf of the people and asked for help (vv 11-15).  In answer to this plea for assistance, God instructed Moses to tell the people, "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat..." (v 18).  

These instructions remind us of Exodus 19:10-11, where God commanded that the people be consecrated in preparation for his appearance at Sinai on the third day.  In this case, God would be hosting a sort of banquet for the Israelites, providing the meat for which many had been clamoring.  

God went on to say that this banquet had a special purpose.  He would give them meat for a month so that they would eventually get sick of it and realize the error in their lustful ways (vv 19-20).  

Marveling at the extent of the complaining in the camp, Moses wondered whether all the meat in the world would satisfy the people's cravings.  God assured him, though, that he had matters under control (vv 21-23).  

The meat came in the form of quail that fell around the camp.  In a kind of frenzy the people hurried to gather as much as they could (vv 31-32).  Verse 33 reports, "While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague."

Commentator Michael Morales explains that here God was not tricking the Israelites, inviting them to eat and then zapping them when they tried to do so.  Psalm 78:29-31 pictures the plague coming before they had finished eating but after they had already had plenty to eat.  In addition, it is likely that the people had not really "consecrated themselves" for the occasion.  Targum Pseudo-Jonathan says that they did not give thanks for the food.  

The location of the banquet became known as Kibroth-Hataavah  ("graves of craving") because of those who died from the plague.

Seder 110: Numbers 10-11---A Jarring Transition

 The first ten chapters of Numbers describe the organization of the Camp of Israel and Israel's preparations to depart from Mount Sinai.  An ideal picture is presented of the camp, which is modeled after God's heavenly camp.  Each tribe---indeed, each individual---contributed to the group effort and had a place in the camp.  With God in their midst, the camp was to be ritually and morally pure, as taught in Numbers 5-6.  

These chapters of Numbers also describe how the Israelites would break camp and travel.  The tribes, grouped into four groups of three tribes each, would arrange themselves in a set order.  The tribe of Levi was in charge of taking down, transporting, and then setting up the tabernacle in a new location.  

The nation would know where and when to travel by following the guidance of the divine Cloud that accompanied them (Nu 9:15-23).  More detailed direction would be provided by the priests through signals given by holy silver trumpets.  

The camp departed from Sinai early in the second year of the Exodus, on the twentieth day of the second month.  Their jubilant and orderly departure is described in Numbers 10, which pictures their travel as a kind of liturgical procession or victory march.  

After the beautiful ideal picture of Numbers 1-10, we start to read about the realities of Israel's wilderness journey in Numbers 11.  The nation leaves Sinai with the same set of problems which they brought there.  Complaints soon begin, then spread and escalate.  God, who had dealt patiently with the traumatized former slaves in the early stages of the Exodus, now imposes firmer discipline (Nu 11:1-3). 

Moses, who had been looking forward optimistically to Israel's arrival in the Promised Land, is shocked by what transpires.  Complaints are growing, putting the Israelites on a course for disaster.  He is at a loss to know how he can change the hearts of the people, which is what is needed to put the journey back on track.  And so he turns to God, asking for help.  He confesses his dilemma and reminds God of his promises and his ultimate responsibility for the project (Nu 11:10-15).

Passover 2026: Isaiah 53:10: "When His Soul Makes an Offering for Guilt"

"When his soul makes an offering for guilt," we read in Isaiah 53:10, part of Isaiah's famous Suffering Servant prophecy.  The word for "offering for guilt" is asam, the name for one of the kinds of sacrifices offered at the tabernacle or temple.

Scholars today, following Jacob Milgrom, often refer to this type of sacrifice as a reparation offering.  Most English translations use "trespass offering" (KJV) or "guilt offering" for this kind of offering, but there are some variations.  CEB uses "compensation offering" and HCSB uses "restitution offering."  

In chapter 3 of The Gospel According to Isaiah 53, Walter Kaiser notes that a reparation offering is usually offered by an individual and makes sure that a debt is paid in full.  These qualities are appropriate for the sacrifice offered by the Messiah for the sins of mankind.   

Reparation offerings were called for in cases of "desecration of sancta"---that is, when something holy had been mishandled or mistreated (Lev 5:14-6:7).  One example would be a situation where someone accidentally ate food that had been set aside for the Levitical priests (Lev 22:14).  In that case, one would bring a reparation offering and make reimbursement for the food, adding a fine of 20 per cent.  

Another example was a situation where a Nazirite accidentally came in contact with a dead body (Num 6:9-12).  In that situation the holy thing that had been defiled was the Nazirite's hair, which was being prepared for an offering at the completion of the vow.  

A third example was a situation where one person robbed another and then came to regret it and wanted to make things right (Lev 6:1-7).  Here the thing that had been violated was a fellow Israelite, one of God's holy people.  In this case the stolen amount was restored along with a 20 per cent fine, and a reparation offering was carried out.  

A fourth example was the reinstatement to the Israelite community of a person who had been suffering from a skin disease.  The skin disease had desecrated a member of God's holy nation.  The ritual carried out in this case (Lev 14:12-18), which involved sprinkling of blood, restored the person to the "kingdom of priests." 

More broadly, Israel's exile was a desecration of Israel.  The Servant offered himself as a reparation offering so that Israel could be restored to the holy status of God's servant.  

In Isaiah 53:8, God says that the Servant was "stricken for the transgression of my people."  The word for "stricken" appears 78 times in the Old Testament, 61 of them in Leviticus 13-14, the chapters on skin diseases.  The prophecy pictures the Servant becoming a "leper" for the sake of the people.  Its references to the marred appearance of the Servant (52:14; 53:2-3) are consistent with such a picture.

Another detail that could tie in is in Isaiah 52:15, which says that the Servant will "sprinkle many nations."  As mentioned above, the ritual for restoring a person healed of a skin disease involved sprinkling of blood.  Overall, the prophecy pictures the Servant as both leper and offering for the leper, making atonement for "leprous" nations.

Passover 2026: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and the Gospel

 The "suffering servant" prophecy in Isaiah 52:13-53:12, with its picture of substitutionary atonement, is foundational for Christianity.  

The Gospels indicate that this prophecy shaped Jesus' self-understanding.  In Luke 22:37, Jesus says that Isa 53:12, which describes the servant as "numbered among the transgressors," would be fulfilled in him.  Earlier that same evening he explained to his disciples that the wine of one of the cups of Passover represented "my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt 26:28).  Here his language also reflects Isaiah 53:!2, which says that the servant "poured out his soul to death" and "bore the sin of many."

Jesus' disciples initially resisted the idea that he, the Messiah, would be put to death in Jerusalem (Mt 16:13-23), but they came to understand that Jesus indeed would be the suffering servant.  Peter, who protested against this idea when he first heard it, later held up Jesus' example of sacrificial love as one for his disciples to emulate, using Isaiah 53 (1 Pe 2:18-25).  In verse 22, Peter quotes Isaiah 53:9 ("there was no deceit in his mouth") in reference to Jesus.  He makes several more allusions to Isaiah 53 in the ensuing verses.  

Matthew sees Jesus' healing ministry as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4 (Mt 8:14-17).

Many people have come to faith in Jesus the Messiah through the powerful words of Isaiah 53.  One example from the first century is the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.  Philip uses Isaiah 53 to explain the Gospel to the eunuch and lead him to baptism (Ac 8:26-40).  

Paul recognized in Isaiah 52:!5 a prophecy of the Gospel going to the nations (Romans 15:21.).  John and Paul both saw in Isaiah 53:1 the fact that there would also be resistance to that revolutionary message (John 12:38; Rom 10:16).  Paradoxically, Jesus' being "lifted up" on the cross would be an exaltation and a victory (Isa 52:14; John 12:32).  

I recommend the book The Gospel According to Isaiah 53 for more on the amazing message of the Suffering Servant.

Seder 109: Shedding Light on Numbers 8:1-4

 The beginning of chapter 8 of Numbers records instructions from God that Moses is to relay to Aaron:

"Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand" (verse 2).  

Once the lamps were lit, they illuminated the bread of the presence on the adjacent table.  Michael Morales observes that this is sort of a visual representation of the Aaronic blessing.   Through the mediation of the high priest, God's face (represented by the menorah) shines on the twelve tribes, represented by the bread of the presence.  So the light from the menorah represents God's blessing of the nation and the work of the high priest on behalf of the nation.    

It is interesting to ask why this particular instruction to Aaron is mentioned at this particular juncture in the narrative.  After all, similar instruction about the menorah has already been given in Exodus 27:20-21 and Lev 24:1-4.  

One answer is that Numbers 8:1-4 is a natural follow up to the gifts of the tribes to the Levites and the altar described in Numbers 7.  The oil for the lamp is an ongoing gift from all the tribes to the work of the tabernacle, so Numbers 8:1-4 is connected to Numbers 7.  

On the other hand, the menorah passage is followed by a description of the cleansing of the Levites in the rest of Numbers 8, so verses 1-4 fits right into a discussion of the work of the tribe of Levi on behalf of the nation.  Numbers 8:1-4 is a sort of "hinge" making the transition from Numbers 7 to Numbers 8.

Seder 108: Investigating Psalm 108 in Canonical Context

 Psalm 108 is an often-neglected psalm.  Its first five verses are largely a repetition of Psalm 57:7-11, and verses 6-13 come from Psalm 60:5-12.  To save space in long commentaries on the psalms, commentators frequently treat Psalm 108 briefly by saying, "See my comments on Psalm 57 and Psalm 60."  

In a recent dissertation, Wyatt Graham takes a close look at Psalm 108, paying attention both to the slight changes the psalm makes in the material from Psalm 57 and Psalm 60, and to the placement of this psalm within the psalter.  With regard to the placement of Psalm 108, Graham observes that Book IV of the psalter ends in Psalm 106:47 with a plea for restoration from exile.  The at the beginning of Psalm 107, those redeemed from exile rejoice and give thanks to God (107:1-3).

Then Psalm 108 follows with David's confident prayer and statement of God's sovereignty, with a promise that God will again bring victory to his people in the future.  After that come the imprecatory Psalm 109, which has traditionally been associated with the betrayal of the Messiah: and Psalm 110, which pictures the Messiah ascending to the right hand of God and serving as a priest like Melchizedek.  Graham sees Psalm 108 contributing to the Psalm 108-110 trilogy., which looks forward to the coming of the Messiah to bring salvation and further restoration.   

The superscriptions for Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 associate those psalms with particular times in David's life when God was with him.  In Psalm 108, David seems to be looking ahead and anticipating future deliverance.  We can see Psalm 108 fitting into the overall "story" being told by the psalter as a messianic prophecy.

Seder 107: Numbers 6:22-27---Numerical Patterns and Pronoun Ambiguity in the Priestly Blessing

The literary beauty of the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:22-27 has often been observed.  In the three lines of the blessing, there are 

• three Hebrew words in line 1, five in line 2, and 7 in line 3;
• 12 syllables in line 1, 14 in line 2, and 16 in line 3;
• 15 consonants in line 1, 20 in line 2, 25 in line 3.

Commentator Michael Morales notes that three of the words in the blessing are the divine name.  There are 12 additional words, he says, "reflecting YHWH's presence among the twelve tribes of Israel."

This section concludes with a summary in verse 27:  "So shall they put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them."  In context, "they" in "so shall they" refers to Aaron and his sons, the priests.  In "I will bless them," the pronoun "them" could presumably refer to either the priests or the Israelites in general.  As Kyle Kettering pointed out in a sermon at Church of the Messiah on March 14, 2026, it is a great privilege to be used by God to bless others.

Seder 106: Samson---An Anomalous Nazirite

Usually a Nazirite undertook his or her vow voluntarily, for a specified period of time, and had to carefully avoid contracting ritual uncleanness through contact with a human corpse.  

But it was different in the case of Samson in Judges 13-16.  In what may have been the first recorded prenatal dietary counseling, the angel of the Lord announced to the wife of Manoah, 

"Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.  No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (Jdg 13:3-5).

Samson's mother went on to explain to her husband that "the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death" (verse 7).  So Samson had no choice in the matter.  He would be a Nazirite, and not just for some short specified period, but for his entire life.  

We might also tend to think of a Nazirite as someone who would achieve some measure of self-control through abstinence from alcohol, and who would seek to develop a strong relationship with God.  But Samson ended up being a violent, passionate warrior who had difficulty curbing his desires and did not possess much spiritual awareness.  

During his time as a warrior he was in frequent contact with dead bodies, leading some to conclude that in his special case, he was exempt from the normal Nazirite requirement to avoid human corpses.  Otherwise he would have needed to cut his hair and restart his vow frequently (Num 6:9-12), which he does not seem to have done (Jdg 16:17).  Samson was not your typical Nazirite.

Seder 105 and 106: The Message of Numbers 5-6

 In the book of Numbers, narrative sections are interspersed with ritual and moral instruction.  For example, in Numbers 1-4, the camp of Israel is organized.  Then the narrative pauses in chapters 5-6 for instructions on ritual purity in the camp (5:1-4), reparation offerings (5;5-10), a case where a husband becomes jealous after his wife has been alone with another man (5:11-31), instructions for a Nazirite vow (6:1-21), and the priestly blessing (6:22-27).  On a first reading, the arrangement can seem rather random.

However, commentators have discerned an underlying structure in Numbers 5-6.  Michael Morales explains that Numbers 5-6 deals with the spiritual state of the Israelite camp:  

• 5:1-4----ritual purity of the camp.
• 5:5-10---purity in the realm of society.
• 5:11-31---purity in marriage and family.
• 6:1-21---purity of individuals before God.
• 6:22-27---purity in these realms leads to blessing from God going out through the camp.

Morales also sees in the juxtaposition of 5:11-31 and 6:1-21 a contrast between two possible paths for Israel, God's bride.  Israel can either stray from God, like the wife in 5:11-31; or Israel can grow in relationship with God, like the Nazirite in chapter 6.  

Moreover, Morales sees Israel functioning as a kind of Nazirite during its wilderness sojourn.  In the wilderness Israel does not have access to wine or grape products, but they are living with God in their midst and have an opportunity to draw closer to him.

Seder 104: Isaiah 45:15-25---The Only Source of Salvation

 Isaiah 45:15-25 declares that the God of Israel is the one true God, the only source of salvation.  Anything else that humans might worship is something created by God.  One day everyone will submit to God.  

Christians and Jews agree on these things when they read Isaiah 45. But there also are differences in the way they understand this passage.  

For Christians the one God is triune.  The passage emphasizes salvation, and Yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus, means salvation.  Christians have always affirmed that one day all will submit to God by submitting to Jesus (Phil 2:9-11).    

Jews disagree, and in response to persecution by Christians have sometimes identified the "wooden idols" and "god that cannot save" in verse 20 with the cross and Jesus.

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on February 21, 2026, Kyle Kettering discussed the relationship between these two religions that have a tremendous amount in common along with important differences.  He posted a quote from Daniel Boyarin:  "Judaism in all its forms and Christianity in all its forms were part of one complex religious family, twins in a womb, contending with each other for identity and precedence, but sharing to a large extent the same spiritual food, as well."  

Christians from the nations owe much to the Jewish people, as the apostle Paul reminded his congregations (Eph 2:1-13; Rom 11:17-24).  Paul also foresaw a reconciliation between these brother religions in the future (Rom 11:25-36).  In the meantime, Christians can promote reconciliation by loving the Jewish people.  

Seder 104: Psalm 90---Moses' Humble Prayer for Wisdom and Mercy

 The superscription of Psalm 90 identifies it as "a prayer of Moses, the man of God."  Psalm 90 is the only psalm attributed to Moses, but a midrash on this psalm (90.3 in Midrash Psalms) proposes that Psalms 90-100 were all written by Moses and relate to the eleven tribes that he blessed in Deuteronomy 33.  This midrash relates Psalm 90 to the tribe of Reuben, seeing a call to repentance in Psalm 90:3:  "Return, O children of man!"  Psalm 91 is linked with the tribe of Levi, which "dwells in God's shadow" in its work at the tabernacle and temple.  Psalm 92, with its emphasis on singing praises to God, is associated with the tribe of Judah.  

Moses begins by praising God as eternal creator, ruler, and protector (verses 1-2).  Human beings, on the other hand, have a fleeting existence and are prone to sinfulness (verses 3-11).  Our proper response to this reality is to submit to God and learn wisdom (verse 12).  Moses also prays for mercy, and asks for help so that we might accomplish something of value in our short lives.  

We recognize Moses' humility (Nu 12:3) in this prayer. He learned much about God, human nature, and reality during his life, and we see these things in Psalm 90 as well.

Seder 104: Numbers 3:1---The Twelfth "Toledot Verse"

 Numbers 3 begins, "These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time that the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai."  

Numbers 3:1 has the same form as eleven verses in the book of Genesis that begin, "These are the generations of...;" or, in the case of Genesis 5:1, "This is the book of the generations of..."  All of these verses feature the Hebrew word toledot ("generations").  They focus the narrative on particular families.  Commentator Michael Morales observes, "By use of the toledot formula the Pentateuch's narrative builds a highway from Adam (as archetypal priest) to Aaron the high priest (as cultic Adam)..."

There is a thirteenth toledot verse in Ruth 4:18:  "Now these are the generations of Perez..."  The final paragraph of the book of Ruth traces the line of Judah (and of the Messiah) from Perez to David.  

In the Christian Bible there is a fourteenth toledot verse in Matthew 1:1, which has wording that echoes Genesis 5:1 in the LXX:  "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ..."  It's wonderful that this turns out to be the fourteenth one, given the importance of the number 14 in the genealogy of Matthew 1.  Rob Wilson of Church of the Messiah has often pointed out the significance of Matthew 1:1 as a toledot verse.

Seder 103: Luke 11; Matthew 12, 16----The Sign of Jonah

 In the Bible a "sign" is something, miraculous or otherwise, that carries a message.  Prophets can be signs, for example.  Isaiah says in Isaiah 8:18, "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion." 

Recall that Isaiah's children had special names.  The name of his son Shear-Jashub (Isa 7:3) conveyed the message that Judah would suffer exile, and a remnant would return.  (The name means, "a remnant will return.")  The name of his son Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz predicted that Damascus and Samaria would soon fall to the Assyrians (Isa 8:1-4).  

A generation or so before Isaiah, Jonah was another prophet who was a sign.  Jesus stated that "Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh" (Lk 11:30).  The Ninevites responded to Jonah's warning of coming judgment with sincere repentance (Jonah 3:4-5).  

An important aspect of the sign of Jonah is the fact that Jonah was rescued from death after being swallowed by a giant fish.  Jesus stated that this miracle pointed forward to his own coming resurrection from the dead (Mt 12:38-40).  

What was it about Jonah that made him a sign to the Ninevites?  Old Testament scholar Eugene Merrill addresses this question in an interesting 1980 paper.  

Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II of the northern kingdom of Israel (793-753 BC).  He was from Gath-hepher (2 Ki 14:25), about 3 miles northwest of Nazareth.  

Merrill explains that Assyria faced a number of external and internal challenges during the first half of the eighth century BC.  Perhaps their difficulties during this period made them more receptive to Jonah's message than they might have been otherwise.  

Merrill also points out that the name "Nineveh" seems to have meant something like "Fishtown," and there were legends that "Assyria's arts and sciences were brought from the Persian Gulf by a half-man, half-fish deity called in the Greek Oannes" (p. 27 of the paper).  Given this background, we can see why the Ninevites would have been interested to hear from someone who had been regurgitated by a large fish.  Was Jonah's God more powerful than Oannes?  

At Church of the Messiah on February 14, 2026, Kyle Kettering gave a sermon on the sign of Jonah and signs in general.  In Matthew 16:1 Jesus, who had performed many miracles, was asked for a "sign from heaven.''  Those who asked him may have been hoping for some encouraging news about when Israel's restoration would come.  Jesus replied that they should have been better able to discern "the signs of the times" (verse 3).  They were in a time, like that of Jonah, when repentance was called for.  People who understood the signs of the times would heed Jesus' message, as the Ninevites had heeded Jonah (verse 4).  

When we look at the times we live in, we see lots of discouraging things.  Kyle encouraged us to set an example that would be a positive sign to those around us.  

Seder 102: Psalm 29---Praising God and His 7 Thunders 18 Times

 Psalm 29 is a song of praise.  Commentators mention that it is written in the style of the Ugaritic Baal Cycle and propose that it was written to emphasize that the God of Israel is the real "storm god", not the Canaanite deity Baal.

With its mention of the voice of God shaking the wilderness in verse 8, this psalm has been associated with God's Sinai revelation and with the festival of Shavuot/Pentecost.  At Sinai God was said to have been accompanied by his heavenly host, which is encouraged in verse 1 to praise him.  Rashi's interpretation of Psalm 29 reflects an association with Sinai and Pentecost.

On the other hand, the superscription for this psalm in the Septuagint reads, "A psalm of David commemorating the feast of Exodus, of the temple" (Lexham English Septuagint).  The "feast of Exodus" here is the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast associated with Israel's wilderness sojourn.  At the Temple the recitation of this Psalm accompanied sacrifices on Yom Teruah and at the Feast of Tabernacles, according to the Talmud (b. Rosh HaShanah 30b; Sukkah 55a).  One can see how the references to rain and storms in the psalm would go with the prayers for rain that were part of Sukkot celebration during the Second Temple period.  Scholar Bert Polman points out that the sevenfold reference to the voice of God in the psalm could go well with the seven trips around the altar taken by the water libation procession on the seventh day of the Feast.   

There is an interesting midrash on Psalm 29 which builds on the fact that the name of the God of Israel is mentioned 18 times in the psalm, the same as the number of sections in the Jewish Amidah prayer.  The midrash says that David wrote the psalm as a sort of "call and response" song, basing this interpretation on Deuteronomy 32:3:  "For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!"  Every time the psalm praises the name of God, the congregation is to respond with its own praise in the form of the corresponding section of the Amidah.

Esther Menn and David Sandmel give a good explanation of the midrash in an article from a book giving a variety of perspectives on Psalm 29.  

This book describes a number of interpretations and traditions related to the psalm.  A chapter on patristic exegesis explains that early church fathers saw in verse 3 a reference to the voice that came from heaven when Jesus was baptized as the power of the Holy Spirit descended on him (Mt 3:16-17 and parallels).  

Some traditions are associated with the seven times that the "voice of the Lord" sounds in the psalm:  For example:

• The seven thunders of Revelation 10:2-4 often have been seen as a reference to them.
• Roman Catholics have related them to the seven sacraments.
• Protestants have associated them with gifts of the Spirit.

Seder 101: Judges 11---More on Jephthah and his Vow

 The account of Jephthah's rash vow in Judges 11 leaves readers shaking their heads, as I have noted previously.   Before going to battle against the Ammonites, he promises God, 

"If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (Jdg 11:31).    

When Jephthah returns victorious, it is his daughter who greets him, and he ends up carrying out his vow (verse 39).  Commentators are of two opinions on what he ends up doing.  In particular, the medieval Jewish commentators fall into two camps, as Shera Aranoff Tuchman explains.  Some, like Rashi and Ramban, go with the majority view that Jephthah kills his daughter, engaging in human sacrifice.  Others, like Abarbanel and Radak, believe that she lives a kind of cloistered existence in service to God, never marrying.  (I lean toward the majority.)  

What all agree on is that this vow should never have been carried out.  Some argue that the vow is incoherent, since a number of the creatures that would come to greet Jephthah do not belong to the category of sacrificial animals.  In any case, any person dedicated to God could be redeemed according to the guidelines laid out in Leviticus 27:1-8.  God, of course, hates human sacrifice (Lev 20:1-5, e.g.)

Because the laconic narrative leaves us with lots of questions, it is natural to propose possible scenarios about what happened.  One thing that is communicated in Judges 11-12 is that Jephthah was an argumentative, stubborn kind of guy who came from a tough background and didn't have much knowledge of what God was like or what God wanted from him.  It's possible that a priest or Levite tried to teach him but found him unwilling to listen.  

One problem that is evident in Judges is a vacuum of leadership and spiritual guidance from the priests and Levites.  This could be the fault of negligent teachers, unwilling students, or most likely a mixture of both.  Jephthah was not the only Israelite who ignored the Torah during the period of the Judges.

There is a midrash on Judges 12:7 suggesting that God punished Jephthah for his disobedience.  As the ESV footnote mentions, the MT in this verse says that when Jephthah died, he was buried "in the cities of Gilead."  How can a person be buried in a number of cities?   The midrash proposes that God struck Jephthah with a disease that caused him to lose one body part at a time.  The parts were then buried in the towns where they fell off.  

Seder 100: Lev 26:26 and Matthew 14:13-21---Reversing a Curse by Faith

 In Leviticus 26 the Israelites are told that if they turn their backs on God's covenant, God will discipline them with hardships that will escalate if they persist in rebellion.  One of the hardships is famine, as described in verse 26:  

"When I break your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven and shall dole out your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied."

This verse pictures a group of people having to share an amount of food that is only enough for a tenth as many people.  The Israelites could avoid this kind of scenario by turning to God in repentance (vv 40-45).  

The punishments listed in Leviticus 26:14-39 were the opposites of  blessings that would come to the Israelites in the Promised Land.  We can contrast the famine in Leviticus 26:26 with the blessings described by Moses in Deuteronomy 8:10:  "And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you."  

Israel would continue to receive such blessings if they maintained their faith in God.  In particular, they would be blessed for taking care of those who were in need--Dt 14:29; 26:12.  Note the example of Ruth, who was helped by Boaz, in Ruth 2:14:  "So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain.  And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over."  

Another interesting example is in 2 Kings 4:42-44, where a man brings a firstfruits offering to the prophet Elisha.  Elisha has the man share the food with a large group.  Even though the group is large, there is enough food for everyone, with some left over.  In contrast to Leviticus 26:26, people ate are were satisfied.  

The miracle in 2 Kings 4:42-44 prefigures Jesus' feeding of 5000 in Matthew 14:13-21, where 5 loaves and 2 fish fed a large crowd, with much left over. In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on January 24, 2026, Kyle Kettering focused on this miracle to illustrate what can be accomplished when we place our trust in God.  

Seder 100: Leviticus 26:3-13---Interlocking Categories of Blessing

 In Leviticus 26:3-13, God presents to the children of Israel a vision of what is possible for them if they embrace his covenant with them.  Sharon Rimon summarizes the promised blessings under five headings (A-E below).  These five are interspersed with some additional blessings (a)-(d). 

A.  Productivity of the Land (vv 4-5)

      (a). "and dwell in your land securely" (v 5)

B. Peace and Tranquility (v. 6)

      (b). "and the sword shall not go through your land (v 6)

C. Victory over Enemies (vv 7-8)

D. Human Fertility (v 9)

     (c). "and will confirm my covenant with you" (v 9)

     (d).  "You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new" (v 10)

E. God's Presence with his People (vv 11-12)

Rimon points out that items (a)-(d) function as bridges between categories of blessing.  Dwelling in the land securely is made possible by the productivity of the land.  When crops are good, people are not forced to sell their land or travel elsewhere in search of food.  And dwelling in the land securely is part of living in peace and tranquility.  So item (a) is a sort of bridge between A and B.  

In (b), the sword could stand for fighting among Israelites, which would disrupt peace and tranquility; or it could stand for attacks from enemies and relate to victory over enemies.  Item (b) links B and C.

The reference to the covenant in verse 9 could have in mind the promises of the Abrahamic covenant, including the promise of numerous offspring (Ge 15:5, e.g.).  On the other hand, it also connects with the enhanced relationship with God described in category E.  Item (c) is connected to both D and E.

Verse 11 relates to productivity of the land as well as to the fact that God will provide food for a larger number of people as the population of Israel increases.  Item (d), then, relates to both A and D.  

The structure of verses 3-13 as outlined by Rimon suggests that wholeness (shalom) has several interrelated facets, all of which need to be present for blessing to be complete.  It is this complete blessing that God desires for his people.  "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, Open you mouth wide, and I will fill it," God declares in Psalm 81:10.  "Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!" he adds.  "I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes" (verses 13-14).

Seder 99: Leviticus 25:38-43---Slaves of God

 Leviticus 25 instructs the Israelites that they are not to mistreat impoverished members of their community.  Verse 42 gives an important reason for this instruction:

"For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves (ESV).  

When God delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery, they changed masters.  Instead  of being slaves to the Egyptian Pharoah, they were slaves of God.  As a result, Israelites were not to be slaves to any other master.

Dr. Edwin Yamauchi has shown that the metaphor of being a slave of a deity was a familiar one in the ancient world.  In particular, it is used in both the Old and New Testaments.

Interestingly, English translations of the Bible traditionally have hesitated to use the word "slave" in this way.  In the King James Version, the words slave or slaves are only used a couple of times (Jer 2:14; Rev 18:13).  Yamauchi explains that at the time when this translation was carried out, the word "slave" in English tended to be restricted "to the extreme case of a captive in fetters."  

English has changed a lot since 1611, but English translations have tended to stick to the word "servant" rather than "slave" when talking about a believer's position of submission to God.  We see this, for example, in the verse quoted above, Leviticus 25:42, where the same Hebrew word is translated "servants" and "slaves."   

In the New Testament, there are a number of words for "servant" but only one word for "slave"---doulos.  Modern English translations typically will use "slave" to translate doulos when servitude to another person, or to sin, is in view.  However, servant is usually used for doulos in the case of a doulos to Christ or to God.  

There are historical reasons for the hesitance of English Bible translations to embrace this metaphor. In Britain and the United States, we are still wrestling with our history of slave-holding.  

What does it mean to be a slave of God?  New Testament scholar Murray Harris explains that a slave is "someone whose person and service belong wholly to another."  Slavery to God involves 

• humble submission to him.
• unquestioning obedience to his will.
• an exclusive preoccupation with pleasing him.

This is an accurate description of some important aspects of our relationship with God, so there is no reason to shy away from identifying ourselves as "slaves of God" or "slaves of Christ."

Ths is, of course, not the only metaphor used for our relationship with God.  In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on January 117, 2026, Kyle Kettering reminded us that we are also friends of Christ (Jn 15:14-15) and adopted children of God (Gal 4:1-7; Rom 8:14-17).

Seder 98: Matthew 13:44---The Treasure in the Field

 The thirteenth chapter of Matthew's Gospel records a number of parables of Jesus about the nature of God's kingdom.  One of them is in verse 44:

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.  Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

As Kyle Kettering explained in a sermon at Church of the Messiah on January 10, 2026, the parable is about someone who comes to see that submitting to God's reign is the highest priority in life, coming ahead of everything else.  Following God opens up to us a world of freedom, including freedom from want and fear.  

Kyle also mentioned that some have worried about possible ethical problems in the scenario presented in the parable.  Is it such a great idea to search through someone else's field and bury the treasure that one finds there without telling the owner of the field?  But with parables, we can miss the point if we get bogged down in the incidental details.  Jesus wasn't proposing that we go looking for items worth lots of money on other people's property.  

Symbolic readings of parables are often not the best option.  As an example, Kyle mentioned an interpretation of the parables in Matthew 13:44-46 given by popular dispensationalist teacher Warren Wiersbe (see Be Loyal, his commentary on Matthew).  Wiersbe saw in the parable of the hidden treasure Jesus' work to save the people of Israel, God's treasured possession (Ex 19:5).  He viewed the parable of the pearl of great price as representing Jesus' work on behalf of the church.  This is an imaginative reading that carries some lessons, but probably isn't what Jesus was talking about.  

Seder 98: Isaiah 24-25---Eschatological Destruction, Then Restoration

 In the late eighth century BC, the kingdom of Judah was threatened by the powerful and cruel Assyrian Empire.  Isaiah urged the kings and people of Judah to place trust in God, rather than in political alliances with neighboring nations, to deal with this threat.

Isaiah also had messages to convey to these other nations---e.g., in chapters 13-23.  All of them were accountable to the God of Israel for their conduct and would one day face judgment.  The messages to the other nations also spoke indirectly to Israel:  If God rules all nations, in whom should Israel be relying?

Chapter 24 goes even further, showing that God does more than just respond to what Middle Eastern nations do.  As the creator of all things, he can "uncreate" if he chooses.  Isaiah 24 presents a picture of universal destruction.

The Hebrew word eretz appears repeatedly in Isaiah 24.  This word can refer either to the whole world or specifically to the land of Israel.  It might appear initially that verse 5, with its references to laws, statutes, and the everlasting covenant, is mainly about Israel.  But in this chapter, the thrust is universal. All nations are accountable for basic morality, as Romans 1:18-32 implies.  In this context, the "everlasting covenant" in view could be the Noahic covenant. 

Several things in Isaiah 24 point to an eschatological setting, including

• the reference to "on that day" in verse 21;
• the judgment of "the host of heaven"---rebellious heavenly beings---who are punished after being "shut up in a prison" for "many days" (vv 21-22);
• the reference to heavenly signs in verse 23.

Verses 14-16 picture rejoicing and praise to God for his justice.  On the other hand, the prophet mourns the suffering that will be involved (vv 16-18).  

The judgment described in chapter 24 will bring a number of people to repentance.  In Isaiah 25:1-5, God is praised not just by the righteous, but also by "strong peoples" and "ruthless nations" (verse 3). 

 Judgment in chapter 24 is followed by hope and restoration in chapter 25.  Isaiah 25:6-9 pictures a future messianic banquet for all nations, with the defeat of sin and death.  Those who repent and submit to God will celebrate, while those who remain in rebellion are described as swimming in liquid manure (vv 10-12).  

Some of the themes and imagery of Isaiah 25 are picked up in the final chapters of the book of Revelation, which describes the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7-9) as well as the contrasting fates of those who choose life and those who choose death (20:6, 14; 21:8; 22:11).  

Seder 97: Psalm 52---Trust in God's Faithfulness and Justice

 Most of the psalms do not come to us with information about the original occasion of their composition.  But some do.  In particular, some psalms linked to events in the life of David are clumped together in Book 2 of the Psalter in Psalms 51-52, 54, 56-57, 59-60, 63.

The arrangement of these psalms does not seem to be random.  In his book The Message of the Psalter, David C. Mitchell mentions the observation of medieval commentator David Kimchi (a.k.a. Radak) that  Psalms 52 and 54 deal with trials faced by David when he was fleeing from Saul, while Psalm 53 in between affirms that God made his kingdom stand firm in the face of these trials.  

Psalm 52 expresses confidence that God will judge the wicked and uphold those who place their trust in him.  The song's superscription gives a face to the wicked person described in verses 1-4, associating this wicked man with Doeg the Edomite, whose words and actions were responsible for the deaths of 85 priests and much of the rest of the population of Nob (1 Sa 21-22) during the reign of King Saul.

"Why do you boast of evil. O  mighty man?", David begins his prayer.  I sense that there are implied air quotes around the phrase "mighty man."  Doeg may think that he is mighty in having so many killed, but he should be aware that "the steadfast love of God endures all the day."  

This is not the only place in the Bible that refers ironically to "mighty men."  Isaiah 5:22 says, "Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink."

David continues, "Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit" (verse 2).  He adds in verse 4, "You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue."  Certainly Doeg caused great harm with his words.  

The midrash on Psalm 52 includes reflection on the harm that can be brought about through malicious speech.  The passages quoted include

• Proverbs 18:21---"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."
• Psalm 34:13---"Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit."
• Proverbs 21:23---"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."

The sages observe that those who engage in slander are denying God's authority, based on Psalm 12:4.  They also say that slander is more damaging than murder, since slander destroys three people---the speaker, the listener, and the subject of the slander.  Doeg's speech is given as an example.  It led to the deaths of Ahimelech (1 Sa 22:16), Saul (1 Ch 10:13), and eventually Doeg himself (Ps 52:5).

David closes the psalm with faith and confidence.  "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God...I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly" (verses 8-9).  Note that it is "in the house of God" and "in the presence of the godly" that David says he will flourish.  In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on January 3, 2026, Kyle Kettering emphasized the importance of a church community for the growth and flourishing of disciples of Jesus.  

Seder 96: Joel 3---A Harvest of Judgment

A number of biblical passages speak of harvests of salvation.  Jesus used this kind of metaphor in John 4:34-38 and Matthew 9:35-38.  

Harvest imagery is also used in the Bible in prophecies of eschatological judgment.  For example, Joel 3 looks ahead to Israel's restoration in the Day of the Lord and the judgment of nations that have oppressed her.  In verse 13 we read, "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread, for the winepress is full.  The vats overflow, for their evil is great."  Commentator David A. Hubbard explains, "The wickedness...of the nations is so great that they are as ripe...for judgment as grapes would be for harvest at the peak of their season."

Other passages that use similar imagery for judgment are Isaiah 63:1-6 and Revelation 14:14-20.  In his Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Joel and Amos (1989), Hubbard notes that the passage in Revelation 14 "draws heavily upon this scene in Joel."

Seder 95: Questions about Leviticus 22:28

 Leviticus 22:28 states, "But you shall not kill an ox and a sheep and her young in one day."  Since this commandment appears in the middle of a section of rules on sacrifices, one question that has been raised about it is whether it applies to all slaughter of animals, or just to animals that are sacrificed.  Jewish halakhic tradition says it is the former. (b. Hullin 78a).   

Another question has to do with the rationale for this rule, which appears right after the stipulation that a sacrificial animal must be at least eight days old (verse 27).  One proposal to explain both verse 27 and verse 28 is that the love of a mother animal for her offspring is one of the highest and "most human" aspects of the life of an animal, and that human use of animals should honor this aspect and not blot it out.  An animal sacrifice should not disrespect the animal's self-sacrifice for her offspring.  

In general, the Bible teaches kindness toward animals.  In Proverbs 12:10 we read, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel."  Midrash Tanchuma  sees in Proverbs 12:10 a contrast between God's mercy in Leviticus 22:28 and the cruelty of the wicked as exemplified by the Assyrian Empire.  Hosea 10:14 states that  "mothers were dashed in pieces with their children" by Assyrian military forces.  We are to imitate God and not the cruel Assyrian monarchs.  

Provisions like those in Leviticus 22:28 and Deuteronomy 22:6 may also have sustainability in mind.  If some kind of animal is overharvested, there is danger of its becoming extinct.  This is not just a trendy concern of the present moment.  Such concerns were raised, for example, by Ramban (Nachmanides) in the thirteenth century AD.  This is all part of man's "working and keeping" the Garden (Ge 2:!5).

Seder 95: 1 Peter 2:3-4---Affirming the Deity of Jesus

 One way in which the writers of the New Testament epistles affirm the deity of Jesus is by applying passages from the Tanakh about the God of Israel to Jesus.  We see one example in 1 Peter 2:3-4, where Peter brings together two passages of scripture.

First Peter 2:3 references Psalm 34:8 ("Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!), a verse about the God of Israel.  

Then in verse 4, Peter says that the Lord is "a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious." Here Peter is thinking of Psalm 118:22, which he later quotes in verse 7, as a reference to Jesus.  Jesus had been rejected by Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (Mt 21:42; Ac 4:10-11) but was resurrected to eternal life.  

So Peter makes an identification between the God of Israel and Jesus the Messiah, as the New Testament writers often do. 

Seder 95: 1 Peter 2:5---Spiritual Sacrifices in a New Temple

 Peter probably wrote his first epistle in the early 60s AD, several years before his martyrdom and within a decade of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.  Peter must have known at that point that the temple soon would be destroyed, since Jesus had told him about 30 years before that this would happen within a generation (Mk 13:3, 30).  

Peter wrote to congregations in northern Asia Minor that would have included both Jewish and Gentile believers.  He encouraged them to live faithful lives in an environment that was often hostile to their counter-cultural beliefs and practices.  

In 1 Peter 2:4-10, he told these believers that they were "living stones" in a spiritual temple, a temple in which the resurrected Messiah is the chief cornerstone.  Furthermore, they constituted a holy priesthood whose purpose was to "offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

A spiritual sacrifice presumably is once carried out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Other passages in the New Testament epistles say more about these sacrifices.  Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 that our bodies should be "living sacrifice," transformed by the Holy Spirit to obey the will of God. Hebrews 13:15-16 adds that acceptable sacrifices include praising God, doing good, and sharing what we have.

Peter added in verse 9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."  

Here Peter brought together two passages, Isaiah 43:20-21 and Exodus 19:6, which describe Israel's priestly mission to be a light to the nations.  He told these believers that their spiritual priesthood would be carrying on with that mission, representing God with their words and their lives.  They would not be replacing Israel but assisting Israel in that mission.  

First Fruits of Zion has a good way of describing the New Testament people of God with its proleptic radial ecclesiology.

Seder 94: Luke 9:57-63---Setting Priorities

 In chapters 9-19 of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, where he will face his crucifixion.  On the journey, he prepares his disciples for what lies ahead.  

Jesus lets his disciples know that following him will mean facing rejection.  "Foxes have holes, and bird of the air have nests," he tells a potential disciple, "but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (9:58).  

Disciples will also have to make God's Kingdom their highest priority.  One potential disciples responds to Jesus' invitation by saying, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father" (v. 59).  Jesus responds, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead.  But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God" (v. 60).

Different explanations have been offered for what Jesus means by the saying, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead."  Perhaps Jesus is saying, "Leave the spiritually dead to bury the dead."  Another explanation is based on first-century burial practices in Jerusalem.  If a family had a family tomb, they placed the body there.  A year later they gathered up the bones and placed them in a stone ossuary.  In this context Jesus may be saying that the other bodies in the family tomb should take care of these details.  

In any case this is one of Jesus' "hard sayings," because taking care of a parent's burial was an important part of honoring a parent.  Jesus is saying that one's commitment to God is even more important than that commitment to parents. 

The following exchange is similar to this one.  Another potential disciple says, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home" (v 62).  Jesus answers, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (v 63).  

This answer reminds us of an incident from the lives of the prophets Elijah and Elisha (1 Ki 19:19-21).  When Elijah picks Elisha to succeed him, Elisha is doing some plowing.  Elisha asks Elijah for permission to first wrap up some details, including saying farewell to his parents.  Elijah agrees, and Elisha quickly settles his affairs.  Here Elisha is not trying to delay; he is clearly committed to accepting his calling.  Disciples of Jesus can look to his example and imitate his commitment.  Jesus is not telling us to neglect our families, but to have our priorities in order.

New Testament scholar Paul Sloan points out that in Jewish tradition, if one is authorized to carry out some important task, the things needed to carry out that task take precedence over other Torah obligations.  Jesus had been sent by the Father as a herald of the Kingdom of God to the nation of Israel (see Luke 4:43).  People's lives depended upon their response to his message (Lk 13:3).  So the task of proclaiming the kingdom was even more important than the responsibility of burying one's father.  Jesus was not showing disdain for the Torah here, as some commentators have claimed.  

Seder 93: Luke 13:6-9---The Parable of the Unproductive Fig Tree

 In the parable of Luke 13:6-9, a man has a fig tree in his vineyard that has not borne fruit for three years.  When he asks his vinedresser to cut it down, the vinedresser recommends giving the tree one more year while he applies some additional fertilizer.  

In Luke's narrative, the parable appears right after a discussion of people in Judea and Galilee who have suffered misfortune.  Jesus explains that those people were not worse than anyone else; they had not been singled out for punishment.  But anyone who did not repent would be subject to judgment.  

The parable reminds us of John the Baptist's words in Luke 3:9 as part of his call to repentance:  "Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

The context of the parable in Luke 13 and some elements of the parable suggest that the parable is, at least in part, saying something about national judgment.  Certainly a fig tree and a vineyard can be symbols for Israel in the prophets (Isa 5:1-7; Jer 24:1-8; Hosea 9:10; Micah 7:1).. 

It is possible, though, to take the search for symbolism too far, trying to find some kind of symbolic meaning in every detail of the parable.  This is a hermeneutic inappropriate for the parable genre.  Scholar Allan W. Martens gives an example, noting that some have stretched things too far in proposing that

• vineyard = Israel
• fig tree = Jerusalem
• vinedresser = Jesus
• three years = Jesus' ministry

But we can say that the parable is about the need for repentance, a message applicable to all readers of the parable.   

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on November 22, 2025, Kyle Kettering asked another question about the parable:  Is the parable implying that the interceding vinedresser is more merciful than the fig tree's owner?  In other words, is the one symbolized by the vinedresser more merciful than God?  

Certainly the answer is no.  Those who have played the intercessory role, like Abraham (Ge 18:23-33), Moses (Ex 32:10-12), and Jesus (Lk 23:34), do so because God is merciful (Lk 6:35-36).  Kyle urged us to bear fruit and help others to do so.  

Seder 93: Leviticus 19:23-25----More on "Uncircumcised" Fruit

  When the Israelites planted a new tree in the Promised Land, they were not to eat any fruit that happened to grow during the first three years.  This initial fruit was considered to be "uncircumcised."  

The adjective "uncircumcised" (Hebrew arel) is applied in a figurative way to several things in the Bible:

• fruit (Lev 19:23);
• lips (Ex 6:12, 30);
• hearts (Lev 26:41; Jer 9:26; Eze 44:7, 9);
• ears (Jer 6:10).

In each case there is some "blockage" that needs to be removed or improvement that needs to be carried out. 

Jewish teacher Sharon Rimon relates a midrash in which a Roman official asks Rabbi Akiva why boys are not born circumcised.  Akiva observes that there are a number of instances where God gives people things to do.  He gives us grain, from which we make bread; he gives us flax, from which we make linen, etc.  In general, God gives us these things to do so that we can be partners with him in creation and grow in the process.