Look at the Fields

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for the harvest!” (John 4:35).

The Context

Jesus had spoken with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, near Sychar. She left her waterpot and went into the city and said, “Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). This caused many of the city to come to Jesus and hear for themselves (John 4:30, 39-42).

The reference to four months until the harvest seems to be a time reference. The grain harvest occurred in about the month of April. This was probably December or January. The fields of grain were not yet ready for harvest.

However, there was a spiritual harvest that was ready. “The fields were then ‘white already unto the harvest,’ ready now to be reaped. At that very moment, throngs of people from Sychar were streaming out to see Jesus as the result of the testimony of the Samaritan woman.” (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on John, p. 87 The Gospel Advocate Commentary Series). One commentator speculated on the reference to white, “Multitudes of Samaritans are coming… probably they had a kind of white garment” (Adam Clake, Clarke’s Commentary, John, p. 543). It is possible that some were wearing white garments. However, this is not necessary to the meaning. The meaning is that there was at that time an opportunity to harvest souls. The white may simply refer to the white appearance of heads of grain when ready for harvest.

I wonder if this work among the Samaritans had a lasting effect. Later, the Gospel would be proclaimed in Samaria (Acts 8).

Application

God’s people should lift up their eyes. They should look upon others and their needs. They should look for opportunities to sow seed. They should look for opportunities to harvest souls for the Lord.

Some, I am afraid, never look upon others this way. Consider – (1) Some are so wrapped up in their own lives that they miss opportunities. They never even see the opportunities before them. The disciples were thinking about food, not souls (John 4:31-ff). (2) Some are hindered by prejudices. The Jews ordinarily had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). Moreover, men ordinarily did not talk with women (John 4:27).

Are we looking for opportunities? Are we looking on souls as Jesus did? Each person we meet has a soul worth saving. Think about all the people we meet each day (the server at the restaurant; the checker at the grocery store; the teller at the bank; the person who cuts the grass; the person who cuts your hair; the people with whom you work; the classmate or roommate). Are we lifting up our eyes? Are we missing opportunities?

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It Does Not Fade!

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy had begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

God is worthy of praise. The word “blessed” (eulogetos) is an adjective which means “blessed, praised” (Vine’s). It is applied only to God in the New Testament (ibid).

Why is God worthy of praise? (1) He has given us hope by raising Jesus from the dead (1 Peter 1:3, 13, 21; 3:15). The Christian lives in hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2). (2) He has given us an inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:4-5).

Let us notice how this inheritance is described. (1) It is incorruptible (aphtharton). (a) On earth athletes once competed in Greece for a perishable (phtharton) crown. Christians seek an imperishable (aphtharton) crown (1 Corinthians 9:25). (b) On earth, moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. This is not the situation in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). (c) On earth, our bodies are corruptible (phtharton). However, we are told of incorruption (aphtharsian) to come (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

(2) It is undefiled (amianton). Nothing is going to soil, stain, defile, spoil or deform what awaits. “The earthly Canaan was not able to escape this defilement (Leviticus 18:27-28), but into the heavenly Canaan nothing shall ever enter to defile or make unclean (Revelation 21:27)” (Gospel Advocate Commentary Series, Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on Peter, p. 26).

(3) It does not fade away (amaranton). The image seems to be of a flower which perpetually blooms and never loses its beauty. “The amaranth was a fabled flower whose bloom was perpetual and whose loveliness never failed. The inheritance which awaits the children of God will not deteriorate, nor will passing ages render it less desirable or attractive” (Woods, p. 27). Earthly flowers are beautiful; but they fade. What awaits in heaven lasts and will not lose its beauty.

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The Grass Withers and The Flower Fades

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children…” (Psalm 103:15-17).

“All flesh is grass and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8 cf. 1 Peter 1:24-25).

“The rich… as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat that it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man will fade away in his pursuits.” (James 1:10-11).

These passages are closely related. Let us consider…

Man’s Life

Man’s life on earth is brief. It is compared to grass and flowers. Guy N. Woods suggests that, “The ‘grass’ of the passage (choroton) is from a comprehensive term for vegetation; and ‘the flower of the grass’ (anthos) does not refer to the bloom but to wildflowers which often grow up in the midst of the grass” (Gospel Advocate, A Commentary on James by Guy N. Woods, p. 50). Green vegetation and seasonal wildflowers do not last long in hot dry climates. Consider the roadsides of Texas. Green grass, bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush may appear in the spring but fade away in the summer heat. Life is brief. Each man has his season on earth. Twice in the book of James we are reminded of the brevity of life (James 1:10-11; 4:13-14). Even a rich man’s life will not last on earth (James 1:10-11).

Furthermore, God can also bring a man’s life to a close, if He chooses. “The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it” (Isaiah 40:7). Man is weak before God.

God’s Mercy

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them” (Psalm 103:17-18). These words teach: (1) God is enduring. He does not come to an end a man’s earthly life does. (2) It matters how one lives. This is true in every generation. He has “mercy” (NKJV), “loving kindness” (NASB), or “steadfast love” (ESV) on those who fear and obey Him. The Hebrew word “chesed” is difficult to translate. It carries the idea of “loyal love” or “the benefits of being in a covenant relationship.”

God’s Word

“But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Men come and go. However, God’s word endures. Homer Hailey commented, “What a glorious claim and assurance!… What a sustaining assurance it is to know that there is something permanent, something enduring! The character of God, the word of God, and the promises of God shall never fail but shall endure eternally” (Hailey, A Commentary on Isaiah, p. 333).

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By Their Fruits

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do me gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20).

A false teacher may disguise himself. He may look harmless (cf. Matthew 23:25-28; 2 Corinthians 11:14). He may, to the undiscerning, look like and sound like one who is a sheep (a follower of the Shepherd).

How can one identify a false teacher? Jesus says that one may know “by their fruits.” As one can know whether a plant is a grapevine or thornbush by what is produced; and as one can know whether a plant is a fig tree or thistle by what is produced; even so, one can know the kind of teacher one is by observing the fruits produced. (Note, in the text “good” and “bad” does not mean varying qualities of the same type of fruit. This is speaking of different types of fruit, for example – grapes and thornbushes, figs and thistles.)

What does Jesus mean “by their fruits”? The following options have been suggested. (1) Some believe that this refers to the personal conduct of their lives. Fruit may refer to conduct (e.g. Matthew 3:8). (2) Some believe that this refers to their teaching. Fruit may refer to words (e.g. Matthew 12:33-37). (3) Some have suggested that this refers to the effect of their teaching (e.g. Matthew 23:15). (4) Some have suggested that the meaning is found in a combination of these options.

While there may be some value in observing all of these, it seems to me that option two best fits the context. Consider this comment by Thomas B. Warren, “In the view of this author, in the light of the fact that Jesus had just warned against false prophets (7:15), Jesus meant that false teachers can be identified by the doctrines which they teach. Many false teachers live good moral lives. They seem to be pious, to love God, to love their families, to love their neighbors, etc. Yet they teach false doctrine. It is because some false teachers have so many attributes which might well be praised that they can so easily deceive so many people” (Thomas Warren, Matthew 7, The Spiritual Sword Lectureship: The Book of Matthew, p. 269, editors Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren). If this is the meaning, then this would be a reminder of what had been taught in the Law and the Prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:20-22; Isaiah 8:20). Notice the test: (1) Does he teach another god? (2) Does he teach something which contradicts God’s word? (Note, it does not matter if he has provided some kind of sign or not. If it contradicts God’s word, then it is to be rejected). (3) Does he give prophecy which does not come to pass? (Note, even one false prophecy discredits the person as a prophet of God). These were ways that God told Israel that they could test a prophet.

We are to be discerning (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are to inspect the fruit.

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Aaron’s Rod Blossoms

Posted on November 8, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“Now it came to pass… that the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds” (Numbers 17:8).

Aaron was high priest in Israel. The LORD had selected him and his sons for the priesthood (Exodus 28-29; 40:12-16).

However, some had questioned the authority of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-3). The leaders in this were Korah (of the tribe of Levi), and Dathan, Abiram, and On (as the tribe of Reuben).

Evidence of Moses’ authority to lead Israel is provided in Numbers 16. Moses said, “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all of these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD” (Numbers 16:28-30). The earth opened and swallowed the leaders of this rebellion (Numbers 16:31-34).

Evidence of Aaron’s priesthood is provided in Numbers 16-17. (1) Negatively: Fire from the LORD consumed two hundred and fifty who decided that they could serve as priest and offer incense before the LORD (Numbers 16:35). (2) Positivity: Aaron’s rod blossomed (Numbers 17:8). Twelve rods were gathered, one from each tribe. A name was written on each rod. Aaron’s name was written on the rod of Levi. The LORD said to Moses, “The rod of the man I choose will blossom (Numbers 17:5). Aaron’s rod returned to life.

Application For Us

First, Jesus is our High Priest. Proof? He was begotten from the dead. “And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'” (Hebrews 5:4-6). Verse 5 is a quotation of Psalm 2:7. It refers to the coronation. He was begotten from the dead (cf. Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4). Verse 6 is a quotation of Psalm 110:4. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is both a king and a priest. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest – though not from the tribe of Levi. Once more, Proof: (a) The resurrection is proof that Jesus has authority from God. (b) The scriptures foretold of one who would be both king and priest.

        Second, God is powerful. He can do all things that are amazing. He can make a rod of wood live again. He can resurrect a crucified Jesus. Furthermore, He can raise us (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Romans 8:11).

          Third, to reject Jesus is to reject God. Moses said that those who had rebelled against him and Aaron “have rejected the LORD” (Numbers 16:30). Likewise, to reject Jesus is to reject God (Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 13:20; 1 John 2:22-23).

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            Uprooted Plant

            Posted on November 1, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

            “Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’ But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.‘” (Matthew 15:12-14).

            This concerns the Pharisees. They were “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). They prioritized their traditions above God’s word (Matthew 15:3-6).

            This also concerns Jesus’ disciples. They had approached him out of concern that the Pharisees were offended that he had spoken against their traditions. Some people have an aversion against offending others for any reason.

            This is a common problem. One writer comments, “Many preachers are so fearful of offending a sinner that the sinner leaves neither knowing what he should do nor that he needs to do anything to be reconciled to God. This inoffensiveness has become such an obsession with many that they have surrendered the distinctiveness of the truth in favor of it” (Dub McClish, Matthew 15, The Spiritual Sword Lectureship: The Book of Matthew, p. 423, editors Garland Elkins and Thomas Warren).

            Jesus responded to his disciples’ concern. (1) An illustration from agriculture. The field belongs to God. The Pharisees’ seed (doctrine) is not the word of God (cf. Luke 8:11). Their seed produces a plant that will be, one day, uprooted. It will not survive judgment. (2) “Let them alone.” We are not going to run after them and apologize. (3) An illustration from the road. Understand how dangerous their leadership is. They are spiritually blind; so also, are those who follow their leadership. Their leadership will lead them and others off the proper road and into the ditch.

            Applications for Us

            1. It matters whose teaching we follow. We must make certain that we are following God’s word, and not the doctrines of men.
            2. While we do not want to be unnecessarily offensive, we should not compromise truth to appease man.
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            God Clothes the Field

            Posted on October 25, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

            “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is, and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30).

            It is easy for us to get stressed in this life. We can become so concerned about the here and now that we fail to consider the bigger picture.

            Sometimes we need to slow down. Go for a walk. Consider God’s creation. He is the One who makes the grass to grow and the flowers of the field to flourish. He has done this year after year (Genesis 8:22). He give us “rain from heaven and fruitful seasons” (Acts 14:17).

            Why has He done this? He has done this for you and me (Genesis 1:26-29; Psalm 8:6-8; Isaiah 45:18). Jesus speaks of the grass being thrown into the oven (Matthew 6:30). Grass and other vegetation may be used for fire (see also, Isaiah 44:14-15; John 21:9; Acts 28:2-3). God cares for us.

            We should not forsake Him out of concern for earthly needs. We need to trust Him. We need to serve Him. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

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            Unfruitfulness

            Posted on October 11, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

            “He also spoke this parable: ‘A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit well. But if not, after that you can cut it down,'” (Luke 13:6-9).

            I believe that this parable is about Israel. The nation was running out of time it needed to start producing fruit which was acceptable to God. Consider the context: (1) Jesus rebuked the multitude for their being great forecasters of the weather, but unable to see the coming judgment (Luke 12:54-56). He urged them to get right before judgment came upon them (Luke 12:57-59). (2) He warned them “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

            Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus teaches against people not doing what they should? One does not have to do some great evil to be condemned. According to Jesus, the failure to do what one should do is also condemned in his teachings. Consider: (1) The priest and the Levite did not actively do evil. However, they passed by on the other side. We are not to follow their example. We are to be like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). The barren fig tree did not produce bad tasting or harmful fruit. It was to be cut down because it produced not fruit (Luke 13:6-9). (3) The one talent man did not commit fraud or embezzle from his lord. However, he did not properly use what had been entrusted to him (Matthew 25:14-30). (4) Those who heard “Depart from me…” are not said to have directly harmed anyone. However, they had not helped those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). (5) The branches taken away were branches which bore no fruit (John 15:1-8). There was no great production of evil mentioned.

            Application For Us

            1. Christianity is not all “don’ts.” It is filled with “dos.”
            2. It is not enough to avoid doing evil (e.g., don’t steal, don’t kill). We need to do good (e.g., Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:20-21; Philippians 2:14-16; Titus 2:14; 3:8; 3:14; Hebrews 12:12-14; 1 Peter 2:11-12). Remember that Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).

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            A Purifying Tree

            Posted on October 5, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

            “Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter… the LORD showed him (Moses – B.H.) a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” (Exodus 15:23-25).

            The children of Israel were on their journey to the Promised Land. They had been delivered from Egypt (Exodus 14). They had celebrated this deliverance (Exodus 15:1-ff, 20-21).

            However, the journey was not always easy. There were four difficulties before they reached Sinai: (1) Lack of water and bitter water (Exodus 15:22-26); (2) Lack of food (Exodus 16:1-8); (3) Lack of water (Exodus 17:1-7); (4) Amalek attack (Exodus 17:8-16 cf. Deuteronomy 25:17-18).

            God provided the way for them to make it through the wilderness. In this first difficulty, God provided a way to turn bitter water into sweet, drinkable water.

            Some think that this means of a tree (or wood) may be a shadow (or type) of Christ (or cross). Consider these comments, “The word here rendered ‘tree’ actually means ‘a piece of wood’… the fact of Jesus’ both entering and leaving our world ‘in the wood’ (of the manger and of the cross) has led many to see in this a type of Christ who makes life’s bitter waters sweet” (James Burton Coffman, Exodus, pp. 212-213). {Not only are Jesus’ entrance and departure of this world connected with wood, but he was a carpenter (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55) [the original word tekton “denotes any craftsman, but especially a worker in wood (Vines); “Gloss: carpenter, woodworker, more generally: construction worker, including stonemason and metalworker. Definition: an artisan; and specifically, one who works with wood, a carpenter” (Bill Mounce)]} Also, consider these thoughts, “Some make this tree typical of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter waters of affliction to all the faithful, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation. The Jews’ tradition is that the wood of this tree was itself bitter, yet it sweetened the waters of Marah; the bitterness of Christ’s sufferings and death alters the property of ours” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 267).

            Application

            1. We are not promised that our journey through life and to the Promised Land will be always easy (John 14:27; 16:33).
            2. However, God has made a way for us to make it (John 4:13-14; 6:31-35; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13).
            3. The hope which Jesus has provided makes the bitter waters of this life more tolerable to drink (Romans 8:18, 31-39; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1; Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 12:1-2).
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            An Ark of Gopher Wood

            Posted on September 27, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

            “And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch… Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:13-14, 22)

            Let’s consider a couple of questions. First, what is an ark? The Hebrew word tebah means: “a box” (Strong’s); “chest, box” (Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius). It is a container. The original word is used for both Noah’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant. One should not imagine the children of Israel carrying Noah’s ark through the wilderness. They are both containers, but very different containers.

            Next, what is (or was) gopher wood? I am not sure. The difficulty is that the Hebrew word, gopher, appears only once in the Bible. (1) Some think that this is (or was) a specific species of tree. Various suggestions have been set forth, including: African Acacia, Baobab, Cedar, Cypress, Pine, and Teak. Some translations render it “cypress” (NIV, NLT, NRSV. The NIV contains this note, “The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain). Some have translated it “pyne” or pine. (Tyndale, Bishop’s Bible). At least one renders it “teakwood” (The Message Bible). (2) Others think that this refers to something in the preparation of the wood. The Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrews Bible reads, “square timber” (xylon tetragonon). Wycliffe renders it “wood hewn and planed.” Douay-Rheims Bible reads, “timber planks.”

            The important thing to understand is that Noah did what God commanded (Genesis 6:22). He understood what God said and did it (James 1:22). He “prepared an ark for the saving of his household” (Hebrews 11:7).

            In teaching on authority, it is common practice to refer to Noah’s use of gopher wood. One might say, “God said gopher wood. In doing so, he authorized gopher wood. He did not authorize oak or pine.”

            I have heard some criticize this approach. “How can one say this when no one is sure what gopher wood actually is (or was)?”

            The critic should keep a couple of things in mind. (1) Regardless of what gopher wood is (or was), Noah understood what God meant, and he did “according to all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). (2) The idea that we should seek to do things as God instructs is still a sound approach to God’s word (Leviticus 10:1-2; Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Hebrews 7:12-14; Revelation 22:18-19).

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