In order to truly understand how Paul used the metaphor “ body ” in scripture, we must think like a Hebrew. All scripture is written from a Hebraic perspective and we must understand how Paul used that method to describe corporate covenant identity. For example, Paul tells us how all Israel was united with Moses by baptism. 1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;"Baptized unto Moses" what does this mean? It is not talking about physical be baptized in WH2O. Rather Israel had submitted to Moses "sphere of authority" as God gave him. The Israelites by this event, left Egypt, escaped from Pharaoh, and entered upon their march, in a corporate "body of Moses." The term, "baptized into Moses" gives us a lucid idea of what Paul meant by being covenant.
During the transition period when the Old Covenant was fading away. At this time, the saints were being Baptized in the corporate "body of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) This is speaking about position, not only practice. This is a corporate body of believers wherein Christ is the head. We must read the Bible and think in terms of covenants.
This is very important to understand in order to get past the false idea of a physical bodily resurrection in scripture . By and far most commentators say and assume that Paul is talking about the physical body. It's kind of crazy to me how many commentators don't even deal with the “corporate body of Moses” and “corporate body of Christ" in scripture they just assume Paul is always addressing a physical body. Often, in the things, that are over looked God expresses deep truths.
With that thought in mine before we get into how Paul used the metaphor “ body” let see how he used another metaphor “house” in relations to covenants. Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward. Moses was faithful in all His house or covenant as a servant. Now notice what is says about Christ being the head over his house or covenant. Hebrews 3:6 NIV But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Notice here is says, WE ARE HIS HOUSE. The house is made up of a corporate body of believers. It is NOT a literal house. It is NOT a physical body. It is a spiritual house of believers.
I don’t believe Paul change the subject when he address a tent or house in (2 Corinthians 5:1-4) Acts 18:3 tells us that Paul was a professional tentmaker. What does Paul mean when he writes about living in a tent of house? Is he talking about a real literal tent or house? No so why is it assumed Paul jumps into talking about our physical human body. I believe he is talking about the same corporate “house of Moses.” The old "tent or house of Moses was being made useless, and being torn down. Peter also used this same corporate language in 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The Bible never contradict it self. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made some were else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore Paul never contradict what was written in Ecc 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lest see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Roman 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Roman 8:21-26)The Bible never contradict it self. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made some were else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore Paul never contradict what was written in Ecc 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lest see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Roman 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Roman 8:21-26)
Paul has been talking about the change of covenants. Now lest look at how he used the"metaphor body" to speak about the change of covenants. He hasn't switched his topic between the corporate body of Adam and Moses and Christ to a physical, biological bodies, he is still talking about covenant identity. Now lest look Phil. 3 21 a little deeper. who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
The first thing that should be obvious is the statement “our vile body” or our body of “humiliation,” which is the true meaning of the word vile. "Body" here is singular, he is not talking about plural bodies. The "our bodies" plural, but "our body" singular the corporate body of Moses. If Paul were talking bout the transformation of individual bodies Paul would have said “our bodies plural.” The fact is that in this text the body is one or singular, and it was composed of as many members waiting for the body of humiliation “corporate body of Moses” to be transformed into the glorious “corporate body of Christ.” The vile body singular, (not bodies) was waiting to be transformed into the glorious body singular, of Christ (Philippians 3:12)
The purchased possession was the body of humiliation waiting for the change manifestation of the sons of God. (Roman 8:18:23) The redemption of our body (not bodies) in Roman 8:23 is equated with our vile body (not bodies) in Philippians 3:21 and corresponds to the redemption of purchased possession in Eph 1:14. We today ARE the sons of God and HAVE redemption and we are waiting for it so these things do not apply to us today.
Certainly if Paul wanted us to understand that he meant bodies plural in the above verses he would have used it as he did in Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. And in Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
When Paul talks about being baptized in Moses and in Christ. This shows us that the physical people of Israel who made up the Old Covenant were the corporate body of Moses. And those who put their trust in Christ become part of the corporate body of Christ. In Romans 7:4 Paul is telling these believing Jews not to put themselves under the Law now that they are part of the body of Christ. Paul uses this language all over the New Testament and it is mostly ignored.
However Paul uses the metaphor “ body ” as a corporate body of Adam and corporate body of Moses. We are the corporate body of Christ and members individually 1Cr 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. Could Paul concept of the corporate body with many individuals be made any more clear then what his says in this verse?
It am always amazed how God used Paul and John to teach the same message of salvation but in a different, languages that the Gentiles and Jews could easily understand. Paul wrote as a gentile that he might win the gentiles. And John uses... symbolic, language from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience wound relate to.
Paul writes to his gentile audience, and describes how the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Easy language that any gentiles could understand.
The apostle John writes to his Jewish audience. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the “sea was no more”. (Revelation 21:1) John also writes that the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ. However John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience would easily recognize?
Many of the deeper meanings of the Old Testament are missed because symbolic, language is used so extensively. There is probably no greater symbolic, language which related to gentiles in the Old Testament then the metaphor of the sea. John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the Old Testament that a first century Jew would have found immediately recognizable. The metaphor sea was used before in such books as the, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. They are all closely associated with the book of Revelation.
The metaphors in the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when they are only alluded to. They can be used so subtly that it is easy to miss the real message. Lest consider the uses of some of these metaphor, about the sea from the Old Testament and to whom it refers.
Isaiah 60:1-5 we read. Arise shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. {3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. {4} Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. {5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The sea here is obviously referring to the Gentiles. The abundance of the sea that are being converted are the forces of the Gentiles according Isaiah. This passage speaks of a uniting of Gentiles and Jehovah (Yahweh).
The Psalmist speaks of the prophecy that God would gather the Israelites that were scattered among the nations or the sea: Psalms 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: This cannot be talking about the literal sea H20 because the nation of Israel was never literally under the depths of the sea. However Israel was scattered among the nations, her enemies that were described by the prophets as the sea. Throughout her physical existence Israel was plagued by captive captivity of the sea, particularly being taken captive into Babylon.
The Psalmist also tells us of Yahweh’s righteousness and salvation who’s confidence are at the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14
Zephaniah pronounces how the Messiah would bring peace unto the heathen nations and reign over them from sea to sea. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. {10} And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Daniel describes the four beasts ( Beasts are symbols of Nations & their Governments gentiles nations) Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome) as the beasts of the sea. The "sea" symbolizing "heathendom.” Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. In John’s time, they were in the age of Rome, Empire the fourth period
John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the rest of the Old Testament that was his Bible. The language "land/earth" is generally associated with the Jews in Revelation and the sea is associated with the Greeks/Gentiles.
In the church age, there is no more sea, that is, no more Gentiles. The Jew/Gentile distinction of the old covenant has been destroyed by Christ. There is no more distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations: Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It was predicted that the heavenly Jerusalem would be the worship center for all the nations: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
During the Old Covenant Israel was like a vine planted in the land. In Psalm 80:8-11 a summary of the history of Israel is record that goes on to describe how this vine spread across the country from Jordan to the Mediterranean which opens with the words. You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land. The hills were covered with its shadow, And the mighty cedars with its boughs. She sent out her boughs to the Sea, And her branches to the River.
Yahweh as John the baptist used metaphor from the culture of Israel that they would immediately recognize. Grape vine and vineyard were critical to life of the people of Israel, and they were highly valued. (1Kings 21:2-3)
Psalm 80:8-11 archaeology shows very clearly how Israel subsequent entry into the Promised Land, their "planting." God's planting became a wild vine, a vine in short which rejected its Husbandman. It ran wild and produced wild grapes, or as Isaiah put it, Isaiah 5:1 Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3: And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5: And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
It is clear from these verses that the house of Israel are the vineyard the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. The output of a vineyards depends basically on three things: climate, soil quality and work. Notice that after Yahweh had done the initial preparatory work of digging, planting clearing out the stones and hedging He expected good grapes. Yahweh had done more then His share in these three areas. What turned out? Isaiah 5: He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. All vineyards, orchards and gardens must be given time to come to fruition. Now the time had come and Yahweh expects results in proportion to the input He has made to the vineyard.
Many centuries later Jesus used this metaphor of a vineyard in Mark 12:1-12 that would immediately brings to mind the figure of a vineyard referring to Israel in (Isaiah 5:1-7) What then does all this mean? God expected them to produce spiritual fruit. After all, this is the main produce of every spiritual vineyard. But notice the language Jesus used as he speaks the Pharisees and scribes. Matthew 23:15 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. The nation of Israel was to be a light to all the other nation and lead them to God but instead they shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. Those who produced wild fruit wound deeply regret it on the Day of Judgement.
Isaiah says the hedges of protection is removed. Isaiah 5:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. This picture is repeated again using the same metaphor.
Notice language by the Psalmist about the hedges of protection Psalm 80:12-16 Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? The boar out of the woods uproots it, And the wild beast of the field devours it. Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Did they perish by fire after God removed his hedges of protection? You bet they did.
Some years later after John the baptist and Jesus made their prediction about the harvest. The apostle John writes about the very same harvest in Revelation. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. (Revelation 14-15)
There are some very important things here that must be understood in context of these verses. One the language of a sickle, cutting into a ripe harvest is was used by God before about His judgment in (Joel 3:1-13) Two a winepress is used to separate the seed from the wine. Pressing - The skins and seeds and stems are separated from the juice This metaphor of separating is used by John the baptist and Jesus as well making a reference to flesh Israel.
Three the word “earth” is often used in our translations of the book of Revelation. The Greek word γη would often be better translated “land.” Its definition is given by various Greek Lexicons as land, earth, soil, or dirt. This word does not have a “planet” meaning as does our term “earth.” This Greek word is translated “earth” only 65 % of the time when it appears outside Revelation. However, the word is translated 97% of the time “earth” in the book of Revelation. This makes many passages appear to be world-wide when the context indicates a localized action or condition.
The land or earth is the land of Palestine clearly under discussion here by John. Notice how it is normally translated “land” as in Matthew 10:15, 11:24.
Forth the distance of the blood flowing out of the winepress is 1,600 stadia. They were wild grapes of the vine of the land who world be trampled. The blood flowing as hight as the horses’ bridles would portray the gravity of this judgment. The distance of 1,600 stadia (about 180 miles) just happens to be the approximate length of the land of Palestine. The judgment would be in the land of Palestine not the planet “earth.”
John the baptist timing about God’s judgment on that very generation was right on. However there is a 40 year period called the all ready but not yet. God waited another 40 years for his judgment not welling that anyone should perish.
John the baptist, and Christ, both warned of the impending wrath to come on that generation. John only preached regarding the coming of the Messiah, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12 NKJV).
John used a lot of metaphor from the culture of Israel that the Pharisees and Sadducees would immediately recognize. Winnowing fans and Threshing floors were critical to harvest time and to the life of the people of Israel, and they were highly valued. Because of the need for wind, threshing floors were normally located on hilltops or in large open fields, and were often used as landmarks (Genesis 50:10, 2 Samuel 6:6) or meeting places (1 Kings 22:10).
Threshing floors were used to separate grain from the chaff at harvest time. This was usually a two step process. First, the cut stalks of grain were spread on the threshing floor and a threshing sledge was pulled over the stalks by oxen or donkeys. The sledge was a simple wooden sled or heavy board with stone or metal spikes on the bottom that would break the heads of grain from the stalks.
Isaiah 41:15 "Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff. The same thing could be accomplished by having the oxen trample the stalks (Deuteronomy 25:4) or by beating them with heavy sticks (Judges 6:11).
The second step was to toss the broken stalks into the air. During the times of ancient Israel winnowing fan and threshing floor, were well apart of their culture and the Pharisees and Sadducees were will familiar with them. Because of the Israelites' familiarity with the winnowing fan and threshing floor, it was a ideal illustrative purposes.
When the Bible speaks of winnowing fan the shovel or wooden fork it was used to separated the grain from the chaff by throwing it against the wind. The wind causes the mass of material to fall to the threshing floor. Since the grain is the heaviest, it naturally falls beneath the fan to the threshing floor. The straw and the chaff which are lighter are blown to the side into a heap. The Psalmist was also familiar with this concept. Psalm 1:4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Jeremiah was also familiar with this. Jeremiah 13:24 "I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.
Because there was generally a breeze blowing in the evening, this was the time when it was normally done. So Naomi said to Ruth concerning Boaz: "Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor" (Ruth 3:2). The wind would blow the lighter chaff to one side, that was later burned, while the heavier grain would fall back on the floor, to be gathered into the barn. Threshing and winnowing are common metaphors for judgment. (Daniel 2:35; Isaiah 21:9-10; Jeremiah 15:7, 51:2, 33; Hosea 13:3)
What is often missed in scripture is Jesus used a similar illustration as John when talking about the harvest and judgment at the end of the Old Covenant age. Notice the language of separating the tares from among the wheat by Jesus. Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; "but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. "But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. "So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' "But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."
Lest look unto this a little deeper from the historical context of the first century. First let me explain something..... For the enemy to plant his seed in the same field was an out-right disrespect to the farmer. Back then the only time a second farmer planted on the same field as another represented a deep hatred. Problem was, the farmer knew who their enemy was.
The farmer's helper wanted to pull up the weeds and the tares but was forbidden. The farmer told him to let them grow together. If any of the weeds or tares were pulled out, it could destroy the roots of the wheat. The farmers, knowing it wouldn't be so easy to decipher. So he tell the helper to wait until full grown then the reapers will gather them.
In truth they all look the same viewing it with the naked eye. From the distance and even close up, tares looks like wheat. They look very different when full grown. Likewise during the first century the only one who could tell the tares form the wheat was the Lord Himself who explains it to us plainly. Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. In John Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders said. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44)
These were the tares the sons of the wicked one among the wheat the sons of God. The primary rule of hermeneutics is to let (Scripture interpret Scripture). This means that no part of Scripture can be interpreted in such a way as to render it in conflict with what is clearly taught elsewhere in Scripture.
Notice what the prophets Jeremiah had to say about a winnowing fan the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 15:5-7 "For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who will bemoan you? Or who will turn aside to ask how you are doing? You have forsaken Me," says the LORD, "You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of relenting! And I WILL WINNOW THEM WITH A WINNOWING FAN in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children; I will destroy My people, Since they do not return from their ways.
Now notice what the prophet Hosea had to say about the chaff on the threshing floor. Hosea 13:3-4 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. "But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. John the Baptist applied all these things to the people of his time and generation. There is a period called the all ready but not yet. God waited another 40 years for them to repent however John was indeed right God’s judgement did come upon that very generation.
