Today in Hebrew, this is the most common word for a gift. It is exactly the same word that was used in both in the Old and the New Testaments.
The root of this word is
na•tan,
gave, gift
spelled with the letters:
noon,tav, and noon.
this is actually the name Nathan.
In Hebrew, a gift, can also mean
כִּשָּׁרוֹן
kisharón.
This refers to someone who is gifted, or has a special talentor ability.
In modern Hebrew, there are two different words for
gift:
מתנה. Matana
שי Shai
Generally a gift would be
matana מתנה
in Hebrew however lesser used synonyms are:
shay שי and doron דורון
and are often used as names alongside
מתן to signify someone being a gift to the world or life.
In modern Hebrew the most common word would be
מַתָנָה pronounced ma-ta-nah
and also meaning:
present, offering, donation, largess, or a bribe, depending on the context and the intention you are using the word with.
There are at least a dozen other words in Hebrew with the same meaning of: a thing given willingly to someone, without payment or retribution or as a gratuity.
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This parable has more than one message within it and all have relevance to our life and times.
First it’s a warning, telling us to stay alert, because we do not know the day nor the hour of His return. Then He likens it to the situation described in the parable:
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. – Matthew 25:13 (NKJV)
So the foundation of the parable of the talents really begins with verse 13. That’s why this parable is one of preparedness – because eventually, Yeshua/Jesus is coming back and sooner than most realize or want Him to!
In the Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus/Yeshua again used a story to encourage His followers to be ready for His return at all times.
“Be on the alert,”
He said,
“for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” Matthew 24:42.
In the parable, He describes a man who goes on a journey, entrusting his servants with his wealth and possessions in his absence.
The man traveling is Yeshua/Jesus and we are the servants.
From this understanding, let’s look at the various meanings people have pointed out.
First the talents referred to here are coins, money.
In the chart above we see that a talent or mina is worth a lot of money!
We often picture it as a few coins; as in the picture below:
This is an incorrect image and alters our visual understanding of what Yeshua /Jesus was trying to illustrate.
Just one talent could be valued at around
$400,000 in today’s U.S.dollars!
Or approx.. 300,000 UK pounds or Euros.
1 drachma = 1 days wages
1 mena = 100 drachma which = 100 days wages
60 minas = 1 talent which was = to about 19 years wages!!
So it would have been according to that which was given of
5, 2 and 1 talents.
5x 400,000 = 2,000,0000
2x 400,000 = 800,000 and 1 = 400,000
This could not have been put in a little bag under a stone!
It also says how much the Lord values us and how much He values what He gives us. More than most people will see in a lifetime.
However it is not really talking about money.
More importantly, it is talking about:
stewardship,
responsibility,
obedience
and preparedness.
Looking at this parable, it really is one of self-examination; and a good one to meditate on during the season prior to Shavuot/Pentecost.
We often say of someone they are very talented or they have talent! This does not mean money it means they have an ability or are gifted in some area either musically, artistically, creatively, usually in regard to making something that others admire. Many times it is above what is considered the normal or average ability.
So we interchange the word
gift for talent
and don’t think of it as money or currency.
Here it may surprise us to discover that this parable may have nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities
but what rather relates to
THE GIFT of His Holy Spirit.
Mincha Ruach HaKo’desh
Here we must point out that the Hebrew reads
רוח הקודש
ruach hako’desh
the spirit of the holy one
also transliterated
ruacḥ ha-qodesh and
literally spirit of holiness/holy spirit
YHWH – hwhy (Yahoveh)’s Spirit.
His Spirit of Holiness is Jesus/Yeshua
because He said in John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. John 14:18
His spirit of Holiness is not an it or a thing and it seems strange that we always seem to refer to Him as ‘the’? when it should be His Holy Sprit, or, Gods’/Fathers’ Holy Spirit or Yeshua/Jesus’Spirit of Holiness. We lessen the purity and reverence that is due to the essence of our Heavenly Fathers presence.
He is with us always even to the end of the age.
He is the same Spirit of Holiness that created the universe and hovered/ brooded over the face of the deep. We need a fresh and deeper revelation of the gift/mincha we have been given. His power has been given in a measure that will not harm or destroy us but will enable us to walk as Yeshua walked while on this earth.
Every power source needs a stable container, uncontaminated with certain parameters to maintain its correct operation and function. This is why we are to be cleansed, purified and prepared; the very essence of the OMER and a special reason they were to count the OMER that particular year. 50 days to Pentecost/Shavuot and the time of receiving the promise; His impartation and the promise of His being with us always. Literally living, residing, within us.
A portion of the kingdom of the heavens – the gift/mincha of eternal life; followed by the flowing out in physical manifestation of: preaching the good news of the kingdom of the heavens, healings and casting out unclean spirits raising the dead, performing miracles and working the works of Jesus/Yeshua.
It is the Father doing the works through us, just the same as through Jesus/ Yeshua. Heal the sick, the lame, give sight to the blind, cleanse the lepers set the captives free.
We know that Shavuot/Pentecost is the time of the
giving of His gift/mincha,
of His Spirit of Holiness.
It is important that we must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or intellect; but rather our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God.
2 Cor. 1:20
All the promises of God in Him are yes and in Him Amen.
If we receive less than God wants for us to have, we are in danger of falsely accusing Him; just as the servant in the parable did because he did not know his master.
The giver of the gift.
Which in essence, still belonged to the master who received it back upon his return.
So that puts another angle on it also. Was the servant was saying: You expect more of me than you equipped me or gave me the power to do. Your demands are too much on me my time and my life and I cant do what you want me to in what you have chosen for me??!
Here’s your talent back….
We need to remember that when it’s a question of our Fathers Spirit, we never say, I Cant; that is simply turning the responsibility on ourselves and we are to be dead to self. If we are still trying to figure out everything and organize our time and schedule our lives, we are not submitted to His spirit working in us. We are still in control and we must never allow the limitations of our own natural ability to enter into any given situation. If we received His Spirit of Holiness He expects the work of His Spirit to be exhibited in us just as He did with Jesus/Yeshua.
In the parable the servant justified himself and at the same time was condemning his lord /master on every point; as if to say, your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave me.
Have we been falsely accusing God? By daring to worry after what He has promised inMatt 6:33? Worrying means exactly what was implied by the servant.
I know your intent to leave me alone and vulnerable.
We must be careful to remember that our lives will only reflect that which is from within and that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on the the promises of God who alone is able to fulfill them.
Do we believe that?
Our answer to that question will depend on whether or not we have received His Mincha/His Spirit of Holiness.
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift.
First He came in the flesh and now is present with us always.
If we are still only come as far as asking God for things, we have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means; and we have instead become a Christian based on our own terms. Jer. 45:5.
As we continue to count through the days from the Omer lets surrender all, and prepare ourselves to receive afresh His Minchathe gift of His Spirit of Holiness; and re evaluate what the parable of the talents is saying to us. The lateness of the hour is evident and to whom much is given much is required and we have ALL been given the gift of the measure of faith.
Another view of The Parable of the Talents is, that Yeshua/Jesus uses it to help us understand our calling as Christians and our responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory and honor! We can only do that when we invest our time, talents and treasure into His Kingdom and not one of our own making, based on us and making a life for ourselves!
We have the most valuable gift/mincha of all,
the Word of God and the
saving Gospel
of Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach.
Reading the verses it’s also clearly a HEAVEN and HELL parable! The servants who used their talents entered into heaven,
“the joy of the Lord”.
The servant who didn’t use his talent was cast into hell.
Some say the only thing the talents could represent is – saving faith!
That view says that salvation, which is entering the Kingdom, is only by grace though faith. It is a gift from God. Everyone is given the opportunity to have faith.
It is up to us what we do with it.
Do we use it
or
do we bury it?
Are those who put their talents to work are simply those who have genuine faith? “Faith without corresponding actions is dead” i.e. not genuine.
These servants would seem to represent the Jewish “sinners” of Messiah’s day, and the humble poor, who were believing in the grace of God and receiving Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.
Will they enter into the Kingdom?
Are they are the good and faithful servants simply because they have faith?
The lazy servant represents the self righteous religious people of His day and the prideful rich. This wicked servant buried his talent, hid his faith, because he didn’t believe in the goodness and grace of God. Instead he believed that God was a hard task master who demands we give to Him and also what we are not able to give. This is a mindset of law based thinking, which Yeshua/Jesus came to correct. This evil unbelieving servant represents those who trust in their works or their riches to save them, Pharisees’ rules and laws, those who ultimately reject Messiah and God’s grace.
The parable is given to contrast:
faith vs works,
grace vs law,
the gift of righteousness vs self righteousness
and humility vs pride.
The talents were given according to ability, 5, 2 and 1.
Remembering what a talent is = to in todays money.
It is all referring to that which God knew He had imparted into them and what they were able to do.
Its also about obedience.
Using our talents for the kingdom of the heavens, not for our own success fame and fortune. It’s a test of our allegiance and to whom we are in submitted. If we are truly dead to self then we have no goal, no personal agenda other than to serve our Father in His Kingdom; no vision other than the heavenly one.
We need to stop making excuses and go, make disciples!
Just as He told us to.
We are all too often working the wrong works.
Ultimately is wasn’t about the amount given or the ability to use it, it was about –
did they use it?
Did they use their faith or did they bury it?
Did they believe in the goodness of their master or did they believe wrongly about him?
Those who receive the grace of God by faith, will enter into the Kingdom and receive grace upon grace, those who reject His grace through unbelief will have everything taken away from them and will be cast into outer darkness.
Jesus/Yeshua uses a number of parables to communicate essential principles about His return.
We have seen that a talent in the first-century was a unit of currency and 1 talent represented a large sum of money. A lot of older translations used to use the word talent, so the parable came to be known as The Parable of the Talents. The value of the money entrusted to the servants isn’t that important. Obviously the master was extremely rich and was entrusting a tremendous amount to them.
In the beginning, we see the master making the disciples responsible for managing a portion of his estate. Even though the servants are given different sums to take care of, it all still belongs to the master. They’re merely administrators who will answer for how they invested the master’s belongings.
This fact reinforces the principle of stewardship.
As believers, we are all given resources according to our skills and abilities, but those resources ultimately belong to God. We will eventually answer for how we invest and reminding us that we really own nothing it is on loan to us from the Father.
When the master returns and hears the reports of the first two servants, he’s pleased.
His response is to invite them to share in his happiness.
This seems a strange suggestion…
why?
In place of only the wrath of God that people associate with His judgment, Jesus/Yeshua shows that upon His return, the faithful will be entering into His happiness and will experience His joy. He made a similar statement in
Luke 12:32. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
The unfaithful servant who doesn’t give the master a return on his investment is thrown out where he will never experience the master’s happiness.
When the unfaithful servant returns the exact amount he received, the master is infuriated. Where is the return on the servant’s investment? To excuse himself, the servant reveals to the master that he was scared. Knowing the master to be a merciless boss, he was afraid to invest and lose the master’s money. This is the reason he just buried it in the yard.
The master responds in anger. Is he saying that if that servant were truly afraid of him, he would have responded differently, and would have done anything to have something to offer?
Too often we allow our misunderstood views about God to justify or excuse poor stewardship or disobedience.
As servants of Messiah/Christ, we are called to be productive. All of our health, money, time, and abilities have come from Him, and we are tasked with putting them to use to benefit the kingdom. A time is coming when the Master will return to settle accounts, and then it will be too late.
It’s not enough to say, I didn’t waste what you gave me, Lord. We want to demonstrate how we have used the gifts and abilities we have been given to benefit the kingdom. God desires that we be those who step out in faith, who share His commitment. That’s how we’ll enter into the happiness of the Master.
Consider what Yeshua/Jesus said in Matt. 25:14-15.
A man traveled to a far country, called his own servants, delivered his goods to them, and immediately went on a journey.
We must see the parallels….Yeshua/Jesus came to earth, called His disciples, entrusted them with the message of the gospel, and departed when He ascended back to heaven, and
Matthew 25;19 completes this picture.
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (NKJV)
This verse is a reminder that not only did Messiah leave this earth, but one day He will come back and we will have to give account. This is one of the most important points.
The parable of the talents is a reminder that Jesus/Yeshua is coming back and we have some work to do.
While we are still counting from Omer, below are some things to prayerfully consider.
One of the phrases we read this story is
to each according to his own ability;
leading to simple questions:
What is our role in the kingdom,
what has God given us to do?
and what is His expectation of us?
Remember, He began the parable by saying
the kingdom of heaven is like.
God has given each of us a responsibility, according to our abilities. So often we leave the work of preaching the gospel and making disciples to those who are called to do it.
The reality is that calling is for all of us.
Some may have more responsibility if God has called them to do that in a full-time capacity, but we are all called to this purpose. These are the talents/goods God has delivered to each of us.
It does not matter if God has positioned us to do this full-time or not, it is critical to recognize what God has given each of us as individuals. The message of the gospel, which is the talents/goods/gifts are alive in us if we know Yeshua/Jesus as our Savior.
What has God given us?
The responsibility, applies to everyone,
and now that we are aware of it we are accountable, so we must ask ourselves,
what are we doing with it?
Looking at this in a very practical way; recall one had 5 talents, one had 2 talents, and one had 1 talent. We need to see that our mindset needs an adjustment and understand that in Gods eyes, everyone is in full-time ministry. The difference is what is the primary focus of our ministry.
It could be described as this:
Some people’s ministry is only focused on the gospel and disciples all the time (5 talents). Some people work full-time outside of a church or ministry setting and may volunteer to serve in church. For this person the majority of their ministry happens in their jobs and communities (2 talents or 1 talent). So being a teacher, business person, an accountant (or whatever your occupation) is really full-time ministry.
The difference is that the primary focus of an individuals ministry is not just preaching the gospel; but it is still ministry. In the course of working, we can shine His light and share the truth of the gospel when the opportunities arise.
The bottom line is we may not be able to do as much as someone with 5 talents, but we still can and should contribute with the talents God has given us.
To whom much given much is required.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).
Again reminding us that we are not alone in the quest for doing good and that we have to be responsible in using His gifts.
One of the most important thing to remember from this parable of the talents, is the suddenness of the master’s return.
This takes us back to Matt. 25;19
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (NKJV)
There are two points of emphasis here:
First, the master (Yeshua/Jesus) will return one day,
and second,
we will have to give account.
The master didn’t announce his coming, he just came back after a long time!!
It will be the same with Yeshua/Jesus.
After a while, He will come back.
The question is,
are we ready for His return?
Another way of looking at it is—what would we want to be found doing when Messiah returns? Hopefully, the answer is to be taking what He has entrusted us with and sharing it with those around us. After all, this is the only way possible He can get a return on what He has entrusted you with.
Are we ready for His return?
Why is this a recurring theme in the posts? Because it is the message coming from His Spirit of Holiness at this hour, and the hour is very, very late……
When we read the whole story, there were two different responses given to the servants. Two of them heard well done and one heard you wicked, lazy servant. That is why it is so important to focus on what we do with the task/responsibility God has given us and not the amount of responsibility God has given us.
The point made in this situation is the servant with the smallest amount of responsibility was the one who was declared wicked and lazy. This confirms that it is not how much God has given us but what are we doing with it. In other words, there are no excuses.
This is a challenging word, but it is part of the calling and what Yeshua/Jesus has entrusted us to do. What God has given us is real and very valuable and we have a responsibility to share it, even if all we have is 1 talent. That can make a very big difference in the kingdom of God, and it can also make a difference in what God will say to us on that day.
What will Yesua/Jesus say to us on that day and
where do we go from here?
Each reader be encouraged to consider what God has entrusted and placed in us. Consider what He is asking us to do. Remember everyone is not going to be full-time (5 talents). Most of us will only have 2 talents or 1 talent.
Whatever God has asked us to do, we are to work at it with all our might, being the best we can be and doing all we can for the kingdom of God.
Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength. Ecc. 9:10
Gifts can be talents placed within us, given by our Father to use for and in furthering His Kingdom; talents are also gifts/goods that we are entrusted with, to put to His use and increase their volume; so we can present them to Him upon His return and show that we have been good stewards.
Paul makes it clear that faithfulness in that calling was not an option; it was a requirement.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1Peter 4:10
There’s a purpose why God has given us what we have right now. Let’s not waste what God has given us. Make sure we do our best to increase what God has given us. As good stewards, we have the responsibility to manage and handle our resources so we can earn an increase.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Cor. 15:58
Family, His truth is what we need in this hour and not having our ears tickled… like the people said in Isaiah 30:10
who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
Oh prophesy to us of pleasant things
…they did not want to hear the voice of their Lord through His prophets …He was calling them telling them to repent/teshuvah, to turn back to Him and His ways ..He is speaking the same today; and above all let us be found faithful doing that which we have been called to do.
Days are quickly coming when an unshakable faith in the Way the Truth and The Life is going to be critical. We must not be moved by what we see or hear, but stand fast in who and what we know.. He will strengthen our hearts…
The kingdom of the heavens is this parable, and it exists right this moment, each minute of the day we have a choice to use our gifts wisely; to go forward into growth and maturity, or retreat back to safety.
Just what is it we are supposed to do with these talents?
We are to serve with all our hearts and then we will experience the true joy of the Lord that always accompanies the blossoming and thriving of life/chaim. Let us us not fail to use our gifts/mincha by burying and hiding them….
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the Lord while He may be found don’t wait one more day…today is the day of salvation.
The greatest mincha was and is Himself – Jesus/Yeshua
John 3:16
God GAVE
and salvation is
His GIFT/mincha
to us.
“God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Are you sure of your salvation?
May His true Shalom/Peace
rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.
‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’
משפחה
Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa
you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..
NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..
please make certain you are secure in the knowledge that you are saved….
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
What is the connection between a town, mud, blind eyes, a donkey, Sh’loh, a gift, a pool of water and Messiah?
Matthew records a time when 2 blind men followed Him calling out, “Have mercy on us Son of David”
Yeshua/Jesus asked them what seemed to be a redundant question!
What do you want me to do for you?
Matt 20:33,34.
He is asking us the same question today.
They answered honestly and to the point…
Lord that our eyes would open!
Is this a representation of the ‘two men’ inside of us; good and evil; old man and the re-born new man? Or is it because He wants us to consider our request and count the cost of true discipleship first?
‘Yeshua/Jesus had compassion touched their eyes and they immediately RE-gained their sight and they followed Him.’
This word EYES in Greek ὄμμα, ατος, τό OMMA. (Phonetic om’-mah).
It is used only here and in Mark 8:23 and can also mean EYES OF THE SOUL.
Once their soul was released from the prison of the blindness, they followed Him and did not take the benefits of their healing and selfishly go off and doing their own thing. They counted the cost and made a decision and commitment.
I set you free to serve/follow Me.
His GIFT of salvation and freedom is to become what was originally intended; that for His children to be with Him. Reconciliation with the Father and in Yeshua/Jesus to spread the gospel of reconciliation, showing the WAY of return, Teshuvah, and freedom from bondage and blindness. Those who come to Yeshua/Jesus just to gain advantage in their personal life and return to what they were doing before, apparently will not inherit the true blessings.
Our position is also of being released from prison and our eyes once blinded now see. So now our eyes are open, let’s take a LOOK at John 9 where there is another record of eyes being opened.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
How can someone born blind RE-cover sight?
Could it be that his eyes were perfectly formed in the womb but by the time of his birth he was blind? The magnitude of this miracle is often under read –why?
Possibly because we have not realized that it would have involved a complete rewrite of the man’s brain.
A baby’s brain whose eyes are undamaged still has to learn how to interpret what is received from them. In a way, babies still ‘see’ nothing until the brain has formed the ability to interpret what they see through actual experience.
So someone who’s been blind since birth and who is suddenly miraculously healed won’t immediately ‘see’ the world as seeing people do.
An individuals view of the world is formed by inwardly processing information from external stimuli, from touch, taste, smells and sounds etc., and the sudden and massive influx of visual information would no doubt lead to confusion and bewilderment, and could most likely leave the man stunned and almost catatonic, not rejoicing as is recorded.
Starting to see after a lifetime of being blind is a completely different scenario than going blind after a lifetime of seeing, for that person has a memory and recollections to relate to.
So something else was going on here for he was not reacting in shock but rather rejoicing!
We need to think about it, for a moment at least! To heal someone who’s been blind since birth – requires their virtual death, as a blind person, and their subsequent resurrection, as a seeing person.
The real-Time it would have taken for the development of the eyes and brain to adjust was over-ridden by the Father of Creation and of Time and the past became the present instantaneously.
This miracle at Siloam, is one of such astonishing facts, that it places it on a par with the miracle at the Cana wedding. John 2:1-10.
This shows again that our time does not affect God and He is not constricted by it, for He is the same yesterday today and forever; He is
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
We need to appreciate the context here, as He was about to perform an outstanding witness to the coming Kingdom of God/Kingdom of the Heavens and fulfill prophesy. Ps 146:7-9. Opening the eyes of the soul and loosing prisoners. Is. 61:1.
Before this moment there had NEVER been such a miracle – it was unprecedented – that of healing someone blind from birth.
John 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Since the beginning, the days of Adam, the Genesis of TIME!
There was Re-covery of sight but not of this caliber, for this man’s eyes had never functioned.
So it was a Messianic sign!
This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in Him. And may have been the reason it was part of the message to John in prison that the blind receive their sight? Luke 7:20-22.
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
He was doing the works He was sent to do by His Father.
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world
Referring to the day, which speaks of Light; while Dawn alludes to redemption; and Night alludes to exile; which is separation from the presence of God.
He said in 9:5 ‘while I am here I am the light of the world’, when He left, we are to be the light of the world. Also that WE must do those works time is short!
There is a set time!
Here’s Mud In Your Eye! It’s an interesting saying, (or idiom). At first we may think it a harmful or unkind act, when in reality it was the opposite.
A Muddy Moment
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
Again here is some Hebrew thinking!
This was an accepted treatment among them, especially saliva from a fasted life! The people of that time believed that the spittle of the first born son of the father was anointed in healing. When Yeshua performed this action, they saw another sign!
He also used it to heal the deaf mute in Mark 7.
The Pharisees had prohibited this practice under their traditions which He was here to correct. However, today as we understand the fact that the blueprint of an individuals genetic makeup is contained within our cells, our blood and our saliva/spittle, it makes one wonder if He was in possession of greater knowledge and understanding that we have comprehended?
Prov 20 :12
Interesting note that if we rearrange the letters of ‘THE EYES’, it reads ‘THEY SEE’!
His DNA was in the spittle it was the DNA of His Father, the Creator.
This spittle brought healing, unlike those who spat on Him as He was abused. Matt 26:67, 27:30,
Their intention was understood both then and now as showing an attitude of disgust, disdain and disrespect to whoever person or property to which it is aimed.
Could this event also be in reference to His comment?
These things have I spoken unto you, … 12. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:12
and Matt 13:35/36
So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the creation of the world”.
Yes, He did as His Father told Him and only that. The combination of the Father’s DNA within Him, (plus these days we know that the individuals blood type is that of its father as in paternity test!); together with the dirt of the ground, being the same creative material that ADAM was made from and was now also the same that He combined to place on the mans’ eyes.
Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
and 1Cor 15:46 The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
From a Hebrew Letter Addition standpoint, the word Adam is richer and fuller than just dirt.
The word Adam is composed of the following letters: Aleph, Daleth, Mem.
Aleph means strength,
Daleth means Door, and
Mem, means to surround.
From an addition standpoint the word would be translated:
Strength in the door surrounding.
To get a better grasp on the word, the pointing has some relevance here. The letter Aleph actually has a Qamets underneath It.
(A Quamets is an indicator that, ‘adds to’, what is there within the individual aleph-bet letters; it looks like a short, fat, capital letter T).
This Quamets indicates rootedness, or very sure, positive positioning.
The Daleth as well has a Quamets to it, denoting internal, again rootedness, or very sure positioning.
To take a look at the word more clearly the Aleph is well rooted, and the Daleth is well rooted.
In Hebrew scripture, the Daleth, or the door/gate is talking about governments, or positions of authority. Quite practically, the door to a house lets things in and let out. So he who guards the door is the gate keeper and regulates the content both inside and also outside the gate.
The word literally comes down to this:
Rooted Strength Coming of the House, Surrounding.
More particularly, this word denotes a strength of regulation with a particular purpose.
Could it be said that in this miracle, which incorporated dirt/Adam, that He was restoring more than physical and spiritual eyesight to the man? By using dirt, the healing gave him rooted strength coming out of his house (physical body) surrounding. Our eyes are gates to the soul/spirit, as are our ears and are to be guarded as a means to protect our inner man. Was the man also having the curse broken and dominion authority restored to his life?
As the word picture above shows, the House is emitting strength to go after curse, and surround it. In other words, curse will not overwhelm, but be surrounded, by a strength. That strength is an authority. That authority is the image of God in the earth, called Adam, or man.
The Theological Word Book of the Old Testament shows the word to mean dominion.
This fits with the Adamic call, that God called Adam that he is to have “Dominion.” This dominion calls a man to regulate life, all the earth and make sure all things flourish and live well. That includes, plants, animals, fish, reptiles, birds etc… and obviously mankind.
We would call this system of operation, Righteousness: the way things are to be governed and run in the civilized world.
Why people refer to dirt as the name for Adam, may come from the fact that Adam was created from dirt, and was to have dominion over even the very essence of his being, which is dirt.
As this is the Hebrew word for ‘man’. It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew אדם (‘adam) meaning ‘to be red’, referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian, adamu meaning ‘to make’.
Adam (אדם) literally means ‘red’, and there is an etymological connection between adam and adamah, adamah designating ‘red clay’ or ‘red ground’. Adam (אדם) means human being or person. Adam is also related to the words red and earth.’Adama’ (אדמה) is earth ‘adom’ (אדום) is red Adam (אדם) literally means man. They’re all spelled similarly in Hebrew but have different pronunciations. (Ad´am) [Earthling Man; Mankind; Humankind; from a root meaning red].
Then…
He healed the blind man on the Sabbath with the clay/dirt!
Yeshua/Jesus also was making a point concerning the Pharisees who had added laws.
Pharisee means ‘to separate’ and they had become separators of the people from the love of God using ridiculous extra man made laws.
The Sabbath did not become the Sabbath until God rested. – He did not rest because it was the Sabbath.
Jesus/Yeshua said the Sabbath was made for man so we could rest and be with the Father, being spiritually refreshed and it has a beneficial property for our physical bodies also.
The Pharisees had added so many rules and laws that it had become impossible to keep them all, and the original meaning and intent of the sabbath was diminished and marred by religious doctrine and traditions of men, making the Word of God of no effect.
They accused Him of breaking the Sabbath laws on 3 counts:
1 spitting on the ground,
2 making mud and
3 healing.
This no doubt is why He said ‘Sabbath is made for man, (to be with the loving father rest and receive from Him, giving the day over to the things of the Lord.) not man for the Sabbath’. We are not to be in bondage to man made rules and regulations. He was restoring the law of His Father and by His life and death He was renewing the covenant ADDING to it, making it a BETTER covenant. Heb. 8:7-12.
V 16Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
Pharisee = separated – divided, they became what they were called!
And they missed the monumental miracle.
verse 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”. So the man went and washed, and came home SEEing.
(As we come home seeing to the Father at salvation. Just like the prodigal son; we SEE and come to ourselves, recognizing who we really are and our world gets turned upside down/right side up!)
In verse 7 it was not coincidence that He told the man to GO to the pool of Siloam. In Hebrew it is the name Shiloh or shi loh meaning SENT or sending and also has the meaning, shilluhim, a gift to him.
(Salvation is Shiloh’s/MessiahsGIFT to us, His parting GIFT as He returned to the Father.)
Shiloah comes from the Hebrew verb שלח (shalah); basic meaning sent; to send out or let go:
שלח
It’s most used to describe the action of one person who sends another person somewhere, or to do something. (Genesis 42:4, Numbers 22:15). It also frequently describes God sending someone; (Exodus 3:12, 2 Samuel 12:1), an angelic messenger; (Genesis 24:7), or some other agent (Psalm 43:3).
Derivatives of this verb are: The masculine plural noun שלוחים (shilluhim), meaning a sending away (Exodus 18:2) or parting gift (1 Kings 9:16).
The feminine noun שלוחה (sheluha), meaning shoot or branch (as of Jesse) (Isaiah 16:8 only.)
Siloam in Biblical Greek
Σιλωαμ.
Take a moment to focus on the Pool itself for it has some unique meanings here which connect to previous posts and as we are seeing everything is connected.
The ruins of this pool were only discovered in summer of 2004.
There are Old Testament references to the Pool under the name Pool of Shelah (Neh.3:15) and Waters of Shiloah (Isa. 8:6). The pool of Siloam is referred to by Isaiah by (8:6) as Shiloah and by Nehemiah as Shelah (3:15).
The gospel of Luke makes mention of a tower that fell on people at Siloam and killed them (13:4).
Pictured above are ongoing excavations at the site.
It has been identified with the Birket Silwan in the lower Tyropoeon valley, to the south-east of the hill of Zion.
The length of this channel, which has several windings, is 1,750 feet, though the direct distance is only 1,100 feet. The pool is 53 feet in length from north to south, 18 feet wide, and 19 deep. The water passes from it by a channel cut in the rock into the gardens below.
Many years ago (1880) a youth, while wading up the conduit by which the water enters the pool, accidentally discovered an inscription cut in the rock, on the eastern side, about 19 feet from the pool.
The Siloam inscription above referred to was surreptitiously cut from the wall of the tunnel in 1891 and broken into fragments. These were, however, recovered by the efforts of the British Consul at Jerusalem, and have been restored to their original place.
It was located on the south side of the Lower City, the City of David in the Tyropoeon Valley. It was a man-made reservoir and the only permanent water source for the city of Jerusalem in this period, being fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring diverted through Hezekiah’s Tunnel .
And is located near the Temple mount at the end of Hezekiah’s tunnel.
It was the source of the water that was used to be mixed with the ashes of the Red Heifer for purification after touching the dead.
It was a long way to walk, about ¼ to ½ a mile from where Jesus/Yeshua put mud in his eyes. (Especially when one is blind.) This was the walk of blind faith and an act of blind obedience. For obedience brings light. Reminiscent of Naaman’s story in 2Kings 5:14
It is the Father that heals, not the action, however it was in the following of Jesus/Yeshua’s instruction, that showed his faith in Messiah. Sometimes it seems He tested their faith by requiring obedience to His words. Similar to the event in Num. 21:9 requiring the Israelites to LOOK at the bronze serpent.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
These public comments show uncertainty doubts and skepticism.
They asked the wrong questions they were all asking How? and the now seeing man was answering WHO!
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The Pharisees were focused on WHEN and HOW and not on WHO and WHY and had already formed pharisaical dividing conclusions! The man’s declaration was revelation, an apocalypse, ‘He is a prophet’. So they had to send for the parents to confirm his story.
Here is where the parents declared, ‘we don’t know HOW or WHO.’ Because they were in fear of the Pharisees that had said that anyone who agreed that Yeshua/Jesus was the Messiah, would be put out of the synagogue.
(To be put out of the synagogue, meant they would be excommunicated and refused entry into participation and fellowship from the entire community.)
Contrary to his parents, the son had already counted the cost of his freedom and sight and testified boldly to the TRUTH and consequently he paid the price.
The parents knew the truth, saw the truth, counted the cost and were unwilling to pay the price; choosing instead comfort, security and stability.
This was the second of 3 chastisements under Pharisaical Law; First review lasted one week second cast out which lasted 30 days and 3rd the person was cut off permanently. For 39 days he would have been alienated from his people unable to do business under a curse and ostracized by everyone.
However, the story did not end at verse 34
for in verse 35
35 Jesus heard that they had cast/thrown him out, and when he found him, he said,“Do you believein the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said,“You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
First, he was healed no longer physically blind. Then second, he believed and received Yeshua/Jesus as the Son of Man – Messiah and he was no longer spiritually blind.
V11 The MAN they call Jesus
V17 He is a PROPHET.”
V38 Then the man said, “LORD I believe,” and he worshiped him
The miracle of the healing gave the man physical sight and he had an apocalypse/revelation, that He was a prophet. Vs 17.22.25 but he did not know Yeshua/Jesus and Yeshua/Jesus purposefully went to look for him, in order to reveal Himself to the man so that he might be saved.
Fulfilling Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost and looking for the ONE.
In John 8:24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
and Psalm 82:7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
John 9:41Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
He was comparing blindness to the inability to understand the scriptures. Had they not been capable He would not have held them accountable.
Yeshua/Jesus wants us to SEE to come out of the PRISON of a closed mindset, that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened but He also wants us saved and in relationship with Him.
We must not be caught in the devil’s trap, for it’s a snare when we have just enough of Jesus/Yeshua that we can’t enjoy the world and just enough of the world so we can’t enjoy Jesus/Yeshua. The snare of the devil is the one in which we are caught and turned upside down!
There are none so blind as those who cannot see. He called them blind fools.
16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17You blindfools!Whichisgreater:thegold,orthetemplethat makes it sacred?18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’…
Matt 23:16 -18
39 Jesus said,[a]“For judgmentI have come into this world,so that the blind will seeand those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
The man said,
I was blind now I see.
In other words,
I was in prison now I’m free.
Repentance is the only WAY/DEREK, back to LIFE/CHAIM. It is our only WAY and when our OMMA /soul EYES are opened, we SEE the TRUTH.
My son was dead/blind now he is alive again. We too are dead in sin until we are cleansed by the blood of the lamb/red heifer! Yeshua was the fulfillment of the red heifer.
This was an extended miracle… this was indeed to purely glorify the Father and fulfill the prophecy in scripture, that sight would be GIVEN (a GIFT) to the blind. This was the significance – a witness to them and maybe also to John, a code between cousins? Here with the muddy mixture of DNA and the obedience to walk, still blind, (Faith) towards the gift, where he was SENT. (A sent one by the Lord = apostle = one who is sent, who goes first, and this miracle was a FIRST); to the waters of Shiloh, that were the waters mixed with the ashes, (DNA, dirt, mud,) of the red heifer, a type of Yeshua! WOW!
Final point to further tie this in with the Messiah prophesied from Genesis to Revelation for He said I AM the Alef Tav.
Shi·loha town in central ancient Palestine, in Canaan on the East slope of Mount Ephraim: keeping place of the tabernacle and the ark; the dwelling place of the shekinah glory of the Lord; destroyed by the Philistines.
Shiloh, Shilo, or Silo
שילה
(Hebrew: שילה ; Latin: Silo) is a Hebrew word meaning “place of peace”
place = Machon
peace = shalom
(and all that shalom means)
showing He is indeed concerned with the whole person, not just a single problem.
Genesis 49:8-12 V9 concerns the Lion of Judah
V 10 the scepter shall not depart means that the future royal leadership of Israel will always belong to Judah. The kingship began 100’s of years ago when David was crowned.
Nor a scholar: The Hebrew teachers/Rabbis, say this is a reference to the descendants of Hillel who were known for ‘thinking outside the box’. Hillel was a highly respected Rabbi in Galilee as Yeshua/Jesus was growing up. We need to think like Hillel and become free of mindsets.
The Torah scholar being at his feet means Judah will always be loyal to the Lord.
Until Shiloh arrives, until Messiah comes; for the word Shiloh, is a composite of the words SH’LOH, a gift to him, a reference to the king Messiah to whom all nations will bring gifts.
This is a primary source for the belief that Messiah will come. The word doesn’t mean that Judah’s reign will end with the coming of Messiah, rather that once Messiah begins to reign, Judah’s blessing of kingship will usher in the Messianic reign.
Iakob Jacob in Biblical Hebrew
יעקוב יעקב
Jacob was not prophesying the entire picture of the end times however he did point to an important outline that Judah will succeed and will show God’s blessing to the world.
Pool of Siloam
V 11The donkey is a symbol of Peace SHALOM and humility as used by Yeshua for His triumphant entry recorded in Matt.21:1-11. (also in Mk. Jn. & Lk.) and is significant beyond the Zech.9:9 reference.
The very first mention of this event is in Gen 49:10-12! Messiah is associated with a donkey rather than a horse ready for battle; (as in His return at the 2nd coming), because here He is not depicted as a warrior but as a man of peace who represents prosperity, as in the metaphor of the vineyard parable.
Matt 21:5 john 12:15 Zech 9:9 are descriptions of Yeshua.
Rev. 19:11-13. Heaven is opened in Ezek. 1:1. A white horse in Zech. 1:8. and the one who sits on it called faithful and true and He judges in righteousness.
Clothed in a garment dyed in blood. Gen 49:11; Is. 63:1-3.
Here in Gen. 49 :11, binding his foal to the vine and his donkeys colt to the choice vine He washed his garments in WINE and his clothes in BLOOD of grapes. Rev. 7:14; 19:13.
Rev. 7:14. These are they who came out of great affliction and Dan. 12:1 and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
So here the reference to Shiloh and the connection to blind eyes of the soul being opened, is written from Genesis to Revelation with Judah’s scepter and Shiloh’s gift, to the garment dipped in blood of the lamb.
The final Fall/Autumn feast of Succot/Tabernacles/Booths has a specific focus on the Pool of Siloam. It is from this pool that water was drawn and a wine libation poured on the altar daily. It was called the Water Libation Ceremony as the waters of Siloam were likened unto the springs of salvation as Isaiah wrote in 12:3 the words, with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation is sung.
It was during that ceremony, on the 8th day of the feast, at this moment in the proceedings of pouring out the water, Yeshua stood and declared
Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! John 7:37
(Here he was speaking prophetically about the Spirit which those who believe in Him would receive, pointing to the latter rains being poured out on all flesh. Joel 2:28. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Yeshua/Jesus had not yet been glorified.)
Not only is this idea closely related to the sending of the Messiah into the world by the Father but also one of the titles of the Messiah SHILOH in Gen, 49:10 and Is 8:6 and is actually translated siloam by the septuagint translators of Is. 8:6.
The people attending the week long feast of Succoth/Booths /Tabernacles would have completely understood the relationship of salvation with the Pool of Siloam. On this 8th day with much pomp, ceremony and a great procession they all went to the Pool of Siloam, drew water and then paraded to the temple and poured out the water as an offering to the Lord.
Is 12:2 2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
His Life was
for us on the altar just like the water libation.
He poured out Himself – His life – like a drink offering!
One thing we know from having spiritual ‘mud in our eyes’, we were once blind and now we see!
Don’t leave this page without washing the mud from your eyes make sure you know Him as Messiah, Savior and soon returning King of Kings.
Destroy that yoke from your neck and get out of the devil’s snare and become His disciple and turn the world upside down (or rather right-side-up!)
Please don’t leave this page without turning upside down !
Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.
mincha or minchah is 
Why people refer to 
verse 7 “
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