Applying computer terminology to Scripture may provide helpful insight.
When we look at a Scripture passage like Today’s Reading, from Matthew 12: 24-30, we see that it was written in the Iron Age for people who lived in the Iron Age. Everyone knew what sowing and reaping was. All knew that wheat was different than weeds. Then, 90% of the people made a living by farming.
Now, more people understand computers than farming. Only 2% of people make a living by farming. Far more understand about computers. So, we may mentally update the Reading.
“Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field. (who wrote a very large program)
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. (an enemy downloaded corrupting viruses within the program)
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. (as the program ran, errors appeared.)
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’ (His sub-programmers said, ‘Programmer, didn’t you write perfect code? Where did the errors come from?)
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ (‘Someone who wants to destroy the program, and us, has done this.’)
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ (‘Should we clean out all the errors?’)
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.'” (‘No. If you erase the errors, you may damage the good parts of the program. Wait until the program has run its course. Then, you can erase the errors and put the good parts of the program where I can be close to them.’)”
“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field. (who wrote a very large program)
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. (an enemy downloaded corrupting viruses within the program)
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. (as the program ran, errors appeared.)
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’ (His sub-programmers said, ‘Programmer, didn’t you write perfect code? Where did the errors come from?)
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ (‘Someone who wants to destroy the program, and us, has done this.’)
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ (‘Should we clean out all the errors?’)
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.'” (‘No. If you erase the errors, you may damage the good parts of the program. Wait until the program has run its course. Then, you can erase the errors and put the good parts of the program where I can be close to them.’)”
By mentally translating the wisdom of Scripture into our own times and lives, we have a better chance of understanding and believing. That increases our chances of being able to live in Heaven in joy forever.
