February 18

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2026: HOSEA 3, MATTHEW 13, PSALM 9:13-20                    HOSEA 3 God tells Hosea to love his wife who is presently committing adultery with another man in the same way God has loved Israel despite their apostacy. This reminds us of what Paul told husbands to do in Ephesians 5:25, a vastly different cultural setting: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Men, does our love for our wives reach this level? Remember, even though Jesus permits divorce in these cases of adultery, restoration is the higher calling. So, Hosea bought his own wife back, apparently from her lover, and directed her to give up prostitution. This reminds us of the other part of Paul’s statement: “Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:22).

God then tells Hosea Israel will experience an extended time without a king, Temple sacrifices, and other provisions given by God under the Mosaic Covenant.  Those of a premillennial view consider that we are in this period at the present time. But in the “last days” (vs. 5), Israel will come back to David their King and God their Lord. Premillennialists hold that this reference to David represents Jesus, who called Himself the Son of David (Mark 12:35)--the literal David having died centuries before Hosea. Plus, the wording of Israel returning must literally mean Jewish people, since only those from the literal Israel who strayed from God could be consid- ered as “returning.” Thus, Paul wrote: “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:25-26). Complicated but Fascinating!

MATTHEW 13 This chapter is a series of parables spoken to a large crowd by Jesus, inter-- spersed with explanatory asides to his disciples. It reminds one of a scene from an opera or a play where the main character takes brief pauses in the action to provide some inside informa- tion directly to the audience, unbeknownst to the other characters. In this case the asides 1) explain why Jesus spoke in parables and, 2) gives a more literal analysis of the parables.

The most common explanation we hear for Jesus speaking in parables is to help the people understand. That is not the reason Jesus gives!  He explains he speaks this way so people will hear the truth but notunderstand it.  He connects this idea to the mission given to the prophet Isaiah to tell the people of Judah, almost sarcastically, to hear but not understand, to see but not perceive. He told the disciples, who left everything to follow Him, they have been granted knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom.  Others, who have not fully trusted in Jesus, not only will not understand these mysteries, but will lose the little tie they do have to the kingdom of heaven.

Another clue that Jesus really means what He says is that this explanation is sandwiched between the telling of the parable of the sower and Jesus’s literal analysis of it to His disciples. This bracketed literary structure (inclusio) often implies connection. In one, instance the seed READING FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2026 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 13, PSALM 9:13-20                           is sown but snatched away, in another the lack of roots makes its life temporary, and in ano- ther its growth is choked due to life concerns or wealth. These three situations are another way of saying “whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”   In the case of the good soil of strong faith, such as the disciples and any who truly receives the teaching, the seed is tremendously productive. This concept has a certain similarity to an earlier parable about giving pearls to pigs. In Matt.13, the pearls of wisdom are disguised by metaphors (i.e., parables).  To understand God’s deeper wisdom, we must believe/obey truth we are given.

Some brief thoughts about the rest of the chapter:

  • The parables of tares (weeds) among wheat and good and bad fish include truth often avoided in churches. At the final judgment, those rejecting our gentle Jesus will be cast “into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  These are Jesus’s words!
  • The parables of the mustard seed and leaven remind us even tiny and seemingly hidden sharing of God’s truth can bring huge results. Don’t minimize your potential impact. Spread the good news.
  • Why did Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown, reject Him? They were already familiar with some levels of Him. Do we fail to make Jesus Lord (in charge) of every part of our lives because we have for so long only dabbled in Him?
  • Most scribes (i.e., Old Testament scholars) rejected Jesus. Jesus said that those who do become His disciples (vs. 52) can possess both old treasures (Old Testament truths) and new treasures (relationship with Jesus). The Apostle Paul is a great example of an Old Testament scholar who was powerfully used by God to spread the Gospel. 

PSALM 9:13-20 In verses 13-14, David expresses the best motivation for asking for restoration: to tell others how great God is. Perhaps when we pray for our own healing, we can take that view.(Remember after Peter’s mother-in-law was healed, she served Jesus.) 

In verses 16-20, David anticipates kingdom truths Jesus taught in His parables and sermons:

  • God has made Himself known (vs.16).
  • Humanity’s own so-called achievements apart for God will bring them down (vs. 16).
  • The eternal result for those who reject God is totally bad (vs.17). 
  • Those aware of their need and affliction without God can hope for the future (vs.18). 
  • Thus, let’s pray that His Kingdom will come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven (vs.19-20).