Disclaimer, the following information is based upon my understanding
from the reading of Biblical texts and accounts in my free time, and it
is accurate to the extent of my understanding. All objections, if any,
should also be posted under the post of the same title on my blog
accessible here, anyone reading this post/ a copy of this
post, should also check for updates/ objections at the same blog address
so any disagreements/ errors of interpretation observed by other
readers in respect of this article can be quickly highlighted. This
article is written in the spirit of promoting better and more holistic
Bible interpretation. Thank you for your kind understanding.
Kong Hee's 'Kong Hee 30,60 100 fold return.mp4' sermon is I
believe, is a misrepresentation of:
Matthew 13:8: "8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it
produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Matthew 13:23: "23But the one who received the seed that fell
on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He
produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was
sown.""
Despite both verses giving the same account, I shall discuss verses 18-
23 as it is Jesus's repeat explanation of the 'Parable of the Sower'
. (Mark4:2-8 is another version of 'Parable of the
Sower').Matthew13 in all established versions/ languages may be accessed
from here. Like any exegesis, the Holy Bible should be
taken in its totality however due to space constraint, only Verses 18- 23 from the New International Version
are appended as follows:
| 18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." |
This paragraph, and several internal equivalents can with little
effort but careful reading lead to the necessary exegesis of the
passage. 'Sower' being the equivalent of the Church, or anyone
understanding the "message about the kingdom" and speaking about it;
'seed'/ 'the word' being 'message about the kingdom'; 'ground'/ 'soil'
understood as the 'heart' of the person being informed (and in
accordance- its corresponding state, as described by surfaces such as
'path'/ 'rocky places'/ 'thorns'/ 'good soil'); 'fruitful'/ 'crop' (and
its corresponding quantities- 30, 60, 100) being the degree of response
of individual's 'heart'; or, from the perspective of the 'sower' the
degree to which the individual from receiving the 'message about the
kingdom' understands and continues spreading the 'message about the
kingdom'.
The multiples of "hundred, sixty or thirty times" in these verses thus
clearly refers specifically and only to the ability of an individual who
'understands the message' to 'sow' the 'message about the kingdom'- it
does NOT reflect any particular return or reward for such
'understanding'.
It is not to my knowledge anywhere else in the Holy Bible that there
exist any reference of term '30, 60, 100x' as a measure of 'reward' from
God.
By way of logic, anyone not anyone not adequately "learned in the
'message about the kingdom'" ought to have no business spreading it. The
office bears of the Church, whose qualities are defined here also ought ensure that.
Pastor Kong Hee's inappropriate application of the terms 'thirty, sixty,
a hundred' are thus an inappropriate misrepresentation of ; an audience
adduced to believing in promises of up to 100x returns, aggravated by
inappropriate physical example portrayed during sermons- of an
individual being presented on stage with cash amounting to 100x of what
he gave, are ought to be misled into pledging large sums of money in the
misplaced faith of subsequent significant gain. [pls see bottom for
real life analogy]
This undesirable situation has in effect a similar outcome as that of a 'Ponzi scheme', defined by the Merriam-Webster Online
dictionary as: "an investment swindle in which some early investors are
paid off with money put up by later ones in order to encourage more
and bigger risks- Etymology: Charles Ponzi †1949 American (Ital.-born)
swindler"
Given to the fact the multiples of "30, 60, 100x" specifically refer to
none other then one's ability to spread the 'message about the
kingdom', the problem of having to keep up the semblance of prosperity
amongst the congregation is ought become increasingly difficult and
costly. The ultimate collapse of such a 'church', not to mention the
fallout effects upon society, are then expected to be as great as the
very blasphemy it was so concocted to be.
1 Timothy 3:1-13 (New International Version) refers
to the qualities expected of Church Overseers and Deacons.
A
Poor Saviour Kong Hee.mp4 : another toxic dose of heretical
teachings of the 'prosperity
bible'.
Real life analogy for the a/m scenario [and it's real life similarities]
would be:
'P' starts a 'Charity' 'tuition agency (TA)' [church] proclaiming to
provide free tuition for needy kids [Charity]. For which the TA is
granted 'Charity status/ tax exemption' by the relevant agencies [COC].
'P' hires 10 teachers and each is able to teach for 100hrs/ month
(25hrs/week).
To the donors to his 'charity', 'P' makes 2 unfounded claims:
1) His is the best TA/ charity in Singapore since his teachers yield
100times return: i.e. 1 teacher teaching 100hrs/ month equals 100x
return according to 'P'; to aggravate that, 'P' also makes unfounded
claims such as that MOE would give the 10 highest parent donors a free
Pr1 placing in ANY school of their choice.
Mean while, the TA invest much of its monies in other 'investments'
purported to enhance the 'productivity' of the said 'TA'.
If 'P' isn't a criminal, then what is?
the only colwn making 100 times returns on his ''investment'' is none other than the pastor himself.
Last time, there was alots of monks stories, now alots of pastors stories...haiz, these religious peoples are taking peoples for a ride, and yet peoples still believe and listen to them, God must be crying.