Learning to Learn From a Canaanite Woman
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Learning to Learn From a Canaanite Woman
Herb Montgomery | August 7, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 15:10-28)
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:10-28)
In the first half of our reading this week, Jesus declares that it is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out. While this teaching has often been understood as setting aside ritual food laws, it also carries a justice lesson and that’s what I’m most interested in presently. In this story, Jesus shifts attention from a singular focus on external religious or ritual observances to the inner values that shape human relationships and community life.
By also insisting that evil words and actions arise from the heart, Jesus challenges systems that emphasize ritual purity while ignoring injustice. A society may faithfully observe religious customs and yet still be corrupted by greed, hatred, violence, deception, and oppression. Such evils are revealed in speech that spreads lies, incites violence, humiliates the vulnerable and marginalized, or justifies exploitation. The words people speak reflect the moral character of individuals and societies, regardless of their adherence to religious ritual practice.
Our reading this week confronts the tendency to exclude others on the basis of external markers such as diet, ethnicity, class, or religious tradition. Jesus undermines boundaries that divide people into the “pure” and the “unclean”, boundaries then most often set in parallel with labeling people’s diets or hand-washing practices. Remember, this was before any knowledge of germ theory so the tradition was not about resisting disease. Instead of dividing people, Jesus teaches that the true measure of righteousness is whether one’s words and actions promote justice, mercy, and love. Communities become defiled not because they eat wrong foods or eat in wrong ways, but because they tolerate speech and behavior that deny the dignity of others.
Our reading this week calls us to examine the language we use in public life: what comes out of our mouths. Words can either reinforce systems of discrimination or challenge them. They can defend the powerful at the expense of the poor or give voice to those who have been silenced. Speech rooted in compassion, truth, and solidarity becomes an instrument of Jesus’ kingdom of justice, compassion, and safety, whereas speech born of prejudice and selfishness destroys community. Jesus reminds his disciples that genuine holiness is measured not by ritual compliance with rules on food but by hearts transformed into sources of justice, liberation, and life-giving truth.
Our reading this week also contains a troubling metaphor for many contemporary readers who care about justice today.
“Leave them; they are blind guides,” Jesus says. “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” From the perspective of disability studies, this saying illustrates how deeply ableist assumptions can become embedded in language, including the language of our sacred texts. This passage employs blindness not as a neutral human characteristic but as a symbol of ignorance, failure, and danger. The metaphor depends on the assumption that blindness naturally signifies incompetence and that blind people are incapable of leading others. In doing so, it reinforces stereotypes that have historically contributed to the social marginalization of blind and visually impaired people.
This metaphor is especially problematic because it uses disability as shorthand for moral and intellectual deficiency. Rather than critiquing only the religious leaders’ hypocrisy or lack of insight, the saying associates those failures with blindness itself. Such language reflects a broader cultural pattern found throughout the ancient Mediterranean world, where physical impairments often functioned symbolically to represent spiritual or ethical shortcomings. While this symbolic use may have been commonplace in its historical context, it nevertheless carries consequences for readers today.
A disability-informed reading invites interpreters to distinguish between the intended target of Jesus’ criticism, the religious leaders whom he believed were misleading others, and the metaphor he employs to express that criticism. Modern readers need not perpetuate the equation of blindness with ignorance or evil. Instead, they can recognize that blind people lead, teach, create, parent, and contribute in every sphere of society. The real issue in our reading this week is not blindness but irresponsible leadership. Reframing this passage in this way allows readers to preserve its critique of harmful authority while rejecting language that stigmatizes disability. Such a reading encourages both faith communities and biblical interpreters to examine how inherited metaphors may unintentionally reinforce prejudice and to seek more inclusive ways of speaking about wisdom, justice, and leadership. Today, when it comes to disabilities, we can and must tell the Jesus story in better ways.
Lastly in our reading this week, we are presented with one of the most striking moments of growth in Matthew’s version of the Jesus story. Jesus initially responds to the Canaanite woman with language that reflects the ethnic and religious boundaries of his culture. He declares that he was sent only to “the lost sheep of Israel” and compares giving help to her with throwing children’s bread to dogs. These words are deeply troubling because they echo prejudices that marginalized Canaanites and outsiders within Jesus’ own culture. Rather than ignoring this tension, the passage invites readers to wrestle honestly with it.
The Canaanite woman refuses to accept exclusion. She neither responds with anger nor retreats in shame. Instead, she courageously challenges Jesus’ assumptions with remarkable wit and faith: “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Her response exposes the inadequacy of boundaries that deny another person’s humanity and dignity. She insists that God’s mercy cannot be confined by ethnic identity or social status.
Jesus’ final response is equally significant. Rather than defending his earlier position, he publicly praises the woman’s faith and grants her request. In this reading, Jesus demonstrates the humility to be moved by someone from a marginalized community. The encounter reveals a Jesus who listened, learned, and allowed compassionate truth to overcome inherited social prejudice. Instead of presenting growth as weakness, Matthew portrays openness to correction as a mark of genuine righteousness.
For Jesus followers participating in justice work today, this story reminds us that even deeply embedded biases can be confronted through authentic encounters with those who have been excluded. Marginalized voices are not merely recipients of justice; they are often its teachers. The Canaanite woman becomes an agent of transformation, expanding the visible scope of Jesus’ ministry and foreshadowing the Gospel’s ultimate movement toward all nations. Her persistence demonstrates that faith can challenge systems of exclusion and open new possibilities for mercy, justice, and belonging.
One of the greatest strengths displayed in this story is not unwavering certainty on Jesus’ part but his humility to change. Too often, leaders are praised for never admitting error, as though changing one’s mind were a sign of weakness. Yet the encounter with the Canaanite woman suggests the opposite. Jesus models the courage to listen deeply, to recognize truth when it comes from an unexpected source, and to allow that truth to reshape his actions. His authority is not diminished by this change in my opinion; it is strengthened because it is rooted in compassion rather than inerrancy.
This story offers a powerful reminder that learning and growing is an essential part of morality and spiritual growth. The saying, “When we learn better, we do better,” captures this moment in Matthew’s Jesus story. Growth requires openness to voices that challenge our assumptions, especially the voices of those who have experienced exclusion or oppression. The Canaanite woman becomes a teacher whose persistence reveals a broader vision of God’s mercy than the social boundaries both she and Jesus lived in.
Our reading this week offers hope that transformation is always possible. No one is beyond growth. The measure of faithfulness is not whether we have never held biased beliefs, but whether we have the humility to recognize them, the courage to change our minds, and the willingness to act differently once we know better. In that sense, Jesus’ response becomes a model of lifelong moral growth grounded in love.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 34: Learning to Learn From a Canaanite Woman
Matthew 15:10-28
A disability-informed reading invites interpreters to distinguish between the intended target of Jesus’ criticism, the leaders whom he believed were misleading others, and the metaphor he employs to express that criticism. Modern readers need not perpetuate the equation of blindness with ignorance or evil. Instead, they can recognize that blind people lead, teach, create, parent, and contribute in every sphere of society. The real issue in our reading this week is not blindness but irresponsible leadership. Reframing this passage in this way allows readers to preserve its critique of harmful authority while rejecting language that stigmatizes disability. Such a reading encourages both faith communities and biblical interpreters to examine how inherited metaphors may unintentionally reinforce prejudice and to seek more inclusive ways of speaking about wisdom, justice, and leadership. Our reading also reminds us that even deeply embedded biases can be confronted through authentic encounters with those who have been excluded. Marginalized voices are not merely recipients of justice; they are often its teachers. The Canaanite woman becomes an agent of transformation, expanding the visible scope of Jesus’ ministry and foreshadowing the Gospel’s ultimate movement toward all nations. Her persistence demonstrates that faith can challenge systems of exclusion and open new possibilities for mercy, justice, and belonging.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/learning-to-learn-from-a-canaanite-woman
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
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Walking on the Sea of Galilee and Standing Up to Injustice
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Walking on the Sea of Galilee and Standing Up to Injustice
Herb Montgomery | August 7, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33)
This week’s reading is a fantastical tale that has deep social and political lessons if we use a life-giving interpretive lens. First, during Jesus’ life, the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) was an economic hub within the Roman client state of Galilee and was ruled by Herod Antipas. Fishermen operated under state-granted licenses and heavy taxation. Their catch was heavily processed, with taxes benefiting Roman and Herodian elites but leaving the common fishermen economically marginalized. Fishing was not a free-market endeavor; it was a state-controlled, monopolistic industry, so fishermen like Peter and Andrew had to obtain licenses and a substantial portion of their catch—sometimes up to 25-40%—was claimed by Roman and temple taxes or to pay off toll collectors. Rather than serving only local customers, Roman and Herodian elites commercialized the Galilean fishing industry. That meant that the fish were heavily salted and processed in towns like Magdala (also known by its Greek name Tarichaeae, which means “Processed-Fishville”). From there, the fish were exported across the Roman Empire. Fishing was a vital industry, yet the fishermen were generally poor, peasant laborers who sustained an empire that stripped away most of their profits. Because of the heavy taxation and dependent livelihoods, many peasants and fishermen experienced severe economic precarity, which bred widespread dissatisfaction and primed the region for unrest and messianic uprisings.
In Michael Okińczyc-Cruz and John Dominic Crossan’s latest book, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now, the authors unpack the socio-economic and political context surrounding the sea of Galilee, a central location in Matthew’s version of the Jesus story:
“What was once a public lake that Jews and other first-century Mediterranean peoples relied upon for food and their way of life was transformed into a privatized imperial enterprise. Herod Antipas viewed the Sea of Galilee and the vulnerable people that lived along its shores as objects for production that could be mercilessly exploited for profit and gain.” (John Dominic Crossan & Michael Okińczyc-Cruz, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now, p. 2)
In Jesus’ lifetime, Herod Antipas hoped to increase his tribute from Galilee to persuade his Roman masters to choose him as their vassal and to rule the whole country as its “king.” But Herod Antipas could not increase his tribute to Rome by squeezing more grain from his peasants without risking a rebellion. A rebellion would have had the opposite effect: Herod would be removed from the region as an incompetent ruler, not chosen to rule it. What Herod did instead was to add to the land’s produce the products produced in the regions second greatest asset, the Sea of Galilee. This would have to be accomplished at the expense of the poor fishermen and peasants. Think of how prominent loaves (grain) and fish are in Jesus story. (For a more detailed account of this history, see John Dominic Crossan & Michael Okińczyc-Cruz’ book Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now, p. 11.)
Herod saw the Sea of Galilee and the poor fishing families that surrounded the lake as objects for his ruthless exploitation. He viewed the Sea and his subjects nearby as a vital linchpin in his consolidation of political and economic power across the territories he wanted to rule under the Roman Empire. This spelled profound trouble for the poor peasant fishing families who lived along and near to those shores. Antipas’ lake could supply Rome with what his land could not: fish and fish-factories that could deliver dried fish, salted fish, and fish-sauce to coastal Tyre and into the imperial commerce machine through the “globalization” of the Mediterranean region’s markets. By 20 CE, Herod controlled the lake, exploiting its fish and increasing his imperial tribute in Galilee so that Tiberius and his Roman rulers might extend Herod’s rule to the whole country. Finally, he would become “king of the Jews.”
Michael Okińczyc-Cruz and John Dominic Crossan invite us to think of what these changes “did to small peasant-fishers for whom the lake had once been an aquatic ‘commons’ available to all who could afford a hook, a net, or, even if corporately, a boat. If they could still do any of that, Herod Antipas’ monopoly meant enforced sale at fixed prices to his fish depots. By exploiting the farmers and peasants inland, Antipas had learned to multiply loaves in the land around Sepphoris; and by exploiting the fishermen and surrounding fishing villages, he would now learn how to multiply fishes in the lake around Tiberias. For small local fishers by the 20s, the once-open Lake of Galilee was the now-closed Lake of Tiberias.” (John Dominic Crossan & Michael Okińczyc-Cruz, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now, p. 12).
All of this leads us to what I believe is the most relevant point of this week’s story. Jesus’ act of walking on the water carries more than mere theological significance. It also communicated profound political and social meaning to Jesus followers in the time it was written. Under the rule of Herod Antipas, the Sea of Galilee had become the center of an exploitative fishing economy. Antipas established the city of Tiberias on its western shore and local fishermen, including several of Jesus’ disciples, lived under heavy economic burdens created by this political system.
Against this backdrop, Jesus’ mastery over the waters symbolizes liberating authority over a realm that Herod claimed to control. The lake represented the economic power of the ruling elite, yet Jesus walks across it as one who is not subject to its oppressive structures. Rather than being constrained by the forces of imperial exploitation, he demonstrates that God’s reign transcends and challenges human systems of domination. Jesus’ authority comes not from military power, wealth, or political office but from solidarity with the sacred and divine work of achieving justice for the oppressed.
The disciples’ fear during the storm could mirror the insecurity that ordinary people experienced living under political oppression and economic uncertainty. Jesus’ words, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid,” become a message of liberation to those whose lives were shaped by exploitation. His presence over the turbulent waters assures them that God’s kingdom offers assurance beyond the reach of oppressive rulers. Matthew’s account therefore presents Jesus as more than Lord over creation, a description emphasized by many theological interpretations that seek not to disturb the powerful and privileged. Matthew also presents Jesus as one who confronts unjust political and economic powers. By exercising authority over the very center of Herod Antipas’ commercial enterprise, Jesus proclaims that his kingdom overturns systems of exploitation and restores dignity, hope, and freedom to those marginalized by imperial rule.
In this context, Peter’s attempt to walk on the water in our reading this week is significant. When we read this story against the realities of oppression, fear, and faithful resistance, there are lessons we can glean for our justice work today. At Jesus’ invitation, Peter leaves the relative safety of the boat and steps into the turbulent sea. His action symbolizes the courage required of those who choose to participate in Jesus’ kingdom (a just, compassionate, safe world for everyone) rather than remain within the security of the existing social order. Following Jesus demands more than belief; it requires risking one’s comfort to confront the forces that threaten human dignity.
The waves represent more than natural danger. They can also be understood as the overwhelming powers of political oppression, economic exploitation, violence, and social exclusion that dominated first-century Palestine under Roman rule and the client kings such as Herod Antipas. Like the disciples, communities seeking justice often find themselves surrounded by forces that appear too powerful to overcome. Peter succeeds while his attention remains fixed on Jesus, whose authority surpasses the power of the waves, but he begins to sink when he shifts his attention from Jesus to the raging wind and waves. Socially, this could illustrate how movements for justice falter when fear becomes greater than hope. The intimidation of oppressive systems can paralyze individuals and communities, tempting them to abandon the difficult work of liberation. Fear magnifies the apparent strength of injustice while diminishing confidence in our collective transforming power.
Yet the story does not end with Peter’s failure. As he cries, “Lord, save me,” Jesus immediately reaches out and takes hold of him. Grace meets human fear without shame. A just world is sustained not by flawless courage but by our faithful continuation even when the waves threaten us. Jesus restores Peter, demonstrating that even when we falter or feel ourselves sinking in the struggle for justice, there are hands that remain extended, calling us together to renew our solidarity with each other and courage liberation work today.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 32: Walking on the Sea of Galilee and Standing Up to Injustice
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus’ act of walking on the water carries more than mere theological significance. It also communicated profound political and social meaning to Jesus followers in the time it was written. Under the rule of Herod Antipas, the Sea of Galilee had become the center of an exploitative fishing economy. Antipas established the city of Tiberias on its western shore and local fishermen, including several of Jesus’ disciples, lived under heavy economic burdens created by this political system. Against this backdrop, Jesus’ mastery over the waters symbolizes liberating authority over a realm that Herod claimed to control and a lake that was at the center of Herod’s exploitative plan.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
Justice Lessons from the Feeding of the Five Thousand
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Justice Lessons from the Feeding of the Five Thousand
Herb Montgomery | July 31, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:13-21)
Our reading this week begins on a sad, solemn note. Jesus withdraws “to a solitary place” after learning of John the Baptist’s execution. This offers a profound reminder for all who are working for justice today. Jesus retreats but not in fear or indifference to the suffering around him. Rather, confronting injustice includes moments of reflection, grief, setbacks, and renewal. John’s death at the hands of Herod represents the violence of corrupt political power silencing a prophetic voice that challenged oppression and called for righteousness. Jesus could be recognizing the personal loss of his cousin, the public attack on truth and justice, and also what both could mean for him going forward.
By withdrawing, Jesus acknowledges the emotional cost of standing with the marginalized and speaking against injustice. Justice work is often exhausting because it involves confronting systems of violence, inequality, and exploitation. Jesus models the importance of lament and self-care, reminding those committed to justice that they cannot sustain compassionate action without renewing their spiritual and emotional strength, especially in times of deep loss to the movements of which we are a part.
But his solitary moment gets interrupted, and instead of him remaining isolated, the crowds find him. Jesus responds to them with renewed compassion. He heals the sick. His withdrawal is therefore not an escape from the needs of society but a pause that strengthens his commitment to serve those who are suffering. This speaks to me this week. Justice is sustained not only by activism but also by an inner life and taking care of ourselves too.
For modern disciples, this passage teaches that faithful engagement in justice requires balancing action with recovery. Those who advocate for the poor, challenge injustice, or comfort victims of violence also need spaces for prayer, mourning, contemplation, and renewal. Our story this week shows that grief over injustice and setbacks can deepen rather than diminish our commitment to compassionate service. Jesus’ example reminds believers that effective resistance to oppression flows from hearts that are grounded, and time away that enables us to return to the work of justice with courage, wisdom, and love.
Next, we encounter the disciples’’ request: “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
This part of the story reveals another profound lesson for those involved in justice work today. The disciples have a common human response to overwhelming social need. Faced with thousands of hungry people, they see scarcity, limited resources, and practical constraints. Their solution is to disperse the crowd so that each individual can solve their own problem. From a justice perspective, this reflects an approach that places responsibility to care for those in need solely on individuals rather than on the community. It’s an individualistic response of dispersal rather than a collective response or pulling together.
The disciples are not heartless; they do recognize the people’s hunger. However, they assume that the only solution is for the hungry to fend for themselves through the marketplace. This response could mirror modern attitudes that often expect those experiencing poverty, food insecurity, or homelessness to resolve their struggles without sufficient communal support. Jesus challenges this assumption by refusing to send the crowd away.
Jesus’ kingdom does not dismiss people because their needs seem too great or because available resources appear insufficient. Instead, Jesus invites his followers to become participants, collectively, in community. His response, “You give them something to eat,” transforms the disciples from observers of suffering into agents of compassion and justice. The responsibility for meeting human need becomes a shared, communal task rather than an individual burden.
This passage challenges faith communities to resist the temptation to distance themselves from social problems. Hunger, poverty, and inequality cannot simply be redirected elsewhere. Instead, Jesus followers today are called to remain present with those who suffer and to trust that even with limited resources, our chances are better together than on our own. Justice begins when Jesus refuses to send people away because he recognizes that every person belongs within the caring embrace of a community where dignity, compassion, and shared responsibility replace individualism and pulling one’s self up by one’s own bootstraps (or sandals in this case).
The heart of this week’s story comes next. In Matthew’s version of the feeding of the five thousand, the simple offering of five loaves and two fish reveals a profound vision of justice rooted in Jesus’ “kingdom.” Faced with overwhelming need, the disciples focus on scarcity, believing their limited resources are insufficient. Jesus, however, shifts their perspective from fear to trust, and demonstrates that justice begins when people are willing to share what they have, however small, for the common good.
Rather than sending the hungry crowds away to fend for themselves, Jesus gathers them into a community where everyone has a place. He directs the people to sit on the grass, which creates an ordered and dignified assembly rather than a chaotic scramble for food. This act reflects the principle that every person deserves respect, inclusion, and equal access to life’s necessities.
Jesus gives thanks before breaking the bread, acknowledging that creation is a sacred gift intended to sustain all people. The miracle is not simply about supernatural provision but also about rejecting systems that leave some hungry while others possess abundance. Jesus distributes food to the people through the disciples, which makes them partners in the sacred work of compassionate justice. They become agents of equitable distribution rather than gatekeepers of limited resources.
The statement that “they all ate and were satisfied” expresses a vision of a society where everyone’s basic needs are met. Satisfaction is not reserved for a privileged few but becomes the shared experience of the entire community. This story challenges economic structures built on exclusion, hoarding, and inequality, and calls believers to practices of generosity, stewardship, and shared resources instead.
For Jesus followers today, this passage teaches us that justice begins with community and sharing what we have, organizing communities around human dignity, and ensuring that resources are distributed so that no one is left hungry. In Jesus’ vision of a just future, compassion is expressed not only in charity but in also creating communities where all people can flourish together and charity itself becomes obsolete.
The final thought on this week’s reading relates to the part where the disciples gather twelve basketfuls of leftovers after they feed the five thousand. The abundance of food after the meal demonstrates that Jesus’ economy is not based on scarcity but on generosity. After everyone has eaten to their satisfaction, the disciples carefully collect remaining food rather than waste it. This act teaches that justice for Jesus followers includes responsible stewardship of resources. Food is a gift to be shared wisely, not squandered while others remain hungry.
The twelve baskets also symbolize God’s provision for the whole community. Many interpreters see the number twelve as representing the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting that God’s blessings are intended for all the people. The disciples who distributed the food are also entrusted with gathering what remains: those who serve others are called to protect the gifts that sustain life. Their ministry extends beyond meeting immediate needs to ensuring that resources continue to benefit the community.
From a contemporary justice perspective, the leftovers challenge societies that waste resources while preserving and/or creating poverty. While many go without adequate food, others discard what could sustain life. Jesus’ command to gather the fragments models an ethic of economic fairness, environmental responsibility, and communal care. Jesus’ vision of a just future is revealed not only in generous provision but also in the faithful management of abundance so that everyone has enough and nothing of value is lost. These lessons can all inform our work today as we continue to work together toward shaping our world into a just, compassionate, safe home for everyone.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 32: Justice Lessons from the Feeding of the Five Thousand
Matthew 14:13-21
Faithful engagement in justice requires balancing action with recovery. Those who advocate for the poor, challenge injustice, or comfort victims of violence also need spaces for prayer, mourning, contemplation, and renewal. Our story this week shows that grief over injustice and setbacks can deepen rather than diminish our commitment to compassionate service. Also, our reading shows that justice begins with community and sharing what we have, organizing communities around human dignity, and ensuring that resources are distributed so that no one is left hungry. In Jesus’ vision of a just future, compassion is expressed not only in charity but in also creating communities where all people can flourish together and charity itself becomes obsolete.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
Parables of Justice, Compassion, and Inclusion
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Parables of Justice, Compassion, and Inclusion
Herb Montgomery | July 24, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52)
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52)
This week’s reading from Mathew is comprised of a collection of Jesus’ parables. Let’s jump right in with the first one: Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. This parable teaches an important lesson about how small acts can lead to significant change. The mustard seed is tiny and seemingly insignificant, yet it grows into a large tree that provides shelter for birds. This image suggests that the Kingdom (or justice) begins with humble actions but expands to create a community where all are welcomed and protected. The parable encourages people to value the contributions of those who are often overlooked or marginalized. It reminds us that transforming society does not always begin with wealth, power, or influence but can start with simple acts of kindness, fairness, and advocacy for others. Just as the tree becomes a place of refuge, so too should a just society offer safety, dignity, and justice to everyone, especially the poor, the oppressed, and the excluded. The Jesus story challenges Jesus followers to plant seeds of justice by standing against inequality, caring for those in need, and working for peace. The parable offers the hope that even the smallest efforts to promote justice and love can grow into lasting change that benefits entire communities and reflects the values of Jesus’ just future in the present.
Next in Matthew’s version of the Jesus story, we encounter Jesus’ parable of the yeast, a parable about quiet but powerful transformation. A woman mixes a small amount of yeast into a large quantity of flour, and eventually the yeast spreads throughout the entire batch of dough. This image shows that even small actions can have a profound impact. The woman reminds me of ordinary people whose efforts to promote equality, compassion, and justice often go unnoticed but gradually influence entire communities. Like yeast, values such as mercy, inclusion, and respect for human dignity spread from person to person until they transform relationships and social structures. Harmful elements can, too. Meaningful change does not always come through dramatic events or powerful leaders. Lasting justice often begins instead with individuals who challenge injustice, support those who are marginalized, and encourage others to act with kindness and fairness. Just as yeast works invisibly through dough, acts of generosity, advocacy, and service can reshape communities over time. For Jesus followers today, building a just future means participating in this steady work of transformation so that society becomes more compassionate, equitable, and welcoming for all people, including those our present system marginalizes.
Next, we read Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure. The just future Jesus envisions for human beings is of such immense value that it demands wholehearted commitment. The treasure represents Jesus’ vision of a world marked by dignity, peace, and inclusion. Discovering this treasure transforms a person’s priorities, leading them to willingly surrender wealth, status, and personal security in pursuit of Jesus’ beloved community (“kingdom”).
The man’s joyful decision to sell everything he owns mirrors the sacrifices required of those who work for justice today. Building a society where the poor are lifted up, the oppressed are freed, and all people are treated as beloved children of God often requires giving up privilege, comfort, or material gain. The joy in the parable suggests that these sacrifices are not burdens but a natural response to recognizing the incomparable worth of a just world for the common abundance for all.
The hidden nature of the “treasure” also reminds us that Jesus’ just future is often already hard at work and found in unexpected places: among the marginalized, the forgotten, and those whose dignity is overlooked. Jesus followers today are called to seek this hidden treasure by standing in solidarity with the vulnerable and investing their lives in the work of restoration, compassion, and justice, trusting that no earthly possession compares with the priceless gift of a safe, compassionate, just world for everyone.
In the next parable, about the pearl of great price, Jesus teaches that his vision of just world for all is worth sacrificing everything to obtain. The pearl symbolizes Jesus’ vision of a world where every person is valued, justice prevails, and every person’s humanity is restored from degrading injustice. Unlike man with the hidden treasure, the merchant is actively searching, which suggests that Jesus followers are called to intentionally seek God’s just future and the truth-telling it requires rather than passively wait to discover it.
The merchant’s willingness to sell everything demonstrates the radical commitment required to live by the values of Jesus’ kingdom of justice and compassion. Pursuing justice often means challenging systems of inequality, sharing resources generously, and placing the needs of others above personal wealth or social status. Jesus emphasizes that this kind of world, where everyone has what they need to thrive and no one has too much while others go without, is so valuable that no earthly possession or privilege can compare.
This parable also reminds justice seekers that true wealth is not measured by material success but by faithful participation in the work of love and justice. Those who recognize the incomparable value of a world shaped in the form of justice willingly invest their lives in serving the poor, defending the oppressed, and promoting peace. In doing so, they discover that God’s just future for humans is the greatest treasure. It offers lasting hope and transforms individuals and society through God’s redeeming love, and it manifests in justice, safety, and compassion for every person.
Lastly, Jesus’ parable of the fishing net presents Jesus’ vision for a just future: it is radically inclusive. The net gathers “all kinds of fish,” which symbolizes the invitation for every person regardless of social status, ethnicity, gender, race, orientation, identity, or background to be a part of Jesus’ diverse community. No one is excluded from the offer to participate in Jesus’ kingdom.” This challenges communities today that exclude people based on privilege, race, class, gender, or orientation, and reminds Jesus followers that we are to be about building communities where all are genuinely welcomed and treated with dignity.
The separation of the good fish from the bad is a problematic portion of this parable. As we covered last week, bad fruit always results from the moment we define someone else as a “bad fish” that will one day be “thrown out.” Human beings are often tempted to judge others based on their own inherent conscious and unconscious biases. But Jesus teaches that final judgment will belong to the Divine alone. Those who exploit the poor, oppress or marginalize the vulnerable, or practice injustice will ultimately be held accountable. At the same time, in this vision of the future, those who pursue righteousness, mercy, and compassion will be vindicated. Note, too, the metaphor“gnashing of teeth.” In scripture, this metaphor is always used to denote anger, not suffering. People gnash their teeth when they witness the inclusion of people they think should not be included. This intrinsically excludes them from generous inclusion, and so they gnash their teeth with anger.
The parable encourages us to live lives marked by justice, honesty, and love while resisting systems of oppression and exclusion. Jesus’ vision of justice welcomes all to join in a community shaped by justice, compassion, and safety for all.
Jesus ends this passage with “Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” This saying highlights the importance of preserving time-tested truths while we respond creatively to the changing needs of society. The “old treasures” represent the wisdom of communities gone before us, our sacred texts, and the timeless command to love God and one’s neighbor. The “new treasures” symbolize the fresh understanding that Jesus followers bring to our world now: Jesus’ followers are called to apply the principles of the gospels in ways that promote justice, mercy, and inclusion today.
The Gospels call Jesus followers today to courageously address contemporary forms of injustice such as poverty, racism, misogyny, discrimination, environmental degradation, economic inequality, LGBTQ bigotry, and more.
Faithfulness, in our context, is not simply preserving tradition but also allowing Jesus’ teachings to continue to inspire new responses to human suffering and social challenges. We are entrusted with using wisdom we have inherited and the wisdom in marginalized and vulnerable communities to build communities marked by compassion, equality, and peace.
Jesus teaches that authentic discipleship combines respect for the wisdom of the past and honesty about where those in the past got it wrong. With openness to transformation, every generation pursuing justice can remain rooted in the enduring values we’ve learned from the Jesus story.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 31: Parables of Justice, Compassion, and Inclusion
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
These parables represent the wisdom of communities gone before us, while encouraging fresh understanding that we can bring to our world now: to apply the principles of the gospels in ways that promote justice, mercy, and inclusion today. We can courageously address contemporary forms of injustice such as poverty, racism, misogyny, discrimination, environmental degradation, economic inequality, LGBTQ bigotry, and more. We can allow Jesus’ teachings to continue to inspire new responses to human suffering and social challenges. We are entrusted with using wisdom we have inherited and the wisdom in marginalized and vulnerable communities to build communities marked by compassion, equality, and peace. Jesus teaches that authentic discipleship combines respect for the wisdom of the past and honesty about where those in the past got it wrong. With openness to transformation, every generation pursuing justice can remain rooted in the enduring values we’ve learned from the Jesus story while participating in new expressions of compassion and justice, today.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
Parables that Harm
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Parables that Harm
Herb Montgomery | July 17, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the Gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds in our reading this week has often been interpreted as a story about separating the righteous from the wicked. Yet one of the most important ethical lessons of the parable is frequently overlooked: human beings are explicitly forbidden from deciding who the “bad seeds” are and attempting to eliminate them. The servants immediately want to pull up the weeds, but the landowner refuses. The servants’ certainty about who belongs and who does not is precisely what Jesus challenges.
Throughout history, societies have repeatedly identified groups of people as “weeds” that threaten the health of the whole community. Ethnic minorities, immigrants, religious dissenters, political opponents, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and countless others have all been portrayed as dangerous contaminants that must be removed for society to flourish. But once people are classified as inherently bad, every form of exclusion becomes easier to justify. Discrimination, segregation, incarceration, deportation, economic exploitation, and violence can all be defended as necessary acts of preserving the “good crop.”
The danger of this is not limited to physical destruction. Even when people postpone judgment until a future divine reckoning, they may still treat others as though they have already been condemned. The belief that certain people are destined for destruction can produce social practices that isolate, dehumanize, or neglect them in the present. One need not literally burn the weeds today to start treating them as less worthy of compassion, justice, or dignity than those deemed “good.”
Jesus’ response resists this entire framework. The servants in the story assume they can distinguish between wheat and weeds perfectly, but the landowner recognizes the limitations of human judgment. Pulling up the weeds prematurely also risks destroying the wheat. This warning extends beyond agriculture into every community where people’s certainty about others’ moral worth becomes the justification for exclusion. History repeatedly demonstrates that campaigns to eliminate perceived threats almost always harm innocent people alongside those being targeted.
So the parable attempts to call communities away from systems that sort humanity into fixed categories of “worthy” and “unworthy.” Instead, it encourages patience, humility, and a recognition that every person bears immeasurable value. Justice is not achieved by identifying expendable people but by cultivating conditions in which everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
The parable of the wheat and the weeds is less a guide for identifying the wicked than a warning against assuming that role ourselves. In this parable, Mathew’s Jesus places judgment in God’s hands while calling his followers to practice patience, adopt a posture of waiting while practicing mercy, protecting the vulnerable, and resisting every ideology that divides humanity into those deserving of life and those destined for destruction. In a world still tempted to solve its problems by sacrificing those deemed undesirable, the parable invites us to choose patience over quick action and certainty about others.
Yet there is a deeper layer to this parable that is deeply troubling and immensely problematic.
The interpretation of this parable presents one of the most difficult ethical tensions in Matthew’s Gospel. In Matthew’s explanation, the “good seed” becomes “the children of the kingdom,” while the weeds become “the children of the evil one,” destined ultimately to be gathered and destroyed. Read through the lens of justice and human dignity, this interpretation risks reinforcing a dangerous way of seeing other human beings not merely as people who do harmful things, but also as people whose very identity is evil.
The problem is not recognizing that injustice exists: in the gospel stories, Jesus consistently confronted oppression, exploitation, and violence. The problem emerges when evil is relocated from systems and actions into the essence of particular people. Once someone is identified as “bad seed,” our imagination begins to shift. It’s not enough for us to say, “Yes, they are bad seeds, but Jesus tells us to leave them alone.” No! Whomever we label as “bad seeds” destined for eventual destruction instantly becomes disposable rather than neighbors to be loved, enemies to be prayed for, or people capable of repentance. Throughout the centuries, various religious communities have labeled heretics, enslaved peoples, other ethnic groups, political opponents, LGBTQ persons, immigrants, women, and adherents of other faiths as threats to God’s purposes. Regarding a group as fundamentally corrupt stands in tension with the broader ministry of Jesus. Jesus repeatedly refused to reduce people to fixed moral identities. He ate with tax collectors, forgave those who crucified him, welcomed those his society labelled as sinners, restored those his society deemed unclean, and called his followers to love their enemies. His ministry assumed that every person bears the image of the Divine. In that context, then, no one ever should be considered a “tare” that will eventually be gathered up and burned in fire. Even those who opposed Jesus in the stories remained objects of God’s love rather than candidates for human contempt.
A more life-giving reading of the parable understands the weeds not as categories of people but as destructive patterns that grow within individuals and societies. Greed, domination, prejudice, violence, and hatred threaten God’s harvest. These realities must indeed be overcome, but their destruction is not the destruction of persons. But then the part the part of the parable of waiting till some mysterious point in the future to uproot these simply doesn’t work in the story. The sacred work of the Divine is not to leave injustice alone until some time in the future, but to engage right now by uprooting injustice while preserving the humanity of everyone involved, today.
The ethical danger of labeling human beings as “bad seed” is that it authorizes exclusion rather than inclusion or restoration. We must begin from the conviction that every person possesses irreducible worth, even people who perpetuate harm. Accountability is essential, and injustice must be confronted with courage. Yet confronting evil is fundamentally different from declaring that certain people are themselves beyond redemption.
If Jesus’ kingdom is characterized by restored humanity, justice, compassion, reconciliation, healing, and restorative justice, then no person should ever be viewed as a bad seed. Ever! People are never weeds in the field of our world. The weeds are the systems, ideologies, fears, and choices that distort our shared humanity. And, those are not to be left along till some time in the future. Those are what must be gathered up and done away with, today, so that every person may have the opportunity to flourish.
A community that labels people as irredeemable closes itself to change. The Jesus of Matthew’s Gospel consistently sought out those whom respectable society had already written off such tax collectors, sinners, Samaritans, Gentiles, and others deemed morally or religiously suspect by the wealthy and powerful elite. His ministry repeatedly transgressed societal norms in favor of the worth and dignity of every person. That means that the parable we encounter in this week’s reading is inconsistent with the Jesus we find in the rest of Matthew’s gospel. Regardless of one’s view of sacred texts, inspiration, or any other lens that would cause us to choose infallibility over the well-being of vulnerable people, my conclusion this week is simple: No person ever should be labelled as a bad seed. Period.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 30: Parables that Harm
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Throughout history, societies have repeatedly identified groups of people as “weeds” that threaten the health of the whole community. Ethnic minorities, immigrants, religious dissenters, political opponents, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and countless others have all been portrayed as dangerous contaminants that must be removed for society to flourish. But once people are classified as inherently bad, every form of exclusion becomes easier to justify. Discrimination, segregation, incarceration, deportation, economic exploitation, and violence can all be defended as necessary acts of preserving the “good crop. Regardless of one’s view of sacred texts, inspiration, or any other lens that would cause us to choose infallibility over the well-being of vulnerable people, my conclusion this week is simple: No person ever should be labelled as a bad seed. Period.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/parables-that-harm
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
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Justice Lessons of the Sower and the Seed
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Justice Lessons of the Sower and the Seed
Herb Montgomery | July 11, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” . . .
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
Our reading this week includes one of the most famous parables in the Gospels. Jesus begins with a striking image of a farmer scatters seed.Some of it falls along a hardened path where birds quickly devour it. This is the first of three scenarios for the seed in this parable. Jesus explains that this seed on the hardened path represents those who hear the message of the kingdom but do not understand it, allowing “the evil one” to snatch it away before it can take root. This opening portion of the parable reveals the powerful ways that oppressive systems can prevent people from grasping the liberating vision of Jesus’ “message of the kingdom.”
In Matthew’s Gospel, the “message of the kingdom” is not about life after death. It is the announcement that Justice’s reign here on Earth challenges injustice, lifts up the marginalized, and calls us to organize human relationships around compassion, equity, and shared humanity. Throughout Matthew, Jesus proclaims good news to those burdened by poverty, exclusion, and exploitation, and the kingdom (though outdated language for us today) represents a radically different social order than the one maintained by empire and people with wealth or religious, economic, or political privilege.
The hardened path we encounter symbolizes hearts and communities that have been conditioned by systems of domination. When people live under structures that normalize inequality, violence, discrimination, or economic exploitation, it can become difficult for them to even imagine alternatives. The message of justice and liberation may be heard but it is not understood because prevailing social narratives have hardened the ground. The seed never has the opportunity to take root.
The birds that snatch away the seed can be understood as forces that actively work against liberation. These forces may take the form of propaganda, fear, prejudice, nationalism, or religious teachings that sanctify injustice. Whenever voices proclaim that poverty is inevitable, that certain groups deserve exclusion, or that existing hierarchies are ordained by God, the seed of the kingdom is stolen before it can grow into transformative action.
Jesus’ warning here is therefore not simply about individual spirituality, but also about social consciousness. Understanding the kingdom requires learning to see the world through the eyes of those who suffer under unjust systems. It requires recognizing the Divine vision for humanity and that vision’s incompatibility with structures that harm and exclude.
The parable’s challenge is to cultivate hearts and communities that stay open to the revolutionary implications of Jesus’ “kingdom.” Only when the hard ground of indifference, fear, and social conditioning is broken up can the seeds of justice, compassion, and liberation begin to flourish.
The next image we see is the seed that falls on rocky ground. This location represents those who receive the message of Jesus’ kingdom with enthusiasm but fail to develop deep roots. This portion of the parable highlights the challenge of sustaining commitment to justice when commitment becomes costly.
The teachings of Jesus consistently call people to stand with those who are marginalized, oppressed, and excluded. That solidarity often brings resistance. Systems of privilege rarely surrender power without a struggle, and so those who challenge injustice frequently encounter criticism, rejection, or even persecution. Jesus acknowledges this reality when he explains that the rocky-ground hearers fall away when trouble comes because of the word.
Social transformation requires more than emotional excitement. Many people are inspired by visions of equality, peace, and liberation, but lasting change demands perseverance and sustainability. Movements for justice have always depended on people who remain committed when the work becomes difficult. The rocky soil in the parable symbolizes shallow commitment that cannot withstand the heat that confronting entrenched injustice generates.
Jesus’ warning is especially relevant in contexts where discipleship is reduced to personal belief that ignores the social implications of Jesus’ teachings. It is easy to celebrate love, compassion, and inclusion in theory. It is far more challenging to practice them when doing so risks relationships, status, employment, financial security, or acceptance within one’s community. The “sun” that scorches the plant can be understood as the social pressure faced by those who advocate for the poor, welcome the outsider, include the marginalized, challenge discrimination, or resist violence.
This portion of the parable is a call to cultivate sustainable deep roots. Authentic commitment to a social vision of justice can be accomplished through being grounded in conviction, building community, and spiritual formation. Only with resources like these can people endure opposition and continue working for a more just and compassionate world. Jesus reminds his listeners that justice is not merely a moment of inspiration; it is a lifelong practice of faithful persistence.
Next, in Jesus’ explanation of the seed among the thorns, there’s a new challenge. A just vision for human community isn’t rejected outright. Initially, the seed begins to grow. The problem is that eventually competing forces choke the seed’s life. Jesus identifies two such forces: the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth. These words expose the way unjust systems can prevent individuals and communities from flourishing.
Many people are burdened by constant economic insecurity, debt, inadequate healthcare, low wages, housing instability, and fear about the future. These worries consume their emotional and physical energy, making it difficult to participate in the work of compassion, community, and justice. The thorns in our lives aren’t simply personal anxieties; they’re often rooted in social conditions that keep people struggling to survive.
Jesus also warns about the deceitfulness of wealth. Wealth promises security, status, and happiness, yet it can blind people to the suffering of others. When the pursuit of accumulation becomes people’s highest value, they push aside their concern for neighbors, workers, immigrants, the poor, and the marginalized. Wealth can create the illusion that success is measured by what one owns rather than by how one loves.
The thorns in the parable warn us to remove things that compete with collective human flourishing. Followers of Jesus are invited to challenge systems that produce unnecessary anxiety and economic inequality while resisting the temptation to place trust in wealth. The seeds of Jesus’ “kingdom” grow best in communities where people share resources, care for one another, and create conditions in which everyone can thrive. Only then can the seed bear the abundant fruit of justice, compassion, and solidarity with others’ humanity.
Jesus concludes the parable of the sower with a hopeful vision: “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” The good soil represents those who hear the message of Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom, understand it, and allow it to bear fruit in their lives. This fruitful harvest is not only about personal spiritual growth but about the transformation of communities through lives shaped by justice, compassion, and solidarity.
Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, understanding the kingdom means recognizing the Divine’s desire for a world where the hungry are fed, the excluded are welcomed, the oppressed are liberated, and relationships are restored. Good soil is therefore not simply a receptive heart but also a life that actively participates in the work of healing society. Genuine understanding always becomes visible in concrete action.
The astonishing harvest of thirty, sixty, or one hundred times what was sown suggests that justice has a multiplying effect. One act of generosity inspires others. One courageous stand against oppression encourages others join in. And one person committed to peacemaking can reshape an entire community. Jesus’ vision for a just world grows exponentially because love and justice are contagious when lived publicly.
Jesus also reminds his listeners that fruitfulness requires more than hearing. Earlier in his story, seeds failed because of hardened hearts, shallow commitments, or the choking influence of wealth and anxiety. But good soil has also been cultivated for those seeds. Hearts that are willing to be changed resist the values of domination, greed, and exclusion that too often characterize society.
For Jesus followers today who are working for justice, becoming good soil means allowing Jesus’ vision for a just world to take deep root until it reshapes our priorities, our relationships, and our public life. The measure of faithful discipleship is not simply correct belief but abundant fruit: communities where dignity replaces discrimination, generosity overcomes scarcity, reconciliation heals division, and justice flourishes for the good of all. Such lives become living evidence that Jesus’ kingdom is already taking root among us.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 29: Justice Lessons of the Sower and the Seed
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, understanding the kingdom means recognizing the Divine’s desire for a world where the hungry are fed, the excluded are welcomed, the oppressed are liberated, and relationships are restored. Good soil is therefore not simply a receptive heart but also a life that actively participates in the work of healing society. Genuine understanding always becomes visible in concrete action. Fruitfulness requires more than hearing. Earlier in his story, seeds failed because of hardened hearts, shallow commitments, or the choking influence of wealth and anxiety. But good soil has also been cultivated for those seeds. Hearts that are willing to be changed resist the values of domination, greed, and exclusion that too often characterize society. Becoming good soil means allowing Jesus’ vision for a just world to take deep root until it reshapes our priorities, our relationships, and our public life.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/justice-lessons-of-the-sower-and-the-seed
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
Society as Children in a Market and Societal Rest
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Society as Children in a Market and Societal Rest
Herb Montgomery | July 3, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew.
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”. . .
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)
Our reading this week offers a powerful critique of a society that resists voices calling for transformation. By comparing his generation to children in the marketplace who complain no matter what game is being played, Jesus exposes a pattern that’s still familiar today: people often reject challenges to the status quo regardless of how those challenges are presented.
John the Baptist had a message of repentance, simplicity, and prophetic warning. He lived an austere life, refusing many of the comforts and privileges of society. Yet instead of hearing his call to justice, many dismissed him as extreme and claimed he had a demon. Jesus, by contrast, “came eating and drinking,” sharing meals with ordinary people, celebrating community, and extending radical welcome to those pushed to the margins. Yet he too was rejected and accused of being a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners. The problem was not John’s approach or Jesus’ approach. The problem was a society unwilling to hear the truth about itself that either one proclaimed.
This passage reveals how systems of privilege often respond to calls for change. When advocates challenge inequality, they are frequently criticized no matter what methods they use. If they protest publicly, they are labeled disruptive. If they work within existing institutions, they are accused of being ineffective or compromising. These objections often have less to do with the methods being used and more to do with people and systems refusing to confront the injustice being exposed.
Jesus’ ministry consistently centered those who the religious, political, and economic systems of his day excluded. His friendship with tax collectors and sinners was not simply about personal morality; it was a public demonstration that every person possesses inherent dignity and worth. By sharing meals across social boundaries, Jesus challenged a culture that divided people into categories of worthy and unworthy, clean and unclean, accepted and rejected.
The final statement, “Wisdom is proved right by her deeds,” shifts attention away from what people say and toward the outcomes of what they do. Justice is not ultimately measured by whether those in power approve of a movement or a messenger. It is measured instead by the fruit it produces. Does justice bring healing? Does it restore dignity? Does it create greater equity? Does it move society toward compassion and inclusion? These are the questions Jesus invites his listeners to ask.
Our reading also reminds us that social transformation requires discernment. It is easy to dismiss uncomfortable voices because they challenge our assumptions or disrupt our routines. Yet throughout history, prophets, reformers, and justice advocates have often been rejected before their wisdom was recognized. Jesus encourages us to look beyond labels and accusations and examine the actual impact of a message. We are called to resist the temptation to reject truth simply because it arrives in an unexpected form. Whether spoken through prophetic confrontation like John or compassionate solidarity like Jesus, the call to justice remains the same: to build a society where every person is valued, welcomed, and treated with dignity.
Next in our reading this week, we encounter Jesus’ words about the “wise and learned” and the “little children.” Far from being a rejection of education or knowledge, this passage challenges systems of privilege that assume truth belongs primarily to the powerful, the elite, or those with social status. Jesus celebrates a God who reveals truth in ways that often bypass established hierarchies and reaches those whom society tends to overlook.
In the first-century world, religious authority was concentrated among educated leaders who possessed social, political, and economic influence. Yet Jesus repeatedly found faith, insight, and openness among ordinary people such as the poor, laborers, women, children, and others pushed to the margins. His statement that God has revealed these things to “little children” points to the importance of humility and a willingness to listen to marginalized communities rather than status or power. It is a reminder that wisdom is not measured by credentials, wealth, or social standing.
This passage challenges the tendency of dominant groups to assume they alone possess truth. Throughout history, those in positions of privilege have often dismissed the experiences and voices of marginalized communities. Jesus turns this assumption upside-down. He suggests that those who suffer injustice may possess insights about God, compassion, and human dignity that those benefiting from unjust systems often fail to perceive or comprehend.
This teaching also encourages us to listen carefully to frequently ignored voices. Children, the poor, immigrants, women, racial minorities, LGBTQ people, and others who have experienced exclusion often perceive realities that those with greater social power may overlook. Their experiences can reveal both the wounds of injustice and the way toward healing and personal and social transformation.
The author of Matthew believed that knowledge of God comes through engaging the Jesus story rather than through social position. Access to God is not restricted to an elite class. Divine revelation is not reserved for the powerful but is a gift available to all. In this way, the Jesus story presents a radically democratic vision of spiritual truth and one that levels hierarchies and affirms the dignity and worth of every person.
For Jesus followers committed to justice, this passage is an invitation to seek wisdom among the overlooked, to question systems that concentrate power, and to recognize that God’s voice is often heard most clearly from the margins.
Lastly this week, let’s consider the words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In their social context, these words have certain implications for us. These words are often understood as a promise of personal spiritual comfort, but they also speak to the crushing burdens unjust social, political, and religious systems impose on ordinary people.
The people who first heard Jesus’ words lived under the weight of Roman occupation, economic exploitation, and religious obligations that often benefited the powerful while placing heavy demands on the poor. Many struggled under taxation, debt, land loss, and social exclusion. In this context, Jesus’ invitation was not merely an offer of private consolation; it was a call to a different way of organizing life and relationships.
When Jesus says, “Come to me,” he is inviting people away from systems that exhaust and oppress. The burden he seeks to lift is not simply individual anxiety but also the weight of living under structures that diminish human dignity through the constant drive of production whether for the empire in Jesus’ day or for capitalists in ours. Jesus’ ministry offered the poor, the sick, women, children, and social outcasts the rest that comes through belonging in a community shaped by compassion rather than domination.
The image of the yoke is especially significant, too. In Jesus’ day, a yoke was a common symbol for submission to authority or a way of life. Jesus offers his own “yoke,” a way of living grounded in gentleness, humility, and mutual care. Unlike the burdens imposed by oppressive rulers or exclusionary religious practices, Jesus’ yoke is “easy” because it is rooted in justice rather than coercion. His burden is “light” because it seeks human flourishing and thriving rather than exploitation.
For Jesus followers today, this passage reminds us that Jesus’ vision was not one of endless exhaustion, competition, and hierarchy. Jesus challenged systems that place unbearable burdens on vulnerable people while privileging the powerful. His call invites communities to create conditions where people can experience rest, security, and dignity.
The rest Jesus offers is more than personal. It is social. It is the healing that comes when people are liberated from exploitation, exclusion, and oppression. It is the peace that emerges when justice and compassion replaces them. In this way, Jesus’ words continue to call Jesus followers toward the work of building a more humane and equitable world where the burdens of life are shared and no one is left to carry them alone, a world that is a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 28: Society as Children in a Market and Societal Rest
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Our passage this week eminds us that Jesus’ vision was not one of endless exhaustion, competition, and hierarchy. Jesus challenged systems that place unbearable burdens on vulnerable people while privileging the powerful. His call invites communities to create conditions where people can experience rest, security, and dignity. This rest is more than personal. It is social and societal. It is the healing that comes when people are liberated from exploitation, exclusion, and oppression. It is the peace that emerges when justice and compassion replaces them. In this way, Jesus’ words continue to call Jesus followers today toward the work of building a more humane and equitable world where the burdens of life are shared and no one is left to carry them alone, a world that is a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
Welcoming Prophets and the Justice Implications of a Cup of Cold Water
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Welcoming Prophets and the Justice Implications of a Cup of Cold Water
Herb Montgomery | June 27, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)
The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often read primarily as texts about personal morality or individual salvation. While these themes are present in these stories, theGospels are more fully understood when interpreted through the lens of the social injustices Jesus was challenging and the societal changes he hoped to inspire. Jesus consistently addresses the social, political, and economic realities that shape human life, not only individual behavior.
Throughout the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus stands with those pushed to the margins of society such as the poor, the sick, women, foreigners, and those considered sinners or outcasts. His ministry challenges systems that created exclusion and suffering. He proclaims good news to the poor, liberation for the oppressed, and a vision of God’s kingdom in which the last are first and the powerful are called to account.
The kingdom of God, the central theme of Jesus’ teaching in these three Gospels, is not a promise of heaven after death. It is a call to transform relationships and communities here and now. Jesus condemns religious hypocrisy, economic exploitation, and the abuse of power. He teaches that love of God is inseparable from love of neighbor, especially the most vulnerable.
Reading the Synoptic Gospels through a societal justice lens reveals Jesus as more than a spiritual teacher concerned with private faith. He emerges as a prophetic voice, standing within the prophetic tradition of his culture and calling for a society rooted in compassion, equity, dignity, and collective flourishing. This reading helps modern communities discern how Jesus’ teachings continue to challenge injustice and inspire the work of social transformation today.
Let’s begin this week with Jesus’ saying, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” These words carry profound implications for justice work done by Jesus followers. These words identify the presence of the Divine in the work we do to make our world a just, safe, compassionate place, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized.
Also in the context of Matthew 10, Jesus has commissioned his disciples to travel without wealth, status, or political power. They are to depend entirely on the hospitality of others. To welcome them is not merely an act of personal kindness; it is also a decision about what kind of society we wishes to build. Hospitality becomes a form of resistance against systems that divide people into insiders and outsiders, worthy and unworthy, powerful and powerless.
Jesus teaches that our relationship with the Divine is revealed through how we receive others. The stranger, the refugee, the activist, the poor, and the person excluded by society are not obstacles on our path to encountering the Divine; they are often the very places where the Divine is encountered. Welcoming those whom society ignores or rejects is a sacred act.
Jesus’ words also challenge hierarchies of power. Jesus does not identify himself with emperors, religious elites, or wealthy patrons. Instead, he identifies himself and his disciples with ordinary people carrying a message of healing, liberation, and justice. The measure of faithfulness is therefore not how closely one aligns with power but how willingly one opens doors to those working for compassion, human dignity, and the inclusion of those who are excluded.
Matthew’s Jesus reminds us that hospitality is never neutral. Every act of welcome either strengthens communities of justice or reinforces systems of exclusion. To welcome those who labor for a more compassionate world is to welcome Jesus himself, and in so welcoming Jesus, we participate in the sacred, Divinely-infused, ongoing work of healing, reconciliation, and social transformation.
Next in our reading, Jesus tells his disciples, “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” These words challenge us to consider how we respond to those who speak truth, pursue justice, and advocate for the well-being of marginalized people.
Biblical prophets were rarely welcomed because they confronted systems of exploitation and called communities to repentance. They challenged economic inequality, oppression of the poor, and the misuse of power. To welcome a prophet, therefore, is not simply to offer hospitality to an individual but to also embrace the prophetic message of justice itself. It means opening our hearts and communities to voices that expose injustice and call for transformation.
Likewise, welcoming a righteous person involves more than admiring someone who does good works. It means standing alongside those who embody compassion, mercy, and solidarity with the vulnerable. Righteousness in Scripture is not mere personal morality; it is right relationship with God and neighbor expressed through justice. To welcome the righteous is to participate in their work and share in their commitment to creating a more equitable world.
Jesus teaches that those who receive prophets and righteous people share in their reward because they become partners in the mission of making our world a safer, more compassionate, just place for all. Social change is never accomplished by a few heroic individuals alone. It requires communities willing to listen, support, and act. The reward is not deferred to the future; it is the experience of participating in the sacred work of healing and liberation in the present.
For followers of Jesus today, this passage asks a challenging question: Do we welcome the voices that disturb our comfort in pursuit of justice? When we receive those who advocate for the excluded and the oppressed, we join in the sacred ongoing work of transforming society into a community of dignity, compassion, and justice for all.
The closing words in our reading this week carry profound justice implications, too. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” These words are often interpreted as a lesson in personal kindness, but within the larger context of Matthew 10 they point toward something much deeper: solidarity with those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and engaged in the work of God’s justice.
Throughout Matthew chapter 10, Jesus sends his disciples into a hostile world. He warns them that they will face rejection, persecution, and opposition from powerful religious, economic and political forces. The disciples are not sent as privileged representatives of an empire but as vulnerable people dependent upon the hospitality and compassion of others. In this context, the “little ones” are those who possess little social power, little wealth, and little protection. They are people whose dignity and worth are often overlooked.
So the image of a cup of cold water is striking because it represents a simple act of care. Jesus does not speak of grand donations, heroic sacrifices, or public displays of generosity but of something small and accessible. In doing so, he reminds us that justice is built not only through large-scale movements but also through everyday acts of solidarity. Small actions that affirm human dignity can become powerful expressions of resistance against systems that devalue people.
These words also challenge our tendency to overlook those whom society considers insignificant. Jesus identifies himself so closely with the vulnerable that caring for them means participating in the sacred work of the Divine. The value of an action is measured not by its size but by the humanity it recognizes. A cup of cold water offered to someone in need becomes a declaration that their life matters.
These words also confront systems that reward wealth, status, and power. Many societies recognize those who make the largest contributions or hold the highest positions. But Jesus reverses those values and elevates the smallest act of compassion toward the least powerful person. The kingdom he proclaims is one where dignity is not earned through achievement but is inherent in every human being.
For communities committed to following Jesus, the final portion of our reading this week is a call to cultivate practices of hospitality, mutual aid, and care. It reminds us that transformative change begins with seeing and valuing those whom others ignore. Feeding the hungry; welcoming immigrants; rejecting misogyny and racism; supporting marginalized communities including our LGBTQ family, friends, and neighbors; visiting the sick; and standing with those harmed by injustice are all modern expressions of offering “even a cup of cold water to these little ones.”
Ultimately, Jesus teaches that though justice includes changing institutions and that work is essential, it is also about creating relationships rooted in compassion and solidarity. Every act that affirms the worth of another person participates in the work of Jesus’ kingdom. Even the smallest gesture of care becomes a witness to a world where everyone is seen, valued, and loved, a world that is a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 27: Welcoming Prophets and the Justice Implications of a Cup of Cold Water
Matthew 10:40-42
In this context, the “little ones” are those who possess little social power, little wealth, and little protection. They are people whose dignity and worth are often overlooked. For communities committed to following Jesus, the final portion of our reading this week is a call to cultivate practices of hospitality, mutual aid, and care. It reminds us that transformative change begins with seeing and valuing those whom others ignore. Feeding the hungry; welcoming immigrants; rejecting misogyny and racism; supporting marginalized communities including our LGBTQ family, friends, and neighbors; visiting the sick; and standing with those harmed by injustice are all modern expressions of offering “even a cup of cold water to these little ones.”
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
The Cost of Compassion
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
The Cost of Compassion
Herb Montgomery | June 19, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the Gospel of Matthew:
“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:24-39)
Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, over and over again we read stories about a Jesus who confronts social, religious, economic, and political structures that marginalize people. He touches the unclean, eats with tax collectors and sinners, restores dignity to those excluded from society, and exposes the hypocrisy of leaders who place burdens on others while protecting their own privilege. Because Jesus threatens the status quo, he is demonized by those invested in maintaining existing power arrangements.
In our reading this week, Matthew’s Jesus tells his disciples that they are told to expect the same response that he gets. History shows that those who stand with the poor, the excluded, and the oppressed, the marginalized often encounter resistance. Advocates for justice are frequently portrayed as dangerous, disruptive, unpatriotic, or even evil. Jesus teaches that such opposition should not be surprising. This is the nature of the path we are following.
dJesus is challenging systems that assign value to people based on wealth, status, productivity, or power. Sparrows were among the cheapest animals sold in the marketplace. They possessed little economic value in the eyes of society. Yet Jesus declares that not even one sparrow falls outside of God’s care. If God notices and values what the empire and marketplace consider insignificant, then every human being possesses inherent dignity that cannot be measured by social standing or economic worth.
This teaching confronts the logic of societies that treat some lives as expendable or worth less. The poor, the disabled, the immigrant, the incarcerated, the unhoused, and others pushed to the margins are often regarded as less important by political and economic systems. Jesus rejects this hierarchy of human value. God’s attention extends to those whom society overlooks.
The statement that even the hairs of our heads are numbered speaks of profound care and recognition. Social injustice often begins when people become statistics rather than neighbors, categories rather than persons. But Jesus insists that every person is known and valued.
The command, “Do not be afraid,” is not merely personal comfort. It is encouragement for communities seeking justice in the face of opposition. Those who challenge oppression, expose injustice, and stand with the vulnerable can do so with courage, knowing that their worth is not determined by the approval of powerful institutions. In God’s vision of justice, even socially marginalized lives matter. Every person counts, and no one is forgotten.
Lastly in our reading this week, we encounter Jesus’ words on peace versus a sword. At first glance, Jesus’ words about bringing not peace but a sword seem to contradict his teachings on love, mercy, and nonviolence. Yet in the context of social justice, the “sword” is not a call to physical violence but recognition that the pursuit of God’s justice inevitably creates conflict with systems of oppression and privilege.
Jesus announces a world that challenges the values of empire, domination, exclusion, and economic exploitation. When people commit themselves to that vision, divisions often emerge, even, according to our reading, within families and communities. Those who benefit from unjust systems may resist change, while those seeking liberation may be forced to choose between social acceptance and faithfulness to justice.
The call to be true to what we know is right over being true to our family is not a rejection of family relationships. Rather, it is a warning against allowing loyalty to tribe, nation, class, or family to override loyalty to the ethics of justice and compassion. Throughout history, movements for abolition, civil rights, labor rights, LGBTQ rights, and peace have often divided households because they challenged deeply rooted social norms.
Taking up the way of love and justice means accepting the cost of doing so. It means standing with the marginalized even when doing so brings criticism, rejection, or loss. Jesus teaches that true life is found not in preserving our comfort and privilege, but in surrendering ourselves to the work of justice, restitution, and the transformation of society: making our world a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 26: The Cost of Compassion
Matthew 10:24-39
Our passage this week is a warning against allowing loyalty to tribe, nation, class, or family to override loyalty to the ethics of justice and compassion. Throughout history, movements for abolition, civil rights, labor rights, LGBTQ rights, and peace have often divided households because they challenged deeply rooted social norms. Taking up the way of love and justice means accepting the cost of doing so. It means standing with the marginalized even when doing so brings criticism, rejection, or loss. Jesus teaches that true life is found not in preserving our comfort and privilege, but in surrendering ourselves to the work of justice, restitution, and the transformation of society: making our world a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/the-cost-of-compassion
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
The Harvest Is Great, the Laborers Few
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who supports the work of Renewed Heart Ministries. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission of love, justice, and compassion, even in a time when ministries like ours are being called to do more with less.
Your support means the world to us. Whether we’re speaking into the broader society, engaging within our faith communities, or working one on one alongside others endeavoring to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and justice, we remain committed to advocating for a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for all. Your partnership helps keep our work alive.
To all of our supporters, from all of us at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you. We are so deeply grateful for you, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
The Harvest Is Great, the Laborers Few
Herb Montgomery | June 12, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. (Matthew 9:35-10:8)
In our reading this week, Jesus travels through cities and villages, teaching, healing, and proclaiming what Matthew calls the “good news of the kingdom.” The passage concludes with Jesus looking upon the crowds with compassion because “they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” He then tells his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” These verses still carry profound implications for us today because they reveal a vision of community and a spirituality rooted in compassion for those neglected and wounded by systems of power.
First, the passage reminds us that genuine spirituality is inseparable from public compassion. Jesus does not isolate himself from suffering people. He goes directly into towns and villages where ordinary people struggle under poverty, sickness, exclusion, and political oppression. In the first-century Roman world, many peasants lived under crushing taxation, economic exploitation, and socio-religious hierarchies that often favored the wealthy and powerful. When Jesus sees the crowds as “harassed and helpless,” he recognizes not merely personal pain but also collective social suffering. His response is compassion.
This compassion is deeply political, in the best sense of the word. Jesus identifies failed leadership as part of the problem. The phrase “sheep without a shepherd” echoes past Hebrew prophetic critiques of rulers and religious authorities who neglected the vulnerable. Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Micah all condemned leaders who enriched themselves while the poor suffered. Matthew’s Gospel continues this prophetic tradition. Jesus exposes systems that abandon people while presenting himself as radically different.
This passage also teaches that justice requires action, not mere sympathy. Jesus doesn’t simply feel sorry for the crowds around him. He heals their diseases, restores marginalized people to community life, and commissions disciples to continue the work. The vision of justice in Matthew’s Gospel is therefore participatory: followers of Jesus are called to become “laborers” in the harvest. That means confronting suffering wherever it appears, whether through poverty, racism, gender privilege, LGBTQ phobias, economic inequality, violence, or exclusion. Compassion without action is incomplete.
Importantly, the “harvest” language challenges believers to see marginalized people not as burdens, but as human beings filled with sacred worth and possibility. Too often societies treat vulnerable communities as disposable or invisible. Jesus instead sees abundance. The harvest is “plentiful.” There is is so much hope, suppressed dignity, and transformative potential among the people society overlooks. The problem is not the people; the problem is the shortage of laborers willing to participate in the work of moving toward a more just society.
Our reading this week also critiques religious communities that become disconnected from human suffering. Jesus’ ministry combines teaching, proclamation, and healing. Faith is not presented as abstract doctrine alone. It must touch bodies, communities, and material conditions. A church, movement, or spirituality unconcerned with the wounded crowds has drifted away from the heart of Jesus’ gospel.
Ultimately, the beginning of our reading calls listeners to cultivate compassionate solidarity. Jesus does not stand above suffering humanity but moves toward it. The lesson here is that discipleship means entering the pain and injustice of our world with courage, mercy, and active commitment to collective healing, transformation, liberation, and change.
Next in our reading, Jesus gathers twelve people and commissions them to participate in his work of healing, liberation, and social transformation. At first glance, this passage may appear to be little more than a list of names, but beneath the surface it contains profound justice implications. This window into Jesus’ formation of this group reveals how his “kingdom of God” would confront systems of exclusion, hierarchy, violence, and division.
The first justice lesson in this passage is that Jesus intentionally empowers ordinary and marginalized people. The disciples are not religious elites, wealthy aristocrats, or political rulers. They are fishermen, laborers, and common people from occupied Galilee. In the ancient world, power and authority were concentrated among the wealthy, the priestly class, and the Roman Empire. Yet Jesus gives authority not to the powerful, but to those on the margins. Matthew says Jesus “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.” This is significant because healing in the gospels is never merely private or spiritual. Illness often carried social consequences: exclusion from community, economic hardship, and religious stigma. By empowering his disciples to heal, Jesus commissions them to restore people to dignity and community life.
The list of disciples itself also carries important political meaning. Among the twelve are Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector. These two figures represented opposite ends of a debate within Jesus’ community on how social change was to be brought about. Tax collectors collaborated with the Roman Empire and were often viewed as traitors by their fellow Jews. Zealots, on the other hand, resisted Roman occupation and sometimes advocated for violent revolution. In most societies, these two men would have viewed each other as antagonists, yet Jesus calls them into the same community.
This reveals a radical social vision. Jesus doesn’t build movements based on initial differences or methodological purity. Instead he forms a community where former antagonists learn to work together for healing and justice. We don’t build the kingdom of God by destroying one another but by transforming one another through the patience that relationship demands. In a modern context marked by polarization, racial division, and ideological hostility, this passage challenges communities to move toward change by learning to listen to one another and possible being affected by our proximity to each other.
Another important lesson is found in the symbolic number twelve. The twelve disciples represent the renewal of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is forming an renewed social order, a renewed people shaped not by domination but by compassion and justice. Rome ruled through violence, exploitation, and fear. The socio-religious elite often reinforced systems that burdened the poor and excluded the vulnerable through collusion with Rome. Against this backdrop, Jesus creates, within the symbolism and meaning of his Jewish community, a movement centered on restoration, compassion, and justice.
Our reading this week emphasizes that justice work is communal. Jesus does not send isolated heroes to change the world alone. He forms a collective. Social transformation requires communities committed to shared purpose, mutual accountability, and collective action. The disciples are flawed people with conflicting backgrounds and imperfect understandings, yet Jesus still calls them, with their differences, to benefit from the change that will result in each of them from their interaction with him and with each other. Meaningful justice movements do not require perfect people or even homogeny. They require people who are willing to not only work toward change but also work toward being changed themselves.
Jesus’ movement in our reading this week involves healing bodies, restoring dignity, breaking down barriers between antagonists, and forming communities rooted in justice, love and compassion above all. The kingdom Jesus announces is not merely about personal salvation after death; it is about the transformation of human relationships and society here and now.
Lastly, rather than calling these disciples to seek power, wealth, or domination, Jesus sends them to serve the vulnerable and restore human dignity. The instructions Jesus gives challenge systems of exclusion and invite communities into practices of compassion, healing, and solidarity. The disciples are told to proclaim that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The kingdom of heaven is not about the afterlife; it is a social reality where the poor, sick, marginalized, and oppressed are restored to community. The kingdom stands against systems that exploit people and instead promotes justice, mercy, and shared humanity.
Jesus commands the disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. Each of these acts carries social meaning. Lepers were excluded from society, the sick were often viewed as cursed, and those suffering mentally or spiritually were frequently isolated. Jesus sends his followers directly toward those society pushed away, so following the Jesus of this passage means refusing to abandon those suffering injustice and working instead for restoration, inclusion, and liberation.
Jesus says to his disciples, “Freely you have received; freely give.” This challenges Christian systems built on greed and exploitation. The disciples are not to commodify healing or turn compassion into profit. Justice requires generosity and mutual care rather than treating people as opportunities for gain. Ultimately, our reading reminds us that faithfulness is measured by how communities care for the vulnerable. It presents a vision of discipleship rooted in individual and social healing, rooted in solidarity, and rooted in the restoration of the human dignity of whomever our society is pushing to the margins. And it calls Jesus followers to embody a world shaped by that compassion.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. How does our reading this week inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate.
My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
As always, you can find Renewed Heart Ministries each week on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s Threads. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us on your chosen social media platforms for our daily posts.
If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.
Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 25: The Harvest Is Great, the Laborers Few
Matthew 9:35-10:8
This passage also teaches that justice requires action, not mere sympathy. Jesus doesn’t simply feel sorry for the crowds around him. He heals their diseases, restores marginalized people to community life, and commissions disciples to continue the work. The vision of justice in Matthew’s Gospel is therefore participatory: followers of Jesus are called to become “laborers” in the harvest. That means confronting suffering wherever it appears, whether through poverty, racism, gender privilege, LGBTQ phobias, economic inequality, violence, or exclusion. Compassion without action is incomplete.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/the-harvest-is-great-the-laborers-few
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you getting all of RHM’s Free Resources?
Free Sign Up Here
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