²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honour while others are for dishonour. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from (what is dishonourable), he will be an implement for honour, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (2Tim2:20-21).

Paul’s illustration concerns the significance of personal holiness and sanctification. The context is not directly evangelistic (Paul’s teaching rarely is – he is writing pastoral letters). The “large house” is referring to the Church – not a building as such but the people the Apostle Peter describes as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1Pet2:9) Those within the Church who diligently cleanse themselves from impurity and sin become vessels (or implements) fit for honourable use by the Master.

This process of purification pertains to turning away from unrighteousness and a  pursuing righteousness in all aspects of life. Those who are sanctified and made holy show themselves to be vessels of honour – instruments useful to the Master. Such usefulness cannot merely be an internal spirituality but also a readiness for every good work that God has “prepared in advance for His people to walk in” (Eph2:10).

As the preceding passage indicates, by no means all within the Church are honourable vessels: “Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some” (vv17,18). Paul goes on to add, “But the Lord knows those who are His”(v19), indicating of course that some within the visible Church are not His.

A misinterpreted parable

Yet neither are all such “children of the devil, yet some may be. That brings me on to a yet more interesting illustration – that of Jesus Christ’s parable of the darnel/tares/weeds planted by the evil one (Mt13:24-30). So many commentators appear wrongly to understand that Jesus is referring to the Church, whereas it is Paul’s illustration above that refers to the Church. There can be no argument, for in this instance the Lord explains the meaning of His parable to the disciples in vv36-43.

The key verse is 38: the “field” is the world, and Satan has planted his seed within it, whom Jesus describes as the children of the Evil One. This mystery is firstly referred to in the bible in the so-called Protoevangelium: “And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel” (Gen3:15) – an  earlier post explains in a little more detail. Jesus later alludes to this issue of satanic planting in Mt15: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (v13).

Such “planting” and satanic seeding will make little sense to traducianists (who do not believe the eternal/spiritual essence of man is given to him at birth but is derived from corruptible sperm and ovaries). More generally and widely it will be a mystery to the many who understand there to be two rather than three spiritual categories of mankind, i.e. that everyone who has not been called and chosen to be a disciple of Christ is effectively a child of the devil. Read the Mt13 parable again and it will be evident that does not fit the case if the “field” refers to the world. The matter does not pertain to conversion – i.e. soiled wheat being restored (saved) but the planting of juxtaposing seed  from birth. It pertains to who is of God and who is of the devil (cf. 1Jn3:10).

My book** sets out more conclusively why there are indeed three soteriological categories. That in turn has massive implications to divine providence, in terms of God’s stewardship and purposes for all true humanity. That is why I have focussed more on Jesus’ illustration than Paul’s. But it is the latter that is referring to the Church and its perennial composition whereas the earlier parable pertains to a broader providential mystery that I believe has intentionally been sustained until these last days (cf. Rev10).

**The LITTLE BOOK OF PROVIDENCE: a seven-part synopsis of the bible: – available as a paperback from Amazon or FREELY as a PDF file HERE.