Shincheonji Perspective
Shincheonji claims that Jeremiah 31:27 is fulfilled by the parable of Matthew 13:24-30.
Jeremiah 31:27 – “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of mankind and the seed of animals.
A Shincheonji member would point out how there would be 2 seeds that are planted. They would point out how the “seed of animals” represent Satan’s seed, since an animal, or beast, is a person without understanding (Psalms 49:20, Proverbs 30:2-3, Psalms 73:22), and that the seed of man, who is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), is God’s seed.
Christian response
When a Shincheonji member connects Jeremiah 31:27 to Matthew 13:24-30, they’re calling God Satan.
Let’s take a closer look:
Jeremiah 31:27 – “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I[The Lord] will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of mankind and the seed of animals.
Matthew 13:37-40 – And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
In Jeremiah 31:27, the Lord is the one who planted both the seed of the animal, and the seed of man.
In Matthew 13:37-40, Jesus plainly explains that the “son of man” is the one who planted the good seed, while the devil sowed the tares.
Connecting the two verses together, Shincheonji is calling God “satan”.
Shincheonji response
God allows the devil to plant the seed of the tares in his field, since God is all knowing and all powerful, and allows the devil to roam the earth as seen in Job. God was the one who allowed this to take place in order for prophecy to be fulfilled.
Christian response
Let us go ahead and compare the two passages, side by side.
The parable of the wheat and the tares can be summarized as the following:
- The presence of evil alongside good in the world
- God’s patience in allowing both to grow together
- The eventual separation and judgment at the end of the age
The context and themes of Jeremiah 31 are quite different:
- God’s promise to restore and rebuild Israel
- A new covenant between God and His people
- Forgiveness and renewal for the nation
When examining biblical passages, it’s crucial to consider the full context, historical background, and overall themes of each text rather than making connections based solely on superficial similarities like the mention of seeds or planting.