30, 60, and 100 Fold

 

Note: All scripture references and word definitions are taken from the Blue Letter Bible. It's an awesome tool! Check it out.

[Mat 13:18-23 KJV] 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the Sower. 19 When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom and understands [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and with joy receives it; 21 Yet he does not have root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understands [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

Have you ever noticed in the Parable of the Sower that different seeds are planted in the same good ground? I had always looked at the different crop yields as the yield that each field of that crop produces. Here in the Midwest, we plant fields with only one type of seed. So, I saw this as similar to the parable of the talents, where each person is given a different seed based on what that person is capable of. However, in contemplating this, I realized there is only one field in this parable. This parable speaks of different types of seeds that are sown in us based on what the Sower wants to produce in a particular season. There may be seasons in our lives where we produce 30-fold, 60-fold, or 100-fold. It depends on what God wants to grow in our lives in that season.

 

As I meditated, a question occurred to me, “Why did Jesus use the numbers 100, 60, and 30?” I had always assumed that it was the average yields of common crops back then. That may very well be, but God is fond of using numbers to give greater meaning, so I decided to dig into the meaning of these numbers.

 

Hebrew, like many ancient languages, uses its alphabet to represent numbers. Each letter and number also have spiritual meanings behind them. Let’s look at the spiritual meanings for the numbers 100, 60, and 30.

 

 

 

100

 

The number 100 has some interesting spiritual connotations! Generally, it denotes a full measure or full reward. But if you look at the letter used for 100, Qof, or its factors, you can find all sorts of juicy stuff.

The ancient pictograph of the letter Qof is a circle with a horizontal line drawn through it. It was a picture of a thread being pulled through the eye of a needle. Later, this letter was turned so the line was vertical. Some Christian scholars see this as a prophetic sign signifying that Jesus would make a way for us to get through that “eye” by coming down from heaven for us.

The letter Qof is also the 19^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The number 19 is associated with repentance and faith.

Digging into the factors is a fascinating rabbit hole to go down, but I’m only going to give the example of one set, 4 x 25. 4 has to do with reigning over the world. 25 is made up of 20 + 5. 20 has to do with fullness of discernment and approval. 5 is generally thought of as grace. So, when we produce a crop that yields 100-fold, the crop we yield is approved and reigning with discernment and grace.

60

The 15th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet has the numeric value of 60. It is Samekh, and the pictograph is like a shield.

The Priestly Blessing of Numbers 6: 23-27, “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, and give you peace. So they shall put My name on the Children of Israel, and I will bless them.” has 60 letters in Hebrew, therefore 60 is associated with anointing and blessing.

6 is the number of days it took God to create the earth, therefore, 60 is associated with completion. The earth was filled with abundant animal life. Animals were the measure of wealth for the nomadic Hebrew, so the number 60 has to do with wealth, blessing, and fullness of life.

Other meanings of 60 are completeness, totality, renewal, and new beginnings.

What a great crop to grow!

30

30 is associated with maturity. It is the age at which most men reach their full mental and physical maturity. The Aaronic priests were not dedicated until they were 30. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their ministries at the age of 30.  Because of this, 30 is also associated with being dedicated for a particular task or calling.

What have you been called to? Are there areas that you need to mature in to complete that calling?