In my home-group we have been following some of the parables of Jesus – the ones which Jesus shares on his way to Jerusalem. They can be found in the book of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. One in particular I want to draw attention to has a phrase that begins in chapter 21 verse 33.
‘“Listen to another parable: There was a man—a master of a house—who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey“.
Matthew 21:33 LEB
I discover that the phrase ‘master of the house‘ can be translated landowner, householder or head of a house and it comes from the Greek:
οἰκοδεσπότης oikodespotēs
This word is used eight times in conjunction with parables in the Bible. The other two times are in references to the conversation that Jesus has with the Pharisees and his disciples.
Whilst reading about the master of the house in one of these outbursts by the Pharisees, I wondered about the relationship between him and what transpires in the dream below which took place before I had considered the ‘master of the house’ phrase. (The Pharisees likened Jesus to Beelzeboul which one commentator states could be a translation of the word oikodespotēs or a play on the word).
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household?
Matthew 10.25 LEB
But the Pharisees, when they heard it, said, “This man does not expel demons except by Beelzebul the ruler of demons!”
Matthew 12.24 LEB
I wonder whether Jesus in these verses is turning on his head the thoughts of the Pharisees about who is the head of the house? That’s something to consider.
I had a dream where I was working in a National Trust stately home. I had arrived and it was my first day. I had two options for work, to go with the ‘housekeeper’ or go by myself. I chose to shadow the ‘housekeeper’. It was hard work trying to keep up with him. He asked me a question about how I worked. I told him as a gardener I went round the gardens first looking at what I needed to do and then I would select the jobs that I had seen. He didn’t disagree. There was something familiar about him. We went to many different parts of the house but I am unable to recall all the detail. I did loose him at one point as I became stuck on one particular detail of the house. Towards the end of the dream I reconnected with him. It was a great house. There was lots to do.
One little detail I do recall was a gap on the wall which I asked about. “You can fill that with a picture” he said. He didn’t say when, or what picture or how to fix the picture. I was left perplexed and thought I’ll do that, but he moved off quickly and I had to follow.
One particular part of the dream I was looking at an outside feature. A large structure; a brick design that was grey and imposing – a stronghold. This feature was an obstacle to people as the only way they could access where they were travelling was by going through an awkward narrow path within it. I thought the feature needed to be removed. It was an impressive feature but it was an obstacle to people. I was talking to the guardian of the feature and saying how it needed to be changed or cleaned for better access. She resisted the idea. I became adamant and I said it needs to change or be removed as this is what the government says!
The dream conveyed that what I was doing was my occupation. I was learning the ropes of a new role! There was a strong sense of purpose and being caught up in something bigger than myself and a sense of awe that I had chosen to shadow the master of the house.
After the dream I had a strong awareness that this was about what Jesus talked about:
‘So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing“.
John 5.19-20
The dream is essentially about partnering with God – the Master of the house.
I’ve been asking myself what it is the Father wants from me. I am to follow the Master of the house and watch what he does. Sound familiar. I found it difficult to keep up and keep my eyes on what he was doing in the dream. When I lost him I got stuck and didn’t know which way to turn.
The part involving a gap on the wall is left up to me. The Master is happy for me to make a choice. He gives permission for me to flex my wings. Walking in his will is not so much about walking on a tight-rope but in a broad spacious place. (Ps 18:36; Job 36:16).
Interestingly the man in the dream looked like someone in my life who’s name means a landowner of free birth. His other name means small or little. This demonstrates that God the Father has deigned to come to my level (essentially he did that already through his son Jesus) and walk with me and show me the way. He desires that for all of his children.
To keep this National Trust property running well the entrusted person needs to rely on the Master of the house as he knows what’s best. In essence shadowing is the main action of the dream and the emotion is satisfaction and feeling complete with a purpose!
The definition of national: A citizen of a particular country.
Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
A Google dictionary
Within the dream the aspect of shadowing the master of the house I think is key to understanding what was going on. I look up shadowing and found a piece describing what it is:
‘It allows individuals to view processes they are involved in from a different angle. Job shadowing provides the individual with a unique opportunity to find out how other staff work and what their roles involve. It develops a deeper knowledge and understanding of other roles and functions …’
www2.mmu.ac.uk
When we walk with Jesus to the best of our ability at times it is played out in our dreams. We live in a kingdom that is now and not yet. Sometimes I feel like I have only just begun in the kingdom which is reflected in my dream. Yet there’s a sense of belonging, being in his purpose and learning his ways.
The dream is about following God, partnering with him. When we stop leaning into him that’s when we get stuck and don’t see the way clearly. We need to live like we have an audience of One, trusting him! The old way of doing things are passing away as the new has come.
Some other obvious things about the dream. The Father, master figure is part of the house already and he knows where things are and what needs doing and he is very efficient about doing it. He gives instruction where necessary and and when he moves on one is required to follow.
If you are in Christ be thankful you’re parented by a perfect Father, he knows what’s best.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (LEB): ‘For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building’.
1 Peter 2:5 (LEB): ‘And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.’
‘“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “For this reason every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of the house who brings out of his storeroom new things and old things.”‘
Matthew 13:51,52 LEB
‘”By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. And by knowledge, rooms are filled with all riches, precious and pleasant.“‘
Proverbs 24:3–4 (LEB)
The large obstacle that people in the dream were required to walk through I feel represents independence. The way of those who walk in independence is narrow and awkward. It obstructs people from their purpose! This is a big thing which causes humanity to go off track. What is needed is co-dependence, more specifically co-dependence with God through union with Christ. Through that union of being in Christ everything else flows. This is why Jesus came that we could be reconciled to God the Father through him. In this union order overcomes chaos!
For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
Romans 6:5 (CSB)