Garden Quote by Timothy Keller
““GARDENS OR FIELDS? Craig Blomberg points out that in Matthew’s parable of the mustard seed, the sower sows his seed in a “field” (agros, Matt 13:31), while in Luke the sowing is in a “garden” (kepos, Luke 13:19). Jews never grew mustard plants in gardens, but always out on farms, while Greeks in the Mediterranean basin did the opposite. It appears that each gospel writer was changing the word that Jesus used in Mark—the word for “earth” or “ground” (ge, Mark 4:31) — for the sake of his hearers. There is a technical contradiction between the Matthean and Lukan terms, states Blomberg, “but not a material one. Luke changes the wording precisely so that his audience is not distracted from… the lesson by puzzling over an… improbable practice.” The result is that Luke’s audience “receives his teaching with the same impact as the original audience.”22””
About This Quote
The passage notes that Gospel writers adapt terminology to fit their audience’s cultural context, altering “earth” to “field” or “garden” without changing the core lesson.
In simple terms: Gospel writers change words to match listeners’ expectations while keeping the message unchanged.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how context shapes language.
Themes
interpretation
contextualization
communication
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
explanatory
educational
When to use this quote
- Bible study
- sermon preparation
- theological education
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Hermeneutics
cultural adaptation
semantic shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does audience culture affect biblical interpretation?
- What risks arise when altering original terms?
A Different Perspective
Cultural nuances may be overlooked, leading to misinterpretation.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
