The father does represent God.
The younger son represents sinners - those seperated from God.
The older brother represents the Pharisees. In verse one we see that Jesus was speaking to tax collectors and and sinners. In verse 2 we see that Pharisees and scribes are listening also. The Pharisees were angry resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God's Kingdom. The Pharisees, like the older brother thought that deserved the greatest reward because they had done so much. Did either have a heart of forgiveness?
^ TOP

what are some verses that say we are to donate to time- talents to GOD. I am looking for thee ref texts for saying to someone. yes you donate money but GOD expects you do doante your time and your skills to his ministry
dave

^ TOP

You confuse rich believers with rich folk of this world. The Apostle James condemned favoritism in the "church" or assembly of believers. It is rich believers who were dragging their poor brethren into court, and it is the poor among believers (that is, Jewish) whom Jesus most commended.

Wealth is not condemned; it is rich people of this world who pretend to be Christians and call themselves our brethren and sisters who are condemned. Jesus sent the rich young man away with His enormous demand because He could not speak favorably to his illiteracy and materialism. The need to hide the written Word in his heart was too great fot the rich young man to endure. Our command from Jesus in this Parable of the Unjust Steward is to make (more) friends with rich folk of the unrighteous mammon, all without mention of trying to keep them.

Resort to the magic of a rich sorcerer was rebuked as sin because sorcery itself was sin in Israel and because counsel for Christians should come from other believers (Psalm 1). If the request had been for money instead of magic powers, no sign of sin would be present. Please accept our need for friendship with rich folk of this world. If you try to earn all the money for ministry, sooner or later God will let it be given away unless you sin by withholding it, and poverty should show the need for the favour of the rich.

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg


^ TOP

When asked about eternal life Jesus affirms the "Teacher" on his understanding that unadulterated love for God is the basic requirement for eternal life. In todays vernacular that would be "Christian". What situation in your life would make you think otherwise?
Len
^ TOP

Amen.
^ TOP

I posted too early. I am not sure of the last part of the parable. If all of the servants were believers, then was salvation taken from the one talent servant. I believe that believers are sealed until the day of redemption...one saved, always saved. My pastor and I discussed the ending. At this point, we agree that the talents are gifts and abilities. That everyone, saved and unsaved alike, have free will to use these gifts and abilities for God or for themselves. Those that choose to live for Christ will be given great rewards in heaven and God will provide for them on earth. Those that choose to serve themselves with their talents, may receive rewards on heaven, but will lose everything upon death. They will be cast into darkness (hell) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
^ TOP

Pastor Mike,

Thank you for your response.

There is one thing that stands out to me about the article that you wrote and it’s this: It’s “academic”. I don’t mean that offensively. A lady once used that word around me talking about a well known ministry and the things that they were saying. That threw me for a loop. I literally had to look up the meaning of that word and then figure out what she said. What she was saying is that “those things go without saying”. There is no “magic” in that.

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept SECRET from the foundation of the world.

I think your failing to give credence to that fact that there is a hidden mystery revolving around the teachings of the kingdom. Jesus was saying something so mind blowing that only IT (the secret, the mystery) could qualify as something so magnificent, that God almighty felt the need to hide it-and then reveal it at the opportune moment as the "secret" of the kingdom.

Look at the scriptures listed below.

Matthew 6:4
That thine alms may be in SECRET: and thy Father which seeth in SECRET himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in SECRET; and thy Father which seeth in SECRET shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in SECRET: and thy Father, which seeth in SECRET, shall reward thee openly.

Notice the word SECRET. Isn’t it safe to say that there is something about this idea that is a lot more far reaching then what we’ve given credit for being?

Did you know that there is a scripture in the Old Testament where a man demands to know Gods name from the angle standing before him representing God, and do you know what the angel said? (Paraphrased) “Why do you ask me my name being that it’s “SECRET” (might Gods name literally be “SECRET”? As in “hi my name is Denny, I’d like you to meet my friend Secret).

Is it just me or is there something a lot more to this; that God would keep centering on the idea of “secret”?

Well in my articles I seize upon this idea and I expound on what I believe this secret is. In what you just wrote, you can’t glean anything out of it that could be construed as a “secret hidden from the foundation of the earth”. Can you see that? It’s all academic.

JESUS WAS SAYING SOMETHING INCREDIBLE! I mean in terms of helping the human race.

I would submit that the pearl of great price or the treasure hid in the field is this ability that a human being has to resplend the contents of his heart onto the picture screen of his life. I.E, get it to MANIFEST.

Now seriously, isn’t that more of a fulfillment of the scripture:

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world”.

Who cares about things that don’t help you get God manifest in your life? Haven’t you ever been afraid of something? Haven’t you ever been in a jam in which you need God NOW! Haven’t you ever been anxious, careful, strung-out (stressed out-whatever)? Haven’t you ever asked “isn’t there something for my being (body) in terms of the presence of God? Why would a person have to lie in bed feeling spiritually cold, dark, as though God is totally absent? Shouldn’t we have a “manifestation” of the presence of God to where we always know that he’s there? Some will say “but you must take it by faith”. But the whole reason why you take it by faith is because Hebrews says “faith is the substance, or giving substance to the things that we hope for. We use our faith to get something to manifest.

God wants to be manifestly present in our lives. Many people have had an experience with God in which they say it was as though a being of fire came upon them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get this experience and impart it unto others? Instead of kids blowing the brains out on dope, impart this being that the bible calls the Comforter unto people and just see if that wouldn’t far out do what crack can offer.

Isn’t this better than all of that theory business?

I don’t want theory; theory doesn’t pay the bills and give me something to look forward to. FUSHTANE? (I think that’s German for do you get it? I’m probably wrong. Forgive me thou German people.)

I would submit that THIS, IS THE “CONTEXT” THAT JESUS WAS ADDRESSING.

Just remember though, Jesus said many things. Some of which may be an overall view from above concerning the predicament of man. But by far his most awesome teaching was that of manifesting the Word of God to the world around us via Kingdom principles.

Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The parables of Mark chapter four are the ones that open the door to all the others. And it speaks of manifesting things hidden, to the world around us.

God bless.

Tell no man.

^ TOP

Denny,

You have come VERY close to the kingdom of God. Your interpretation lacks only a very small observation.

I used to read this parable and identify the characters as most do:

I am the widow
God is the unjust judge (what a characterization!)

Try this one on for size and see if it doesn't fit a little better:

I am the widow AND the unjust judge. After the parable Jesus tells us that God answers our prayers "speedily" (KJV) or "quickly" (NIV). That would eliminate God as the unjust judge character who got tired of this woman banging on him day and night.

God answers every prayer quickly and speedily but because of the condition of our hearts a lot of times, we are unwilling to receive the graces (gifts) that He has provided. Many times we cannot bring ourselves to the place where we actually believe in His goodness we limit our lives to whatever we ourselves can achieve.

The unjust judge is our own hearts. We do not receive anything from God except it be by faith. (For we are saved by grace through faith). If my heart cannot bring itself to the belief that God wants to bless me then I cannot receive what I cannot believe.

God answers all pray quickly. "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ" (2 Cor. 1:20). If we are in Christ then all promises to us are "Yes". Please be cautioned, however, persecution is as much a promise from God as "whatever you wish" (John 15:7).

The heart must be persuaded. "Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness". As the apostle Paul points out, this was no casual mental ascent to the existence of God; it was a belief in what God promised. And that is what counted as righteousness.

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:20-21)

Abraham had to fully persuade his heart (the unjust judge) that God's promise was "Yes". And about 25-years later, Isaac was born. Sometimes, the persuasion process takes a little while but it's not God we are persuading, it's our own unjust and unbelieving hearts.

Or so it seems to me.

Rob
^ TOP

This is my parable. All my life I have coasted on the opportunities God gave me, rather than striving to use them to increase his kingdom. I called it humility or being satisfied with small things, when deep down it was fear and laziness.

This parable reached deep in me and challenged me. It spoke the words my father always asked me: Why didn't you do your best? What are you afraid of?

Now I am in law school. For the first time in my life I am laying it all on the line and doing my best, not caring whether I'm first in the class or last. Doing my best for God with with talent he gave me. It is scary to do your best, because then you have no excuses if you don't succeed, no ifs or buts to comfort your pride.

What would the servant had felt if he had gambled and lost the talent, seeing the other two with their riches?

I don't know, but this is what he would have heard:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant."
^ TOP

I have a challenge for anyone reading this. In my studies of the “kingdom of God” there is this mystical thing breathing in the background that if you understand and accept, it will make you more productive in the kingdom of God. I’m convinced that it is the actual spirit of the matter, and if not understood, a lot of people will sit there and scratch their heads pondering why their spiritual lives are not more productive. What is this mystical spirit that permeates the teachings of the kingdom of God? It’s the spirit of true humility.

Humility is something that can be misconstrued. One person may think their being humble by saying “there’s none righteous no not one” and this is after he’s made Jesus the lord of his life. In their false sense of humility they reject scripture that support that in Christ we have become the righteousness of God. Humbleness never says “oh, no God. You’re sadly mistaken. I’m a putrid thing, if you only knew how pathetic I really am”. Notice the arrogance in this. Telling God that he’s so stupid he doesn’t know how retched you are. When he’s the guy who told you to repent for being a sinner. There comes a time when we must humble ourselves as children and just accept what he says without challenging him. What do we care if he says you’re the richest person in the universe? ACCEPT IT! What do we care? What if he says you’re the most beautiful person in the universe? Don’t run and look in the mirror and say I’m hideous, and through doing so cast Gods word out as a lie. Just accept it like a child does. “You’re a good boy aren’t you Johnny”? “Oh no mom I’m a retch”! Children don’t act like that and we need to learn to do the same thing. Otherwise his word will never penetrate our hearts and will not sink roots. Doesn’t the ground have to receive the seed before the seed will grow and produce fruit? Well what does it matter what God says-if it’s a good thing?

Now notice these expressions used in scripture and see if you don’t notice an underlying spirit. “HIDDEN”, “SECRET” ”CONCEALED”, “WHISPERED IN THE EAR IN CLOSETS”, (your own prayer closet) “DO NOT DISIGURE YOUR FACE WHEN FASTING LIKE THE HYPOCRITS DO”, “LET NOT THE LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAD DOETH”, “DO THY ALMS IN SECRET” ‘SOUND NOT THE TRUMPET AS THE HYPORITS DO”. Do you see anything in all these expressions? The idea is that if we will humble ourselves and be content to be hidden, to do things in private, not attempting to show things to the outer world, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY.

There is a story that frequently comes up in faith circles that goes like this. A woman was suffering from a terrible goiter that had grown to about the size of a basketball hanging from her neck- if that’s not an exaggeration. Well this woman wood come to the meetings of a very blessed man of God by the name of Wigglesworth (last name). For three years in a row she would come to these meetings and testify to the crowd that she had been healed by God and was demonstrating her faith by doing so. Well, in the presence of the crowd as she was testifying, the goiter disappeared and she was healed. Truly a wonderful miracle. But faith people have seized upon this to say, “Look at the faith of this person who would testify of things that are not yet manifested as though they already were” and they encourage to do likewise But did you know that Jesus taught just the opposite? “Yes, but she was healed” you may say. Isn’t God wonderful! I’ve been blessed too when my thinking was absolutely backwards. The secret of faith is to do just the opposite. It’s called humility or humbling yourself before God. We are to accept Gods word into our hearts through prayer and then to conceal it as though it was a map to a treasure. Harboring it in our hearts and literally fighting its’ coming to the surface. “Let not your left hand know what the right hand doeth” If it’s you, then you have your reward. But if it’s God who’s doing the exalting, you’ll be exalted indeed, in the presence of people. I liken it to a train jumping its tracks at just the right time. Your own heart will assume a mind of it’s own.

Maybe the act of planting a seed is literally humbling that seed. It’s dead you know. The life has gone out of it. Maybe it’s an example of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But one thing is certain to me anyway. There is a spirit of meekness that just beckons God to exalt us. Maybe in this day and age of know-it-alls, we’ve become a little too all knowing ourselves. Maybe we need to hide ourselves in Christ trusting that the father will promote us into the light. Just a thought.



^ TOP

everyone seems to be forgetting the simplest of all bible study rules. that being "context". it seems that the most debated of these parables is the parable of the leaven. remember, keep it in context. all the parables in Matthew 13 must be kept in context with one another as they were all given by Christ in one setting. the parable of the sower and the parable of the tares set that context.
let me set for you the scene. Jesus meakes it quite clear that the main topic of these parables is the "kingdom of Heaven". the Kingdom of Heaven consists of all borne again believers from the time of Christ's death to the time of His return, also known as the "church age". in the parable of the sower, the seed represents the word of God. the ground upon which the seed falls represents the condition of mans hearts throughout the world. the good soil represents the hearts of those who receive the word and become kingdom citizens.
in the parable of the tares we find that the seed represent those who have received the word and become citizens of the kingdom. the tares represent those who reject the word. the field, as Jesus makes perfectly clear, is the world. it is not the church. as christ sends the kingdom citizens into the world, we incounter opposition from the tares whom Jesus reveals are sown by satan. from time immemorial, satan has and will, until he is cast into hell, strongly oppose the work of God. this work is being done throughout the world by those sown by the son of god.
the rest of the parables of matthew 13 need to be kept in context with these first two parables.
for instance, in the parable of the mustard seed, jesus compares the kingdom to a mistard seed. remember the kingdom consists of all believers throughout the world! if the parable of the tares which emediatly precedes this parable deals with the opposition of satan against the kingdom then this parable obviously represents the overcoming power of the kingdom dispite the opposition.
we now come to the most highly debated of the parables, the parable of the leaven. it is true that every other refrence to leaven in scripture hold a negative conotation, but to say that it therefor always should, is to think as the pharasees thought. everywhere in scripture where leaven is refered to it is in reference to influence. it's interesting to note that the parables of the tares and the mustard seed also deal with influence. the first time we see refrence to leaven in scripture is in regard to the exodus. the nation of israel was commanded by god to take nothing with them from egypt as they left not even leaven. thus they ate unleavened bread, thus the reason for the feast of unleavened bread. the purpose of this was not because leaven was evil but because the influence of pagan egypt was evil. after this all bread was leavened, even the show bread in the temple. does this mean that God tolerates evil. i think not. leaven can represent both a negative and a positive influence. to say that the leaven in this parable represents evil is to say that the kingdom has an evil influence in the world. i think that is the farthest thing from the truth. the truth is, that the influence that the church has on the world will be far reaching and beneficial. it doesn't mean that all people will be saved, but that all people will benefit from the kingdoms influence on the world. remember this, when the influence of the kingdom is removed from the world just prior to the tribulation, the world will be a very bad place to live!
^ TOP

There was a lot of talk about the "bad" wayward brother and the "good" brother who stayed home and minded and got hacked when bad boy came home apologetically and resumed his place. Well, what about those other guys in the field who just do their job for pennies taking care of slopping the hogs or whatever. Aren't they human beings also, don't they have souls, aren't they capable of attaining status. In Judaism your mother has to be a Jew or you will not be allowed at the table at all. Speaking as a low waged hog slopper, I suppose my reward awaits me in heaven, right?
^ TOP

I decided to google search Prodigal Son to try to get some insight and here I found all these great comments.

Today my son told me he wanted to withdraw his savings so he could buy a new drum set. I told him the story of the lost son (I think from now on I'm going to call him Prodigal) and his reply was, "Hey, this is not an inheritance, this is money I earned from my summer job!"

Anyway, I hope he got the point that I still love him even if he spends all his money on stuff that he won't remember in five years.
^ TOP

Biblical Text: Luke 19:11-27

Title of Message:

Accountability and the Kingdom of God

Central Point or Truth:

There are three central truths, that judgment will come upon the unfaithful stewards and leaders of God’s people; that the Kingdom of God is present now; and the need for faithfulness and obedience. “The parable of the pounds is certainly not, as Luke 19:11 assumes, an announcement of the delay of the Parousia…” (Jeremias, The Parables, 99). Jesus had acquired the kingdom during the present time of his ministry, this being declared or manifested by his majestic triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The power and authority of the Kingdom of God is in operation now. “The kingdom of God involves two great moments: fulfillment within history, and consummation at the end of history” (Ladd, A Theology , 91). The kingdom of God is not only a future realm but the present dynamic power and dominion of Jesus in this present history as it is known. This parable conveys the point that “the ‘kingdom’ in question was not a realm or a people but the right to reign as king. According to this passage, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God in terms of the exercise of divine royal power” (Ladd, Jesus and the Kingdom, 132). This is contrary to traditional opinion that the parable’s central truth is about faithful stewardship after Jesus’ ascension and until the second coming of Christ. “Everything gets carried out with the dispatch. The ‘getting of the kingdom’ is not an unrealized event of the future, but one already accomplished in the story. The reward to those who have handled their charge well does not consist in some future overseeing of possessions, but present, and consist in power over cities within the Kings realm” (Johnson, 144). The kingdom of God now is not only God’s rein, which is similar to the concept that rabbinic Judaism held, “it is rather a dynamic power at work among men” (Ladd, 235). The power as demonstrated in the person and mission of Jesus the Christ. Those who did not recognize the present power and rule of the kingdom would be condemned at the future consummation of God’s kingdom. Johnson suggest that “we must take seriously the possibility that Luke intended his parable to confirm 19:11, for the progress Luke’s story after the parable shows us in fact a ‘manifestation’ of God’s kingdom ‘immediately’” (Johnson, 152).



Context:

The scribes had been entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the nation. These leaders did not accept Jesus’ authority. A recent political incident was a part of their memory. “This parable closely parallels the details of the trip of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, to Rome in 4 B.C. to receive imperial ratification of his hereditary claim to rule Judea, along with the Jewish embassy which opposed him and Archelaus’s subsequent revenge of the Judeans” (Blomberg, 218). This parable is a warning of judgment.. “The sanguinary revenge inflicted upon the people by Archelaus after his return had never been forgotten; Jesus appears to have used this incident in a crisis-parable as a warning to his audience against a false sense of security” (Jeremias, The Parables, 59).
There was an expectation by some that the kingdom of God would appear immediately (Luke 19:11). Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and it was there that some possibly believed he might set up the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the talents, particularly in Luke’s account, relates to his triumphant entry into Jerusalem as king. “The progression towards Jerusalem takes place ‘after he had said this’. These words establish a link with the preceding periscope. That periscope has indicated that the kingdom will not appear immediately in Jerusalem. However, the subsequent story has an almost immediate declaration of Jesus’ kingship in Jerusalem. The apparent futurity of the kingdom in v. 11 must be read in the context of the presence of the kingdom in v.38” (Guy, 128). Not only is the event after the parable significant. The event prior to the parable is also important to understand the parable. “Luke’s introductory clause, ‘as they were listening to this’ v. 11, counsels against making any significant structural separation after v 10 and deans that we grapple with the relation of the parabolic teaching in vv 12-27 to the preceding account of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus (vv 1-10)” (Green, 674). Salvation arriving at the present time to the life of Zacchaeus is a notable reference that Luke makes about the presence of salvation, today. The parable was told, according to Luke, for two reasons, he was headed towards Jerusalem and because they expected the Kingdom immediately.

Content / Exegesis:

Jesus was possibly speaking to the crowd, the disciples, and the scribes, his opponents. “In the journey narrative, Luke is generally careful to specify Jesus’ audiences, and purposefully. To the disciples, he has Jesus address teachings on discipleship; to the crowd, calls for repentance, and warnings; to the opponents, sayings of rejection and judgment. His failure to make this audience clearer to his reader leads one to think that the group to whom the parable was spoken was meant to consist in all those with Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, with the parable addressing each segment in diverse ways” (Johnson, 145).
The parable being addressed to the spiritual leaders of Israel is a warning of Judgment. Joachim Jeremias refers to this parable as being against the opponents of Jesus as being the claimant to the throne. “God has entrusted them (scribes) with much – the spiritual leadership of the nation, the knowledge of his will, the key to the kingdom. Now God’s judgment is at hand; now it will be decided whether the theologians have justified or abused this great trust, whether they have made good use of his gift or turned it to their won advantage and to the imposition of burdens on their fellow-men, whether they have opened the door to the kingdom, or shut it their judgment will be specially severe” (Jeremias, Rediscovering, 131).
The traditional view of the parable is that it is about parousia (return) of Jesus. There are some who do not hold to this traditional view. This may be because it is interpreted in light of the Matthean account of the parable. The other view under investigation is that the parable is about Jesus’ immediate Kingship, and the kingdom of God being present immediately, yet not in the form of the future consummation. “There is little in the parable itself which demands considering it an allegorical tale about the ascension-parousia. In particular, there is nothing in Luke’s version to indicate a temporal delay. Matthew’s Parable of the Talents appears to have affected the reading of Luke’s story” (Johnson, 143). Johnson also states that the getting of the kingdom is not a future event not yet realized but one that is already accomplished in the story (Luke 19:15). He also states that the reward do not relate to some future overseeing of possessions. “They (the rewards) play a present leadership role within the kingdom gained by the nobleman” (Johnson, 144).
The traditional opinion of Luke 19:11 is that Jesus is refuting the expectation of the kingdom. It is interesting to consider the view that 19:11 is not refuting but confirming instead of confuting. The verb “appear’ may have different meanings apart from only a full-scale, visible realization of the kingdom. “It is not al all impossible that Luke intended to mean that ‘the Kingdom of God was going to be declared.’ This would find immediate confirmation in the proclamation of Jesus as King in 19:38” (Johnson,150).
Fitzmyer argues that Luke intentionally altered Mark’s reference to the David kingdom to Jesus being just king. “It is not the kingdom of David that is coming, but Jerusalem’s ‘king’ himself” (Fitzmyer, 289). Fitzmyer does so because he understands that a declaration of a kingdom here would be incompatible with the postponement of the kingdom’s appearance in 19:11. Yet it is wise to consider that “king” implies “kingdom”. “19:11 is not a distancing by Luke from an imminent or present kingdom. Rather 19:38 is to be read in conjunction with 19:11. There is not yet a kingdom, but there is a king, and so by implication there is a kingdom” (Guy, 134).
Guy states that when it is argued that 19:11 is clearly futuristic and that consequently all the other present-oriented statements must be interpreted in a futuristic sense that may be an imposition of our twentieth century western understanding with its dichotomous approach to logic and thought upon first century Lukan thought (Guy, 136).
The parable of the talents is about the present kingdom of God in the life and ministry of Jesus. The key verse of this parable is 19:11: “While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.” The parable of the pounds does not deny the expectation but confirms it. “Jesus is proclaimed as a King and does exercise rule through his apostles in the restored Israel. This is a ‘manifestation’ of God’s kingdom” (Johnson, 157).
The parable is not only about the timing and manifestation of God’s kingdom but also about faithfulness. “Jesus underscores the certainty of the ‘appearance’ of the kingdom, but characteristically shifts the focus from the question of when to the issue of faithfulness in anticipation” (Green, 674). The kingdom of God is associated with faithfulness to its King. The message of the kingdom is associated with faithfulness to God’s revelation of his word entrusted to the leaders of Israel. Because of the lack of faithfulness judgment was approaching.

Practical Application:

The Kingdom of God’s authority may be exercised now. The future consummation and all of its glory is not an excuse to not use the dynamic power of the kingdom now. Faithfulness to God is not only being a good steward in holding the correct teachings and revelation of God but it also involves living a life of power manifested by godly character as well and ministering to others the powers of the world to come. The pounds that are now entrusted to believer is the preaching of the cross with its message of salvation, the healing of sick bodies, setting free from satanic bondage, and the other works that Jesus and his disciples performed.
The pound entrusted to Israel was the revelation of God’s redemptive plan and correctly representing the character of God. The teaching of the coming Messiah as a suffering servant was hid and exchanged for a mean legalistic Lord (“For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” 19:21). The Gospel of grace must be preached and lived. This is only possible as long as the church is alert to the deception of legalism. The natural tendency of religious bodies it towards legalism and self effort instead of the grace and inner transforming power of God.
The futuristic aspect of the kingdom is a challenge for watchfulness and accountability. Because of the impending judgment Jeremias states that the primitive church interpreted and applied the parable of the talents as one of the five Parousia-parables. “The five Parousia-parables were originally a group of crisis-parables. They were intended to arouse a deluded people and their leaders to a realization of the awful gravity of the moment” (Jeremias, The Parables, 63). The other four crisis-parables are the nocturnal house-breaker, the bridegroom arriving, the master of the house returning, the merchant returning from his far journey. Ministry must be done today in light of the judgment seat of Christ.
The church, especially each individual Christian, must be burdened for the horrible punishment that awaits, the citizens (Luke 19:14, 27), those who do not serve Christ. Compassion for the lost will change the eternal future for some who do repent. If the church does not have compassion then that many more people will face an eternal catastrophic ending.
The parables illustrate the mystery of the kingdom of God. “the Kingdom of God has come into the world , but it comes with persuasion rather than power and must be accepted to be effective, even as the ground must receive the seed” (Ladd, Jesus and the Kingdom, 238). As agents of the kingdom of God believer should continually persuade others towards Christ.


WORKS CITED

Blomberg, Craig L. Interpreting the Parables. Downers Grove Inter Varsity Press, 1990.

Fitzmyer. The Gospel II. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1990.

Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke (Word Bible Commentary).
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Guy, Laurie. “The Interplay of the Present and Future in the Kingdom of God.” Tyndale Bulletin 48.1 (119-137) 1997.

Jeremias, Joachim. The Parables of Jesus. New York: Scribner’s,
1954.

Jeremias, Joachim. Rediscovering the Parables. New York:
Scribner’s, 1966.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. “The Lukan Kingship Parable.” Novum Testamentum 24.2 (139-158) 1982.

Ladd , George Eldon. Jesus and the Kingdom. Waco, Tx: Word, 1964.

Ladd, George, Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament.
Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1974.

^ TOP

The Word says, we are to look for Heavenly Things, not earthy things. Jesus called His sevants, that we might teach others to observe all things He has commandment of us, and to preach The Gospel of Christ! That repentance and remissions of sin shall be preached to all Nations!
(Luke-1-75-77) That we walk before Him in righteousness and holiness al the days of our life!

With His calling in mind, what has your posting, of the rich, money, reward, or the eviliness of another, have to do with the Kingdom of God?
One speaks from the love of their heart, with you, this seems to be the love is money! For with the mouth, man speaks from his heart!
Not onetime have you posted anything concerning Salvation, not onetime have you repeated the words of Jesus, whereby man might be saved.
You want to use the evil rich man for your benefit, does your heart not break to EVEN THINK, the very people you want to use may end up in Hell?
If the people you talk against are as evil as you say, why are you not praying for them, instead of trying to destroy them? Do you not know, Even the Religious can be saved!

Like I said to you before, Jesus is the Head to Rule over His True Chruch, this Authority has no man! Revenge is Mine saith The Lord, whereby, it is best that you leave it alone!
^ TOP

I agree with you! The fowls of the air are from Gen 1:20-21, 31 where God, who is Love, brought forth the fowls of the air to fly in the firmament of heaven and God saw everything that he made and behold it was very good. (Why would a good, loving God create evil birds to fly in His heaven? He did not.) Why would anyone want to take a symbol of inspiration, love and protection such as birds reflect and want to see them as they are described but once in the Bible as unclean, foul and hateful? There are so many inspired references to wings, brooding, flying, nest, eagles that are beautiful in the Scriptures. I'd rather take the inspired Word of the Bible. Mustard seed and leaven are synon. and both small but growing and changing into good, useful things. The woman hid the leaven in three measures of meal---modes of human thought. Meal in the Bible stands for healing. The leaven is NOT that of the hypocritical Pharasees but of God's Christ, Truth. This leaven of Truth is changing the whole of thought until the whole of evil thought is leavened--changed into Truth. The grains of mustard signify this growth of Truth too, until the leaves of the tree of Truth are used for the healing of the nations--knowing the Truth that makes us free----free from what? A lie. Truth always frees us from lies. Truth never frees us from itself! Only, only from lies. The devil is a liar and the Father of it and abides not in truth. John 8:44
^ TOP

the parable of good samaritan is very interesting topic because what good deeds do we want to do is in the topic.and we know that love is very important in this world and without this is everywhere is chaos.
^ TOP

The bridegroom,Jesus Christ actually comes(Raptures) the Wise righteous (born again) New Creatures! In fact, this passage says that after trying to buy oil from the wise virgins, the foolish virgins had time to go to the marketplace in pursuit of the oil(Matthew 25:9) Similarly in (Revelation 3:18) the Laodiceans are a picture of the foolish virgins left behind! They are told to go,and buy gold tried in the fire,and to buy white raiment.

[Matthew 25:9]

[Matthew 25:9] But the (wise)answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and (buy for yourselves.

Revelation 3:18

I counsel thee to (buy) of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and (white raiment) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and (anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see)

The white raiment represents the robes of righteousness that these foolish virgins will have to obtain in the tribulation. The fire of the furnace of tribulation that these Laodicean, foolish virgins will go through will motivate them to be on fire for the Lord. The heat that they go through during the tribulation, will skim off their impurities, purifying them, and qualifying them to join the Bride for the Judgment Seat of Christ and Marriage Supper of the Lamb as the Wrath of God falls on this earth.

Door is associated with the rapture. In this verse Matthew 25:10 when it says the door is shut, the rapture of the Bride is over and the door or gate into the New Jerusalem at that time is shut.

Door in Greek can be seen as Portal,

Notice the Door is open in Revelation 4:1,and Matthew 25:10 shares the Bridegroom(Jesus Christ) came,and those who were Ready(Wise)Lamps Lit,and filled with oil(Holy Ghost) went in with him to the Marriage,and then the Door was shut.

2 Samuel 22:29

For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Proverbs 21:20

(There is treasure to be desired) and (oil in the dwelling of the wise) but a foolish man spendeth it up.


The foolish neglect the Word of God. The Foolish become deceived by man made religion,and fall for the ways of the world(back sliding,and lukewarm)

God is preparing His bride,His righteous born again New Creatures for the rapture and the wedding of His Son. The day is coming, in our lifetime! Some will be taken, but many will remain to suffer God's wrath.

Jesus tells us to pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.(Luke 21:34-36)

Luke 21:34-36

(And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares)

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36(Watch ye therefore) and pray always) that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

king Jesus Christ prophetically warned, Take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence)and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares.(Watch ye) therefore, and (pray always) that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things .

(Luke 21:34-36) Here, in praying always, it is the Christians that are instructed to be sober,and not to be overtaken with overindulgence and the cares of this life,not just the unbeliever (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) First, note that unbelievers do not believe.

Secondly, unbelievers do not pray,and Worship God! nor will they pray always,and Watch which is an explicit Christian directive for saved Christians to be Watching in preparation for King Jesus Christ! Lest That Day overtake them unawares.

We must continue to share,and teach the Powerful Gospel with anyone,and everyone at all Times!

One must remember to Pray the Back sliders,Lukewarm,and unbelievers Wake up(Romans 13:11)get Saved,and abide in King Jesus Christ!

Also we must continue to share,and teach that the Christians need to (Wake up) (Watch)and (Abide) in our wonderful King Jesus Christ!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ask you please read the webpage called(Rapture of his Bride) on the website www.raptureprophecy.com




^ TOP

Like the other parables of Jesus, this one is about fruit-bearing, and the un-fruitful are thrown into hell. Those who hear the TRUE word of God, they are cleansed by it by doing it. Christ abides in the TRUE hearers and doers. Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them..." John 8:47 - He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 Corinthians 4:15 - For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" 3 John 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Who can do good, but the true ones on the vine? Even TRUE faith is not from flesh and blood, but from God. John 3:27 - John answered and said, A man can receive NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven." 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" Not one man can TRULY say that Jesus Christ is the son of God nor can any man truly tell people,(so-called preachers, ministers, or pastors) Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Also, to put an end to false teachers that say if you believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and saviour, you'll be saved, NO MAN can come to Jesus unless God Himself decides that he would. Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." But then, those people heared the TRUE word of God, and the words of JESUS CHRIST, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then again, same gospel, 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.(God revealed it to them, and had faith in him, that faith is not from their own heart, but from God) 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve(God approved those 12, not the other disciples, because if He did give it to them to come to Jesus, they would of stayed, like the true disciples), and one of you is a devil?" Now all you people that read this, the false christians will not believe this, but the true christians will. John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." These sayings are in the bible, those who just ignored them in the bible will ignore my words(no, not truly mine) also. Those who believe these things, or knew them already, please, please contact me, at dallascourchene @ hotmail.com (NOTE: there are no spaces in the address.) Also to the so-called born-again christians, what did God call you to do? Live a normal life? I don't think so. People who are truly called are CALLED to do something for the LORD, not just worship Him and those who are called, know what they have to do by a certain wonder, or phenomemon. Acts 16:10 - And after he had seen the VISION, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had CALLED us for to preach the gospel unto them." Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 1 Corinthians 7:20 - Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," We MUST be also worthy of this calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" And yes, we can be perfect like Jesus. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 1 John 2:13 - I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father." 1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." We are called to be made into the image of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said so himself, the called can and will be like him. Matthew 10:25 - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord..."
^ TOP

Sandals in the Bible are connected with the feet. Feet are connected with the WALK. The father is interested in our walk. The son was obviously barefooted. His feet/walk were exposed to stones, glass, injury of all kinds whilst unshod. When we are not walking with God, our feet, our lives are exposed to the pains which are caused by sin and transgression. When our feet, our walk is protected by the sandals we can walk in a way that is pleasing to our father. Sandals represent protection for the feet, a renewed walk, walking on a right path. See Psalm 1.

Paul also spoke of the feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. See Ephesians 6. There we can relate to the need for the feet to be prepared to walk or run with the gospel message. Without feet that are properly shodden or covered, they too will be exposed to the harshness of the road. It won't be long that we shall not be able to walk with the gospel. We need help.

We need to have feet that are properly prepared for the journey, wether the Christian life or the gospel.

How beautiful are the feet of them the publish the gospel of peace.
^ TOP

Not much is said about what the prodigal son LOST in the process of riotous living. He was restored to his father but the son who was faithful retained more than what the prodigal did. Remember, sin always take sus farther than we planned on going, it keeps us longer than we planned on staying, and it costs us more that we planned on paying.

The scars of our indulgent living sometimes remain, ( ie: consequences of the sin such as pregnancies, jail, diseases, health issues, etc.) but God is the ever loving and faithful forgiving Father who restores us and helps us deal with the consequences.....Praise God for His awesome love!
^ TOP

i want to know to. A couple of weeks ago i saw a film about Barabas, where he eventually became a christian but it took him ages and he mucked up alot along the way. The facts fit. the times, but i want to know if its true, because if it was it would be cool. ive always felt that there was something of Barabas' story we werent hearing. I always felt like he should have changed. I hope some one can prove that right.
^ TOP

I would like a picture of a mustard tree for my Junior Church class but can't seem to find one on the internet!

Do you still have the website address which has the picture of the tree with the boy standing next to it?
^ TOP

In Jesus’ time Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire. Hellenic culture was taking over traditional Jewish culture, and the Roman Empire had governors to rule over their provinces. There were many different groups that separated the people of Israel. People went to Jesus to ask if there was any hope for the Jews and their way of life.

The situation is similar in Australia today, with different cultures and religions mixing together and the nation's culture and identity changing as a result.

Jesus’ teachings, while initially based on the Jews’ dilemma, are still relevant today, at least for Australians.

^ TOP

The man was asking Who was his neighbor in response to loving others as yourself. By saying we don't have to believe in Jesus to inherit eternal life leaves out the first half of verse 27 where you are to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strenght and with all you mind." This is HUGE! and we cannot ignore it when trying to understand Jesus's message about loving EVERYONE not matter who they are in relation to you.
^ TOP

hi i am also looking for a picture of the mustard seed tree, i was wondering if you ever found one. If so would you please send it to me or tell me where you found it. If not would you still please reply. Thank You and God Bless You!!
^ TOP

i need your help on the yeast phylum
^ TOP

In response to Big Island’ inquiry posted under the topic of the mustard seed as to how to “hide” the Word of God, here’s my response and thanks for “hearing” what I said.

Notice what Luke 12 says:

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Look at the word “therefore” in verse 3. Therefore mean because of this. Because of what was spoken in verse two, which is the same thing that’s stated in Mark chapter four “there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest, neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad”. So you can see already that speaking “in the ear” (out loud where you and only you can hear yourself say it) is a prerequisite to performing the idea in this scripture.

Look at Mathew chapter 6:

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Notice the dichotomy that forms. Jesus speaks of doing things which merits mans reward and doing things that merit Gods reward. Mans reward is valueless. God’s reward is eternal and substantive. But notice what sets these two approaches apart. One man ATTEMPTS to be seen of man, the other shuns or does the exact opposite.

Look at verse 6. When you pray, enter your closet, shut the door and speak to your father, which is in SECRET. “There is nothing kept secret but that it should come abroad”. Can you see how that this idea connects up with the teachings of Mark chapter four?

I believe the Idea is this: Though the place where the Word is sown is in the heart, through speaking “in the ear” (out loud) the promises of God; might the place where he is doing it be reflected in Marks account of this parable?

Mark 4:
21 And he said unto them, is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Look at these two terms, bushel and bed. A candle is being enclosed or enshrouded in darkness. Light is sealed out. Does that remind you of anything? “The things spoken in DARKNESS shall be heard in the light”.

Could this be a metaphor for a man praying in his prayer closet? The man sealed himself in a room where only God could hear him say something. Like under a bushel. But also notice the word bed. Why bed? Might what Jesus perceives in his heart at the time of this utterance be a bedroom?

So then the term “hide” or “hidden”(there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest) takes on a new meaning.

It means to speak something out loud in private where only God can hear you say it. And for what purpose do we do this? “And thy father which seeth in secret shall REWARD THEE OPENLY”. The catch is this. IT HAS TO REMAIN A SECRET. If you tell anyone you get mans reward. But if you harbor it in your heart, over a period of time, God will explode it out into the open. Hence there is nothing HID that shall not be MANIFEST.

Look at the expression “let not the left hand know what the right hand doeth”. Doesn’t that now take on a new meaning? Might that mean that one part of the same human knows that it did something (in prayer), but it keeps it from the outer parts, not allowing you to act upon it in any way? It’s a secret and will remain a secret from the world around us, until God almighty brings it to light. But too many people are going the opposite direction thinking they have to act a certain way. No! That’s man reward and it’s just an act-worthless. It’s going contrary to what Jesus taught.

We hide things in our hearts by speaking out loud in our prayer chambers the promises of God. We become the candle that is covered by the bushel of the enclosed prayer closet. But without realizing it, when doing this, we place the candle upon a candlestick (I believe the kind with a mirror or reflective device behind it) and our hearts functioning in unison with the father begin to radiate your prayer into the world around you. But it takes patience. Faith-which is what we are doing-GROWS! But in time, that which was covered will be revealed. And the things kept secret will creep out into the open. People will see IN YOU, the things that you have “HIDDEN” in prayer. “As when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light”.

God bless.
^ TOP

First of note in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders is the word "these" (Matt. 7 : 24 ). "These sayings," in Greek "tous logous toutous," accusative plural of "ho logos houtos," are the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 : 3 - 7 : 27 ) and the parallel accounts in the other Gospels, exclusive of everything that Jesus later taught. Therefore, if we would be like the wise builder, we would obey everything He commanded in His Sermon on the Mount -- and would be found wise even if we never understood His later teachings such as the camel passing through the eye of the needle in Matthew 19.

Conversely, dare we ignore the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, by asserting that it is intended for heaven but no earthly way to live life, Jesus has warned that then He will liken us unto the foolish builder regardless of otherwise good works, scriptural training, and understanding of the rest of the Bible. In light of this, it is a good sign for me that my comments on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (which I take together with those of the good and evil servants and of the talents) refer to the Sermon on the Mount, particularly when I make a moral claim. Now, let us examine the details of the wise and foolish builders: how we use the Sermon on the Mount. Do we obey Jesus' words therein, or dare we shove it aside for our convenience?

Far shorter than any compilation of everything that Jesus taught on earth, the Sermon on the Mount is still not easy to follow in practice. Teaching those Gentile Christians who know some of the Jewish Law to obey it as God's will because their consciences are aware of it among Gentile believers presumed ignorant and able to tell the Jews "I didn't know better" is not easy, for "all" was not "fulfilled" at the time of the Resurrection in Matt. 5 : 17 - 20 , for example, prophecies from Yichzeqi'el (Ezekiel 38) concerning modern Israel. Therefore, for a Gentile believer in Christ who knows the Jewish dietary laws to let his light shine before men (people) in Matt. 5 : 15 - 16 must include keeping those laws in his own home (also Matt. 23 : 1 - 3 ). Jesus knows our awareness or ignorance about keeping kosher kitchens; whoever knows God's clear commands yet disobeys sins. Settling out of court (Matt. 5 : 25 ), refraining from leering (v. 28 ), and amputating the part of the body that brings scandal (vv. 29, 30 ) are not all easy. The wise builder's communication will be full of clear Yes or No answers in place of the usual hedging or sworn answers from unbelievers. The difficult verses in Matt. 5 : 39 - 41 require interpretation in the context of the Roman Empire, and verse 42 requires absolute generosity from Jesus' followers!

It is the stinginess of most American churches and pastors toward the needy which has me most convinced that the Church Growth Movement along with the rest of the Great Apostasy (II Tim. 4 : 3 - 4 ) is like the foolish builder who built his house on the shifting sands. Many churches nowadays are sinning in trying to serve both God and Mammon (wealth) as masters and expecting prudence from their followers and from the needy (Matt. 6 : 19ff ; also Luke 16 : 1 - 13 , the Parable of the Unjust Steward). Without the generosity of Jesus Christ in our hearts, we look an awful lot like the foolish builder. Punishment is coming soon after it becomes certain that the hypocritical churches never will spread the Gospel throughout the whole inhabitable earth in time to fulfill Jesus' prophecies at the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24 : 14 , 34) without uprooting the evil servants in charge on this earth (Matt. 24 : 45 - 51 ).

I look to LUKE 16: 1 - 13, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, for the means to live the bountifully generous way our Lord commanded. That Luke 16 is neglected and not tolerated at many churches shows that entire congregations are foolishly building their Christian lives on sand. Still, we have a choice to learn and follow the Sermon on the Mount to the letter by beginning with LUKE 16 to make it practical.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg
^ TOP

At times in the Christian life, we have to believe before we can see. Other times, it is important to see first. It seems to me, that in the area of missions mobilization, seeing is an important ingredient as well. The Bible states in Matthew 9:36 that "When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion them..." Several other places in scripture it states that seeing can lead to compassion.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example. Luke 10:33 reads "but a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him." Do you see as Jesus sees? The parable then ends with Jesus' command, "Go and do likewise!" This actually does not mean go and do the same thing. ie: look for a foreigner beat up along side the road and help him. I suggest rather that "go and do likewise" implies we need to see as Jesus sees and do something about that which is before our very eyes!
^ TOP

hello there,
in respose to your question Jesus Christ is how i am doing, living
and breathing acts 17:28 and john 14:27 let not your heart be
trouble or let it be afraid. my friend i pray you are baptized
in Jesus Christ acts 2:38 and not his titles matt 28:19 pay
close attetion to in the name of (single not plural )

J E S U S C H R I S T is the father , son ,and holy ghost in one name

and if you are in the name of Jesus Christ ask the father(Jesus Christ)
any thing in his name and he will do it. believe and have faith in

God(Jesus Christ) come ye that are heavy laden and daily give your
cross to him
^ TOP

I hear your words and what you say could be true if that is what the scripture is talking about. My belief is that the 10 virgins are more of an example of being ready to meet the Lord than that. Some will be taken up in the rapture and some will not be ready. 5 were ready to go in to the Bridegroom and 5 were not ready.--I believe that the rapture will take place and it will happen before the 7 years of tribulation. Some of the people will be ready and some will not be. Here is an example of those not ready.

Years ago I did a research paper recounting the people who might be alive at the time of the tribulation. I am a pre-tribulation person and believe in the rapture. Very simply put, the paper was like this. If all of the people on earth stood in a group and then the tribulation started, I believe it would go like this.—
1. The first to leave the group would be those taken out in the rapture at the beginning of the seven years.

2. Of those left behind, there would be those who accept the mark of the beast and the bible says that they are lost.

3. There will also be those who will not have anything to do with believing on God so lets put all of these off to the side as those who will be judged and go to the Lake of fire.

4.. Of those left behind, The Anti Christ will require them to take his mark in their for heads or their right hand. If they refuse, they will be slain for their faith and they become those who are under the altar.

5. Of those left behind, there will be those who the bible says will make it through the 7 years of tribulation and will be accepted so lets just add those who go to heaven.

5. Then there are the Jews. They will be those who are mentioned as having signed a 7 year peace treaty under false pretenses. When the Anti Christ stands in the new temple that will be built and declares that he is God, the Jews will realize that they made a big mistake and they will pull out of the peace treaty and head for the hills for protection. Probably to the city of Petra which is carved in the rocks. At the end of the 7 years, Christ will return to earth for the beginning of the 1000 years of peace.

5 virgins were watching and waiting for the Lord's return and 5 were not. There are those waiting and watching to go be with the Bridegroom at rapture time and there are those who say
it is all nonsense and will not be ready.
I hope you won’t be out looking for oil when that time comes.

^ TOP

I am doing Children's Message on faith and the mustard seed.
^ TOP

No theology here, just a thought. Seems as though the younger son had a hole in his stomach, but the older son (the non prodigal) had a hole in his heart. Didn't seem to have much of a relationship with either his father or his brother. Didn't join in the celebration; referred to the prodigal, when talking to his father as "YOUR son". Appears that his actions were out of duty, not love, when we hear him say: "All these years I've worked for you, and you never had a celebration for ME!" (Paraphrase). Jealous? Angry? What for? His father told him, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours." I believe Jesus told this parable because the hearers could find themselves in either category: outwardly rebellious, or inwardly resentful. The father reached out to both, but only the prodigal could receive, perhaps because he was repentent.
^ TOP

Gospels V. Letters the bible, as we know it today, was compiled by the Roman Catholic Church in the 11th and 12th century by religious counsels, this Latin bible was then translated to English by a counsel authorized by King James of England. Why are the Letters treated with the same amount of authority (law) as the Gospels? The Letters seem to be just that letters from one church leader to another about contemporary problems of the day with their specific churches in the fist century, the Gospels seem to hold the actual philosophy and religiosity of Christ, or how Christ wants us to act.
^ TOP

Remember the context of this story was "who is my neighbor?" A question Jesus answered with this parable. To say that a person will inherit eternal life simply by having a good heart, ignores too many passages, which require a person to "accept Jesus as their Lord and savior and accept that he dies on the cross for their sins". Passages like Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10 within their contexts make this quite clear. To say that having a "good heart" is all a person needs to insure their eternal life, contradicts the Bible rather severely and I hold the view that the Bible is dispensationally correct.

Also remember, that the passage "Judge not lest you be judged" must also be viewed in its context. Jesus was saying in that passage of Matthew that you should not judge another if you too have the same sin or worse in your life (the idea of a beam in ones own eye...). However, as Christians we also read that to "restore an erring brother is to cover a multitude of sins". Therefore, to know that he is erring, we must judge him to know whether or not he needs restoring. Jesus was not saying that judgement in and of itself is bad, but rather he who judges others should judge his own self first for he, and every other man, will one day stand before the throne and answer to the Great High Judge Himself.

I hope this has clarified the importance of context and helped all whom read this parable to stay true to its context.
-myself your servant for Jesus' sake.


^ TOP

Actually here I disagree with you. The verse speaks to the fact that it is good for the mustard seed to grow. And no where does it make any kind of parallel to the birds being the anti-Christ. On the contrary it speaks to the birds taking shelter under the the shadow of the tree that grows. If anything, the birds would be paralleled to Christians.
UNP Adam

^ TOP

The parable of the sower calls for steadfastness from all believers. Teh word must be strongly rooted in you so as to produce result.
^ TOP

The ring signified his acceptance and authority back into the family

^ TOP

The rich man and Lazarus is a prophetic parable. It comes before and after parables from Jesus. It is actually one of the most astonishing prophesies Jesus spoke. In a nutshell, the rich man, Israel, and the Lazarus, gentiles. It is prophesy of the role reversal that will be played out in the coming mellenia. The jews will not have the place of honor and blessings they once had and to the gentiles it will be given. The death in the parable is symbolizing the death and resurection of Christ. The 5 brothers are further evidence. The scriptures record for us the sons of Jacob through Leah were six, thus Judah had five brethren, all full-blood brothers. Those who would have heard Jesus 2,000 years ago would have understood as they lay great store in their ancestry. This rich man then was Judah the southern kingdom of the Jews. I could go on and on but, with this in mind now, read and study the parable again and see what God is showing you.
This parable is RICH with prophetic knowledge and understanding, and to take this incredible and powerful scripture and use it as some proof text for eternal torment in hell is small minded and missing the point all together.
Think people! God asks us to come and "reason" with Him.
^ TOP

To Robert Corbitt, THAT explanation is to me the correct one. I read some of the answers, but yours fits the bill. Thank you.
^ TOP

Maybe it just means that barren people should die... but not necessarily right away. Let barren women wither in their infertility awhile. What is all this about Israel???
^ TOP

One of the greatest things I’ve learned about Mark chapter four is how Jesus in his analogies talks about the same thing but from different angles. Many people have thought that after the parable of the sower Jesus might have become disoriented or lost train of thought so as to start talking about candles, candlesticks and hiding things under beds. But in reality he used a slick analogy for saying the same thing that he said in parable of the sower. There is a lot of misconception about the subject matter. Some say it’s the Word some say it’s the world and some say it’s evangelism. But consider if you will that he was talking about a reaction between a catalyst and an agent. The agent being the heart of a man, and the catalyst being the Word of God. Seizing upon this idea will help understand the “mysteries” that lie in the parables of the kingdom.
After saying that some bring forth fruit in measures, Jesus immediately says, “is a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?” When the catalyst of Gods word is fed into our hearts, we are not putting it in a place where the light will be covered up or extinguished, like under a bushel or bed. To the contrary, we are placing it in a place where the light can be emitted the most, like on a candlestick. Have you ever seen the type of candlestick that has a shiny plate behind it? I believe that’s what he’s talking about. It is something that is designed to utilize the light to the utmost. Jesus is saying that this is what your heart is like. It is a refractor of the light of Gods word-put in. “Let your light so shine…….”.
He continues “for there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested and neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad. Hidden where? Kept secret where? How about in the ground of the human heart? Aren’t seeds covered? Aren’t seeds hidden in soil? So then the secret of manifesting things is to learn how to hide them.
Consider this parable. “The kingdom of God is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened”. Might this be an example of the idea of “there is nothing hid that shall not be manifested”? The woman sowed, hid, covered up yeast in a ball of dough. And before long its was manifested to those who could se it; the fact that yeast had been secretely added.
If you keep this idea of the two working together, the Word and the heart of man, I think this will help you in other parables of the kingdom.

^ TOP

I am a deeply troubled believer in Christ Jesus harmed and long neglected by today's evil churches. If their leaders are true to the Word of God rather than apostates, usually an evil servant such as a Church Growth Movement pastor runs the show and dominates his needy, for which exceptionally severe judgement is coming (Matt. 24:45-51). If I find a church faithful in doctrine with a good servant, he usually disppoints me with his flock's utter unfaithfulness regarding the unrighteous mammon, that is, worldly wealth. They won't even let me teach Luke 16!-- a critical passage without which they will continue to refuse my requests in the face of Jesus' own words (Matt. 5:42, 6:42, 7:7, and 18:5-7) for fear of being made poorer. I condemn the stinginess of today's American churches in Jesus Christ in His holy Name! Let us examine Luke 16:9, the actual command from our Lord, to be truly obeyed. Prepare for pandemonium among the churches!

Let it be known that many texts of Luke 16 are corrupt in verse 9. Worse yet, Christian authors have prophesied falsely from the corrupt text translated into one of many English translations. Scribes or printers in the seventeenth century shortened the Greek word for "(when) ye fail," eklipe^te, to "(when) it fails," that is, "when the mammon of unrighteousness fails" (eklipe^i / eklipe^). Even secular historians understand the strife which the addition of an iota into the word "homoousios" in the Nicene Creed caused; here we see a change of an important personal ending in sacred Scripture. This mistake, taking "eklipe^i" with perhaps half a T and no E as a finished word in place of "eklipe^te," will lead many readers of Luke 16 to misunderstand Jesus' command as follows:

They will see need to prepare for the depletion of the wealth of unrighteousness rather than the need to prepare for THEIR OWN financial failures! I translate "eklipe^te" as "whenever ye may lose your homes." Many believers even among authors have interpreted from corrupt texts and concluded that the command is for each believer to befriend many mostly poor Christians for welcomes in heaven for the afterlife by means of ill-gotten wealth rather than for each congregation to befriend several specifically wealthy people out in the world in the here and now for future welcomes in everlasting dwellings belonging to unbelievers and still available during persecutions when our homes get confiscated or when God calls us to give our houses away (Matt. 5:42) so that we Christians fail financially. Burn the books of false prophecy, O Lord Almighty! I pray.

Jesus' point in the commanding part (verses 9 through 13) is fourfold:

(1) We are commanded by him to have members of our congregations meet and befriend the wealthy people out in the world and not free to accept the ways of the worldly poor as God's will for His people.

(2) If we fail to obey this command, like most Americans in Christ, Jesus asks who will give us endowments for His work, and for most of us nobody will. Therefore, we see most American churches operating on tight budgets, still stingy if they have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank. All American Christians in my experience have feared financial loss whenever I manifested my neediness or begged, and nobody has ever surmounted these fears in my experience. Still, Jesus Christ wills that we have access to wealth... if we obey Him regarding Luke 16:9.

(3) Jesus refuses to trust anyone who complains, "If only I had..." as an excuse for sin. If you had an enormous fortune, would you willingly give it away to a mental patient who dare impoverish you with his insane request? Only the congregation which is faithful in the least, in the unrighteous mammon, could faithfully go broke out of love for their Lord, and it is just such a congregation which Jesus Christ would entrust with plenty. Are you aware of such a congregation?

(4) Finally, we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Money). The current situation with Church Growth Movement leaders keeping as many people as possible sitting in their pews on Sundays as possible and serving the world through the week rather than sending as many people out into foreign nations to spread the Gospel is just terrible. I can't wait for the Master of Matt. 24:45-51, the state legislatures and the governing boards of churches and hospitals if not Jesus Christ Himself, to wise up and return to amputate each "evil servant," assign each his portion with the hypocrites for teaching to the effect that "you should be terribly heartbroken for asking us for anything" in Jesus' name despite Matt. 7:7, kick them out into the cold outer darkness of homelessness and weeping and gnashing of teeth, and even then beat or flog them, according to Luke's account, according to the extent of their knowledge of their wrongdoing in charge. Worst are the pastors who turn God's needy over to hostile psychiatry to be bound and wracked and ruined and caused to sin habitually with "witchcraft" (Gal. 5:19, Gk.; Matt. 18:5-7). I have suffered in perilous poverty and abominable affliction for far too long to forgive these evil men, and I cry out for faithfulneess in the unrighteous mammon!-- and for judgement of the evil servants!

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. The kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...
^ TOP

Jesus gives the example of the Good Samaritan for us to pattern ourselves after when it comes to loving our neighbor and other points of living.Anyone can be a Good Samaritan if Jesus is in your Heart and you are operating from the Love that he gives you.Help others . Not just the ones that you know , but be ready to share his love and Charity with all.
God Bless You,
chris
^ TOP

Because this parable is after Jesus talking about the end times,it shows how prepared for the last half of the tribulation christians will be. Oil is usually a representation of the Holy Spirit, but here is does'nt fit. The five asking the others to give them some because their's is running out,and the others refusing does'nt work . The oil is litterally food and fuel, in the middle of the tribulation when the wise have stored up what they need to survive the last half they will tell the foolish to go buy some for themselves because they don't have enough . When they go to buy food they must take the mark of the beast which disallows them entrance into the wedding feast .Jesus will deny knowing them . It is a warning to be prepared!!!
^ TOP

After reading all the comments on the Filling of the spirit I find this one to be right on the money. I was going to post a writing of my own, but after reading this I decided to commend this writing. God bless and an excellent job Robert.
Pastor Rick.
^ TOP

I'm writing to you because visiting your site I saw pictures of the mustard tree. I have a group of children that I will be speaking of the mustard seed parable and would very much like to show them a picture of the mustard tree.
Could you send me one?
I would really appreciate that
God Bless you.
Claudia
^ TOP

Contrary to what many think, I would submit that the point of this parable is NOT to stress repetitious prayer. Jesus said, “Pray not vain repetitions as the heathen do, thinking they will be heard for their much praying.”

Just think about it for a moment. You could really get on the nerves of a friend by forever questioning their veracity, if they were to agree to help you out financially or in some other way. A non-stop “will you do it” would drive them right up the wall. Why on earth would God want us to beg and gravel, Squall and whine? Does that really build character? Wouldn’t it show more character to take a person at their word and then never bring the subject up again?

The word importunity is a bad translation for the Greek word translated such. It does not mean a persistent badgering-as though he doesn’t want to do it-though he may not want to. It means barefacedness, boldness, having the ba__…-you know what, to approach this person in the middle of the night because your in a jam and will not be denied. This person didn’t have time to keep coming again and again. He needed the answer right there and then.

Paul says in Hebrews “come boldly unto the throne of grace that we might receive grace and mercy in a time of need”.

This type of behavior demonstrates the highest type of friendship. “If my friendship means anything in the world to you, you’re going to do it and do it now!”

One time I came home in the late evening to find a friend waiting for me. It was very clear that he would not be denied. He needed help. Do you know what I did? Even though I was not in a position to help him out, I practically went into hock helping him out.

Trust me on this. The attitude, and the sound of his voice, didn’t leave any alternative. He was bold and he walked away with the help that was needed.

Showing this type of attitude with God is the highest compliment. For he is the one who calls us friends.



^ TOP

We are all sinners. Whether we have God in our hearts always (stay with the Father) or whether we stray away and find our way back to our Father, He will always welcome us home with open arms.


^ TOP