James J suggests this parable has "the master" (God) asking for immoral earnings from his servants. Even the suggestion to put the money in the bank and get interest would have been against the Torah law against usury.

The more you think about this parable as it would have sounded to the people of the time, the more strange it seems.

I think the chances of us getting at what Jesus actually mean, if he ever said it, are slim.

Still, like many parables it can be made to fit in with what ever current thinking is, and thereby demonstrate that that current thinking is based on "Biblical principles". Or am I being cynical?
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Hi there-- I am a saved person and born again-- however according to bearing fruit, well am i going to hell and don't know it, what i mean is this i don't pass out tracks and iam not a preacher but if th case arises i will speak up for Jesus i am not ashamed at all of the name of Jesus but i don't stand on corners and preach or things like that.


Larry
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Found in the postings below is a case that I’ve made for what I believe is the secret of the kingdom of God. Mark chapter four calls it Jesus’ doctrine.

Mark 4: 2And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his DOCTRINE…

The principle that Jesus talked about referred to a prayer or words being placed in a “secret” place. The context of the kingdom teachings support that this secret place is none other then the human spirit. However, it’s not just that. Jesus said that “the kingdom of God is within you”. Wherever this “secret” place is it’s where God abides. Jesus said “Our Father which art in HEAVEN, Hallowed be thy name”.

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.

I think it’s more proper to regard the spirit of a man as a crossroads-so to speak-that heaven (the realm of the spirit) converges upon or is routed through.

Jesus taught that everyman has a spirit that works like an inner candle resplending things upon the picture screen of our lives. Good and bad.

But there is an inherent dilemma that occurs when attempting to understand the application of kingdom principles. Being that it thrives off of “secret” things “spoken in darkness”-Jesus being the grand master “covered” his prayers to perfection. In other words, you’ll never know what he prayed and the words that he chose.

What’s a believer to do in terms of finding examples?

Well thank God there are some things that can be used as examples. God wouldn’t leave us blind to the application of these things when he taught that we are to live by them.

Look at this scripture: Matthew 6:19-21.

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Consider the idea of “laying something up”. Can you see how that heaven is almost considered a plateau or a realm above our heads? It’s really not; it’s just another realm that is obviously distinct from the world around us. Apparently you can place things there. Might this be this proverbial plateau where things are “hidden” I.e., “there is nothing hid that will not be manifest”?

Now don’t scriptures like these take on new meaning?

Psalm 37:5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

I Peter 5
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; for he careth for you.

I guess all that I’m saying is that when you pray for something, make sure that you commit it into the hands of God who dwells in heaven and see’s in secret. Then leave it with him refusing to exalt yourself by attempts to bring it to pass. In the long run it may take a little longer pursuing “Gods reward”. But look at Abraham and Sara in their stint of foolishness creating a son with a different woman. Can you see how that mans reward can get you into trouble?


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Yes, the symbolic name of the younger son is Ephrahim. The older's name is Judah.

Selah,
Donimus
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I have a copy of the KJV1611 - it must not be inspired because it was revised numerous times. The version this website uses is the KJV 1769.

For God so loued the world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.

What? Doesn't seem familiar?

Yes, that's the KJV 1611.

Maybe you've been told you read the 1611, but chances are, you don't. You read the 1769 revised KJV.

Don't be upset. It's a tactic leaders have used for centuries. They make their congregations feel "special" and "set apart" by trying to separate them from other people.

For that matter, should Chinese people use the KJV 1611, or are you suggesting it is only for English speakers?
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KB: it wasn't the coin's fault in getting lost, thus God would drop everything to find it. Sheep didn't know any better when they were getting lost.. thus God, our Shepherd, came to save us from the wolves.
But in this parable, God, our Father, doesn't follow after us because he wants us to be "highly effective people" (Steven Covey).
If the father was to follow the son, it would have been rebuking his son's decision & it would have been like saying "You aren't smart/wise enough to make decisions for yourself". This would have hindered the son's pride and self-esteem. (Better to learn the lesson to fully get it out of the system.)
This is also a thankful reason for God not representing himself too much in today's world!
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See this fascinating take on the parable at:

http://www.theotherside.org/archive/may-jun99/myers.html
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Do upon to others as you would have them do upon to you.

Pretty simple, and yet a Golden Rule of life fom the Master.


As you treat others - so shall you be treated.

As the Buddist teach the Law of Karma so does Jesus teach.

What goes around comes around, but blessed and multiplied.

Give good tidings and they will come back to you.

Help others and they will help you.

Forgive others and they will forgive you.

The Golden Rule from all spiritual masters of the ages.

But this parable also explains the fact that Jesus lives and in part of all of us. In particular help those in need.

And it will be as if you are helping Jesus Christ himself.


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our theater group has been staging passion plays for the past 30 years. Our theme for this year is about faith, we need to know more about the mustard seed and mustard plant. if you could possibly give us a picture of the plant and seed and what is its significance to faith perse as described in the parable. thanks and more power. God bless
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I think this is eluding to the fact that God gave us the world and it is up to everyone of us to build up his kingdom by bringing more people to Christ and not just worrying about ourselves but lending a hand to our neighbor.
Also it says that since God has been merciful to us by giving us talents we should show mercy to others and preach the word and make disciples of all nations. Because God has blessed us all with different capabilities in order to Glorify God and he expects us to use all he has given us to build his kingdom. If Christ lives through us we are supposed to be the light of the world. On judgement day our Father will ask what we have done to glorify his name, what we have done with the talents and the time God has given us. And what will our answers be ?????????????????

God bless
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The bible is a spiritual book and it must be spiritually discerned.Jesus said that the words that He speaks are Spirit and Life(Jn.6:63).Barabas means father's son.He was in bondage and should have received death,except Jesus took his place.Barabas was a type of ourselves.Note that this was done on the Feast of Passover.Death passed over Barabas because Jesus took his place and shed His blood instead of Barabas,who was deserving to die.So Barabas became a child of God(Father's son).
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"leaven" - n. - a substance due to fermentation which causes bread dough to rise - Webster's Dictionary

"leaven" - n. a substance to make dough rise, esp. yeast; anything that makes a general change, --vt to raise with leaven; to spread through, causing gradual change. [Fr levain--L levamen-- levare, to raise--levis, light. (There is an accent " - " over the "a's" in levamen and levare, unfortunately I do not know how to do this)] - Webster's New Dictionary and Thesaurus

"meal" - is food, or bread

The kingdom of heaven is like unto yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of flour/bread, till the whole was risen??

Jesus is the Bread of Life see John 6:48


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On behalf of everybody who like me has been martyred by the evil servants in charge of churches through calling the police to remove us from church or arranging hostile psychiatric hospitalization on account of spoiled rotten begging, I thank God for His words which justify us (Matt. 5:42, 6:24ff, 7:7) and promise our deliverance (Matt. 24:45-25:30).

We who have suffered such abominable punishments deserve to know well that we have no rewards waiting in heaven for us for patiently enduring under punishment from evil servants in charge or, especially, for going over the line between right and wrong in our begging... because Matt. 7:6 and I Peter 2:20 were printed in copies of the Holy Bible available to us long before our sufferings. Therefore, such a pastor as may dominate us now to keep our grievances quiet has no crowns in heaven to offer us for accepting his church discipline, and our rewards in heaven will be far greater if we cry out and call the church leaders completely to account for such failings as broken promises to spread the Gospel throughout the whole world by the year 2000.

Jesus Christ will be far more satisfied with us and able to bless us if we become completely frank with Him in prayer and no longer hold back our hearts. Failing to help us in our times of greatest need on earth through needed divine intervention, He has provided for absolutely incredible vengeance against the evil servants in charge (Matt. 24:45-51) in place of more years of freedom to apostatize in which to enjoy being completely healed and established as we might prefer. That the churches have already failed to fulfill their promises to evangelize the world by the year 2000 has changed the proper interpretation of Matthew 24:45-25:30 incredibly adversely for the evil servants in charge from offices to pulpits.

Because so many church leaders and evangelists have made and broken these promises, it is now patently apparent that they are unable to plan to spread the Gospel throughout the world with a testimony to all peoples (Matt. 24:14, Mark 14:9) and follow through on their promises. Well, the clock is ticking! The generation of Jews who saw Israel become a nation when they were twenty years old is aging, and God's holy Name is at stake to return before they all pass away. For this reason, the loss of morale among missionaries from failing to fulfill their promises to evangalize the world by the year 2000 cannot continue to drive churches inward to build the home church building and congregation and ignore world evangelism. In this context, the pastors' pretext that the judgements of Matthew 24:45-25:30 would be carried out in Heaven with the ever forgiving character of Jesus Christ as master must be torn to shreds; for if they should get their way, world evangelism will NEVER happen to make Jesus Christ return when He promised! Let us examine the judgements of Matthew 24:45-51 as possibe on earth with human masters or groups of humans as masters. This is now necessary to bring about world evangelism and the rapture of the saints.

Now seek I to bring about the judgement of the servants in charge as soon as possible on this earth (Matthew 24:45-51) so that without the hindrances of the Church Growth Movement, world evangelism may be attempted under faithful leadership, which unlike the Church Growth Movement will remember the need to memorialize Mary's anonymous anointing of Jesus Christ at Bethany if our spread of the Gospel really be worldwide (Mark 14:9, John 12:1-3). The power to judge is not yet in the right hands, yet our omnipotent Lord, praised be his name!--is surely able to bestow it. Promises from the American government such as our First, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights must fail, however that may happen, in order to judge the evil servants in charge with amputations and floggings as Jesus said would be done (Matt. 24:45-51, Luke 12:42-48); still I say, our awesome God is omnipotent and able to accomplish this, and both to those who pray to keep America safe and secure and to national enemies who would rejoice in an invasion or a coup d'etat I remember my citizenship in heaven and offer the Lord's Prayer just the same. American constitutional rights are defending injustices which Jesus Christ will not tolerate just before His return. Still, unless the United States Congress and the state legislators wake up to the reality of the end times and find some way to permit the imposition of the judgements upon the evil servants in charge prescribed by Jesus Christ, God's will could turn in an extremely adverse direction very fast in order to allow the ousting of bad pastors so that world evangelism may be accomplished.

And now I announce judgements. The demands of all the flock's wealth and amputations made by telephone in 2001 of the Meier family at Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, IL 61801, in place of failure to provide fifty million dollars requestewd in 1997 and 1998 to be obtained by begging to compensate Kevin Douglas Rosenberg for ruinous, utterly needless, admittedly mistaken psychiatric captivity and drugging (sin of witchcraft, Gal. 5:19, Greek), will accrue more demanded amputations before God: a thumb's weight weekly if evil servant in charge Bill Meier dare escape what was demanded before into the afternoon of December 26, 2003 UT. I myself cannot impose this, yet I dare ask Jesus his Lord, and He encourages me to keep on asking (Matt. 7:7). I have had to sin habitually because of Bill's influence on pastors to keep me quiet until I had to junk church after church to escape their domination, and I call down Matt. 18:5-7 to curse Twin City Bible Church like the fig tree in the name of Jesus Christ and send Bill's flock destitute for nearby churches to send out.

I do not possess such power as to bring this all about, yet still I thank God again for the Scriptures to show my current ways right before Him and to deliver me from the power of the evil servants in charge of today's churches through His will for vengeance. May God help our mentally ill brethren and everyone else in Him who needs assistance and has trouble asking for it among English speakers in authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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If the wise virgins are the Church as many of us(including me) why did they not tell the foolish virgins to come as you are to the master? We as the Church often fail to see the wideness of Gods mercy and grace. God welcomed the prodigal as he was not requiring that he go to those who sell oil first. The wise virgins basically told the foolish to go and cleanse yourself and make yourself ready for God. We cannot do this. Justification comes from God alone and through Grace we are sanctified. We too tell those who are seeking Christ that they must pray a certain way, act a certain way, tithe etc. in order to be the right kind of Christian. In short we send the foolish out for the oil of the world, that is works. But praise be to God, even though we who have tasted salvation continue to be blind to the wideness of Gods mercy we are still welcome at the Lords Table. I am fully convinced if the foolish virgins came out and fell at the Bridegrooms feet he would have embraced them. And further if when they came to the gate and told him that they had tried the oil that the world offered but now have come to God for salvation that God would have thrown wide the door and let them in. When they came however they came still trying to gain entry with the oil of the world. Let the Church stop offering the oil of the world and start offering Christ.
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Is it true that when the small mustard seed is planted should grow into a large garden plant instead of a tree....?
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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."
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Hi,

I understand, that the Good Samaritan was a real person who lived long before Jesus, and the same thing happened to him, he was perscuted for doing good deeds to other. That's the reason why Jesus was able to tell this story. I forgot the name of this person.

Could you help me? What is the Good Samaritan's name?

Thanks
Willy
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At the end of this parable Jesus states that "to those who have, more will be given and to those who have not what little they have will be taken away."

As I understand this is that when a person has a state of ming of gratitude to the Creator and feels abundant God provides more of the same. When we feel wronged by God and ungrateful for the little He has given we naturally repel any good that can come our way.

This parable is Jesus explaining the natural laws of the Universe, The Laws of God.

To those who have more shall be given, to those ungrateful people who bemoan there lot will have what little they think they have taken away.

Try it. It works.

Read Mind Power by John KEHOE - he explains this parable very well.

Thankyou have a good day.

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Matthew 7:24-27

(24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
(25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
(26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
(27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Hi, my name is Ashleigh and I am 13 years of age, my friend, Shannon and I are doing a religion assignment on that parable, worth 45% We just need some help of a few questions. Here they are:

An explination of the meaning of the parable
Revlevance for today
Catholic Beliefs evident in the parable.

If you can help us, because this is hard for us and need some 'fresh' help. Please email me on ashleigh.mansell@stclaresc.act.edu.au or you can email my friend whos email is shannon.talbot@stclaresc.act.edu.au

Thanks a bunch!

We really hope you can help me!
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Bob:
Was Dr.Scofield a Freemason at any time?
Your answer will be greatly appreciated.
George
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Do you no what the scientific name is for microorganism in bread.

what microorganism is used in bread and what group does the microorganism belong to


thankyou

bye
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Both the evil servants in charge of their flocks of Christians and the lazy servants in the pews will be judges to a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 24:51, 25:30 ). Speakers of English have not the faintest idea of what this phrase might entail.

At best, some will weep bitterly while others gnash their teeth somewhat under the influence of outside, nighttime cold. Beware what this phrase might also mean....

The Russian language has an unusually nasty plan for dealing with tooth decay with "a mouthful of cavities and abscesses". Without modern dentistry, they would quit trying to save their teeth with cashews because spreading pus all around their mouths had become futile and fast around the clock. If they started to starve, they would gnash their teeth ***to bits and pieces*** and again be able to drink milk and eat pureed foods. If they had even one gene for Russian innate crying, once they got enough calcium phosphate in them, a third set of teeth would grow.

This third set is not a good set of teeth. It contains forty (40. ) teeth of far different sizes and shapes than the second set which was replaced. You cannot bite into an apple or a pear or a sandwich with the third set; apples and pears must be cored and sandwiches must be cut up into four, six, eight or twelve pieces because the incisors of the third set are small and week. The third set of teeth offers enormous bicuspids (side teeth) good for carrots, celery, whole walnuts, and crushing bones to extract the marrow. Worst of all, it demands an extremely large and incredibly ugly jaw so heavy as to make psalmists lament, "Lift up my head"-- a Hebrew idiom derived from people with the third set of teeth which came to mean "restore my former condition". Contrary to dentists' and orthodontists' and oral surgeons' pronouncements, there is no need to extract impacted teeth which are not causing problems; rather, by eating plenty of nuts, apples, pears, carrots, celery sticks, and seeds whole (with third teeth in front, apples and pears in sixths) with dairy products, the patient is actually able to grow the jawbone to accommodate all those teeth and straighten them out! With a mouthful of third dentition, the resulting face is incredibly ugly. Preserving a small face, there is nothing to be done about impacted teeth to avoid numerous needed extractions.

Yes, this is what "weeping and gnashing of teeth" might mean! If we were to read "gnashing of teeth" without mention of "weeping", its Russian translation would be the noun "skrezhet" or the verb "skrezhetat'". That is not a weepy word to the best of my knowledge. Jesus Christ, however, put "weeping" with "gnashing of teeth" to express the weepy word, definitely crying, "uvyadaniye" as a noun and "uvyadat'" or "uvyanut'" as verbs. Given in good dictionaries as meaning "to waste away" in reference to a person, this most extremely, incredibly shameful verb in either form in its most shameful sense as crying in the first person ("uvyad", "uvyanu yazF?", "uvyanyum' yazF", "yazF uvyadayu", etc.) refers to gnashing one's teeth to bits and pieces, in various tenses. I warn you that THIS suffering could befall the evil servants in charge and, later, lazy stewards from among the followers!

And now I warn you that many "evil servants in charge" and many "lazy stewards" will most certainly lose all their teeth through this judgement and be left to pray the psalmists' prayer, "Lift up my head." Surely the master, when he returns, will have obtained the authority to compel Badpastor to bite on steel pipes while he is flogged. The lazy stewards, far more numerous, may be in for this most awful fate, or they may be cast out where the evil servants suffer so horribly. Who will suffer what is unclear because Scripture only says "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 24:51, 25:30 ) rather than a clear statement of "(he shall) weep and gnash his teeth". Yet I tell you, in order to make the Gospel ring true to the Russian people, there will be individuals among the evil servants in charge whose teeth are now sound yet shall be made to bite on steel pipe during their floggings and thus lose all their teeth. It is absolutely unsafe for us to run churches like evil servants in charge, and it is likewise absolutely unsafe for us in the pews without vast wealth of our own to ignore our stewardship even of our chances to befriend the rich folk of this world.

The message of gnashing one's teeth to pieces or of a mouth full of natural replacement adult teeth is admission of utter decadence and age. Nobody looks young with a third set of teeth. Still, Jesus accepts and accommodates them. Some of His disciples must have had feeble incisors of third dentition because He broke bread for them. To prepare bread for people with first dentition (baby teeth, milk teeth) or second dentition ("permanent" teeth, adult teeth), we usually slice it or find it already sliced for our convenience. As I conclude, please remember the incredibly severe risks inherent in evil servanthood and lazy stewardship and unfaithfulness in (with) the mammon of unrighteousness. God bless those who heed.

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg

a martyr for continuing to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7, Greek )
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I am looking for a picture of a mustard seed. Can you kindly let me know where I can find one? Thanks.

Greg Nam
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after careful and thoughtful study of the old testament prophets I can`t help believing that the ram with two horns that daniel see`s in his vision is symbolic of the ram being america who does seem to do as it pleases in regards to the world today and the horns being the symbology of the twin towers I really believe the end times are being played out in the world today as described by the prophets who recieved their wisdom from god as a gift. I just feel so helpless in regards to what is going on but I also believe nothing happens in this world without god willing it.
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I was asked by a friend if I knew the name of the prodigal son. I'd never heard him referred to in any way except as "the younger son". Does anyone know of research that attaches a name to either the younger or older son?

Thanks!
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If you're looking for a contemporary take on this parable... and any other biblical passage, for that matter, you might try Eugene Peterson's "The Message". He has done an admirable job of re-writing the Bible in today's context.
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if someone read this message!!! please email me!!! and teach me more about christ!!!
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Here is what I see fits better.

1.The leaven is the Gospel. 2.The woman is Israel which hid or cut off the Gospel in the world. 3.The 3 measures of meal can mean the Jews, the Gentiles, and the people during the melennial reign of Christ.

When a new believer is added to the body of Christ, the number of the redeemed grows. Similiar to leaven, it grows until it is fully grown, and then it is finished. This does not mean that everyone will be saved, but that the harvest is ripe to reap at this time.

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Big Island, the seed is planted with the words of our mouth-spoken out loud. Apparently there is a mechanism set up within the human being that forever monitors our words and accepts them as programs. It doesn’t differentiate between good and bad, it just receives them much like the ground accepts seeds when planted, or the way yeast responds with dough.

IT’S THE NATURE OF THE WORDS DUDE! Second Corinthians chapter four says:

13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Paul quotes David and says in essence: (paraphrased) “do you recall when David said, “I believed therefore have I spoken”? Well we also have that same spirit of faith. Our faith also climaxes with a confession of the mouth.”

Jesus said a lot about our words and the affect that they have on our inner man. He talked about the faith that would speak to a mountain, sycamine tree, or uttered out loud (in the ear) in the privacy of the prayer closet.

Jesus said “if you had faith as a grain of Mustard seed you might say…” It’s very clear that he’s saying, “If you had faith as a seed, you would PLANT.

Make sense?

I hope that helps.

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I agree with Jason Ward's comment about the background of wedding ceremony that happen at that time.

I believe the the Lamp represents faith. And of cousre our faith comes from hearing the Word (Romans 10:17)

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

which makes me to think that the oil is the hearing the message.

People become christians by starting to hear the message. Personally I believe hearing message is different from hearing the word of Christ. Many people comes to church and read bible but don't hear the message, which also don't produce faith in them.

I believe the foolish virgins are the ones who stops hearing the message though they did in the beginning, which of course brought them to new life through grace. This also makes me to think of the parable of sower, third kind of seed were choked by life's worries and etc...

Just my opinion.. :-)
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Also do not forget what Jesus says later in both Matthew and Mark... several chapters after the cursing of the fig tree and the parable of the fig tree Jesus says this:

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my workds will never pass away." - Matthew 24:32-35 and Mark 13:28-31.

Jesus is speaking here just after relating a series of warnings about the end times and in fact the since the fig tree represents the NATION (tree) of ISRAEL (fig) it is feasible to suggest that this is a direct prophesy about the coming of the Tribulation.

I'm not the kind of person who goes around prognosticating and ranting about the end of the world and the Bible clearly says that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10) so I'm not trying to predict the end but I do think that it is fascinating to see how this correllates with the withering of the nation of Israel about AD 70 and its subsequent rebirth in AD 1948.

I've read that the Bible maintians that a generation lasts 40 years and begins in the 20th year and ends in the 60th, putting the coming of Christ some time in 2008 if you do the math that way. But generation could also mean RACE in which case there is no math to be done. If this is the prophesised generation of the fig tree then we may see these things fulfilled very soon. Perhaps not though.

The point is to be prepared and always have your heart in the right state and never waver in doing the work God has put you here to do.
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Short parable, but meaningful! The truly saved WILL bring forth fruit, just by the true indwelling of the Spirit! Two ways to look at the last verse...one, as the second coming occuring at the fulfillment of the kingdom, and two, as our branches getting "pruned" when full to that we can produce more fruit. Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.


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Well, I suspect this won't change Kevin Rosenberg's mind about the matter (I respect your freedom to believe what you see there). But for the sake of any readers who have not come to a decision as to what God wants to say to us in this parable, I submit more evidence. Evidence that disallows (is that a word?) the interpertation that Christ requires us to seek the wealth of rich unbelievers to finance ministry and support destitute believers.

Ephesians 4:28
"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, BUT MUST WORK, DOING SOMETHING USEFUL WITH HIS OWN HANDS, THAT HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH THOSE IN NEED."

Honest, proud work really does have a place in God's will for supporting ourselves AND the ministry. Why would Christ teach to the contrary?

I stumbled across more 'disobedient' believers who tried to pay their own way in ministry. "It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving NO HELP FROM THE PAGANS." (3 John 7)

I've see at least three very dangerous mistakes made in the Church (Especially regarding end-times teachings).

1) Ignoring straightforward truth. Why do we purposely throw out the plain, undisputable instructions of scripture in favor of veiled, and speculative interpretations of one, maybe two, scriptures? What I mean is, why do we ignore the compelling, straightforward, undisputable meaning of one scripture, that requires no interpretation--one that would instantly disqualify any possible contrary meaning of a less clear scripture--in favor of another interpretation?

2) Taking the scriptures WAY to literal. Don't get me wrong, it takes the Holy Spirit to understand any truth, and it can be dangerous to spiritualize where you should not, and vice versa. But, I see so many people ignoring the precedents set down by Jesus and Paul of what they themselves spiritualized and then continue on in misguided, fleshly literal interpretations of the same things? Again, I say end-timers are especially bad about this. This is exactly why Jesus was rejected! He spiritualized and it made him look irreverant and anti-Law/ anti-Moses! It's no different today.

Thank God, Jesus clarified what he meant when he said 'Born again' in John 3. Even though scripture itself teaches the 'spiritual' reality that Nicodemus didn't see at first, amazing enough I heard of a group of believers who would actually act out 'birth pangs' in prayer for unbelievers they wanted saved (see Galatians 4:19 to understand their misguided motivation)!

3) Making scripture say what it doesn't say anything about, one way or the other. "Do not go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man (and his teaching) over against another" (1 Cor. 4:6) In other words, know when you're only speculating and let it go and keep your superior, spiritual insights, that no one else can see, to yourself. "...whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." (Romans 14:22)

With many scriptures, though, we have to depend on a pure heart and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to see the spiritual truths taught through the literal, physical things of this life. Taking us to the things we can't see through the things we can. Like much of the Law, the physical, literal things only point us to more important unseen Spiritual truth. The parables do just that, too. If you miss it you are doomed to the "godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge" (1 Tim. 6:20).

(As a side note, the parable of the unjust steward has a profound spiritual teaching that we haven't even touched on. The parable is really about forgiveness (you forgiving others, that is). That's why the steward could only forgive part of the debt. The debtors ultimately have to have ALL the debt relieved by the master.)

Be careful! May we all heed the Bible's warning to beware of division and it's resulting confusion. And not to cause it ourselves!

"...watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites..." (Romans 16:17,18)

Galatians 5:19,20. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:...discord...dissensions..factions

May all of us be found spotless and blameless in these.

Unless I really feel compelled to do otherwise, this is my final word on the matter. God bless and may all of you be "enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge." (1 Cor. 1:5)

L. Mertes


















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I'll just quote a sentence from this mail then put my oppinion....

In this view, who would Gods mercy fall favor on in salvation?

My oppinion...............God looks apon the heart............people miss the point of this story, because they look at it through their eyes, and through their justification, so ofcourse those that are poor and suffer are more worthy than those who dont, God said their is none righteous no not one, rich people will go to hell exactly the same as poor people, we can sympathize with the poor but it is only aggreeing that envy has a place in Gods kingdom it doesnt............Jesus could have told the same story in reverse because gauranteed he knows one poor man that is going to Hell and one rich man that is not, but that would have not had the same appeal to our views on justification, we have to be led to the truth, line upon line precept on precept............. tell me when they shouted crucify him to pilate, were there more rich than poor? When Jesus said you seek me because your bellies were filled, ie they followed him fore the bread, and said Abraham was their father, and he said if Abraham was your father you would Love me................are these poor going to heaven?...............God looks upon the heart, it doesnt matter if youve lived the best life ie rich, or the worst life ie begger............circumstances wont change your heart, rich or poor if you have no love for God you have no love for God............10 lepers got healed only 1 came back to thank God........... I believe this story is not about rich vs poor it is about the heart of Lazurus and he had a heart for God ..................and it is a story of the Beauty of God because he is no respecter of persons.
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Have you ever planted a garden?
Some seeds never grow.
Some grows then withers away.
Some grow several inches then start to die.
Some dying plants catch ahold of good ground or water and sprout back to life.
Some dying plants are tended to by the gardener and sprout back to life.

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
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Many people focus just on the younger son...lets remember something here. The scriptures say that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost. What did the younger son actually feel in his fathers arms? Do you recon he was more excited about the feast, or the redemption? What had the older son lost sight of, in the presence of his father, but not in his arms? We tend as christians to get so busy in our "works efforts" that we loose sight of the purpose of our stewardship. Our carnal natures sneak into prominance and then we wind up working to achieve the wrong goal.....to please ourselves, not to glorify our Father! The Father said what to the older son? DO we as christians take full advantage of our inheritance and the privelidges of our Bloodline? The wealth had already been divied up, the older son had received his fair share, and should have then been enjoying the status of just living in accord with His Father....all the benefits of the Fathers prosperity were there for his use....but he wasn't using them was he! He was so busy still trying to please his father, that he lost sight of the fact that he was already in good standing with him. WHy do you think he felt he had to keep trying? See, it wasn't about pleasing his father....it was about pleasing himself....to be better than the lost brother..(in his own eyes). Our Father wants to see us take advantage of our status as his child.....to put to use and enjoy the benefits bring his children....or are we too busy (self absorbed) to see the big picture here? As children of the Father...we are sanctified, holy, we are his Glory.....so why do we scurry around trying to earn an inheritance we have already been given? That inheritance isn't ours to earn...it came as a gift! We own it...so why don't we put it to use!
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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.


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Psalm 78 1-8, God commands all generations to teach the testimony of Jacob.

Did Jesus keep this commandment? We, who believe Jesus was the Son of God, knows he was perfect. Therefore, we know he kept the commandment of His Father.


Why has the Church not made the connection that when Jesus taught the Parable of the lost son, he was keeping God's commandment to teach the testimony of Jacob.

To truly understand the depth of the Parable of the lost son, we need to understand, in depth, the testimony of Jacob.

The parable of the lost son is not simply a "neat" story showing us God's saving Grace and unconditional love.

The testimony of Jacob is the key to us understanding what a true relationship with God, Jehovah Jireh, is all about. The Church has not yet made this connection, because they do not understand the testimony of Jacob. If they don't understand it, they definitely aren't teaching it and are not keeping God's commandment of Psalm 78.


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I too, don't beleive in 'skateboard salvation', which by that I'm assuming you mean that you're saved until you sin, when you lose your salvation and fall off. From there, you have to get saved again, and so on. My ministry (Greater Grace World Outreach) is all about the finished work and eternal security. Once we're saved, that's it. No questions. One question I had when I was first saved was like, how can I am some serial killer who was once saved when he was young, end up in the same place? There's two answers to that: one, sins are forgiven. plain and simple. they are completely erased from his life as they are from mine. and two, we have heavenly awards. if we are saved, but don't live the christian lifestyle according to God, we will still get to heaven, but may not get the same heavenly awards as someone who followed God completely. it's like cable, there's regular cable, and then there's the package deals that are extra. anywho, i guess this doesn't really have to do with the mustard seed, but it needs to be said.
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Yes, they came up for pay at the same time, but they didn't all work the same number of hours. Some worked the full 12 hours, some came at the eleventh hour and only worked one. The complaint was that the ones who came in late were first in line to get paid and they got a penny, so the ones behind them that had worked longer hours figured they would get more and they didn't, they got the same amount.
"Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" Seems it would mean that he was saying that they were upset because he was generous with those who only worked an hour and gave them the same pay, so they were lookin' at him like that was a bad thing.
I'd relate it to us by saying that those who have been Christians a long time might get upset that new Christians get blessings and are received as brothers and sisters as much as those who've been in the family for years and years.
The point would be that all of our work is for Christ, and we are as precious and equal in his site and of value whether we've been working for him all of our lives or for just one day. :)
Chrys
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I think I’m going to utilize the aspect of anonymity (sort of) for the sake of saying things that will never be said out in public. That’s the interesting thing about this web site that’s so cool. You can express your beliefs without this social pressure that people place upon you in public.

But I’m going to drop a bombshell right in the middle of you readers. I’m going to be the proverbial “skunk at the garden party”. Maybe some of you won’t recognize just how unreligious this is going to be, but others will probably tell me to swipe my mouth (put a lid on it).

But, I’ve known something for a long time and I’ve decided to let loose. Here’s the idea that I think will generate controversy, hopefully. But do you know what, I don’t care, because it’s the pure Word of God. Feel free to challenge it.

Do you know what my bombshell is?

Do you remember when Jesus was often heard telling a person that he had just healed, to “TELL NO MAN”? Do you know why he did that? It was to get an OPPOSITE RESULT”. “Oh, that’s insane” you may say. “That’s reverse psychology”. NO, IT ISN’T.

Mark 7
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36 AND HE CHARGED THEM that they should TELL NO MAN:

Look at the results.

But the more he charged them, SO MUCH THE MORE A GREAT DEAL THEY PUBLISHED IT.

Luke 5
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to TELL NO MAN: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15 BUT SO MUCH MORE went there A FAME ABROAD of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

Mark 1
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And saith unto him, See thou SAY NOTHING TO ANY MAN: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45 But he went out, and began to PUBLISH it much, and to BLAZE ABROAD the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Mark 7:24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have NO MAN KNOW IT: but he could not be HID (there is nothing HID which shall not be manifested…).

Now before you get mad, I’m going to paraphrase some things that Jesus said. Either you can believe that he did this intentionally or you can believe that he was overwhelmed by a contrary result, which would be failure-SIN.

Notice some of the things that Jesus said (paraphrased).

“The things that I tell you in secret that preach ye in the light”. “The things that are whispered in the ear (both in your own ear and the ears of others) in closets (secrets-or in secret places) will be proclaimed from the housetops”. The amplified bible says in Mark 4:22, “ Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation. For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known”.

Are we agreed that Jesus said these things? Are we also agreed that the definition of hypocrisy is to say one thing and to do another? Are we agreed that this was a part of his message that he taught from town to town-namely, the Kingdom of God has come unto you?

Then how on earth can Jesus commit the SIN (it wasn’t sin as you’ll shortly find out) of hypocrisy by saying one thing and yet doing another?

What was he “HIDING”? Why the big “SECRET”? What’s the big “COVER UP” (covered-“there’s nothing covered that shall not be revealed”…)? Was he afraid? He wasn’t afraid of anything-he had no fear. Fear is termed sin in the book of Revelation. Hell is filled with the “fearful”. What good reason is there for this man to hush the person that he had just done a wonderful thing for, when he had said “the things that I tell you in secret, that preach ye in the light”?

When I was a kid I was watching the Brady Bunch, and even Alice the maid had told the kids “you know a very great man once said that secrets were made for telling”. Forever I wondered who had said that. And lo and behold Jesus was that man. Somebody got the same meaning that I see from the Word.

So how could he do this KNOWING that the end result was going to be the very thing being blasted from the housetop? Was it deception? Was it subterfuge?

How about this? IT WAS DIVINE HUMILITY.

Don’t think for one minute that I’m saying that Jesus was harboring in his heart that this person would do just the opposite. When Jesus said “TELL NO MAN”, what he was saying is “I don’t need flesh to testify of me. I have a relationship with my heavenly father and he’s well able to bring this to light IF HE SO CHOOSES. If I am deemed humble by my heavenly father, he will exalt me, if not he won’t”. But refuse to believe that Jesus meant anything other then exactly what he said-“he straightly charged them, tell no man”. This is divine humility at it’s best, just beckoning exaltation. He didn’t care how the father was going to get the message out. He just did his part by being humble and depending on the father for everything.

Another thing to consider is that Jesus may have known that these people would encounter persecution or they may not be able to deal with questioning crowds. So he empowered the situation by activating a spiritual law that would work over the heads of the people involved.

Are you convinced yet?

Even if you don’t believe that Jesus did this intentionally, you’ve got to admit, it’s a beautiful example of “there is nothing hid which shall not be manifest and neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad”.

Regardless of what you think of this revelation.

I hereby charge you to TELL NO MAN.

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does not matter if p-son hated father, dont let hate scare ya it's normal
part of existence in material plane...from some angles we all hate that
we were thrown onto this plane thru no reckoning of our own, and
mostly coerced to accept or deal with it...if we're truly awake/aware
we're being the prodigal son/daugher/entity incessantly in each
here-now moment and so shaping our next moments - even the
luxury of having a little bit of clarity/real-consiousness doesn't
guarantee that we will be comfortably accepted, embraced, cared-for
by some (god, father, mamma) entity...but ownership of how this
parable can really work for you is reeeallly something!

it's neither good nor bad,only thinking tends to make it so.
all men wanna be better and aren't but for lack of knowing how.
this one can only suggest how you might: we get to being parts of
each other this way
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the moral of this story is you have many people in your life and many

people who do the works of God and have gifts and talents, but your real

neighbor is the one who shows mercy , compassion and love. That's the

one who is your neighbor. that is true religion.
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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?
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Dan,
As a mother in a similar situation, I empathize with you. since you wrote almost 1 year ago, I just wanted to write to ask how things are going. I know I never stop praying for my younger child (Is it something to do with birth order?!). I have become devoted to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She prayed for THIRTY YEARS for the conversion of her son from his paganistic, hedonistic ways! Her bishop told her that the prayers of a mother who had shed so many tears for her son would not go unanswered. St. Augustine eventually converted to Christianity and became one of the greatest scholars of the early Church.
Praying for the same miracle for all our sons...
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ANYWAY MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIAD IT THAT IT IS GOOD TO BE PERPARD OF THE COMING OF THE LORD, COS YOU CAN THAT THOSE TEN VIRGIL ARE NOT PERPARD VERY WELL FOR THE WEDDING THAT IS WHY THEIR LAMP WANT OFF WHEN IT IS TIME TO WELCOME THE BRIDE AND GROOM,

MY BROTHERS THIS IS NOT JUST A JOKE IT IS THE SINGS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DRUING THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, PERPARE YOURSELF VERY WELL READY YR BIBLE DAILY, AND RESPECT GOD IN YOUR LIFE. BE WASHFUL FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE MAN OF GOD IS COMING.

DONT BE AMONG THE TEN VIRGIN GOD LOVES YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

NONYEBABY FROM NIGEIA
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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!!!
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I too am teaching a class and would very much like to have a picture of the grown mustard tree.

Thanks if you can help!
Sherre
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Thank you for constantly updated, always a pleasure to read.
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The evil one spoken of in the beggining
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