"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


^ TOP

I agree with your interpretation that the neighbor is the Samaritan, i.e. Jesus.

The dying man trusted the Samaritan and took the Samaritan's help without doubt and hesitation, even though he despised the Samaritan.
In this parable of Good Samaritan, the dying man is ourselves. People should beleive in God humbly like the dying man did.

This Parable of good samaritan tells me that men should humble themselves for believing in God and loving Jesus.


Thanks,

Donna
^ TOP

Hello, God's great blessings to all......I found a page in the back of a bible that had the prodigal' son's ring on it. It had 8 stones, each signifiying a different thing, such as love, peace, hope, etc. Do you have any more info on this? or the sandals? Im letting the Lord lead me into making a banner of the ring. Also, it must mean the same thing about the reconcilliation of the Jews to Israel.!! This is a new revelation of the Lord, as I am also very interested in our role as Christians to the Jews.As the Messianic movement is the bridge of reconcilliation , bringing the Jew's to Jesus. Therefore, the restoration of Israel. Please answer soon, this is quite powerful in the Lord.................Love in Christ.......Chris
^ TOP

I realize that your E-mail is not a serious one , and I do not know your real name, but I am praying that The Lord Jesus Christ will bless your life with his Holy Spirit in many ways. Consider your reply and know that you are not mocking me and other people , but you are mocking the Lord.

God bless you in every way.

Chris Godwin....servent of Christ
^ TOP

Verses 27 -31 is not as it seems.

No good can come from hell.

This man was still selfish enough to protect himself against the ever lasting hatred of his brethran. He was not saving them to heaven, he was trying to avoid them coming to hell to add to his torment forever.

They would inflict more torment on him for him setting them on their path to hell, he was still thinking of self.

I repeat the first comment, "No good can come from hell."

Rob t
^ TOP

I can only Trust Jesus, to control me, because, when I obey Him, and sin no more (Ephesians-3-16) He srengthens me with might against sin and disobedience against Holy God, by His Spirit in my inner person!
With today's teaching, God gave His Holy Son, to die on a Cross, they He might understand your continued sin, and disobedience against Holy God, is not of God, but of the very devil!
Men, making themselves, the head over their churches, has lead many souls to Hell, in their justified continued sin against Holy God!
When Jesus is the Head to Rule over us, we HEAR His Words. When sinners came unto Him, and were forgiven their past sins, He also warned them, sin no more less a worse thing come upon you, The Judgment of God!
(Hebrews-10-26) For if we wilfully sin after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth (Christ) there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a Certain fearful looking for of JUDGMENT and fiery indignation which shall Devour the adversaries!
Religion that teaches God gave His Son, that He might understand, or justify man's continued sin, is not of God.
(29) Of how much more sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, (to cleanse us of sin) an unholy thing (justified continued sin) and has done DESPITE unt the Spirit of Grace! Having total denied the Power of His Spirit to conform sinful man like unto His Image!
Woe to all who have made the Holy Blood of Christ Jesus, and the Power of His Spirit, of no more power then of the blood of bulls and goats, that could no take away sin, because the blood of bulls and goats, could not change the evil conscience of man!
(Hebrews-10-2-6) God had no pleasure in blood that could not take away man's evil conscience then, nor does He now!! (Hebrews-10-7-22) Jesus came to do away with the old covenant, that could not take away sin, that He might Establish the New Covenant, that fallen man might be cleanse from all sin and disobedience against Holy God, from the inside-out, having His Laws written in our hearts and in our minds, giving us His Spirit that we can and we do, keep His Commandments, thereby we follow Christ, not after man doctrine!
God does not dwell in Building made with man's hands, (called church) for we are the Temple of God!
If one does not worship Him, obey Him, seven days a week, they need not waste their time, playing Church on Sunday!

^ TOP

Are you the same George Banagis that scetched "Athena"?

I have been looking for more from you for ages now. I clipped your drawing out of a magazine in 1990 when I was station @ Fort Bragg as a parachute rigger. Being a woman paratrooper, I could relate to Athena. Please send me a website or other where I can find more of your work.

And Thank You, for Athena.

Paula Wargo
^ TOP

God made a choice before the foundation of the world who He would give grace to and have mercy upon (Eph 1:4) (Rom 9:15). These are what Jesus is refering to as the wheat which He planted. The field is the world (For God so loved the world... God loves the work which He is doing here upon the earth).

The tares are those who God has blinded and deafened(Isaiah 6:10 prophecy) or hardened(Rom 9:18) or left, given up to their own selves. These are those who Jesus is refering to as them who were planted by the devil.

The reason that He dis-allowed the early harvest is because either everyone He had chosen had not been born yet to be saved or there are still those alive that had not yet been saved and forgiven their sins which would result in uprooting of those He had planted to thier own distruction.

No where is the reference that wheat became tares or that tares ever became wheat. These are two different distinct people.

In the end at His appointed time, God will send anges out to first harvest the tares and cast them into hell and then harvest the wheat into His barns, up into heaven.

The Kingdom of God represents the world from Genesis to the end of Revelation. This parable was spoken in God's view of man. God knows who are His sheep therefore the distinct mention of wheat and tares. From mans view, we don't know who are wheat and who are tares therefore "whosoever believeth(from our point of view) shall not perish but have everlasting life.
^ TOP

I can not agree that these sheep are the pharisees and the tax collectors because Jesus in John goes to great lengths to say that those sheep within HIS fold KNOW his voice...do those who are unrepentant KNOW jesus' voice? Is Jesus the door to their fold? I don't think so! As leigh points out...there is only 1 sinner realising he is lost? No I don't think so...and of course there is the question...where does Jesus take this lost sheep back to????? the fold? or some other place? what then would happen to the 99 sheep????????
^ TOP

I have already explained that the Greek for "everlasting habitations" did not clearly mean those in heaven. Let me explain most thoroughly.

The Greek word for "eternal" or "everlasting" is "aio^nios", accusative plural "aio^nious" in the text. It actually means "of or pertaining to an aio^n", an age. I hold that the age intended is this age because Jesus was not teaching about heaven near this passage. I conclude that the "everlasting dwellings" or "everlasting habitations", tents in Greek, must be dwellings owned by rich folk or companies of this world. What is everlasting about them is that they were built long before our resort to them and that they will be secure for us in times of persecution or financial failure. No bank could ever foreclose on them, no persecutor could find us there, and no persecutor could burn or bomb them down on account of our presence. They are to provide "everlasting" refuge for us in this life. They are not to be in Hell!

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg
^ TOP

Because Jesus told this parable (and had therefore not died yet), keep in mind that a person could not simply "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved-Acts 16:31. Jesus had not died yet. Sin's debt had not been paid "once and for all". This passage therefore does NOT show where a New Testament believer in Christ will go, but rather where Old Testament believers would temporarily exist. I say temporarily because both the rich man and Lazarus will one day stand before the Great White Throne where the book of life will be opened and THEN their FINAL destination will be decided; either eternity future with Christ on a "new heaven and a new earth", or in torment forever in the lake of fire. Remember that Abraham obeyed God and it was "accounted to him for righteousness". This parable gives us an insight to the waiting place of the Old Testament believer; not the New Testament. This is NOT a proof text for the Catholic view of limbo. This does NOT relate to a present-day Christian.
Looking at the parable, I find several interesting points:

(1) The rich man and Lazarus were in the SAME place. Yes they were separated by a "great gulf fixed", but they could see and recognize each other.

(2) Being able to see one another, we see that they must have had bodies that were visible to one another. The rich man could still see, speak (to God), and feel the pain of his torment.

(3) However, Although their physical senses are functional, they do not still have their physical bodies. Verse 22 is clear in explaining that the rich man's physical body was indeed buried!

What I have covered thus far is merely an introduction to this parable (only covering up to verse 24). The real meat of this story is in Abraham's warning in verse 25 and the importance of the spiritual rather than the temporary things of this world. To quote one of the humblest Christian poets of my generation:

"Who have I in heaven but you Jesus? What better could I hope to find down here on earth?" -Rich Mullins

I hope this has been helpful.
Myself your servant for Jesus' sake
-B.D. Means

^ TOP

I have read many different explanations for this group of parables in many commentaries and on many websites (including this one). It never ceases to amaze me how often we try to draw out of scripture our own viewpoints. In trying to interpret these parables certain guidelines of interpretation have been distorted, and ignored. In an attempt to draw out "our" viewpoints we often approach a passage bringing additional info that could corrupt and distort the actual meaning.
The following are some very basic guidelines to follow: 1) observe, observe, observe! Don't try to break everything down to the smallest component in such a way that you miss the main point but rather try to see the big picture and how the small components relate to it. 2) Start with the text you are looking at! We often want to take other passages and "bring" them into our study. This has it's place, but should be done later. 3) Setting and Context are essential, not optional! What is going on? Who is involved? What happens before? What happens after? Are there any "keys" within the text that give us any clues or insight? Are there any themes? 4) Try and draw out what is being said or taught! What is being stated or taught in the passage is more important then what I want it to mean. Write out the results of your study of the text. 5) Check and double check! Now you can go to other passages and compare. Ask: Is there any scripture or biblical principle that conflicts with or contradicts the results of the study? We often get hung up on this one. Word studies, and cross-referencing are great, but when we do this we must also understand the context of those words and passages as well ( YEAH MORE STUDY! ). It is improper to take something outside the passage studied (including other scripture) and use it to completely change it's meaning just because we can. There must be valid reasons for doing so (e.g. The reults conflict or contradict other scripture). If there is no valid reason then it is probably best to leave the results as they are if you have spent adequate time and effort studying ( reading through it a few times and then seeing what everyone else says is not adequate studying). Just because we are not sitting in a classroom doesn't mean we stop learning and should stop studying!! I believe that if we will take the time and put forth the effort, these parables are not as difficult and confusing as we are making them out to be! So enjoy the journey and adventure of studying God's Word, hiding it in your herats and allowing it to transform our hearts and lives for God's Glory!

P.S The majority view isn't always the right one!
^ TOP

Please send me a picture of a mustard tree/plant. I need it for church. Thanks, HEIDI
^ TOP

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.
^ TOP

To Lucius,

The Holy Spirit has caused me to consider the brother who stayed home with the Father. For years I thought the brother's indignation was justified. Jesus was speaking to the Pharasees when teaching this parable. So I must consider am I like the Pharasees? If I take the side of the brother who stayed home then I do not have a tender heart for the lost. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. If the brother cannot even love his brother and celebrate his return how can he love his neighbor.
^ TOP

This passage is offered as a comparison allegory to the coming of Christ. Christ came and gave us a great gift, through Grace, and then "went away on a long journey." Christ will come back. How have we responded to the freedom and power given to us through Jesus Christ? Have we cowered in fear or are actively living out God's will?


^ TOP

Thank you so much for the link. I have bookmarked it for further use. May God Bless you and keep you, may His light forever shine upon you!
sisterdee
^ TOP

Just because someone with riches who wishes to keep them dare insult a beggar as a thief does not imply that Jesus would consider the beggar to have even thought about stealing anything, as if it were a sin to ask. On the contrary, Jesus Christ taught His followers to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, expecting to receive, find, and benefit from opened doors! (Matt. 7:7, Greek )

The warning for dealing with such people is in Matt. 7:6. The Word of God is "sacred [stuff] to dogs" or "pearls [cast] before pigs" to any person who dare insult any beggar as a thief without awareness of any actual theft. Our warning from Christ is that these people might turn on us and tear us to pieces if we present the Word unwelcomely. What will happen in heaven in all cases of a Christian who has suffered for asking and been treated as a thief, the word "stealing" in the insult will fail to translate to the Hebrew root in "Thou shalt not steal" (Ex. 20); if the insult came from another believer, such a Christian shall be compelled to repent as a liar and a lover of money. Still, we must watch out in the here and now for pretended Christians who accept the world's definition of "stealing".

Legally, the crime of larceny, the legal name for simple theft, has been committed when someone has illegally deprived someone else of the use of his goods by taking something away without consent. The evil person who accuses someone making a material request of "stealing" has no charges whatsoever to press until the item is physically stolen. Still, if the evil person be a store manager or cashier, they can impose ejection and announce permanent unwelcomeness. That is not punishment for theft, but martyrdom for begging. Do not believe the evil claim that the beggar accused of stealing has stolen anything without a physically stolen item!

As for the Apostle Paul's command in Eph. 4:28, it applies only to genuine thieves. The command to work with one's hands does not take effect because a beggar got insulted as if he were a thief, but because a real theft was committed. Sometimes, as in 3 John 7, an utterly uncooperative mission field will force Christians to accept that there will be no help from the pagans and to work for all the money for ministry. Still, the command from our Lord Jesus the Messiah is to make friends with "the mammon of unrighteousness" so that the rich folk of this world might take care of us in times of trouble and might endow our congregations financially. Not all such friends, however, will. Yet if the rich folk of this world will take care of us in hard times or grant us wealth for our ministries, not only are we commanded by Christ to accept it, we are commanded to seek the ties that lead to it (Luke 16:9, KJV).

I will not defend sins of idleness or actual theft as a Christian. Great is the mercy of God! Will seeking the favour of rich folk would make us idle? I believe that shallow Christians might be made idle by oodles of money, yet firm believers will try to use such money to spread the Good News throughout the whole world! Instead of living in these Unites States where most unbelievers have heard and rejected our Gospel, we could go among such peoples as the Miao of China who have no testimony of Jesus Christ if we had plenty of wealth and did not have to live there as impoverished outsiders.

I hope never again to hear you later consider the moocher as stealing. The seeker of permission to take something has not stolen until the item is taken without consent. A supermarket grazer is a thief, but it is not really "stealing" to ask for something and be told, No. Jesus indeed commanded us to continue to ask, seek, and knock!

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

a martyr for continuing to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7 )

P. S. We ignore the meaning of one translated text alone in favor of interpretation because the original, fully inspired Scriptures were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Ancient Greek. They do not translate word for word into Modern English!

As for misguided, fleshly yet litteral interpretations of Scripture, consider the following three kinds of backslidden Christians:

(1 ) The evil servants in charge who run their churches in personal sin as if judgement were not coming upon them through humans on this earth (Matt. 24:45-51 ). (Ten Virgins comments)

(2 ) Those treated as mentally ill, caused to sin in idleness. The curse from Matthew 18:5-7 stalks somebody else for causing their habitual sins...

(3 ) Anybody who got persecuted among even one other believer and got called to flee but could not. Have sympathy for such people, as for me. My evangelist was persecuted as mentally ill, and I got persecuted within ten days of my conversion along with him for my "baby Christian" testimony among Hindus at the University of Illinois. We got called to flee together (Matt. 10:23 ), yet we had not read that passage yet. About ten weeks later, he withdrew from the U of I and fled to Texas without me. Without transportation, I could not ask his church for help. I had implored him to take me there to stay, but he would not. Still believing, still insisting that my calling was to remain to pursue my degree and eventually a PhD (?-- Matt 23:1ff ) in Chemistry (?-- Col. 2:8 ), he refused to take me unless I promised to return with his car that horrible day in December 1991. God knew that I was headed for deepening trouble at the U of I and that no church there was able to meet my needs.

The believer who has missed his missionary calling through failure to flee in the Modern English speaking culture deserves compassion. I had no one to ask to take me to Texas. My departed evangelist would not do his part to escape his brother's church in Arlington TX in order to seek another in neighbouring Dallas TX which might have shown me a welcome and my need to go out as a missionary rather than struggling to build a life of my own in these United States. No one should blame me for the failure of the churches of Urbana and Champaign to bring me in and lead me to the one which might have rebuked my career plan and led me out into the mission field.




^ TOP

The leaven in the parable of the kingdom of God (referring specifically to the reference in Matthew 13:33) is anything BUT a negative usage.
To propose that the leaven here represents corrupt doctrine or heresy infiltrating Christendom to bring about the end of the age can be little more than depressing extrapolation to fit the current dispensationalist paradigm.
The direct and clear meaning of this passage is at it reads:
The kingdom of God will continue to grow and increase until the earth is filled with it, as the abundance of scripture (old an new testaments) testify.
Presented together with the parable of the mustard seed (as Christ did), the parable shows a clear hope and view of the potency and tenacity of the gospel, able to withstand and grow in all conditions, and also to make the recipient of the gospel much greater than its' original sum (the person with Christ is exponentially more than one without).


^ TOP

I like what you wrote for the parable but I need something different for childrens church. Something the can understand. If you know of anything please let me know. Thanks for all you do in Christ name!

Mary Rogers
^ TOP

Peter

Brilliant. I think "Ron.." is such a good name for this enigmatic figure and your provenance could not be bettered!

I am only "visiting" this area as I was inquisitive to the name to use in a talk I am to give on the returning sons (and nowadays, daughters) following family disruption. I am sure it was no less of a problem in those days than now. I just wanted to use a name - and "Ron.." (WITH the dots - that adds so much) is perfect.

Thanks for your research.

regards

John

^ TOP

HI
i am doing this parable for a school essay

^ TOP

There is disagreement amongst commentators concerning the identity of the Ten Virgins. Most believe this parable points to Israel at the end of the tribulation anticipating the Messiah. Some believe it points to the church prior to the Rapture. Either way, the focus is on being prepared. The contrast is between the believer who is a possesser, and the unbeliever who is merely a professor. The oil pictures the Holy Spirit whom the true believer will have (Rom. 8:9). The symbol of the virgin pictures those without reproach, blameless. The foolish virgins are typical of those professing Christians whose outward life and conduct is unstained with iniquity (externalism). Their lamps are a symbol of their profession. They all slumbered and slept (pictures the indifference of this age). When the midnight cry is heard the foolish virgins cry, "Give us of your oil" (v.8), but this oil (salvation) cannot be borrowed; it must be bought of Him who alone can sell it (Rev. 3:18; Isa. 55:1). When the Bridegroom returns it is too late as the door is shut (entrance to the kingdom). The lesson for all of us here is that we must have a personal acquaintance (v.12) with the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a great difference between knowing about him and knowing him by having a personal born again experience of regeneration.
^ TOP

Did you mean to use the word "apposed" which means, "to put before; apply (one thing) to another; to place in juxtaposition or proximity?"
There are two kinds of leaven mentioned in the Bible. One is the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the other is the leaven of the Woman. The leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees is the leaven of which we should beware. The Pharisee’s leaven was/is sensuousness, self-righteousness, vanity and hypocrisy. If one wanted to compare that to "rot", I suppose one could say that sensuousness, self-righteousness, vanity and hypocrisy "rot" the moral character and moral fabric of individuals and countries but I think it has little to do with a Jewish kitchen. (I have seen a dirty Jewish kitchen. One of the jokes I've heard from my Jewish friends is that there is NO such thing as a Jewish kitchen, "we make reservations." Perhaps that's why they are generally neat and clean.) All "leavenity" aside, the leaven the woman hid in three measures of meal---in modes of human thought--- is a different kind of leaven, in that it is Truth. "Meal" in the Bible stands for healing. The Woman's leaven is NOT that of the hypocritical Pharisees but of God's Christ, Truth. This leaven of Truth is changing the whole of thought until the all of evil thought is changed into Truth. Woman plays a very important role in Biblical history. The golden thread of Truth and prophecy come through her from Old Testament times to the New, culminating in Mary giving birth to Jesus and the beautiful Woman in the Apocalypse clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars. She opposes the dragon and is the opposite of the wicked woman Jezebel and is finally given the wings of an eagle to fly away to her place and be nourished. Her babe that the dragon is so intent on destroying is Truth. The dragon, serpent, satin, devil (Rev 12:9) is the lie and the liar that Jesus said he was in John 8:44. A lie always tries to destroy the Truth, but never will or can. Truth ALWAYS destroys a lie.-----I think the point should be that everything is a matter of human interpretation and it seems to me that what is most important is to gain the SPIRITUAL import of the Scriptures of which there is only one. It is not mine or yours but God's, given to each of us in the quiet of silent prayer. I agree that word definitions are MOST important and useful in discovering the spiritual aspect of the Scriptures, but only to that end.-------Sometimes the analogies people make about very serious spiritual things, are worse than silly. They steer our thought away from contemplating the Word of God. I would much rather "be silent, and know that I am God" than listen to someone tell me about Jewish kitchens. You said you heard this from someone. I think I would steer clear of that someone.
^ TOP

I am teaching childeren ages 4 to 6 years at campmeeting and I would like to show them a picture of a mustard "tree". Do you still have the one with the little boy standing in front of such a tree? Thank You very much
^ TOP

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.. :-)
^ TOP

I think that we can overthink this....Is it truly the belief of the majority of Christians that you have to "believe" the right things and say the right things in order to be "saved"?
John the Baptist said the Kingdom was at hand...Jesus said the Kingdom is HERE. We need to live the examples set forth by Jesus...love our neighbor....and to have faith LIKE Jesus, not necessarily IN Jesus.
To say that a modern day Jew is not "saved" is neurotic and egocentric. Why do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God....Our Lord and Savior (both are words taught by the Augustinian Roman empire, not by God)...and that He died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins? Is it so that we get to go to Heaven? Or are we a bit deeper? Is it because we wish to live the love that Jesus taught and that we understand that Jesus died BECAUSE of our sins...not FOR them. Grace ceases to be grace once we place conditions on it.
^ TOP

reverend father,
i am a 4th year theology seminarian from st.mary's theologate i would like to secure a copy of your sermon on "good shepherd" for my homily guide regarding the same subject....tnx
^ TOP

You're right. Salvation is enough to be ready. And you can't lose your salvation. That's why they call it eternal life. If a person could lose it then it wouldn't be ETERNAL LIFE; it would be TEMPORARY LIFE.
Being ready means being truly saved and not just going through the motions. It means being born again by the spirit of God.
^ TOP

Try http://www.alsirhan.com/Plants_s/Salvadora_persica.htm (Salvadora persica is the Mustard Tree's scientific name) - you won't be able to read the page ;-) but the picture's superb!

God bless

Mike

Purbeck Vineyard, Wool, Dorset, UK
^ TOP

'Hitch (and others): Bighouse has pegged the kingdom parables of Matt. ch. 13. '
Following this logic the sum of the historical workings of the HS on earth is abject failure as the leaven affects the 'whole lump'. Of course this means that Christ's efforts at building the Temple of 'living stones' is also a failure, since all are of the 'leaven 'as well.
I dont recognize this puny Holy Spirit nor the weak defeated Christ you present. I do reconize the foul stench of a dead lawyer in the person of CI Scofield who was an originator of this doctrine that is 180 degrees opposed to Christ's teachings.
BTW gents, even Pentecost of DTS fame has reversed the failed official (read Scofield Bible) position on the parables specifically the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. I'll provide the quotes,before and after , if you like.
Take care
Hitch

^ TOP

Webmaster,
Yesssss! Love it! Like we're all trying to get into that BAD heaven. I used to call that hell!

The operative word is LOGICAL.

If the kingdom of heaven is BAD as Bighouse5 is implying by his statements (if we LOGICALLY state them for him), then what about the BAD heaven that was a BAD man seeking BAD pearls? Matt 13:45 The BAD man that sowed BAD seed so that the really BAD tares could make it worse? Matt 13:24 The BAD Word coming from the BAD kingdom? I don't think that God's Word is BAD! Matt 13:19 The BAD mustard seed of the BAD woman whose BAD branches hide all those BAD birds? Matt 13:31, How about the good seeds of the BAD kingdom? Matt 13:38, The BAD treasure in a field? Who wants to search for a BAD treasure? Matt 13:44 The BAD net gathering all those good and BAD fishes so that the good can be separated forever from the BAD? Matt 13:47

This negativity lacks inspiration. Inspiration is uplifting and GOOD.

No, you're not confused or missing something, Webmaster. Bighouse5 has missed the point and hasn't logically thought this through. You're a scholar and a gentle man. YOU understand.


^ TOP

Just like all these other folks, I would love to see a picture if you could possible email it to me. Thanks.
Karen
^ TOP

The “secret” (Death of the seed)

In the parable of the leaven and the dough, Jesus uses the reaction between the two as an example of how fruit production is brought forth by the believer. A woman “hid” yeast in a ball of dough and soon a mystical story was told. What was that story? Somebody had done something that caused a mystical, noticeable change. The idea is that you could see the results.

Bear in mind that this analogy is linked to the idea of sowing and reaping by virtue of that very idea being found in Mark chapter four where Jesus in his doctrine is talking about seeds and ground, and candles under bushels.

Luke 12
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.

Can you see how that this scripture ties the leaven and the dough parable with Mark chapter four? Leaven (hypocrisy) was hidden in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees much like yeast in dough. The subsequent results are covered in terminology that’s very similar to Mark chapter four.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Marks account says “for there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest, neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad”.

What’s Jesus saying?

Hypocrisy was played out in them in living color. It’s like a radio station playing music in the background. Everybody could hear the music on a subconscious level but they-the scribes and Pharisees-were too sly to ever get caught out in the open. And yet they were outed. Everybody KNEW that they were hypocrites. Though, nobody ever said anything about it due to fear. They couldn’t help but to manifest the contents of their hearts in the presence of people. Truly their lights were shinning. BUT SHINNING WHAT? Hypocrisy. Jesus said “take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”…

Ok, enough with all of the metaphoric talk. Why would this be? What is the underlying principle at work here that makes this all work? Allow me to share with you what I think is at play here. I think that if you see it in a certain light then the light will be turned on indeed, and the idea of “secrecy” and “hiddenness” or as one person called it “crypticness” will be dispelled.

Look at these synonymous terms used by Jesus that seem to be the catalyst or activator of what is a work here.

Hid
Concealed
Kept secret
Covered
Planted
BURIED

Did you notice the last one? BURIED? Does that get you thinking?

I once noticed when looking at these words in a concordance, the similarity between these words and DEATH or the dying process. Why death? For instance the expression “nothing kept secret”. Do you know what the meaning of the word secret is (found in this context)? It comes from the word for CRYPT, a cellar. As in tomb, burying place, vault, secret chamber for housing something that is dead. But it’s a “secret” place.

All right, what does that have to do with anything?

Do you remember doubting Thomas? Did you know that he too wrote a gospel? Now, I’m not either endorsing or pooh-poohing it, he was one of the twelve, and he was there in the upper room when the Holy Spirit was given, but I’d probably choose the latter (dude really was backwards). But get this. He said:

“THERE IS NOTHING BURIED THAT WILL NOT BE RAISED”.

WOW, I think that’s a bombshell. That confirms what is really being said.

But still how does that apply to us?

Jesus said:

John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Paul said:

1 Corinthians 15:36
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

A lot of Christians are TRYING to get things to come to pass in their lives. THAT’S WHERE WE ARE GOING WRONG! Can you see that when we pray for something and receive the word of his promise, that we must allow it to DIE?

To me that means that I have to resign to the fact that it’s is impossible for me to bring it to pass. I must cast the care of it over on God. I must enter into the rest that Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 refer to. We must “cease from our own works as God did from his”. And it’s a PERCEPTION. If you perceive that you have to do something on your part other then praying and invoking God, than your perception is one of working and not of resting I.E. Dying to the works of the flesh, as we’re supposed to do. Subsequently, the seed never dies, and we are locked in a state of forever barren.

Now look at the idea of “hiding” something. A person who is hiding something IS NOT TRYING TO GET IT TO COME TO PASS. A person who is “keeping something secret” (within his heart) is not TRYING to reveal it.

With the idea of the death of the seed in mind we can see that the idea of “hiding” or “covering” something up isn’t a tongue in cheek expression. It’s not any kind of reverse psychology. It’s literally dropping that thing into the hands of God and leaving it with him.

Look at the two examples given in scripture that support this idea of killing the seed for the sake of invoking growth.

Abraham’s son Isaac was around twenty years old when God ordered him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Why on earth would God demand such a thing? Abraham was so faithful and diligent to believe God for this miracle child and yet God demanded that he offer him as a sacrifice? I submit that there is magic when a person resigns to something being impossible to them. Some will say “but with God all things are possible”. Yes but the idea of killing something in order for it to grow is Gods idea. Is it not found in nature? Is it not found all around us? Everything that we see in the botanical kingdom has come forth from a seed that died and was buried. And yet this idea of the death of something is not found in our understanding of faith.

The other example is that of Jesus. He lived a perfect life as the “Word” of God and yet he deemed it necessary to play out the death of the seed scenario so that we could be the fruit of his faith. Notice where he leaves the earth-in the tomb. Some will say “but he was raised from the dead”. Yes I believe that too. However, it requires faith to believe that. The only ones who ever saw Jesus thereafter were the true believers.

Might identifying with Jesus’ life, place us in the tomb right along with him? He died fOR us you know.

The beautiful thing about it is how we can go on a journey with the son of God and be dropped off right along with him in his burial chamber (secret place). We can become “hidden” in him. But remember “there is nothing hid that will not be manifest”. “There is nothing buried that will not be raised”. Can you see how that all of the teachings of the kingdom have overtones to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus? All of this and we don’t even have to literally die!

Let me put this in common vernacular without using kingdom terms.

Jesus in his sinless life was in communication with the father all of his life. Jesus by the spirit of wisdom considered the seed. He noticed that when it dies and is covered by soil, it invokes a mystical response from the spirit of resurrection. Mother Nature-so to speak, monitors all seeds that die, are carried by the wind and deposited in the earth. In sequence he goes to work to raise it from the dead.

GOD ALMIGHTY, MOTHER NATURE, THE SPIRIT OF RESSURECTION IS A LOVE SLAVE TO SOMETHING THAT IS DEAD AND BURIED. HE CAN’T RESIST RAISING IT TO LIFE!

But get this. The thing that makes a seed grow is the fact that it’s a recipient of a promise given to it in Genesis. That promise being, “when you are dead and buried, I will raise you up” (my paraphrasing). BUT IT’S THE WORD OF HIS PROMISE THAT’S BEING PERFORMED.

Jesus knew that you don’t need a piece of cellulosic material to invoke a response from the spirit of Mother Nature (resurrection life). In other words you can dupe the spirit of eternal life to raise you up if you will but mimic a seed that’s dead and buried.

Can you see how it’s a miracle when a seed which has been in a pyramid for thousands of years is planted, and yet springs to life? IT’S IMPOSSIBLE THAT THAT HAPPENED! And yet it does everyday! A seed is an impossibility made possible.

MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY! But you must know how to illicit a response from this mystical being-the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

Now, the idea of being baptized into his death makes sense:) (Big smile).

Romans chapter 6 says:
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Does that sound familiar?

5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Can you see it? In Christ we are planted in the earth with him. We are mimicking the idea of a planted seed. Then, as supernaturally as a seed is moved upon by the spirit of Mother Nature-GOD, and raised from the dead, WE ARE TOO!

Somebody might say “yeah, but I’ve done all of that and God still leaves me in the cesspool”.

Have you hid your candle?

WHAT?

Jesus said in Mark chapter 4:

21And 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?
22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.


Have you proactively RESISTED works of the flesh? Strivings? Busy work? “Acting your faith” (as holy as this sounds it’s not scriptural, all that it is, is carrying the care. The one scripture that refers to the actions of faith refers to helping a hungry indigent person vs. saying “be thou clothed and fed”. Give em some money!). Have you become the candle hidden under the bushel basket of the enclosed prayer closet? Notice that Jesus said bed. “Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a BED”? Why, a bed?

A BED IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REST ON. YOU REST ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE HIDDEN CANDLE, HENCE CANDLE UNDER A BED. It all takes place in the darkness of your bedroom-that’s what was in Jesus’ mind when he spoke these things. Then, you rest in humbleness I.E. DYING to attempts to bring it to pass. If you pray for financial help, don’t go out and buy a lottery ticket because God is so stupid that he needs your help. Do you get it?

When you pray for the Holy Spirit, resist this garbage “take one word and go with it” that's just you. You’re not even allowing your faith to grow. Trust me when the time of harvest comes you’ll know it. The Holy Spirit will "MANIFEST".

David said “he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty”. Do you want to abide there too? Then learn the secret of hiding your candle. God is well able to remove the bushel and call you out into the light and that’s what we’re looking for:)

God Bless and “tell no man”.

^ TOP

what is the significance of the two silver coins when the good samaritan gives them to the man in the inn?
^ TOP

"So we learn that there is rejoicing in heaven over every sinner who repents; but those who are faithful and transgress not any of the commandments, shall inherit 'all that the Father hath,' while those who might be sons, but thought their 'riotous living' waste their inheritance, may come back through their repentance to salvation to be servants, not to inherit exaltation as sons.
"The wonderful story of the prodigal son has been misinterpreted almost universally. How frequently is the statement made from sectarian pulpits that because this younger son transgressed and committed all manner of sin and then repented, he was better off than his older brother who did not sin. By many the real lesson in this parable is lost. The younger son asked for his inheritance and received it. He went out and spent it in the vilest wickedness. When his substance was gone, he was forced by physical suffering and degradation to repent. Had his substance held out longer, he would have sinned that much more. It is needless to repeat all the circumstances of this story. It is sufficient to say that when he returned his father received him, but did not promise to reinstate him in the fullness of the inheritance; this is apparent in the answer made to the obedient son: 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine'." (The Way to Perfection, p21)

^ TOP

I need a picture of the mustard tree for Bible Study on mustard seed faith.
^ TOP

My youth preacher once explained this parable to me. This is a summary of what he told me:....................The one who build his house on the rock was the one who trusted Jesus with his salvation. And the man who build his house on the sand was one who thought he could use good works to get into heaven. Those who have faith in Christ will be carried through the storm, and those who try to build their foundation on sand (just good works) need to get themselves the rock (Jesus)

^ TOP

Just a Question:

Is there a case that can be made for the elder brother who stayed home?

Not a lot of sermons on him.

Thanks.
^ TOP

i want every body to change and go back to GOD almighty.i am nigeria living in wiss
^ TOP

Robert, don't forget to read the first part of Luke 10:27. Loving your neighbor isn't sufficient to "inherit eternal life."
^ TOP

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.

^ TOP

Sir,

If you would like a picture of an aged mustard tree, I can email the jpg to you.

Regards,
Deborah
^ TOP

A case can be made for the elder brother who stayed home. His father says that "all that I have is yours". He doesn't say "all I have less what is your younger brother's". In other words, even though he rejoiced when
the younger brother returned home, he still gave the remainder of his
inheritance to the son who never strayed. The prodigal son got nothing
but the party thrown for him.

It is this way in life. God rejoices when sinners return to the fold, but the greater gifts go to those who never strayed in the first place.
^ TOP

I agree with u about the lack of teaching on elder brother.
I think the teaching mostly about him is with totaly and utterly disguest
I too can identify with elder brother. I think great point is that Jesus was addressing differnent groups, and they all need to know the father better

I am glad that the issue with elder brother was brought up. i feel a release in my heart and spirit that someone else feel like they are the
prodigal son's elder brother.

God is revealing to the Pharissee(church folks) the Elder Brother
The righteous folks, the "Good People" Who work and mission for
God, sing on the Choir, Leaders,Missionary, etc. That your righteous is as filty rag, no not one is good, a man ways my seem right in his eyes but in the end lead to destruction. I beleive he was sending a flashing sign
WARNING!! WARNING!!! TURN RIGHT. WRONG DIRECTION
God children, cant earn there place by work, we are justified
As James says Faith without works is dead....Show me your faith by your works... but dont get it confuse or twisted or preverted that your Works prove you have faith but instead your faith shows by you working, and not you working shows you faith. Faith, love are first......
YEILD SLOW DOWN DANGER HEAD
ELDER BROTHER WORK HARD, AND FAITHFUL THERE PHYSICAL BUT
NOT THERE WITH ALL HIS HEART OR FAITH WHEN THE YOUNG BROTHER
LEAVE HOME, THE ELDER BROTHER LEFT TO NOT PHYSICAL BUt SPIRITUALLY IN HIS HEART HE DESIRE TO HAVE FUN.. DO THINGS OF THE WORLD HE DOUBT HIS FATHER LOVE, HIS FATHER RULES. LAWS,
HE DOUBTED AND QUESTION HIS FATHER IN HIS HEART.

Out of the ABUNDANCE of the HEART the MOUTH SPEAKETH.
Guard your HEART b/c OUT of IT COMES the ISSUE of LIFE
When the elder brother says(paraphrase- what i think he really say)
What is going on. My work has been in vain, i did all these things to
please my father so i could get Pleased. so i could have Joy....
I did not do,keep his commandments work b/c i love him with all my heart, yeah i do love him, but i love myself more(ABUNDANCE) THERE
IS THE ISSUE BEING EXPOSE OR REVEAL..... THE BABY BROTHER YOUNG AND WILD REBILLOUS SIN COULD EASILY BE SEEN AND DETECTED BUT THE SIN HIDDEN IN ELDER BROTHER HEART HAD TO BE
REVEAL IN HIS WORDS....HOW CAN U SAY U LOVE GOD YOUR FATHER
AND YET HATE YOUR BROTHER WHO YOU SEE EVERYDAY... YOU ARE LIAR....

God has been dealing with me on this issue with other parables, such foolish virgins, the rich young ruler...God wants you and me to not be
decived in thinking we are better or higher than others, we all are works in process, we must be forgiving and not like the man who was forgiven for his great debt, but would not forgive his brother for the same thing owing a debt he could not pay..

They are brothers, we are brothers and sister why b/c we all have
something in common.
Both brothers commit the same crime or broke the law of:
Love God with ALL your HEART, MIND and Soul
so in God the Father eyesight they both need to repent, turn themselves in for their crimes
God, the Father shows his mercy on the son who was outwardly rebillious
should be an encouragement not resentment to us who are inwardly rebillious, that God accepts both of his kids, no matter what, he wants and desire to bless them, love them, and have a relationship with them
he wants both of them to come to him with their emotions there feelings
desire, tell him how they really feel..... he told the elder brother all this things he was having a ISSUE ABOUT NOT HAVING THIS AND THAT
HE COULD HAVE HAD, YOU HAVE NOT B/C YOU ASK NOT.....GOD IS REWARDER TO THOSE WHO LOOK FOR HIM HE IS NEAR....SPEAK TO HIM
^ TOP

i used this site , thanks alot for your preaching and to that kid , id have to say it is true +++_
^ TOP

the parable has so many lessons and each of us will take a different lesson away from it.

both sons thought they knew better than the father and were both proven wrong. the father knows what we don't and we need to respect that.

i'd like to draw attention to some of the verses:
(12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. (the younger son); and (29) ... And yet thou never gavest me (a kid), that I might make merry with my friends (the older son).

notice: both sons asked for the same thing.

the difference follows: when the younger son sinned he sinned. then when he repented he repented. his dirt was dirty and his clean was clean (because his father forgave him without malice). the older son had the same sinful inclination but lacked the nerve to follow through. with the older son, his dirt and his clean were almost identical; not quite dirty enough to be sinful, but not spotless enough to be righteous. his righteousness changed depending on how much you knew about him. there isn't a right son/wrong son debate. to me, one son was wrong in public where his sin was exposed and corrected, and the other was wrong in private where his sin was well hidden but the father knew it all along and corrected him also.

the younger son and older son alike were also selfishly demanding. it wasn't until the younger son lost all that he learned to pray. furthermore, the younger son learned to be decisive, to stand and account for his actions (in v18 and 19). the older son never did but instead resorted to excuses (v29) and blame (v30). he stayed selfish to the very end.

only one son repented and only he was happy to be in the mansion. how many of us who have been saved too long will enjoy being in heaven? i'm sure some of us 'older son' believers will complain when we see streets of gold and whine because they're not streets of platinum. surely god owes us some platinum after we've served him all these years, doesn't he? i won't even mention what we'll say about some of the other 'younger son' believers we scorn as 'unsaveable' who arrive in heaven before we do. the devil himself would be ashamed to utter such backbiting and cursing.

now i'd like to contrast the sons' demands with the father's actions:
(22) ... Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry (to his younger son); and (31) ... All that I have is thine (to his older son).

bring the fatted calf! all that i have is yours! could either son say the same thing to their father? this shows the error of both their ways. the first couldn't say this because he had nothing. the second couldn't say this because he was selfish. neither son could be generous to their father because they were dependent on what he gave them. neither one was an earner. both failed to learn the lesson of wealth-building their father taught them daily with his words and actions. if you can't learn to be wealthy from a tycoon, who will teach you to be wealthy. if you can't learn to be generous from one who can afford generosity, who will you learn it from. these are important lessons neither son learned. again, it's not about which son was 'better' off. both missed the mark.

and now, let's contrast the story with the storyteller.

jesus himself was a son who inherited his father's great wealth. he's also a son who left home, so he did what both sons did. unlike the other sons, jesus increased his father's wealth and returned home to unselfishly share with his father. he didn't sqander his returns like the younger son or try to angle his way to his father's portion of the family money like the older one. jesus didn't try to cut his father out of the picture like the other sons. his father was ever foremost in his mind. jesus didn't divide his wealth from his father; he multiplied it unto his father.

so often we read this parable and we wonder which son we're like. instead, we are free to look to the storyteller for the best example.
^ TOP

Dear Sir" I Would like to get a copy of your sermon about the good shepher. In august I requeste one time, so far I did not get it. I am a foreign student in OU.
^ TOP

You all have very valid points,but are you willing to bet eternity on he said she said?I have a suggestion;get in a word church that teaches the uncompromised word of God.Also,study the word, and get to really know who God is,get to know his chracter.Then,I believe most of your comments will change and line up with the word of God.If the things you believe are opposite of the word,seek God,and his word.God loves you and he wants you to understand his word.Bible=basic instuctions before leaving earth.So read the instuctions carefully before you try to put it together.There is only 1 God,1 truth,and 1 way!
^ TOP

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
^ TOP