I'm wondering about this connection - the "prodigal" son has a life issue - ADHD. Anyone who has lived in a family where one child has this life issue and another doesn't understands perfectly well the distress of the elder son on the return and celebration for the younger. The non-affected child, in many ADHD living situations, takes back seat to the behavior and emotions of the affected child as the parents spend most/all of their parental energy working with the affected child to maintain some sort of stability in the home and between the family members. The non-affected child does not KNOW that he is welcome to all the parents/father have as most of the family resources go to maintain the issued child.
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I hope that it is possible to assist me
I have a Bible Study on
St. John 4:35 - The Ripe Harvest;
James 3:18 - The Plenteous Harvest;
Luke 10:2 - The Righteous Harvest.

I urgently need information please help me
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Denny,

I really enjoy your musings. I tend to agree with you about most of what you say. I think that makes you a very wise person - in my estimation :)

Humility is not groveling in the dust, calling God a liar. The apostle Paul called that "false humility". True humility is when we agree that God's view and opinion is reality. True humility is when we agree with God who says we are righteous. We WERE sinners but not now.

The parable of the "unprofitable servant", (Luke 17) when taken out of context might, at first blush, seem to be telling us to work hard for God and not expect any words of thanks. But Jesus had just finished telling of the great power that is available to us if we would just believe it. "Lord, increase our faith", prayed the apostles.

If I'm commanding sycamine trees to be uprooted and planted in the sea, then such power might go to my head, don't you think? Jesus warned us to do these great works of God and keep in mind that He is the source of our power.

Far from trying to connect people with a sense of inadequacy, Jesus parable is a warning NOT to let all this power go to our heads. Jesus has all power in heaven and earth and if we are in Him, so do we. If Jesus can walk on water then so can I. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me. If Jesus can heal the sick then so can I. If Jesus can raise the dead, so can I. "I can do all things", the apostle said, "through Christ which strengeneth me".

Do all things, small and great and remember always to give God the glory. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6) By acknowledging God in all that we do, He keeps us on the strait and narrow. That's a promise I can use.

And the scripture was fulfilled which said, "And Rob and Denny believed God and it was credited to them for righteousness."

God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Rest in the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.

Your brother,
Rob

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i am no bible scholar or a person of great intelligence, but the other day i was figuring it to be in 2008 also , its funny how i came accross your message, but again the bible says no one knows the appointed time that the lord shall return but he dose give us clues to follow and gives us warning. amen amen
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cornell
I dont have the scriptures.. but the way i understand it is ...
There is repentance and blasphemy of the holy spirit.. i am not to clear on it either.. but here is what i do know

When we sin, if we confess our sins and turn God will forgive us.
Sin could be murder, murders,stealing, hate lust, lying, gossiping

Blasphemy as i understand it, not quite sure is when a person totally reject God , they have been given over to reprobate mind, they have
completly sold out and have no desire to come back home to God the Father

God knows the diffenence and he is not confuse when someone has completely rejected and refuse his Love, Him, His Son, His Spirit, His ways...

a story, testimony i love in the bible, is saul that perscuted, killed christians, one day on the road to Damascus was stop in his tracks
turn around repent of his evil ways was forgiven and greatly use by the same God, the same Jesus he tried to kill, and destroy his name and his people.....What a great testimony....God loves it when we turn, he is not a tricky God is not trying to trick us, sometimes the enemy tries to trick us into thinking i have gone to far God will never accept me now, look how i reject him,look at all those time he spoke to me, warn me and i walked away, rejected him and would not listen, will he listen to me now.... this is want the prodigal son parable son 's essence of the message is he will accept you, love you, bless you, if you come back home, return, repent confess, Lord, Father God i have sin against you
i have rejected you,i have(you fill in the blanks)
i want to come back home
i believe in You Father God, I believe in Your Son Jesus that he died for my sins, and that he arose on third day, and now i am made free by
The Blood of Jesus, and i ask for you The Holy Spirit to come into my heart and live inside of me,
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i dnt agree with ur points...... they are well thought of but not agreeable... how could you question the bible?

only in heaven will we find the answers for such questions so why waste energy that you could use to praise GOOOOOOD now!!!

think about this....
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Dear Mary, was just surfing for info and noticed your message. I have taught children's church for 7 years both in finland and Canda. Speaking of the parables, I have found an excellent teaching material. ( you may have heard of this already, since this message of yours have been here for almost a year now, thought I'd still leave you a note)
The material is called "the Parables of Christ" and it is published by CEF Press, located in Warrenton, MO. this material has 12 lessons which can be divivded into two- thus giving 24 lessions if you so choose. I have used one lesson per church. and have used this material for the entire year- twice already.
hope tihs helps you and may God bless your ministry with the children!!!
In Him, aura
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the moral is that it doesnt matter what race you come from even if its your worst emey you should help some one in need. the preiest walked by and the levite because it was known as unclean to touch some one wounded or dead. the good samaratin didnt care and still helped. thats the moaral :D
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No. They wer bridesmaids. Read about Eastern marriage customs.
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Not much is said about what the prodigal son LOST in the process of riotous living. He was restored to his father but the son who was faithful retained more than what the prodigal did. Remember, sin always take sus farther than we planned on going, it keeps us longer than we planned on staying, and it costs us more that we planned on paying.

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

That was really good! I’m all ears.

A good example that would support what you’re saying would be the fact that Jesus said in Mark chapter Four “the earth brings forth fruit of herself”.

The earth is the human heart (our own). Jesus also said “things spoken in darkness will be heard in the light” and scripture supports that it’s your own spirit that’s radiating it outward-like a ball of dough manifesting yeast or becoming leavened (YOU CAN SEE IT!). And yet Jesus said “your HEAVENLY FATHER will reward you openly”.

Jesus taught that the human spirit acts as a candle or a light. I call it the overhead projector that projects things onto the canvas of our lives. But you’ve picked up on the fact that there’s a mystical parallel between the human heart and our heavenly father. Someone might be tempted to conclude that WE are GOD, but no I think the real meaning is that we were designed to be a type of mirror that reflects the glory of God (a chandelier?). God has sent the light of his word into the world and for those who allow it to “dwell in them richly”, that light will hit that inner mirror and be refracted into the world around us. Hence God uses this refracting property of mans heart as his M.O.

So, then the question is, just who is this unjust judge? FYI, I’m not saying that God is the unjust judge. What I was saying is that if this small, worldly insignificant woman can instill such torment into the heart of a human of great worldly stature through the use of this idea (it’s the idea of faith found in the new testament), then HOW MUCH MORE can we get results from one who is NOT proactively resisting us.

Both the man who came for bread at midnight and the widow came boldly DEMANDING that their petition be granted. Notice it had nothing to do with friendship, worldly status, or lack thereof; it had to do with BRAZENESS. That’s the word that comes closest to the real meaning of the word that was translated “importunity”. The real meaning of the word is WITHOUT BASHFULNESS. It’s the same idea found in the parable of the widow and unjust judge.

OK, but how about your point that we’re really in a sense praying to our own spirit and our own spirit is the putrid judge? Frankly I agree with you on that. But the question arises; do we need to go that far into the interpretation of this parable to reach some kind of understanding of it? Well your thinking is good! But I just don’t know if Jesus intended for us to analyze this analogy to that degree. But then that’s what we always say.

All that I can say right now is that I’ll have to look into that. I heard what you said and will take it seriously. But I like the way that you attempted to keep the underlying parallels of the kingdom in tacked when breaking this down.

Right now I think it’s merely an example of holy boldness and the refusal to capitulate upon the promises that we’ve received from God. It would also underscore the fact that prayer is based on covenant rights not wishy washy gravelling or begging as though were dogs under the table. HEY, didn’t Jesus say something similar to a woman who he ended the conversation with GREAT IS YOUR FAITH?

Rob keep up the good work. You’re an inspiration! And I’ll continue to look at it in the light that you’ve laid down.

God bless:)

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This may not be a popular interpretation, but from the parable itself it is hard to conclude too much more than this being about God and His activity in growing the 'seed.' It is tempting to allegorize this (i.e. say that JC is the farmer), and it is tempting to say its about our 'producing fruit' or 'miracles.' Although scripture talks about this, this particular parable does not. The point...and I think this is very good news...is that God does the growing. He is the one able to do the unthinkable; grow His word in the midst of a sinful world. For this I am thankful, and don't take this as a license to be lazy, but an invitation to be faithful to the great grower.
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i want to know to. A couple of weeks ago i saw a film about Barabas, where he eventually became a christian but it took him ages and he mucked up alot along the way. The facts fit. the times, but i want to know if its true, because if it was it would be cool. ive always felt that there was something of Barabas' story we werent hearing. I always felt like he should have changed. I hope some one can prove that right.
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the parable of 10 virgins,( we as christain we have to be ready for the comeing of christ. some will be ready and some wont be ready.jesus are the bridgrome, we are the brids, oil are salvation. stay in christ untill jesus come
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This is one of any number of "Odd God" stories meant to overturn our notion of how God works and how we are to relate to one another. The younger son in effect tells his father to 'drop dead' or at least recognize that he is so senile, it is time for his sons to take over. The Father does what is most undignified for a semite, 'runs' out to meet his son. This Father, like our heavenly Father forsakes all dignity demonstrates the initiative to embrace us with love. Then all that is asked of us is what is asked of the older brother, that we in turn embrace one another.

I take exception to the persistent suggestion that the younger son has committed the most vile of sins. A consistent reading of the Gospels shows almost scandalously easy forgiveness for those who have committed sins of weakness and momentary lapses. Jesus reserves his strong condemnation for those who misuse power and authority, take advantage of the helpless, scorn those in need, or stand in the way of his mission. This provides a key to understanding the older brother whose sin of self-righteous comes dangerously close to the later category.
Dave Rogerson
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Hi there,
I just stumbled upon this website while researching the Mustard Seed and faith, and am wondering if you recieved that picture you wrote of and if you wouldn't mind emailing it to me? I am hoping to use it at a teacher training. Thanks for your time and God Bless!!!!!!
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The evil one spoken of in the beggining
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"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)

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1. why is this parable only recorded by luke?
2. Why is there no mother in the story?
3. Could this parable refer to the story of Jacob in Genesis? There seem to be many parallels.
4. Many of us do what the prodigal son did--leave home and misuse our inheritance. I know of many cases. But was the son completely restored to his former priveledged position after he came home, or was he treated as a guest?
5. It seems unfair that the older son was never given a party--but God is a God of justice--there seems to be a contradiction between the justice of God and the mercy of God.
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thats it, brother
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What's the difference between a Pharisee and a Sadducee? Is it true that the Pharisees were based in the synagoges while the Sadducees were based in the Temple? What kind of "traditions" did the Pharisees adhere to? Why were they perceived to be so rigid?
I was told that the Publicans at the time of Christ were Jews themselves who collected taxes from their own people and got as much as possible because they were paid on commission. I was also told they were paid not in currency but in goods. Is this the case? Can you tell me more about the Publicans at the time of Christ.

Thanks
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I'm writing to you because visiting your site I saw pictures of the mustard tree. I have a group of children that I will be speaking of the mustard seed parable and would very much like to show them a picture of the mustard tree.
Could you send me one?
I would really appreciate that
God Bless you.
Claudia
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I was saved on Jun, 22. of this year. I felt the holyspirit come over me and through me, I felt so alive and clean. I was rejoycing!! It has been a month and a half now. and for some reason I have become, not interested in reading the bible..I feel losted. At first I read it. but not now. I have to keep fighting to get it back. Meaning I still and will always have it. But it seems I some how have given it back to God without knowing it. Although this I have been possessed, and if you think a saved christian can not be possessed? YOU ARE WRONG! Because one has to be saved in order to cast the demons out. But anyway...

losing your salvation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Samantha on Monday, March 24 2003

Fred what did you mean by yet he was saved yet so as by fire. I don't understand what you are saying here?

what does this mean??


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the smallest seed;becomes the largest tree.
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My conscience simply will not let me solicit the friendship of someone (saved or unsaved) just to realize some financial gain for myself or the ministry. The thought of it is completely contrary to what God has been teaching me about what reaching out in true love really is. I can't think of a more selfish way to use somebody.

Partiality and favortism is at the very heart of our sinful nature--entertaining people for whatever benefit they can provide. That is precisely the 'old man' I want to see crucified.

Thank God that He (God) did not do that to me, leaving me an example to follow. Just when I had nothing to offer Him, He saved me:

"...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS..." (Ephesians 2:4)

"You see, at just the right time, when we WERE STILL POWERLESS, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)

One of my favorite scriptures that almost always causes me to well up in tears is Luke 14:12-14 (THIS is the very heart of God!)

"...When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, OR YOUR RICH NEIGHBORS; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, INVITE THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE LAME, THE BLIND, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, YOU WILL BE REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS."

God, create in me THIS kind of love that you might be glorified and my joy will be complete.

"...the ONLY thing that counts is faith EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE." (Galatians 5:6)
















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Thanks for the insights - they help in sermon prep. I've been reading what Dr. Martin Luther King said:
ON BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Martin Luther King
And who is my neighbour?
Luke 10: 29

I SHOULD LIKE to talk with you about a good man, whose exemplary life will always be a flashing light to plague the dozing conscience of mankind. His goodness was not found in a passive commitment to a particular creed, but in his active participation in a life saving deed; not in a moral pilgrimage that reached its destination point, but in the love ethic by which he journeyed life's highway. He was good because he was a good neighbor.
The ethical concern of this man is expressed in a magnificent little story, which begins with a theological discussion on the meaning of eternal life and concludes in a concrete expression of compassion on a dangerous road. Jesus is asked a question by a man who had been trained in the details of Jewish law: "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life." The retort is prompt: "What is written in the law? How readest thou?" After a moment the lawyer recites articulately: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." Then comes the decisive word from Jesus: "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."
The lawyer was chagrined. "Why," the people might ask, "would an expert in law raise a question that even the novice can answer?" Desiring to justify himself and to show that Jesus' reply was far from conclusive, the lawyer asks, "And who is my neighbour?" The lawyer was now taking up the cudgels of debate that might have turned the conversation into an abstract theological discussion. But Jesus, determined not to be caught in the "paralysis of analysis," pulls the question from mid air and places it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho.
He told the story of "a certain man" who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him, and, departing, left him half dead. By chance a certain priest appeared, but he passed by on the other side, and later a Levite also passed by. Finally, a certain Samaritan, a half-breed from a people with whom the Jews had no dealings, appeared. When he saw the wounded man, he was moved with compassion, administered first aid, placed him on his beast, "and brought him to an inn, and took care of him."
Who is my neighbor? "I do not know his name," says Jesus in essence. "He is anyone toward whom you are neighborly. He is anyone who lies in need at life's roadside. He is neither Jew nor Gentile; he is neither Russian nor American; he is neither Negro nor white. He is 'a certain man' any needy man on one of the numerous Jericho roads of life." So Jesus defines a neighbor, not in a theological definition, but in a life situation.
What constituted the goodness of the good Samaritan? Why will he always be an inspiring paragon of neighborly virtue? It seems to me that this man's goodness may be described in one word altruism. The good Samaritan was altruistic to the core. What is altruism? The dictionary defines altruism as "regard for, and devotion to, the interest of others." The Samaritan was good because he made concern for others the first law of his life.
The Samaritan had the capacity for a universal altruism. He had a piercing insight into that which is beyond the eternal accidents of race, religion, and nationality. One of the great tragedies of man’s, long trek along the highway of history has been the limiting of neighborly concern to tribe, race, class, or nation. The God of early Old Testament days was a tribal god and the ethic was tribal. "Thou shalt not kill" meant "'Thou shalt not kill a fellow Israelite, but for God's sake, kill a Philistine." Greek democracy embraced certain aristocracy, but not the hordes of Greek slaves whose labors built the city states. The universalism at the center of the Declaration of Independence has been shamefully negated by America's appalling tendency to substitute "some" for "all." Numerous people in the North and South still believe that the affirmation, "All men are created equal," means "All white men are created equal." Our unswerving devotion to monopolistic capitalism makes us more concerned about the economic security of the captains of industry than for the laboring men whose sweat and skills keep industry functioning.
What are the devastating consequences of this narrow, group-centered attitude? It means that one does not really mind what happens to the people outside his group. If an American is concerned only about his nation, he will not be concerned about the peoples of Asia, Africa, or South America. Is this not why nations engage in the madness of war without the slightest sense of penitence? Is this not why the murder of a citizen of your own nation is a crime, but the murder of the citizens of another nation in war is an act of heroic virtue? If manufacturers are concerned only in their personal interests, they will pass by on the other side while thousands of working people are stripped of their jobs and left displaced on some Jericho road as a result of automation, and they will judge every move toward a better distribution of wealth and a better life for the working man to be socialistic. If a white man is concerned only about his race, he will casually pass by the Negro who has been robbed of his personhood, stripped of his sense of dignity, and left dying on some wayside road.
A few years ago, when an automobile carrying several members of a Negro college basketball team had an accident on a Southern highway, three of the young men were severely injured. An ambulance was immediately called, but on arriving at the place of the accident, the driver, who was white, said without apology that it was not his policy to service Negroes, and he drove away. The driver of a passing automobile graciously drove the boys to the nearest hospital, but the attending physician belligerently said, "We don't take niggers in this hospital." When the boys finally arrived at a "colored" hospital in a town some fifty miles from the scene of the accident, one was dead and the other two died thirty and fifty minutes later respectively. Probably all three could have been saved if they had been given immediate treatment. This is only one of thousands of inhuman incidents that occur daily in the South, an unbelievable expression of the barbaric consequences of any tribal centered, national centered, or racial centered ethic.
The real tragedy of such narrow provincialism is that We see people as entities or merely as things. Too seldom do we see people in their true humanness. A spiritual myopia limits our vision to external accidents. We see men as Jews or Gentiles, Catholics or Protestants, Chinese or American, Negroes or whites. We fail to think of them as fellow human beings made from the same basic stuff as we, molded in the same divine image. The priest and the Levite saw only a bleeding body, not a human being like themselves. But the good Samaritan will always remind us to remove the cataracts of provincialism from our spiritual eyes and see men as men. If the Samaritan had considered the wounded man as a Jew first, he would not have stopped, for the Jews and the Samaritans had no dealings. He saw him as a human being first, who was a Jew only by accident. The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.
The Samaritan possessed the capacity for a dangerous altruism. He risked his life to save a brother. When we ask why the priest and the Levite did not stop to help the wounded man, numerous suggestions come to mind. Perhaps they could not delay their arrival at an important ecclesiastical meeting. Perhaps religious regulations demanded that they touch no human body for several hours prior to the performing of their temple functions. Or perhaps they were on their way to an organizational meeting of a Jericho Road Improvement Association. Certainly this would have been a real need, for it is not enough to aid a wounded man on the Jericho Road; it is also important to change the conditions which make robbery possible. Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary. Maybe the priest and the Levite believed that it is better to cure injustice at the causal source than to get bogged down with a single individual effect.
These are probable reasons for their failure to stop, yet there is another possibility, often overlooked, that they were afraid. The Jericho Road was a dangerous road. When Mrs. King and I visited the Holy Land, we rented a car and drove from Jerusalem to Jericho. As we traveled slowly down that meandering, mountainous road, I said to my wife, "I can now understand why Jesus chose this road as the setting for his parable." Jerusalem is some two thousand feet above and Jericho one thousand feet below sea level. The descent is made in less than twenty miles. Many sudden curves provide likely places for ambushing and exposes the traveler to unforeseen attacks. Long ago the road was known as the Bloody Pass. So it is possible that the Priest and the Levite were afraid that if they stopped, they too would be beaten. Perhaps the robbers were still nearby. Or maybe the wounded man on the ground was a faker, who wished to draw passing travelers to his side for quick and easy seizure. I imagine that the first question which the priest and the Levite, asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" The good Samaritan engaged in a dangerous altruism.
We so often ask, "What will happen to my job, my prestige, or my status if I take a stand on this issue? Will my home be bombed, will my life be threatened, or will I be jailed?" The good man always reverses the question. Albert Schweitzer did not ask, "What will happen to my prestige and security as a university professor and to my status as a Bach organist, if I work with the people of Africa?" but rather he asked, "What will happen to these millions of people who have been wounded by the forces of injustice, if I do not go to them?" Abraham Lincoln did not ask, "What will happen to me if I issue the Emancipation Proclamation and bring an end to chattel' slavery?" but he asked, "What will happen to the Union and to millions of Negro people, if I fail to do it?" The Negro professional does not ask, "What will happen to my secure position, my middle-class status, or my personal safety, if I participate in the movement to end the system of segregation?" but "What will happen to the cause of justice and the masses of Negro people who have never experienced the warmth of economic security, if I do not participate actively and courageously in the movement?"
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous valleys and hazardous pathways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble life.

The Samaritan also possessed excessive altruism. With his own hands he bound the wounds of the man and then set him on his own beast. It would have been easier to pay an ambulance to take the unfortunate man to the hospital, rather than risk having his neatly trimmed suit stained with blood.
True altruism is more than the capacity to pity; it is the capacity to sympathize. Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one's soul. Pity may arise from interest in an abstraction called humanity, but gympathy grows out of a concern for a particular needy human beig who li'es at Iges roadside. ~7mpath7 is fetow teellng for the person in need his pain, agony, and burdens. Our missionary efforts fail when they are based on pity, rather than true compassion. Instead of seeking to do something with the African and Asian peoples, we have too often sought only to do something for them. An expression of pity, devoid of genuine sympathy, leads to a new form of paternalism which no self respecting person can accept. Dollars possess the potential for helping wounded children of God on life's Jericho Road, but unless those dollars are distributed by compassionate fingers they will enrich neither the giver nor the receiver. Millions of missionary dollars have gone to Africa from the hands of church people who would die a million deaths before they would permit a single African the privilege of worshiping in their congregation. Millions of Peace Corps dollars are being invested in Africa because of the votes of some men who fight unrelentingly to prevent African ambassadors from holding membership in their diplomatic clubs or establish residency in their particular neighborhoods. The Peace Corps win fail if it seeks to do something for the underprivileged peoples of the world; it will succeed if it seeks creatively to do something with them. It will fail as a negative gesture to defeat Communism; it will succeed only as a positive effort to wipe poverty, ignorance, and disease from the earth. Money devoid of love is like salt devoid of savor, good for nothing except to be trodden under the foot of men. True neighborliness requires personal concern. The Samaritan used his hands to bind up the wounds of the robbed man's body, and he also released an overflowing love to bind up the wounds of his broken spirit.
Another expression of the excessive altruism on the part of the Samaritan was his willingness to go far beyond the call of duty. After tending to the man's wounds, he put him on his beast, carried him to an inn, and left money for his care, making clear that if further financial needs arose he would gladly meet them. "Whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again ' I will repay thee." Stopping short of this, he would have more than fulfilled any possible rule concerning one's duty to a wounded stranger. He went beyond the second mile. His love was complete.
Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick has made an impressive distinction between enforceable and unenforceable obligations. The former are regulated by the codes of society and the vigorous implementation of law enforcement agencies. Breaking these obligations, spelled out on thousands of pages in law books, has filled numerous prisons. But unenforceable obligations are beyond the reach of the laws of society. They concern inner attitudes, genuine person to person relations, and expressions of compassion which law books cannot regulate and jails cannot rectify. Such obligations are met by one's commitment to an inner law, written on the heart. Man made laws assure justice, but a higher law produces love. No code of conduct ever persuaded a father to love his children or a husband to show affection to his wife. The law court may force him to provide bread for the family, but it cannot make him provide the bread of love. A good father is obedient to the unenforceable. The good Samaritan represents the conscience of mankind because he also was obedient to that which could not be enforced. No law in the world could have produced such unalloyed compassion, such genuine love, such thorough altruism.
In our nation today a mighty struggle is taking place. It is a struggle to conquer the reign of an evil monster called segregation and its inseparable twin called discrimination a monster that has wandered through this land for well nigh one hundred years, stripping millions of Negro people of their sense of dignity and robbing them of their birthright of freedom.
Let us never succumb to the temptation of believing that legislation and judicial decrees play only minor roles in solving this problem. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. The law cannot make an employer love an employee, but it can prevent him from refusing to hire me because of the color of my skin. The habits, if not the hearts, of people have been and are being altered every day by legislative acts, judicial decisions, and executive orders. Let us not be misled by those who argue that segregation cannot be ended by the force of law.
But acknowledging this, we must admit that the ultimate solution to the race problem lies in the willingness of men to obey the unenforceable. Court orders and federal enforcement agencies are of inestimable value in achieving desegregation, but desegregation is only a partial, though necessary, step toward the final goal which we seek to realize, genuine intergroup and interpersonal living. Desegregation will break down the legal barriers and bring men together physically, but something must touch the hearts and souls of men so that they will come together spiritually because it is natural and right. A vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws will bring an end to segregated public facilities which are barriers to a truly desegregated society, but it cannot bring an end to fears, prejudice, pride, and irrationality, which are the barriers to a truly integrated society. These dark and demonic responses will be removed only as men are possessed by the invisible, inner law which etches on their hearts the conviction that all men are brothers and that love is mankind's most potent weapon for personal and social transformation. True integration will be achieved by true neighbors who are willingly obedient to unenforceable obligations.
More than ever before, my friends, men of all races and nations are today challenged to be neighborly. The call for a worldwide good-neighbor policy is more than an ephemeral shibboleth; it is the call to a way of life which will transform our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfillment. No longer can we afford the luxury of passing by on the other side. Such folly was once called moral failure; today it will lead to universal suicide. We cannot long survive spiritually separated in a world that is geographically together. In the final analysis, I must not ignore the wounded man on life's Jericho Road, because he is a part of me and I am a part of him. His agony diminishes me, and his salvation enlarges me.
In our quest to make neighborly love a reality, we have, in addition to the inspiring example of the good Samaritan, the magnanimous life of our Christ to guide us. His altruism was universal, for he thought of all men, even publicans, and sinners, as brothers. His altruism was dangerous, for he willingly traveled hazardous roads in a cause he knew was right. His altruism was excessive, for he chose to die on Calvary, history's most magnificent expression of obedience to the unenforceable.

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THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, IS BASICALLY ABOUT TWO SETS OF CHRISTIANS ONE WISE ANOTHER FOOLISH. NOW THE OIL THAT PASSAGE IS TALKING ABOUT IS THE HOLY GHOST. ROMANS 8 VERSE 9 VALIDATES WHAT I'M SAYING ALSO 2TIMOTHY 3 VERSE 7 THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE SAVED HAVE THE HOLY GHOST AS THIER WITNESS THAT THEY ARE KNOWN OF BY GUIDE FURTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD THRU THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. WHICH CAN ONLY BE ADMINISTERED TO US THRU BAPTISM ROMANS 6 VERSE 4 COLLISIANS 2 VERSE 12,13 WITHOUT IT WERE NOT SAVED IN GOD'S EYES


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1o years ago Ihad an opportunity to be a "good" samaritaln by accident. A vehicular accident happened near the area where I am fixing my car. Upon witnessing that accident I responded to the situation and being a nurse its my duty to respond to the situation without any hesitation.Iwas lucky to revive that poor victim where I rushed her together with another samaritan to a nearby hospital where he was able to live another 3 weeks of her life then passed away. It was a clear case of hit and run but victims relative was so powerful enough and desperate to solve the crime so they pulled some strings and involved me and the other person as the culprits. They produce false witnesses to the crime and created a different scenario to justify their claim, deviating to what had really happen.But my concsience is very clear and still proud of what I've done. thinking that I did the best I could to save that poor girl.But now I'm the one needing to be saved. Last september after 10 long years of battlling the court and proving innosence, judge ruled in favor of them and charge me guilty beyond reasonable doubt sentencing me to 4mo. to 2years for a crime I did not do. SOME GRATITUDE FOR A GOOD SAMARITAN.Now i'm appealing my case to a higher court hoping to reverse the decision and go on with my life. My family needs my support my wife is in abroad working hard away from us . It is suppose to be me who is working for my family but because of this case I feel my life is through. Why did all this has to happen at my expense? Is this really the fate of a good samaritan?
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Why aren't all the characters in this parable Jewish?
Why did Jesus pick a Samaritan to be the neighbor in this story?

As Robert Mendez Jr. previously pointed out, Samaritans were "a product of mixed interbreeding between jews from the Northern Kingdom and other people after Israel's exile. They were considered heretics." The Jews saw them as half-breeds. Samaria was directly north of Israel. When Jews needed to get on the other side of Samaria ... they literally walked all the way around so they didn't have to pass through. Why bother? Because that's how strongly the Jews felt about Samaritans.

But before we look down on the Jews we must admit that there is still racism in our society today. So who is our neighbor? Jesus felt the need to point out that the person we find hardest to love is our neighbor.

What's an example for modern times? Being from the US, to me this question is the same as asking "What group of people do Americans want to love the least?"

Arabs, Muslims, Iraqis ... these people are our neighbors.



--Peter

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The older brother had kept the First Commandment but not the Second, i.e. love of brother. The Second Commandment is like it - like the First. Therefore, there is no 'Second', but only two 'Firsts'.
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Something Preachers in this Country has forgotten!
They care more for their wallet then they do the sheep in the fold!


Which off you,

having a hundred sheep,
if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,
and go after that which is lost,
until he find it?

And when he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing.

And when he cometh home,
he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them,
Rejoice with me;
for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you,
that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons,
which need no repentance.
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This is the only explanation that makes since to me. As most others seem to imply salvation by works which contradicts all i know regarding the grace afforded us by the cross of Calvary
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We have several interpretations on the parable of the Ten Virgins. But one thing is sure, the five who were taken to be with the bridegroom were ready and the others were not. This shows the urgency for us to be watchful and prayerful and ready ourselves for !the coming of the LORD JESUS.

See you there in the KOG (Kingdom of God)
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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?


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Bless all,

The lost son is anyone who falls from god, for a minute,a day ,a year or a lifetime, being prodigal is being seperated from god, this can happen daily in our work, in our worries, dreams, speach, thoughts, you name it it is out there to seperate us, the father to be true must let us exercise our free will. The older brother or the church did not go out searching for his brother, why not? it's his brother, the same blood, siblings together, the father did not send him out so as free will can be exercised across the board, the brother chose not to help and was not led to a repentive state to come home, a state that has renewing powers that can transform your whole life from death to life, experiencing the grace of god.

I wonder how many of us sit in church every weekend dead, praying for revival in our own hearts but shunning the call to do as the lord did and be jelous of the celibrations that occur when one returns, dont they celibrate in heaven when comes to the lord?, then shouldnt it be on earth as it is in heaven, no other place in the bible does it talk about such a large celbration being held for for such, as in the worlds eyes, a small thing,

I believe that this parable was being acted out to these peaple at the very same time they were listening to it,"as it is in heaven" but it instead of a lost son and an elderly church it was our heavenly father that sent out his son to gather the lost, to the point of dying on a cross, with his last words saying forgive them for they know not what they do, Jesus always led by example! shouldnt we all strive to do the same, lets not miss out on any more celbrations, see a brother in need give them a hand, call them if you havnt seen them in church for awhile, give to them if you have it, you will never go broke giving for god, Go out and look for the lost sheep in your pasture, do anything but dont let your heart harden warming a pew, remember Jonah? Ask your self who is more lost, the younger son or the older brother? Without God we know not what we do, we all need forgivness all round and the freeing power of gods grace,

So be graceful and be blessed
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would like to have a picture of a mustard to show my
sunday school class fo first and second graders
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This is one of the hardest parables to understand. Yet I offer my personal opinion as the way I see it. All due respects to the fact I might not have the truest understanding.
Mammon is the power of wealth in the world, and its a fallen world where justice does not prevail.
When the unjust steward was accused of mismanagement he became against his master. Mammon became the thing he hates or the thing he despised. We dont know if he was unfaithful or not, but he was accused. Judgiing by his actions, he loved justice more than mammon.
Therefore he resolved to leave his job and give away some of the debt owing to his master.
Already you can hear the Pharisees who loved money jeering at this behaviour, as Jesus spoke this parable. Thier haughty spirit and proud ways were all about the so called decency of wealth. Perhaps the steward had inside knowledge all along that the debts were too much for people to pay and a burden that God had never ordained. The steward knew the sham of wealth and could make good conversation with the class of people usually oppressed by the people of wealth, no less also than the relgious leaders of the day - and today. He knew he might at least have somewhere to stay if by his generosity he would be remembered when and if he had no place to live and no more job to depend on.
Whether he was commended by the principle of mammon or by the Lord I am not totally sure. I think it is Jesus who commended him for his resolve to uphold true justice knowing that there is no righteousness in mammon. Thus, the idea is to be giving it away, not hording it up. This is consistent with so much the New Testament says about riches. That is, to lay them down and follow Him, not lay them up on earth where moth and rust corrup and thieves break through and steal. Use it to make friends and be giving, and be more concerned about true justice that only God is the author of. For the unjust steward, to remain in his position would therefore be made to remain as the accused and unjust. This would be being faithful to his master, and despising or hating God, truth and justice. In whatever seemingly small way there was faithfulness, there would also be great faithfullness. He that is unjust in the least, is also unjust in much. Therefore, the steward had to make his resolve one way or the other. You cannot serve two masters. I feel that the parable illustrates more about the stewards contempt for mammon than the love of God and so the Pharisees revolted as they heard this because they were steeped in the ways of wealth, believing it to be the ultimate tool for good. Yet God in Jesus announced, 'that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God'. I believe the steward was fed up with the things of the decietfulness of riches and the cares of this world and became resolute enough to reject his place with mammon and stand up for true justice by deploring its principles and forgiving the debts the way he did. Its a bit like Moses who forsook all the pleasures of Egypt and went and lived with the Hebrew outcasts, 'esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the [ heavenly ] reward. Heb 11:26
Thus we can see the Godly things to esteem are heavenly things and the earlthy things are an abomination. Paul counted all his losses as a dunghill. I dont know for sure, but his high rank in the Jewish orders would have had a lot to do with wealth and the principles of mammon. Man sees the good works in it. God sees the heart. What do we have in out heart? Will we be like the unjst steward and take up our cross, or we will side with mammon and not care about truth, about justice, about firstly seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. Will we have faith like Moses, not knowing fully about God, but leaving all, forsaking all and following Him - not as a prosperity doctrine, but in his reproach? Even I am convicted by this. amen
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need for school
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I'd be interested in your response to these questions, too.

After Paul instructs Titus and the Cretian believers "to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need" why does he then go on to say: "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE FOR DAILY NECESSITIES AND NOT LIVE UNPRODUCTIVE LIVES" implying (again) that providing for ourselves and the ministry is through our own labors? (Titus 3:13, 14) Why no mention of getting this support elsewhere, like, rich unbelievers?

According to James, isn't it wrong to "show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes (rich folk)"? Instead of the rich man being seen as a friend and help of ministry, James says the rich are "the ones who are dragging you into court...(and)...slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong...(Read the entire slam on 'rich' people in James 2:1-7). How should one understand this in light of your interpretation?

Isn't it inconsistent of Jesus to commend the POOR widow for her 'two lepta' while minimizing the "many rich people" who "threw in large amounts", and who gave "out of their wealth"? (Mark 12:41-44) Is she a poor steward of the 'unrighteous mammon'? She was not commended for having solicited the favor of the rich people, but rather, for the greater value of HER small gift. Is it right for Jesus NOT to emphasize the value of the rich people's contributions over hers?

In John 12:3-8, why didn't Jesus commend Judas as a faithful and shrewd steward of 'unrighteous mammon' when he objected to wasting the perfume, worth a years wages, on Jesus's feet?

Wasn't Jesus disobedient to his own command to faithfully recruite the wealth of the rich by letting the rich young ruler leave discouraged without offering up some kind of persuasive argument to stay and finance his ministry? (Luke 18:18-25)

Peter and John are guilty, too. In Acts 8:9-25, they turned Simon the sorcerer (rich unbeliever) away when he "offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit'." (vs. 18-19) In fact they rejected his PARTNERSHIP in their ministry because his "heart is not right before God" (vs. 21). A right heart is not even a necessary requirement in your version of the unjust steward, only money is. Did they let a big fish get away in direct disobedience to God's command?

Do you find anything wrong with the understanding of the 'parable of the unjust steward' I shared in another response?































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I tore off my handgrips to encircle affectionate with the dildo.
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u dont kno wat ur talkin about. da church is lieing 2 u. jesus never said worship me.u can read da bible u will never see him say dat
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the good samaritan is a person full of blessing and understanding and he is not self-concieted he had a humble heart like jesus christ that never be change even yesterday and today.Be with jesus so that you will be like a good samaritan and the gift of god which is the eternal life is waiting for you in the golden paradise of heaven.

GOD BLESS TO US!!!
BE WITH JESUS AT ALL TIMES!!!
READ AND APPLY THE WORD OF GOD!!!
BE LOVABLE AND CHEERFUL TO YOUR NEIGHBOR!!!
FORGET EVERYTHING BUT PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR HEART!!!

YOUR BROTHER,
VICAR
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If you are asking for the meaning of this word, the only advice I can give you, is that you say it no more!
The reason I say this, satan will deceive you with his unknown words and you could curse God, without even know it.
The second reason I say this, God will hold you accountable for every idle word you speak, so be sure, before you speak words, know the meaning, or say nothing!
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Thansks to the Lord for my life in him and joy witht thanksgiving for my rich experience in heavenly faith and journey to evelasting victory in heaven and for Jesus who die for me and my sickness thanks to him for every second and big praise and love,thanks and bles and pray for gospel,keijo sweden
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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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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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15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

What would it be like in our day form? What is the catholic belief evident in my parable? And what dose it mean?

If anyone can please help me on this, please email me at:

grace.colquhoun@stclaresc.act.edu.au

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