I think I’m going to utilize the aspect of anonymity (sort of) for the sake of saying things that will never be said out in public. That’s the interesting thing about this web site that’s so cool. You can express your beliefs without this social pressure that people place upon you in public.

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

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

Do you know what my bombshell is?

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

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

Look at the results.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about this? IT WAS DIVINE HUMILITY.

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

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

Are you convinced yet?

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

Regardless of what you think of this revelation.

I hereby charge you to TELL NO MAN.

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The meaning of this scripture is very simple if you allow the other scriptures concerning the kingdom to interpret it. All that's being said hear is that "there is nothing hid which shall not be manifest". It's an example of how the word of God reacts with the human spirit and together they radiate the fact that his word was put in. If you take two balls of dough, insert yeast in one of them and come back in twenty minutes, it doesn’t take a genius to say "hey someone put yeast in that one". Yeast is not good or bad it's just a catalyst that works with something else for a desired end. Certainly it can be bad, "beware of the leaven of the scribes and Pharisee’s-hypocrisy" for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed (same idea). But it also says that the kingdom of God is like leaven.

The meaning is this. When we "hide" the word in our hearts, the leaven of god’s word will work with our spirit to "manifest" or bring to light or "reveal" the fact that we "sowed" to our hearts the word. It will manifest. Now, if there's nothing hid that shall not be manifest, shouldn't we as Christians be asking "then how on earth do I "hide" something? This is the idea here. We have a treasure hid in our hearts, and the person who discovers how to hide something, will be able to "manifest" or tap into that hidden treasure. He'll bring forth fruit.

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Bob:
Was Dr.Scofield a Freemason at any time?
Your answer will be greatly appreciated.
George
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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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I have traveled the Country and always heard the same interpretation of the Mustard Seed and never say one mention above (unless I just missed it). There are many times people feel down but if they can maintain their faith, even if it feels so small, small as a mustard seed, God will always be there to grow that faith into the largest of seed baring plants. If you want to debate herbs, plants and trees, go nuts (no pun intended). The importance of the parable is that God is there-Always. Keep the faith, even when it seems unbearable, He will grow your faith to the largest.
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It is my belief that when Jesus said "this generation will not pass away" in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 He was talking about a forty year generation. The people who heard Him talking could look ahead forty years and know that everything Jesus predicted concerning the destruction of Jerusalem would come to pass. History records that it did in 70 AD.
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Incredible comments so far -- wonderful things to think about.

If I may, I would just like to point to something that I haven't seen addressed yet and wonder what it might lead to. In Luke 15 there are the three parables, Johnny Groda did a great job of highlighting that the parables were spoken to a mixed group. What I wanted to point to was something that is consistent with the first two, yet different in the third parable. In the first two, of this chapter, the focus of the message is on the subject of losing something and going to great lengths, even risks, to gain it back. The shepherd loses a sheep and leaves his flock to find it. The woman loses a silver coin and sets the others aside and goes through the whole house to find it. Something is lost and then searched for by the one who lost it.

The third, however, has nothing, or no one, searched for when lost. The prodigal son is lost but no 'shepherd' nor 'woman' searches for the son.

In all three, when what was lost was found again there was great celebration. In the first two, what was lost was more obvious, and they were searched for and found by the ones who lost them. In the third, however, what was truly lost? Who truly searched and found it? If all three are reflecting the same point, or issue, then in the third parable we should wonder to find that what was lost was searched for and found by the one who lost it.

Who, then, lost, searched and found?
What, then, was truly lost and then found again?


Peace

KB-
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This parable teaches us about persistance and how God wants us to pray, pray, pray, and ask, ask, ask for what we need. Look at the context of the whole chapter when reading this. The man most likely lived in a one room home, as was common in the time and country spoken of in the chapter. It would have stirred everyone else in the home, but because the friend was (importune = urge or beg persistantly) the friend who had rose up anyhow and gave. Prayer works people! Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.

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I agree with you about putting more into it than what is there. I too wonder what the oil is and that you can go and buy it. As for being ready look up for HE is coming. When you see the shadow, know that things are near. Paul said Feast days are a shadow of things to come. Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the horn for TEN days and then at the LAST TRUMP well, you know the rest of the story.
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Once saved is always saved is true but in the right perspective.Because a promise is a promise and if it comes from God then why doubt it at all! But it does not end there as it is not just an orde rissued by choice but rather a call to special life. It is in fact a freedom to be obedient to God now at least. We are saved at the instance of our Faith recognition by God or His representatives but we are also known to the Graceful God that we are always in need of constant grace. It is the lamb who is sacrificed for our sins and it should be we who should acknowledge Him to be our necessary saviour, we who were sinners, and are not intending to be now ,but yet weak at times and are given an helping hand by the Lord Himself. Our attitude needs to be right towards God's Love and Loving redemption and it should be the reason to make an effort to produce fruit in life since after all we are saved once and for all. We still have our free will intact to refuse such salvation.. It is not we but the Lord in us who reaches us safely to God who saves people at all times.
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Hey, Rae........I feel a bit troubled by your post for several reasons. Not that I'm some kind of answer man or anything like that. I've been an 8th grade History teacher for 17 years now. I see all types of kids come and go year after year. Your son's behavor sounds totally unacceptable. I don't know his age, though. When someone gets caught in a lie, it breaks trust. Trust is something that has to be earned back (usually by a long period of honest behavior on his part). Have you ruled out the possibility of drug use experimentation? So many kids are just so secretive about that. Fill me in on more details about your son. I'm in the kid business.
And about you..........I don't understand what "living hard after God" means. It''s more like letting go of areas of our life that I believe God wants. Indulging yourself in sinful desires will surely have consequences beyond whatever you think they could possibly be. In your quiet time with the Lord, surrender your son to him. Trust that he's inn God's hands now. Treat him with a new freedom that whatever happens to him has been God allowed. And, you are now free to encourage and love him rather than being confrontational. Try this approach out........Lovve to you, Joh Ferguson
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need for my sunday school lesson Feb. 25, 2004
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His name is geoffery james
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Hey, Rick......I don't know you personally, but I saw you were from home town, I thought I would say hello. I go to Spanish River and have lived in Boca 32 years now. How 'bout you?
There are quite a few interesting comments on this web-site. I think it's neat how people break stuff down and look for meanings. Like, "what do the sandals represent?"
I've been the prodigal son recently. got really off track. wheh! I mean really off track. It's so wonderful to be able to come to God with a broken and contrite heart and accept His forgiveness. What a pleasure being back in fellowship. Let me hear from you.
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What does Pharisee mean? What was a Publican?

Pharisee: The word itself comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to set apart" or "to separate". The Pharisees were a sect of the Jews. They believed in God, but they also believed that he operated according to their actions. (Your rewards/punishments were based on your works) They added their own traditions to the law, and seemed to think themselves holier because of it. They seemed to pride themselves on following what they said to be law to the letter, and to think this made them better than those they disagreed with.

Publican: These were the tax collectors. Just like today, they weren't the most popular people in town! Often they were said to cheat the people, overcharging or extorting money from them. Thus they were regarded with disgust and contempt. They interacted with the "heathen Romans", which made them even more distasteful in the eyes of the Pharisees.

Now, for the parable. We see both, a pharisee and a publican, entering the temple grounds to pray. The pharisee sees the publican, and starts his prayer thanking God, which in itself is a good thing, but look at what he's thanking him for. He's looking at his fellow man, pointing out his faults, and thanking God that he's not like him! Typical human nature, to think that we're better than others because of our actions, instead of recognizing that we've all been sinners just as unworthy of God's grace as the next person. He goes on to mention his own good works...that he fasted twice in the week (which was in ADDITION to the requirements of the law, another case of the Pharisees adding to the law and thinking it made them better people) and that he gave his tithes.

The publican's interaction with God is vastly different. Instead of seeing the sins of others and feeling himself to be better because he wasn't committing the same ones, he came to God acknowledging that he was a sinner. He didn't even dare to lift his eyes, but kept them lowered and smote himself, which was a common expression of sorrow. This action is telling, in that he was feeling remorse for his sins. Lastly, he doesn't offer any excuses, but begs God for mercy and acknowledges his sinful state.

The last verse in this parable tells us that the publican left justified.

The moral of the story? Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

God wants us to acknowledge our sins, and to place our full trust in HIM for our forgiveness and to recognize that it is only through him that we can obtain it, not through works of our own. He will bring down the proud, but those who come to him humbly and with pure intentions will be exalted by Him. We are not to look at others as a barometer of whether we're serving God properly, but only at what God has decreed for us.

Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.


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I am doing the parable of the mustard seed for a baptism class and need a picture of a mustard tree.
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Well do you think leaven is a good thing??? I think NOT,leaven is like a tare(corruption).
Read Matt. ch. 13 again,fowls are are satan and his demons and look at the parables of the sowers especially,the fowls swoop down and take the seed which was sown.

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I hope by now you have found some of the peace you were seeking. I never understood the parable of the prodigal son until I had one. The argument of the dutiful son always made sense to me. But now that I have a younger child who has gone off to waste and destroy his God-given talents through drug abuse, crime, problem relationships...I fully understand how gladly I would celebrate his return to us, not expecting any favored treatment from us. All the time I love both my children, but more of my prayers have been for the wayward one. The celebration would be for the answer to my prayers.
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I was struck that the father did not run after the son to bring him home. He let him go and I think that was another powerful part of this incredible story. You see so many parents in this day not allowing their adult children leave to make mistakes. For example, I can think of several families dealing with adult children involved in activities such as drug abuse and lack of drive to earn a living. In many of these families, parents enable their children because of fear of what would happen if the child was made to leave the family nest. I think the father may represent tough love - his son left and had to deal with the consequences of his actions. But when the son was as low as he could get - then he went home with the repentant spirit and the father forgave him. Now the son is back home and in the right spirit. I think we parents can learn alot about parenting from this parable. Am I reading something into this parable that really doesn't exist?
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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.
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i love the prodigal son parable. to me, the brother is all of us...jealous, miserable, our own obstacle to enjoying the things before us. he was so resentful of his brother's forgivenss that he could not enjoy the party. he, like us, was given all god things by his father. but he lost the appreciation for those things because all he could see is that his brother got the recognition and celebration. he forgot about his time wiht the father, being fed and cared for and clothed.
aren't we like that when someone repents? we say " good" but maybe we feel that they don;t really deserve God's mercy. that makes us like hte brother.
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Thanks for the insight, I was looking for insight on the web about this parable that I am teaching on Sunday morning. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.

I can see how a church getting larger can get out of control, regarding the birds of the air making their nest in it.

May the Lord help us "small or large" to keep the birds out.

God Bless.
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Allow me if you will to have some fun at Jesus’ expense (don’t worry I know him). As I’ve spent many hours meditating in the parables of the Kingdom. Many analogies have come to me that I feel Jesus might use, if he were in the earth today. Don’t worry I don’t think I’m Jesus and I’m trying to be half cute, so just humor me. Just consider what I’m saying in the analogies below and just decide if this might be what Jesus was saying.

It’s not the Word of God and you have the right to disagree. But didn’t Jesus use analogies taken from his surroundings to illustrate a point? So then it’s an excellent way to teach.

HEARKEN, BEHOLD! (Ooh, that’s good already)

The Kingdom God is likened unto an overhead projector upon which a teacher laid a transparency, she flipped a switch and mysteriously an image appeared on the wall. And all the children said yea!

Again the Kingdom of God is likened unto a very slow computer, upon which a man had typed an Internet web address, he hit enter and waited many days even months. One day he noticed that the site had come up!

Again the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a caterpillar, which spun a cocoon. After many days he was transformed and emerged a beautiful butterfly.

WHOSEVER DESIRES TO UNDERSTAND LET HIM NOW UNDERSTAND!

Now the parables are this: The overhead projector is the heart of a man. The transparency represents the past tense realities of Gods word-his promises that are offered to us. Flipping the switch represents the time in which we “believe” his promise “present tense”-“now” (Mark ll: 24 “when ye pray”).

Notice that the transparency is lying upon the overhead projector. That’s the way the Word of God is with some people. They have a lot of head knowledge but have never confessed in prayer that they “believe”-it is now theirs-in the prayer closet. This is what plants the seed in our hearts, or in the case above turns the power on thus emitting into the world around us the light (image) of that transparency. The wall of course is the canvas or picture screen of our lives. The Children are the people who marvel at the person who knows the mysteries of the Kingdom well enough to produce fruit, both for themselves and for you.

In parable #2 the SLOW computer represents the heart of a man. The website address represents our spiritual destination that is determined by the Word of God. Hitting enter is the time in which we “believe” present tense. This tells the computer (our heart) what function to complete. But notice that the computer operator only hit enter once. The rest of the time he rested in the fact that his entering it once had been recorded. Every subsequent time that he would have pressed enter he would have reset the computer and forfeited the time that he spent waiting. Did you notice that once he hit enter, it went into the past tense? If someone would have seen him sitting at his pc and said, “what are you waiting for? Just hit enter.” He would have responded, “I ALREADY HAVE”. Once we plant the seed of Gods word we need to LEAVE IT BURREID. PAST TENSE. “I RECEIVED IT, WHEN I BELIEVED-PRAYED.”

The computer screen is our life. Whatever is “hidden”-in the bowels of the computer-shall be “manifested” upon the screen. The screen is our lives.

The parable of the caterpillar is this: This caterpillar’ favorite scripture is no doubt Hebrews chapter four vs. 1-3. The caterpillar represents man (“a worm of the dust”) in his sinful state. But upon believing and entering into the rest of Christ, his inner self goes through a metamorphic change, and with time he emerges A NEW CREATURE. The butterfly emerging represents the harvest time. A time when that which was hidden, is now revealed out in the open. A supernatural change that only faith can accomplish (in the life of a believer.)

Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which HAVE BELIEVED do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The caterpillar LABOURED to enter into the rest of Christ, which comes through the believing process.

Have you ever spun a cocoon? Well I haven’t either but it’s got to be hard. A non-stop wrapping yourself with one strand of silk has got to be difficult. But apparently he had taken the admonition of the Lord very seriously (he didn’t want to fall after the same example of unbelief). For after he labored to establish his “shield of faith” he went into a period of rest in his inner man. The process of metamorphosis was now set in motion. The cocoon shielded him from the elements-from the dry winds of doubt and unbelief that blow against all believers. Even Christ encountered this. The cocoon represented an attitude of obliviousness to the sounds and distractions of Satan. It was an insulator that protected him during cycle, long enough for it to be completed.

In the above verse we are told that the word of God did not profit some, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. In the above parables flipping the switch and hitting enter served as the act of “mixing”. Believing is what imbeds the word in our hearts, hearing ourselves declare the promises of God in secret.


Luke 12:3
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.

Don’t be a sideline Christian thinking your defending the faith by sitting on the couch eating cake, hurling railing accusations against those who just want more of God. Get into the hunt, BELIEVE some things, and stand firm. Yea, you’ll get some whacks by Satan, but things could be worse. You may not get any attention from him, meaning that you’re worthless as a believer in his sight. But if we’ll learn the process, I have a sneaking suspicion that wonderful things lie in store for the body of Christ!




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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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I am looking for a picture of a mustard seed. Can you kindly let me know where I can find one? Thanks.

Greg Nam
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My advice to you would be to #l. Look at what I wrote under the subject of the leaven parable. #2. Decide weather you believe that that’s what Jesus’ was taking about or not. Then take ownership of the matter and teach it as though you ascribe to it yourself.

The parables of the Kingdom are intertwined and they all lead back to each other. I’d meditate on these things until I have the idea down, then you can teach these things with their intended end in mind.

I don’t think it hurts to SUBMIT things. Allowing people to decide for themselves. As long as you’re stressing the analogies that Jesus used vs. the interpretations, you’ll perk people’s interest. Heck, you might even learn some things from the kids. Just make sure that you OFFER these things instead of stuffing them down someone’s throat and I think you’ll be all right. I think children can understand metaphors better than adults because their imaginations are allowed to wander more.

It might also be good to seize upon this idea of Jesus revealing “things that have been kept secret from the foundations of the earth”, maybe asking, “What on earth do you think he could be saying”? “What might these secrets be”? “Should we know and understand them”?

Also, you may want to convey the importance of this scripture (Mark chapter four) because Jesus asked, “you don’t understand this parable? “Then how will you understand ALL parables concerning the kingdom of God”?

Good luck with the kids. God bless!

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It's not a parable about literal money. Like Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus is using the literal, physical world--the things we can understand--to explain the spiritual. Over and over again in the scriptures God uses analogies and metaphors and the like to teach unseen, spiritual principles to the earthbound minds of fallen men.

"I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (John 3:12)

Maybe this proverb sums up the parable of the talents:
"The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment." (Proverbs 10:16)

Even if the parable of the talents had a literal meaning there is nothing wrong with putting our "money to work" (vs. 16). Playing the market is only one way of bringing increase to money. You can buy things and sell them at a profit, or produce products to sell at a profit as long as we do it honestly and don't violate any of the Lord's commands.

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."
(Proverbs 10:4)

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement." (Proverbs 12:11)

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." (Proverbs 13:11)

"The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."
(Proverbs 11:1)

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Yes there is a case to be made about the elder son. In my Christain Fellowship we spent two weeks on this one parable; the first week we looked at how we can put ourselves in the shoes of the older son, and the sencond we talked about how, if we don't necesarily identify with the younger son, we probably do with the older one.
We talked about how sometimes as Christians we view that there are certain things we feel we have to do in order to recieve God's love. We have to go to church, not swear, follow the commandments, give to the poor....etc. And then we see/realize that there are other who are not doing all of the "required" things, and yet they still recieve God's love.
But the point that (I think) Jesus was trying to make is that there is no list of things you have to do to be loved by God. God loves all His children no matter what. And at the end of the parable Jesus never said whether or not the older son decides to go in and recieve his father's love, or stay out and get nothing.
Hope that helps!
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This forum concerns the interpretation of Luke 16:1-13. Some scholars see an allegory of the love of Jesus in it; however, I see an eye-opener and direct commands from our Lord instead. That I do not discuss salvation (John 3:16ff, Romans etc.) here does not imply any lack of that teaching from me. I simply believe that the parables on which I have commented do not much concern salvation and justification or that others will easily expound those aspects while I delve through the commands and the predictions of Jesus Christ, lest we be deceived.

Regarding my posting and the kingdom of heaven, if your entire congregation dare ignore or refuse Luke 16:1-13 (KJV/Greek), unless it already consist of the rich, it will run out of money to give away liberally as Jesus Christ taught to do (Matt. 5:42 ) and start to despise Jesus' command to give freely and hew instead to its Budgets, the service of Mammon, just as Jesus warned (Luke 16:13 ). If we cannot afford to give freely for fear of what would happen to us without our wealth or our homes, how could we possible minister in any way true to Jesus? Then, problems with money and needs will load us down with habitual sins.

As for the very people whom I "want to use" winding up in Hell, if one came to me seeking relief from sin or some other lead to need for the gospel of salvation, I would indeed try to win them. I would not mince words about damnation to keep his favour; the command from Jesus is to make friends with the rich rather than to keep them. Still, I will not place irrelevant postings about salvation on this page devoted to a parable. This site is not the right place to win the lost; it concerns believers.

If all our congregations had done their hobnobbing already, there would be far more ready assistance for our needy and for more funds for world evangelism than we see under the evil servants in charge and under Modern English social expectations passed off as "God's will". There would be ample means for God's ends! Would I be glad!

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg


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Please send me a picture of a mustard tree/plant. I need it for church. Thanks, HEIDI
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According to what I understand it was the custom for the Jewish bridegroom to pick up the bride to be and they walked to the grooms fathers house where the marriage takes place. All the virgins had oil in their lamps. Some believe the parable is saying they had empty lamps. The difference was that the wise took a back up supply of oil to refill if the bridegroom tarried! When he did not come as soon as the foolish five thought he would they were unprepared! There "oil" or fire had ran out! Then they begged for oil from the wise! I believe the "oil" represents faith, perservance, be on fire for the Lord etc. This is the responsibility of each one of us as it can not be loaned or borrowed! We can not put a time table on the Lords return so we must always be prepared no matter the hour he returns! We do not want to be on the outside and hear "I do not know you"
Darrell
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Does anyone know the meaning of "Abrahams Bosom"?
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Consider the usage of the word "Earth" elsewhere in Jesus' parables. The word earth is always used in reference to a man's heart. We sew seeds (the Word) in the earth (men's hearts).

Likewise, earth is used in this parable. He who was only given one talent (given one gift) hid it in his heart, afraid to use it for God's gain, and he lost it.

He who was given many gifts used them all, and was given more, because he has shown faith in what he all ready had, and would surely do the same if he had more. God is using his servants wisely.
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can you tell me where I can find this quote about
the mustard seed in the Bible? The one about how even
the tiniest faith can grow? thank you.

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Dear Phil,
I have read ur commentary on the topic of 'the fig tree' i only now came across this page and found it ...
could u explain what u mean?

I dont knwo if u remember that what u wrote there but i cant copy and paste...:(

it sounds interesting but i would like to hear a bit more if possible

thank you very much
with God's Blessing

Goshia
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in no way does it say the kingdom of heaven is derived from the works of satan matt 13:31 it is another parable with no connection to matt 13:24
This is the tares by Robert Corbitt on Tuesday, May 13 2003"The mustard seed is seen growing after an adnormal fashion, showing Satans success in stopping Christains from bearing through causing an unnatural devoloping so abdormally that it eventually became a tree; and this tree is seen to be of such a nature that" the birds of the air", indivduals doing the work of Saten, found a lodging place in its branches[v.32;cf.vv.4, 19.]". NOW Robert Corbitt you shall understand read matt 13:14,15
go claim your healing but tell no one.
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Actually augusta, the idea of the Trinity originated in Genesis Chapter One and reaffirmed in John Chapter One. The Trinity is threaded throughout the entirity of Scipture. Remember, the Trinity does NOT represent three gods.
God is ONE. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as you are one: mind, soul and spirit. Just because you have three parts does not mean you are three different entities. Consider the egg. It has shell, white, and yolk; yet is one egg. I like to think of the Trinity exampled this way. The sun:
That large ball of fire 93 milliion miles away representative of the Father, the light which reaches us representative of the Son, and the heat which we feel representative of the Holy Spirit. Three definitive parts yet:::::: ONE SUN!
It is an interesting theory that the trinity idea started about 345 AD, but the Bible was written well before that date!!!!!
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On behalf of everybody who like me has been martyred by the evil servants in charge of churches through calling the police to remove us from church or arranging hostile psychiatric hospitalization on account of spoiled rotten begging, I thank God for His words which justify us (Matt. 5:42, 6:24ff, 7:7) and promise our deliverance (Matt. 24:45-25:30).

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

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

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

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

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

I do not possess such power as to bring this all about, yet still I thank God again for the Scriptures to show my current ways right before Him and to deliver me from the power of the evil servants in charge of today's churches through His will for vengeance. May God help our mentally ill brethren and everyone else in Him who needs assistance and has trouble asking for it among English speakers in authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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I posted too early. I am not sure of the last part of the parable. If all of the servants were believers, then was salvation taken from the one talent servant. I believe that believers are sealed until the day of redemption...one saved, always saved. My pastor and I discussed the ending. At this point, we agree that the talents are gifts and abilities. That everyone, saved and unsaved alike, have free will to use these gifts and abilities for God or for themselves. Those that choose to live for Christ will be given great rewards in heaven and God will provide for them on earth. Those that choose to serve themselves with their talents, may receive rewards on heaven, but will lose everything upon death. They will be cast into darkness (hell) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Where is the moral? I need a moral for tomorrow. Please show it.
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okay like i have a problem i have a giant project on hope and i need a scripture on hope and i cant find any thing please help!
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The fig tree in this instance does represent us. ( In Gods Garden ).

Sometimes in life before we have excepted the Word of God we do not produce the desired fruit by God. (Compassion, kindness, wisdom etc)

In turn God "put shit on us" or fertilyzer. (A situation that stinks to us, but in turn allows us to grow spiritually.)

The Gardener, Jesus asks that God allow us to stay a little longer with the hope that we will one day fruit.

The fruit of God. - Gods Will.

If we fail to turn back to God and except His guidance, that we are indeed an unfruitful tree.

If this happens than we are not needed in Gods Green Garden.


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Thank you for constantly updated, always a pleasure to read.
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well ive been lookin 4 a while for a good meaning of this parable, im a gcse student sitting my gcse's in june but my mock exams are next week, i had to learn about the true meaning of the parable of the mustard seed, my re teacher said it was in our notes and i have had full attendance for 2 years and i have hardly missed a lesson but i couldnt find nothing in my notes about this topic, no one could so thank you very much for your help, hopefully you will get me an A*. tHANK YOU. BYE
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Not completely do I hold your inpression of my tenets. I agree with Point #1 that Jesus expects us to make friends of rich people, with the qualifier that some people in each congregation and not actually every believer will do so. In point #2, I say that some of the rich people, not all, will take care of us in failure. I agree with points #3 and 4 completely. I differ with Point #5 because most Christians are actually silent on Luke 16; they are not leading Christians astray unless they teach, and even if they teach it wrong, God expects us to hearken unto His Word and not turn him a deaf ear. I agree with Point #6 just to the extent of the teaching. I differ with Point #7 in that heretical sects such as the Mormons may do these things.

I disagree with your belief that it is of the devil to confuse and confound because God confused the language of the builders of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). Futhermore, I actually reinterpret what I have read in response to the Greek texts, and I abandon preconceived notions in English in light of the Greek.

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg
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God invited the Jews to the supper, they had better things to do so he sent the Christians into streets and lanes to bring in all to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
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The prodigal son is an awesome parable. It is a great way God showes us his grace. Think about it. The youngest son wants all his inheritance and he leaves the house. The father does not get mad at him or anything he just is concerned for him and wants him to come back home. So the youngest son is out hanging with prostitutes, drinking, gambling, doing all the things that he shouldnt do. Then he ran out of money and he had to start working and staying with the pigs. He was so embarrased to come back home but he did and when his father saw his youngest son instead of being upset at him he ran to him and put his arms around him and showed him how much he loved him. We do the same thing as the youngest sons. We go out into the world and take God for granted and have sex, drink, do all the things we shouldnt do. Then we are to embarrased to admit to it and we loose out on salvation. Well there is no need to be embarrased God is wating for us to come back home and when he see you he is not going to punish you he is going to put his arms around you and take you back in.
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Dear Friend,

Kindly send me a picture of the mustard seed.

Thanks,

Lea Fiegalan
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HI
i am doing this parable for a school essay

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Can someone please explain the characters. The father, The older son and the younger son

THANKS
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