I have always thought that this parable should be called the parable of the forgiving father.
This poor Father is saddled with two miserable sons.
The transgressions of the younger is obvious. The transgressions of the older are far more insidious. Upon hearing about his brothers return the older brother refuses to talk to him. Yet he seems to feel he knows how the money was spent. Never in the story do you hear that the younger son took up with prostitutes except from the older brothers mouth. I've known many people who have easily blown a fortune on just drinking without giving any thought to where the money was going. Let's not forget how many friends a man has when he has money. The older brother has obviously spent a fair amount of time thinking about what he would have done if he had taken his inheritance. In this whole story all he cares about is himself. He is serving father only for what he can get in the end. In essence he says "I've been good and I deserve something for it!"

So the younger son in essense says to his father "Your gonna die someday - Give me what I will get when you die!" The older son says "I follow your orders not because I love you or because it is the right thing to do but because I expect a special reward!" Each son is focused on himself and his own wants.

The father loves these two jerks because he loves them. Even when they are the most vile he still loves and accepts them. To the father it is not about the things (He does not promise to give anything to the younger son except love and acceptance)... It's not about the stuff to him. The father had to go out of his way to bring each of the sons back into the family. The father overlooks each of his sons selfishness and tries to bring them home.

It's all about how God tries to bring us home even though we would rather hold on to our own selfish desires.
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Actually here I disagree with you. The verse speaks to the fact that it is good for the mustard seed to grow. And no where does it make any kind of parallel to the birds being the anti-Christ. On the contrary it speaks to the birds taking shelter under the the shadow of the tree that grows. If anything, the birds would be paralleled to Christians.
UNP Adam

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I added them several days ago. Please email if anybody finds anymore pictures. Also anybody email if something is (C), I am running 4 websites and don't have the time to check everything. I really need some moderators and other help on the websites.

Thanks
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My take is....
The purpose of the Fig Tree is to produce FRUIT. Just like the product of Christians is their works aka their FRUITs. One day Jesus approach the fig tree, cause He was in need, but when He looked, He saw none and cursed the tree. A closer look, you will see that it was out of season for the tree to produce FRUIT, but Jesus had need! There is no excuse!

Lesson: One day Jesus will comes down the road in need, and sees you, a Christian standing there. Will you be FRUIT-less? If so be prepared to be cursed and withered away! Remeber no excuses!

DP
P.S My Fruit!! I hope u enjoy!!!
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I had a dream on June 21, 2003 and was shown an awesome sight. A swarm of Tornadoes descending from the sky that look like giant elephant trunks.

People will not know where to hide. So I am telling you now in advance. All that will listen, listen. You will want to find an underground place of shelter such as the below ground floor of a university or mall or parking garage that is windowless. Flying glass spells trouble. Start looking now where you will go. Watch for the signs, you will have time to go to your designated place of shelter. But to wait to look for the appropriate place of shelter at that time will be futile. You must do so now as an act of faith. And in that day, if anyone tells you, "Come with us! There is
a strong building over there". Don't go with them! Do not try and help anyone either or you will be confused and forget your hiding place.

I believe it will be as in the Parable of the 10 Virgins.
Let us pray earnestly to our God for the shed blood of the thousands of Iraqi people. Perhaps He will turn away His anger and leave us a blessing instead.

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The Parable of the Sower is about the expansion of the Kingdom of God.

The Sower - Jesus
The Seed - The Sons of the Kingdom ( The Christians )
The Field - The World - Our respective areas ( working place ) where
Jesus has sown us.(marketplace)

All believers of Jesus are sown to respective location to be the light and salt to conquer that place and establish the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God should start on that person by LIVING according to the Word of God, if not the Devil will take away the light and darkened his testimony and will cause unfruitfulness. He should continue to be a testimony and be mature so that root will be established . Persecution and the World temptation will be part of his life but to be fruitful he should continue to HEAR AND DO ( understand ) the Word of God thus becoming fruitful for the Expansion of God's Kingdom in his area of responsibility.

All Christian are ambassador of Christ. We are the representative of God's Kingdom. In our areas, we need to LIVE and DO the Kingdom of God agenda ( Gospel of Matthew ) We need to please the KING. We can only expand the Kingdom of God through fruitfulness not just attending our sunday services. The Kingdom of God can be established Monday up to Saturday. ...in our WORKPLACE.

HONOR THE KING. EXPAND THE KINGDOM.LIVE IN THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE. CONQUER MORE KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD FOR OUR KING.BE FRUITFUL. GOD BLESS YOU
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The ring signified his acceptance and authority back into the family

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Would you help me in my project about the parable of the prodigal son???
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Ok I do attend a catholic high school but I'm not that knowledgeable on this stuff so I have a question is somone could answer it quickly.........
True or False .... The message of Jesus given us in the parable of the Prodigal Son is God's unconditional forgiveness.
Thanx
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I believe that when the Good Samaritan gave the coins to the Innkeeper he established that he would return to the Inn and pay whatever amount was necesary to cover the mans needs for his injuries.
This personnally tells me that when I help someone , that I need to be ready to pay whatever price that it takes to meet that need if possible. We are called to be Good Samaritans like Jesus was, and to set that example for others.That price may be money or it may be many ours praying and talking to the person.It may be shelter or clothing.
Whatever the need may be , when we help someone are we ready to tru0ly help and pay the price?
I hope that this was helpful to you David. God Bless You.
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The Ten Vergins are not the Church they represent the Virgin daughters of Zion. The Jews were to keep their lamps lit to show the every lasting covenant not the Church. It will be the Virgin daughters of ZION that go forth IN THE DAY OF DARKNESS to meet their Lord with their LAMPS Lit! When jesus returns he will be returning from the wedding Luke 12, so then these are not Christians at all! The oil in this parable is not the Holy Spirit. In acts when Simon tried to buy the Holy Spirit he was told it was a SIN to even THINK such a thing. So, no one is going to be able to say that Jesus in a parable is implying that these unwise Virgins can go buy the Holy Spirit. This can not happen and it contridicts all scripture to say that you can buy the Holy Spirit.

This is actually a closer to literal picture of the believing and non believing Jews who will go forth IN THAT DAY. But remember he is returning from the Wedding Luke 12. So, the Church is no longer on earth but returning with Jesus!
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webmaster a quote from you....

I'm also curious about the word leaven. Why are we but it's bad? I know it's used in several other places as a reference to something as bad but does it not also have another use in the original language? Does it not make bread rise "yeast" could have been used for that reference also. Something that makes something like meal flour rise and grow. I consider the kingdom of heaven as growing as a good thing. I know there are a LOT of tares in with it but that's part of doing busniness, you get the bad with the good then the seperation at the end.

For what is worth i agree Anyone who bakes knows the value of leaven without leaven many things would be flat, tastless, hard, If have a few minutes look at leaven and first fruits.....unleaven-passover ... leaven- penticost?




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First, to fully understand what was happening, let's look at why the events in this parable happened the way they did.

It was common practice in these times that if a person owed somebody else, the person they owed was allowed to sell him, and his family, as servants until the debt was paid off. Here's another example of where it happened, this one in the old testament. 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. A more detailed description of this practice is found in Leviticus:

LEV 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

LEV 25:40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee.

LEV 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.

LEV 25:42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.

LEV 25:43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor; but shalt fear thy God.

LEV 25:44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.

LEV 25:45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

LEV 25:46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigor.

So this is what we see happening at the beginning of this parable. There was the servant of a man who owed his master a debt, and he was unable to pay it. The master did what was common in that time....prepared to sell him, his family, and his possessions in return for the payment owed. The servant begged for more time, and his master had compa/s/sion. He could have just had *some* but and gave him more time to come up with what he owed, but instead he had TOTAL compa/s/sion, and forgave the amount owed.

The amount forgiven was approximately $16,180,000.

After he was forgiven, this servant then went to one of his fellow workers who owed him (approximately $14). He choked him and demanded his payment. His fellow worker requested the same thing the servant had requested.....more time to pay what he owed.

You'd think that a man who'd just been forgiven an amount that nobody at that time would have been capable of paying off would understand and be compa/s/sionate towards another in the same position...and this wasn't even CLOSE to the same amount! Yet he didn't...he was angry and unforgiving, and had the man imprisoned.

When his master found out what he had done, he reminded him of his previous debt, and wondered that the servant didn't have the same compa/s/sion on his fellow worker.

The master then reinstated the debt. I'm not sure what the tormenters were...I'd guess it was worse than being sold, unless it means the same thing. Someone else can jump in and explain this part.

Anyhow, the moral of the story? Do unto others as you'd have done to you! Christians, you have been forgiven a debt you could have never paid. In comparison to that, how hard can it be to forgive your fellow men offenses against you?

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


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The section of the wise and foolish builders is basically the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, in order to understand this final section we must have in perspective the complete Sermon on the Mount that covers chapters 5-7 in the gospel of Matthew. The Sermon of the Mount is a brief summary of the whole message of the gospel preached by Jesus. We can say that it is the gospel in a "nutshell." The wise-foolish builders is an analogy about obedience and disobedience. Jesus uses this analogy to explain who are those that are OBEDIENT and who are those DISOBEDIENT to his teachings. The wise people HEAR the words of Jesus and puts them into practice. The foolish people only LISTEN but not hear the words of Jesus and disobeys them. So, the analogy of the Wise and Foolish builders is about obedience and disobedience. The Wise people obey Jesus and build their house on the rock and the Foolish people disobey Jesus and build their house on the sand. Where is your house build? Are you obedient?
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Hey Sue,
Good guess. Actually pretty well thought out. If not for the surrounding texts I might be convinced to agree.
In Mat 13, Jesus is trying to warn us of the dangers coming in the church age. The leaven parable must be taken in context with the rest of what He is talking about here. He explains two of the parables. Let's not jump around with interpretation. Although it is an interesting concept that the leaven represents the Holy Spirit, I think that puts Him in pretty shotty company with the way leaven is represented in EVERY OTHER mention in the Bible.
Remember, we must keep the teachings of Jesus in context. See my post above for the meaning of leaven, 3 measures, etc.

Jeffrey
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Looking to do something for school retreats involving the mustard seed parable.

I would really appreciate a picture of a Mustard Tree.

Thank you in advance for your kindness.
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To confirm my belief that God's destroyer angel was released on July 29, 2003 And is now surveying the United States, I was given a dream on July 30/31, 2003 that is similar to the parable of 10 virgins.

My reality was this: a clear water, cement canal, that winded, so that you could not see far ahead or behind because of the curves. I was swimming in this canal, when suddenly I saw a great white shark patroling the waters and coming my direction. I quickly climbed out of the waters onto the bank. I watched for awhile the creature swimming. Then I gathered the confidence to go back in. However, I knew that I must be vigilant incase the creature came back. Lo and behold, the creature did come back, but was on top of me so fast that I could not escape the water. But the creature passed by without harming me. I believe this to be the destroying angel patroling our nation which was released on July 29, 2003. I believe he does not have the power to destroy yet. And I believe we must remain vigilant, because the day and the hour inwhich he receives the power to destroy may come at any time. Dream/Commentary 2003 - www.bigfootlivesindallaswestend.com

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I wonder what is the meaning of clothe he wear,the ring,and the sandals..Please anyone can explain.Thanks ..
In Christ,
Edgar
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Jews believed that since they were God's chosen people, the first ones in being called; the gentiles(non-Jews) converted to God through the techings of Christ will not received the same reward. What Jesus was saying was that salvation was for all. No matter when you believed or how. What is important is who ha chsosen you. His character is just. He has prepared blessings for all who come to him.
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I encountered different opinions about the parable of the mustard seed...
but during the times of Jesus mustard is considered as the tiniest seed and concluded as the tallest of all the herbs before.with so much discoveries as of now,different interpretations come out.as for me Jesus compares heaven in to a mustard seed that started to a person,to a group then to a much bigger one...the world...now known as christians.the kingdom of God started into a scraped work but as years have passed,it grew and influenced each and everyone.if you'll observe a growth of a mustard,it is small before you'll plant it.but as it grows,its roots deepens down to the ground sucking up all the nutrients to live to grow tall.if you'll interpret it in the life of Jesus,he started as one, a carpenter and a poor man.as he grew old,he met some people.he called them and became his followers.he preached and preached until his words reached everyone,even alarmed the church before for he was considered as the awaited messaih,the savior.the small packed of Jesus grew and his teachings influenced each and everyone.as the faith of the people were united they stand tall to all obstacles against the people who are in contrast with the faith like Nero's occupation in roman history.if you'll see it the seed that was the tiniest one during Jesus time was him and the kingdom of God,the growth of the mustard is the apostles of Jesus,its roots is Jesus teachings influencing every jew,the nutrients is people's belief or faith and the height is the strength of christianity and its success doing its very best to reach the highest peak of the sky.
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The prodigal son is a lesson that not too many churches teach or believe in today.

It is a lesson in assurance.

God took for himself the name of "Father" so we could some how relate to Him. (Isa 55:8)

A Father can never say that a son or a daughter is not His.(Gal 4:6)and (Rom 8:14-17)

The father can write that person out of his will or kick him out of the house or correct him by discplinary measures (Proverbs 3: 11-12), but the child will always be the child of that Father.

Once you are born again (John chapeter 3 teaches one how to be born again) You can never "not be a child of God".

The world constantly misqoutes the Bible by saying "we are all God's children."Galatians 3:26 is often quoted without the second part of this verse.
Gal 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."


We Christians should correct them and say we are all God's creation but you don't become a child of God until you are born again.

1Pe 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." You see when you are born again it is forever.

The lesson in the prodigal son is that no matter how bad one acts (Thank GOD that this is true) you or I will never be disowned by the Father.



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Here the parable in the beginning says that Kingdom of heaven is as this. We know that Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom (Matt 16:19), and Peter did opened the door of the kingdom in the day of Pentacost (Act 2). So here definitely he is referring to the disciples (or christian) in church. Some commentaries refers the last servant as those of old days who were afraid to be corrupted by the world that moved out of cities to live by themselves rather than being the salt and light of the world. I believe the talents can be all that we have recieved from God including the salvation and opportunities of sharing the salvation. And yes, we will be judged by our Master for our own deeds as Jesus talked about fruits and its tree to be relatable.

And I don't care what people or pastor says about "once saved always saved" theology which is taught nowadays. Bible clearly says sin will kill us. as it is written in Heb 10:26~27

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."

Though we are not perfect and often sin time to time (or everyday even!!)
if we insist to have sinful "life-style" meaning justifying ourselves to sin as in Gal 5:19, we will be lost though we could be saved previously.

I believe this parable should be also studied with Parable of Ten Virgins, which starts with same heading.
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The rich man will be cast into the lake of fire, and Lazarus is now in heaven!
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I believe that the 10 virgins are bridesmaids. Wedding signifiies a good and wonderful time, and in our daily vocubarlary, "Let us celebrate and go partying".

When we go partying, it applies to everyone. In our christian world, every ordinary christians are invited. But if you are not alert and not watchful, you will miss the party time.

So, the virgins are just us, the ordinary christians. Bridesmaids help the wedding party, but they are not someone improtant enough to make or break the wedding.
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I was also wondering what became of Barabas after his release. I had always thought of him as a murderer, but "sedition" appears to indicate that he was a revolutionary..... and I wonder about his crimes also.
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Maybe the question is not so much a matter of when to ask, but whom to ask. I mean, does the father: a) validate the son's complaint?, b) respond to it epathically or sympathetically?, or c) admit the wrong and try to right it, e.g., "Hey, I hear you. Today we celebrate little bro, but tomorrow, it will be all about you."

Maybe, sadly, the dad is not far long enough in his receovery process, as an emotionall abusive parent, to see offer emotinal presence to his son. I mean, does he? he may be working out so much guilt for his faiures as a pop, the ones that the little bro's flight brought to the fore of his consciousness, that he cannot take on another breach or boken relationship. One breach at a time. That dad, I feel for him; he's got to be grieving and doin' a lot of make up for lost time. OR, he may be a changed man.
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Violation of any command is an act of disobedience or rebellion. Sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man. There are many commands from God unambiguously expressed in different parts of the Bible. Contravention of these commands is a sin punishable in different ways.

The most rtragic consequence of disobedience, however, is the hardening of heart due to habitual practice, which makes it impossible for the guilty to confess his/her sins and seek divine forgiveness. The sin of disobedience thus separates us from the glorious presence of God, an eventuality played out in the very early days of God-human interaction.

Another point to be noted is that there is very little leeway for us to justify ourselves by means of contextual explanations of our disobedience. Once we are convinced of our error, the only way back to His grace is through confession and renunciation. Remember the Pharisee and the tax collector at the synagogue, and the contrasting cases of the two thieves on the crosses flanking our Lord's cross on Calvary.
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Amen.
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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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I’ve read what you’ve written under the mustard seed and the leaven parables and I think I see the light…I think.

Correct me if I’m wrong but are you saying that Jesus taught two different analogies pertaining to the heart of man? The one likening it unto a garden in which the fruit are brought forth in relation to the seeds planted (ideally the Word)? And the leaven parable in which the heart of man would be like a lump of dough that the yeast of God’s word is “hid” in? It in turn manifests the fact that yeast was put in. Or it tells the story that something was “hid” in it. In other words “there’s nothing hid that will not be manifest”. Kind of like a candle shinning light (metaphoristically speaking). Is that right? Are these two parables saying in essence the same thing but from different angles?

Are you saying that THIS is Gods endorsed way of getting his Word manifest in our lives, or receiving a fulfillment of a biblical promise?

If that’s true, then do you have any idea how we “hide” the Word of God in our hearts? Or is it buried in metaphors that no one can figure out? Anything that you can share with me would be much appreciated.

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A point to consider. The older son was not good. He had a hard heart. He was instead, much like the Pharisees, self-righteous and proud of his performance rather than being true to his Father's love. He demonstrates no grace or mercy, but rather ridicules his Father for his rejoicing at the return of his brother. In effect, he curses his brother and his Father. This story really should be entitiled the parable of the prodigal Father. The Father expresses recklessly extrtavagant love for his sons just as our heavenly Father does for those who accept His Son as savior and LORD.
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I hope your study of the good Samaritan brings forth amazing fruit in your life. I think it is time for all of us to realize that time is running out and we should spend ourselves, as the good Samaritan demonstrated, seeking out and caring for the lost. We can truly be ambassadors from heaven if we're willing to take Christ to a lost and perverted world. Jesus is the only answer. May God bless you and anoint you to proclaim his Word with boldness to all who will listen. My prayer is that He will give you such a love for souls that you will spend time in prayer and fasting believing for a harvest of souls. God Bless.............in His service, Bro. Pat
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If you would send me an e-mail I think that I can give you the address of the person from whom I got the picture of a mustard tree in Jerusalem with a little boy standing in front of it. I have the address at home and currently am at the church. I also may have the address where you can get seeds which are about the size of ground pepper grains. Let me know.
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i am doing an essay on this parable and it is very interesting i think that it really is sincere in this conventional way of constitutionalized decons.
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All 3 servants were given talents to work with. The talents were given according to the ability of the servant. (The Master knew what they were capable of). The servants who receieved the 5 & 2 talents both did the same thing: went at ONCE and put his money TO WORK and GAINED five more. Although they were given the talents, they were not told how to invest (or use) them. (but they did understand that they were expected to produce an increase.) The Master expected a return on the talents he trusted the servants with. The servants who produced an increase were called good and faithful and had their responsibilities increased. The servant who hid his talent was called WICKED and LAZY, had his talent taken away, and was thrown outside. Was he called wicked solely because of his failure to use his talent wisely or was it because of his reasons why? ("You are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow)" Is the word "afraid" in Matt. 14: 25 an accurate translation?

Finally, the faithful servants made no mention of the Master's methods or practices. They saw the giving of the talent to they as a sign of trust & belief in what they could do (or what fruit they could produce) and understood that they were to produce an increase.

I think this parable has layers of meaning with the most obvious one being that God has gifted us for service in His Kingdom and when His Son returns, we will have to give an account of how we made use of the many blessings he gave us while we were on this planet. God means for us to impact a lost world through His gifts in us.

I hope this helped you. Just continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth & understand and He will reveal to you what God has for you in this parable.
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Perhaps the answer you are looking for in the question, "What was lost" is
"SELF". An object such as a silver coin cannot search for itself if lost or misplaced, it must be found by the one who lost it.

The prodigal son lost himSELF, searched, and found himself. He is the one who lost something, he is the one who remembered where he put it, and he is the one who found it.
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Go to the church where you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and ask them to explain it further. Tongues is a devine language that God understands. A direct communication line to him that the Devil can not understand. Also, check out..
http://www.bible.com/answers/ahsbaptiz.html
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If the father divided his estate between his two sons, 2/3 to the elder brother and 1/3 to the younger, then surely the younger brother returned to the land owned by his brother, not his father?
Please help.
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The parable looks toward the gospel cry of righteousness by faith just prior to the second coming of Christ This message will go out across the world and many who have been quietly seeking the Lord through bible study and prayer, in places where the gospel has been otherwise supressed, will join their voices to those who are giving this "Elijah" message, whie personally putting away every known sin from their own lives and warning other to do the same. These 11th hour workers will be of every kindred and tongue, and from every nation and culture where the gospel has been deliberately supressed. They will recognise from the leading of God's spirit through their study of His word, the truth of this message- when they hear it, and they will also sound this last call of mercy where missionaries have never yet been able to reach. They will enjoy all the benefits of God's grace as co-laborers with Him according to His plan for mankind's eternal salvation-even though others have been faithfully giving this gospel message for many years. It is not for man to say who recieves what rewards Christ will give his children. His government does not consist of industrial laws where wages are determined by human policy, but by the grace of a loving God who rewards according to the state of a man's heart.
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I'll just quote a sentence from this mail then put my oppinion....

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

My oppinion...............God looks apon the heart............people miss the point of this story, because they look at it through their eyes, and through their justification, so ofcourse those that are poor and suffer are more worthy than those who dont, God said their is none righteous no not one, rich people will go to hell exactly the same as poor people, we can sympathize with the poor but it is only aggreeing that envy has a place in Gods kingdom it doesnt............Jesus could have told the same story in reverse because gauranteed he knows one poor man that is going to Hell and one rich man that is not, but that would have not had the same appeal to our views on justification, we have to be led to the truth, line upon line precept on precept............. tell me when they shouted crucify him to pilate, were there more rich than poor? When Jesus said you seek me because your bellies were filled, ie they followed him fore the bread, and said Abraham was their father, and he said if Abraham was your father you would Love me................are these poor going to heaven?...............God looks upon the heart, it doesnt matter if youve lived the best life ie rich, or the worst life ie begger............circumstances wont change your heart, rich or poor if you have no love for God you have no love for God............10 lepers got healed only 1 came back to thank God........... I believe this story is not about rich vs poor it is about the heart of Lazurus and he had a heart for God ..................and it is a story of the Beauty of God because he is no respecter of persons.
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Some of us possess stronger ability to share God's grace, or our faith with others. Someone called to the ministry may be able to share the word of God more freely and to more people (i.e. possesses 5 talents). A deacon or a Sunday school teacher may be able to share the word effectively with a few people (i.e. possesses 2 talents). But someone who accepts Christ but makes no effort to share their faith and the grace of God, is like someone who buries their faith within themselves. Being too afraid to share the good news. Yes God does not need our help to save man, he could do all on his own if he so chooses (i.e. reaps where he did not sow, gathers where he scattered no seed). But God asks us to acknowledge him to man. To share the good news. This is our Talent, using whatever ability we have to share Him; not necessarily maximizing the use of our gifted profession.
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I have heard in the natural a mustard seed does not turn into a tree, it is an herb only. Is this true and where can you find info on a mustard seed tree?
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Hi'! I believe the parable of the ten virgins is about the pre-trib rapture of the Saints right after the antichrist comes on the scene.The wise Virgins get to go in the rapture,and the un wise stay here.They are still virgins so they are christians,but they were not ready.They are still saved but they cannot go in the rapture.If they were ready they could go,so this is a message to us all to be ready.Does the Bible tell us that the world will know who the antichrist is?Who will know when the antichrist is on the scene? I feel that the Bible is telling christians that they may be able to know when he first begins his leadership,and who he is.The world will think he is great and that he is good,but only christians could know the truth about him when he first appears on the scene.I believe the rapture is coming very soon.Let us all pray for each other day and night so that we will all be ready,o.k?I love you all though I do not see you! I love you because Jesus loves you and because we share the same Lord Jesus,and we share the same family through him.Please be blessed,and May God bless you all greatly,in his name,amen.Loving Jesus,Diane
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howdy
i just wanted to say hello and thank you all very much.you have kindly supplied me with informations i have been seeking for my homework for 3 days.
thanks again and i'd love to be a regular attendant here.
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The Trinity has always been a permanent part of God's kingdom (God is All) but hidden from view to the Church because of their blindness, and is still hidden from their view in a big degree. The true Trinity is not a human invention. The Church may THINK they know what the Trinity is, but your view of it is a better view than theirs. I doubt if the Church would acknowledge your view. It is interesting to note that just about that time, (300 A.D.) the raising of the dead ceased. Many think that when the Church government got into religion with all their rules, dogma, symbols, rites and rituals that that was the reason that raising of the dead stopped. "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? " Acts 26:8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12. Spirituality was lost to ritualism, consequently healing power lost too. The true Trinity is most certainly part of the Leaven, and the other way around also. Your idea of the Trinity is a better one than that of the Church. Why do we feel that it is incredible that Christians were able to raise the dead 300 years after the crucifixion of Jesus? We need to rethink our methods to be able to "go and do likewise."
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birds of the air
Strong's Ref. # 3772 for air
Romanized ouranos Pronounced oo-ran-os'
perhaps from the same as GSN3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specifically, the Gospel (Christianity):
KJV--air, heaven([-ly]), sky.
so it could be written as? so that the birds of heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

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Verse 12 - He divided unto them... I believe to be a type of the church and Israel. The older brother still under law, yet a son. The younger a type of the apostate church, leaving the spiritual and leaning on the arm of the flesh. We have programs for everything. If God were to die Saturday night 85% of churches would open their doors Sunday morning and never miss a beat. The church for the most part is blind and wretched like the Laodacians and yet the Lord is ever knocking at the door of His own church pleading for entrance. The Father let the son leave. Unlike most of what goes on today, begging people to stay in church, visitation, special concerts, and just about anything you can think of; joined to a citizen of that far country. Teaching lost people how to be religious. But Hallalujah, conviction does come and the church will come to herself and rise up and come out from among them and be ye seperate. The younger repents, returns home and the Father runs to meet him. Galatians 2:20 - Maranatha
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well, tradgically I feel as I was prior to today, a modern-day Pharisee I'm awful ashamed, I used religion to justify being bitter at others...reading Jonah helped...
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I agree with Jason Ward's comment about the background of wedding ceremony that happen at that time.

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

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

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

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

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

Just my opinion.. :-)
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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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