One the surface, this story seams to have as its main theme God's forgiveness through the example of a father who displayed unconditional love. However, I just want to talk about the demonic attack that the younger brother experience and also the demonic attack the older brother experience. The bible says that the younger brother joined himself to a citizen of another country (Gentile). It is clear that that citizen did not serve the God of Abraham, and had a spiritual as well as social (worldly) culture that was contrary to that of the Jewish people's belief. Now this can be seen as a demonic attack upon this young man's life inorder for him to forget God's laws that his parents must have taught from childhood. And if you compare today's christian experience it the same the bible says that we must be in the world, but not of the world.....

We restle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. The sins that allure us are as a result of the world, flesh (Carnal natuture and the Demonic powers that be.

And sometimes, even when a backslider is reclaimed, he/she experiences the demnonis attack that comes in the form of the older brother (church member) who will never let go off you pass, even thugh God has thrown your sins into the sea of forgetfulness.
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the moral of this story is you have many people in your life and many

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

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

one who is your neighbor. that is true religion.
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please send me a pictures of mustard tree.
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Many people focus just on the younger son...lets remember something here. The scriptures say that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost. What did the younger son actually feel in his fathers arms? Do you recon he was more excited about the feast, or the redemption? What had the older son lost sight of, in the presence of his father, but not in his arms? We tend as christians to get so busy in our "works efforts" that we loose sight of the purpose of our stewardship. Our carnal natures sneak into prominance and then we wind up working to achieve the wrong goal.....to please ourselves, not to glorify our Father! The Father said what to the older son? DO we as christians take full advantage of our inheritance and the privelidges of our Bloodline? The wealth had already been divied up, the older son had received his fair share, and should have then been enjoying the status of just living in accord with His Father....all the benefits of the Fathers prosperity were there for his use....but he wasn't using them was he! He was so busy still trying to please his father, that he lost sight of the fact that he was already in good standing with him. WHy do you think he felt he had to keep trying? See, it wasn't about pleasing his father....it was about pleasing himself....to be better than the lost brother..(in his own eyes). Our Father wants to see us take advantage of our status as his child.....to put to use and enjoy the benefits bring his children....or are we too busy (self absorbed) to see the big picture here? As children of the Father...we are sanctified, holy, we are his Glory.....so why do we scurry around trying to earn an inheritance we have already been given? That inheritance isn't ours to earn...it came as a gift! We own it...so why don't we put it to use!
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Hello!
How are you?
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Dear Sir: May I have a copy of your good shepherd sermon? I am not a pastor, just ibterest you sermon. also I am a forener student in OU.
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ok...um good?
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I am looking for a similar image. Did you get one? If you did would you mind sharing/sending a copy to me. I have been looking all over the net of a good pic.
Thank you,
APage
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This is simple. The seed is Jesus which is planted in the world. The birds are the people of the world whom are given the chance to eat of the tree which is planted for them.
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HI..WANT A COPY OF THE SERMON FOR THE GOOD SHEPPERD


THANK YOU....SO MUCH

SINCERELY YOURS,

RAUL GAWEC
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i want to get pictures and infomation about the story of the prodigal by today.
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Rev 20:1-15 KJV At the end of the 7 years after the tribulation
(1) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
(2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
(3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The "rest of the Dead" below are those since the 7th trumpet resurrection, which is called the first resurrection.

(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
(7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
(8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
(9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

JUDGEMENT DAY AFTER THE 1000 YEARS,

2nd resurrection, these are those that has died since the "7th trumpet resurrection" and since the beginning of time.

This does not include none of those who took part in the 1st resurrection!

Christians appeared already before the judgment seat of Christ, remember the (wheat & tares) or (good & bad servants) are separated!

Note: The ones who will have to stand before God are different then the ones that appeared before the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

These will have to stand before God and will be judged according to their works from the books OR if their name is not found in the book of life they will be cast into the lake of fire! This is the second death/resurrection.

(11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
(13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

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who were they really? what were some of their main beliefs? how did they relate to the Jews? to Rome? Where were they located? what rolde did they play in Jesus' life?HELP
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In the light of the way in which leaven is always used in the Old Testament, Christ could use the word in a symbolic sence---as he did in Matt.13:33, and Matt.16:6 and his disciples would know exactly what was meant. And the exactly the same thing can be seen where leaven is used elsewhere in the New Testament. Every place this word appears, the context always clearly shows the word being used only one way--to show corruption and deterioration- in complete keeping with the Old Testament usage. In Matt.13:33 the context leading into the use of this word has to do with fruit-bearing and with the method Satan uses to stop Christians from bearing fruit. The preceding two parables reveal Satan introducing false doctrine, with a progressive corruption and deterioration following. And the parable of the leaven simply reveals the conclusion of the matter. Acording to the parable of the leaven, the message surrounding the proffered kingdom during the present time would, near the end, become completely leavened. Corruption introduced at the beginning would progressively permeate the whole of Christendom untill that having to do with the proffered kingdom would be completely corrupted. This is how, according to this parable,the dispensation would end. The Church will not only left its "first love"{Rev.2:4}, but the Church will be brought into a state described as "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked"{Rev.3:17b}
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Denny,

I honestly didn't intend to leave the impression that we are praying to ourselves but I guess I did. And in a sense, any time we try to "establish our hearts" in something (be it good or ill), we mix repetition and emotion.

In some circles, it's called "positive affirmations". All it is, is self-talk. The world blasts us with negative self-images all the time. Really, the church does too (but that's a topic for another post).

Television and radio advertising conditions us to believe certain ways. The beliefs of our hearts drive what we spend our money on. Advertisers mix repetition and emotion through the senses. This sensual stimulation is designed to make us feel a certain way. Then it is repeated over and over until it becomes a pattern in us. When that pattern is laid down, the course of our lives follows.

We do the same thing as Christians. We immerse ourselves in the word because we it makes us feel good. We worship God because it feels great! We pray for the same thing over and over - not to convince God to do something He was originally unwilling to do, but to open up our hearts to the truth that we "have received" His blessing.

Mark 11:24 (NIV) says - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Jesus said "... believe that you HAVE RECEIVED it and it will be yours". Well, I don't know about you, but that doesn't come easily to guys like me. Think about it - I don't have it but I'm praying to God believing that I already have it. That's not altogether intuitive, ya know?

Paul said - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phil 4:6 NIV)

Did you ever pray with anxiety? I did. "God please have mercy!" That's really not the "kingdom way" to pray, is it? "Do not be anxious" but pray and petition - WITH THANKSGIVING! Thanking God for what? I'm just guessing - I'm no bible scholar - but I'd say we should be thanking God for the very thing(s) we were praying and petitioning about. "Dear God thank you for prospering me as my soul has been prospered. Now I can pay the rent." But your bank account is zero. God is good and He does deliver us from harm. He who trusts in the Lord shall not be disappointed.

Kingdom thinking is NOT intuitive but we get good at it after awhile. Fully trusting in God's grace is a challenge but it's not hard. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. His commandments are not grievous. And none of this is automatic. We spend time renewing our minds, don't we.

We conform to the world’s pattern when we pray with anxiety or think we've got to change God's mind about something. We are transformed when we renew our minds with "kingdom thinking". We "fully persuade" our hearts to receive the bounty of the kingdom of God - to believe God's promises by walking in His abundant life.

We condition our hearts the same way we've always conditioned them. We mix belief and emotion then we repeat it so that it gets down in our hearts, "GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!"

Denny, if you do that, you will be light years ahead of everybody you go to church with (unless you go to a MOST unusual church). If you get in your heart that God will not fail you, your study of His word will change. Things will begin to jump off the page. I know. It happened to me :)

God is NOT holding out on you. The good news is that God is not some "unjust judge" withholding His blessings. The apostle Paul understood that because he said, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32

God has come to our rescue (past tense). All we have to do is start believing it.

Or so it seems to me,
Rob




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Dear Brother,

Greetings in the nameof Jesus Christ.

I am preparing a message on Christ the Good shepherd and would like to have some good messages of the same and hope you can help me. Waiting to hear from you very soon.

Your friend,
Cheryan
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I first believed this was a great parble but now I don't. After much research I feel it lacks morale. What is it telling us stay at home and be a good person and GOd will love you less! I get the samemessage from th lost sheep?
ANy one want to debate this to the end?
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Interesting and varied comments thus far. I have given this parable some thought. I do not agree with the reverse parable conclusion. Jesus spoke to his audience in a way that they would understand. Servants or managers were entrusted to carry out the business of their master. Each of the servants were chosen to manage the talents according to their abilities. God does not entrust great authority and responsibility to a new believer.
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if the father represents God, the younger son represents us, who does the elder son represent?
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Dan,
As a mother in a similar situation, I empathize with you. since you wrote almost 1 year ago, I just wanted to write to ask how things are going. I know I never stop praying for my younger child (Is it something to do with birth order?!). I have become devoted to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She prayed for THIRTY YEARS for the conversion of her son from his paganistic, hedonistic ways! Her bishop told her that the prayers of a mother who had shed so many tears for her son would not go unanswered. St. Augustine eventually converted to Christianity and became one of the greatest scholars of the early Church.
Praying for the same miracle for all our sons...
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I agree the son was greedy. But take prodigal, \Prod"i*gal\, n. One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure (dictionary.com), could be directed to the son who stayed at home. A parent always wants the best for their child(ren). As everyone knows only self knows what is best for themselves. The son taking what he thought was "owed" to him, but really learning what life was like outside royalty learned how lucky he was. The other was simply bitter. Everything in life that has meaning you have to work for it. The son who spent all his riches learned
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Thank you for replying:My whole reason for writing the way I did was in case someone read it who does not know the word of God.Why refer to things some do not understand.Jesus used parables for a reason,b/c he knew everyone does'nt understand the word.(John 4:13)''Everyone who drinks this water will be thristy again,but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thrist.Indeed,the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'' This scripture speaks for its self.People cannot know God,Jesus Christ,nor The Holy Spirit through you.Yes we can wittness to others of God and His greatness,but that would only quench their thrist.People must get to know God for themselves,we are to witness to them yes,but they'll be judged alone.(Jerimiah 17:5)''Cursed is the one who trust in man,who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.'' People must trust God and know Him,not just read scripture;but have a intimate relationship with God.(Psalms 1:3)He is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yeilds its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.Whatever he does prospers.The only way to obey this scripture is to be planted in a word church first.Futhermore,knowledge is good but wisdom is knowledge acted upon.Wisdom is very good ,but w/o the love of God both of these are void.I understand exacly where you are coming from and everything you said made sense,so this will be my last reply;B/C I don't intend on arguing the word w/ anyone.Perceptions are always different even when it comes to the word of God. So I pray that you be led by the Spirit of God. Love you with the love of the Lord!!!
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I think this story gives us the clearest explanation in the bible of what happens to a person after they die
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I'm giving a speech to a group of over achievers and using this parable as my core idea....but i'm relating it to the mantra found in Spiderman which says that with "great power comes great responsibility"....
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1. The fig tree may have been recalcitrant.
2. OR, although the environment (temperature and moisture content of
the soil, and sunlight), may have been supportive of the early show of
leaves, perhaps the roots of the fig tree were not yet deep enough to
glean the rich nutrients needed for the fruit to develope.
3. Either way the fig tree was out of line with its own nature.
4. Much more to this. But it is really quite simple when you consider
God's universe.
5. Jesus did the right thing in stopping that tree in its tracks.
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Please send me a picture of a of a full grown mustard seed tree. Please send it as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Rosalind
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discription as to what jesus is refering leaven to be is not mention so then leaven could be any thing that would spread rapidly. ie. leaven of the Pharisees- hipocrisy Luke 12:1, ie. pursuasion Galatians 5:8-9, ie. Malace and wickedness, sicerity and truth 1 Cor 5:8, ie. spread of the gospel Mat. 13:33.
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Like the other parables of Jesus, this one is about fruit-bearing, and the un-fruitful are thrown into hell. Those who hear the TRUE word of God, they are cleansed by it by doing it. Christ abides in the TRUE hearers and doers. Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them..." John 8:47 - He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 Corinthians 4:15 - For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" 3 John 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Who can do good, but the true ones on the vine? Even TRUE faith is not from flesh and blood, but from God. John 3:27 - John answered and said, A man can receive NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven." 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" Not one man can TRULY say that Jesus Christ is the son of God nor can any man truly tell people,(so-called preachers, ministers, or pastors) Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Also, to put an end to false teachers that say if you believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and saviour, you'll be saved, NO MAN can come to Jesus unless God Himself decides that he would. Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." But then, those people heared the TRUE word of God, and the words of JESUS CHRIST, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then again, same gospel, 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.(God revealed it to them, and had faith in him, that faith is not from their own heart, but from God) 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve(God approved those 12, not the other disciples, because if He did give it to them to come to Jesus, they would of stayed, like the true disciples), and one of you is a devil?" Now all you people that read this, the false christians will not believe this, but the true christians will. John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." These sayings are in the bible, those who just ignored them in the bible will ignore my words(no, not truly mine) also. Those who believe these things, or knew them already, please, please contact me, at dallascourchene @ hotmail.com (NOTE: there are no spaces in the address.) Also to the so-called born-again christians, what did God call you to do? Live a normal life? I don't think so. People who are truly called are CALLED to do something for the LORD, not just worship Him and those who are called, know what they have to do by a certain wonder, or phenomemon. Acts 16:10 - And after he had seen the VISION, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had CALLED us for to preach the gospel unto them." Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 1 Corinthians 7:20 - Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," We MUST be also worthy of this calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" And yes, we can be perfect like Jesus. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 1 John 2:13 - I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father." 1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." We are called to be made into the image of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said so himself, the called can and will be like him. Matthew 10:25 - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord..."
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Please, people! Keep the Gospel simple.

We are not exactly sure what is meant botanically by the mustard which somehow grows into a tree-sized plant. If you study botany, you find that the mustards are the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae, cross-bearers!), a very large family of plants, including many of our common vegtables, but hardly any tree-size species. We should also remember that names in the Bible are frequently hard to match with modern usages. All this is fun to work on, but quite inconsequential for the meaning of the message.

It is very clear from a plain reading that Jesus is using the mustard seed as an illustration of something very small which grows into something sizeable and impressive, which can in turn support other life. The birds just happen to nest in trees, and one might wonder if they also have a significance as a sign of spirit, but once again that is just speculation. Certainly there is no connection here with Satan or evil in either mustard seeds or birds. All this talk about the parable's predicting something about the bad behavior of the church is also totally ridiculous.

I will repeat, the message is simple: it is that something small, and easy to overlook, will grow and flourish. That is the Kingdom.

Why did Jesus bother to say this? Think simple! It is because he was correcting a misconception that the Kingdom would come with dramatic, big events; or from high places. Many people today somehow expect that such things must come with claps of thunder and earthquakes. That is NOT the picture that Jesus is giving in his teaching in this parable; and this parable accords very well with other things he says.

The more I think of these matters, the more my admiration grows for the Gospel: not that I am to sit in judgment, but in that my soul responds as before something of beauty. And here part of the beauty inheres in simplicity and clarity.

My fellow Christians, there are many things we will not understand, and which we yet must reverence; but let us not also miss the chance to see what Jesus made very clear for us.
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I aggree with B. D. that this passage does not show where Christians are. And I would also agree with Ih or lh that the last part of the passage is a key that Jesus wanted to drive home to the Pharisees. He wanted to kind of plant the seeds in their minds that they wouldnt believe even if someone were to come back from the grave and smack them up side the head and say "look, I'm ba-ack"
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Dear L. Mertes,

I guess you are reading out of the New International Version or the Amplified Bible or the Men's or Women's Study Bible, which were translated from Greek texts missing the letters Tau and Epsilon to finish the word "eklipe^te" ([when] ye fail, that is, leave fallen out, or bankrupt, or otherwise lose your homes) in Luke 16 : 9 . The shorter text seems to date from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century CE. Without the second person plural personal ending "-te" we have the third person singular form, whose final "-i" was habitually left out. Without "-te" the interpretation becomes "[when] it [the mammon of unrighteousness] fails, that is, is gone." Precisely! In the NIV we read for Luke 16 : 9

"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

In addition to the third person "when it is gone," readers of these versions have elaborately explained the word "aio^nious" as eternal, for heaven, rather than everlasting, perhaps in the earthly sense as age-old and secure even when Christians lose their own homes through persecutions. To wealthy readers of the NIV who see the dwellings as eternal in heaven, "when it is gone" seems to mean when we are in heaven and cannot take our earthly possessions with us. From these erroneous texts comes the belief that there will be houses in heaven for which we must earn welcomes on earth through befriending many poor people. Now what should we do if these conclusions turn out to be human mistakes?

My faith is in the original Greek text with "eklipe^te": the source for Tyndale's Bible, the King James Version, and the New KJV. In these true versions, "when it is gone" appears properly as "when ye fail," and "aio^nious" appears as "everlasting" because no mention is made here concerning heaven. The KJV is translated word-for-word without emendation in many places, even where it is needed (Matt. 7 : 7 ), where the NIV and the Amplified Bible and so on show modified meanings. Let us examine Jesus' words in translation from Luke 16 : 9 (KJV):

"And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."

And thus said our Lord that we His followers should befriend people [chosen out] of the mammon of unrighteousness, which is to say, lost people of wealth. This sets the context for verses 10 through 13. The word "of" should not be misread as "with." We are not to seek friendship with the mammon of unrighteousness per se which would come with its source, the Devil; it is the people of it, the rich mission field, which Jesus has commanded us to befriend. Furthermore, I hold that the "everlasting habitations" are the age-old quarters available from rich landowners, surest refuge amid persecution. Thus, there are no welcomes in heaven to earn or forfeit by befriending the poor; the welcomes involved are those from the rich folk of this world for us to turn to in times of need. A corrupt text has cause many, however, to preach or publish false promises about heaven. Those saved among them will find the truth in heaven instead of the popularity for which they sacrificed on earth!

Because I know that truth already on earth, I cannot be deceived anymore by the NIV. Yes, Luke 16 : 9 (KJV) is for bringing money into the church. This is so because many other commands from Jesus will make us let wealth go (Matt. 5 : 42, 6 : 24 & 18 : 5 - 7, 7 : 7 ). The commands in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 : 3 - 7 : 27 ) absolutely must be obeyed in general practice in order to be like the wise builder in the Parable of the Wise / Foolish Builders. As for "picking pockets":

Jesus Christ actually commanded His followers to continue to ask, seek, and knock expecting to receive, find, and benefit from newly open doors (Matt. 7 : 7, Greek ) and backed this teaching up with passages to give freely (Matt. 5 : 42 ). How does asking without receiving get called stealing? This untrue rebuke is an insult of the Modern English language. It is in the context of a tight budget in which such insults are invoked. For this reason, we have Luke 16 : 13, in which we are warned that no one can serve both God, with His commands to give, and Mammon (wealth), with its impulses to save wealth for the future through stinginess.

If Wrongpastor of Wrongchurch dare call his beggars thieves or question them for stealing, a threat of prosecution, when they only ask, we can substitute the truth, "You arsehole!"-- for his actually false insult and translating that into Hebrew and back, we get the following "You fool!" (a morally deficient person), and Wrongpastor is in danger of hellfire (Matt. 5 : 22 ); we are to treat him as lost. This is even more certainly the case if he has invoked claims of "mental illness" or that "a counselor could help": persons called "mentally ill" or "in need of psychiatric help" (intervention, treatment) are those who got called the Modern English equivalents of "fool" in the original language. Let us consider Christians who have been forcibly hospitalized through testimonies of church staff as martyrs indeed for continuing to ask, seek, and knock. We have not only a right to ask, but a command. We have not stolen from Tightwad when we merely annoy people with our requests.

I conclude that those among us who have ever made requests or statements only to be forcibly removed from church or church events by police summoned by surprise or only to be subjected to psychiartic hospitalization are true martyrs for continuing to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7 : 7 ). Rise up, I yearn to tell my fellow lonsuffering comrades in Christ, our time has come! The evil servants shall be deposed soon! (Matt. 24 : 45 - 51 ; considered with the Parable of the Ten Virgins)


Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

a martyr in Christ Jesus for continuing to ask, seek, and knock
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Shaloom People,

(I am not a jewsih, shaloom is a common greetings for Indonesian Christian).

I think from what I know the inheritance in this parable is not one you collect after your parents died, but a sort of mutual fund the father keep apart ever since you are born. Many people in the old testament given their inheritance while parents are still alive. Mostly happen on daughters on their wedding day. See Rachel and Leah for example.

Any opinion on this friends ?

Sugeng Wiguno

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Rob

That was really good! I’m all ears.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God bless:)

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The Jewish lawyer asks him 'Who is my neighbour?'
When Jesus is telling the story we think 'the dying man is the neighbour needing to be loved' and YET this is not Jesus' conclusion!
The neighbour surprisingly is the Samaritan who loved (not the one who was loved - remember the question 'who is my neighbour? ie who is the one I am to love?' - Jesus answer is effectively 'the samaritan'.
What does Jesus change the subject of the neighbour? Is it hinting that we should love the saviour figure who everyone despises - ie Jesus!!!

What do you think?
thanks
frederick
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You asked, "Is it hinting that we should love the saviour figure who everyone despises - ie Jesus!!!"

Samaritan was a stranger to the one who was wounded, yet he showed mercy to some one whom he did not know. Jesus meant to explain it is easy to show sympathy to some one you know, but to show sympathy to a stranger is difficult. Going back to beginning of the story, Jesus narrated this parable in answer to the question,"What shall I do to have eternal life?" Some bible have interpreted as thus,"What shall I do to enter the kingdom of heaven? The parable was the answer to this question and not to the question, "who is my neighbor?" It means to enter kingdom of heaven or to have eternal life is as difficult as loving a stranger. Perhaps the people in kingdom of heaven would love strangers as well as we love our neighbors.

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My Aunt is doing a bible study on the mustard seed. She ask me to find her a picture of a mustard seed tree to use in the bible study.
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hi. i have a similar situation. im not stricly speaking a christian but i do value the teachings of the bible and i do have faith. i turned to the this parable to try and solve our situation but the answer i gleaned seems somehow wrong. my older brother worked for my dad in his medical practice with his secretary and became an important member of the team. he (son) had booked a holiday to greece and was expected to return within 2 weeks but he never did which left my dad in dire straights and without an office assistant which is a crucial part of that very busy practice. i had to step in and perform the duties my brother had been. now he wants to come back to his job and ridiculously high wage. like the prodigal son he squandered my dads money in another country andthen when it has all run out he will be back for more. i dont think he should be rewarded for abanoning my dad and i dont think he should be allowed to please himself. i know that if the boss wasnt my dad he would have been fired.if he is allowed to return he this kind of thing will re occur and he will learn nothing.i think he should be taught a lesson by not being allowed to waltz back in to the job. Although he is my brother and i love him dearly and i appreciate that is now "found from being lost" i think he should learn that his conduct was wrong and unacceptable. i know u guys will say forgiveness... which is all good but if he keeps being forgiven he will never learn. what do u guys think the right approach is? i would be most interested to read what you think the best course of action is. cheers
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This is not the complete story about the two sons.
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I have been tyig to figure out a parable my pastor gave me it goes as follows

I have friends but no friends

the second one is

Sometimes i laugh sometimes i cry can you help me figure out why

Any help would be appreciatd
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Yes, they came up for pay at the same time, but they didn't all work the same number of hours. Some worked the full 12 hours, some came at the eleventh hour and only worked one. The complaint was that the ones who came in late were first in line to get paid and they got a penny, so the ones behind them that had worked longer hours figured they would get more and they didn't, they got the same amount.
"Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" Seems it would mean that he was saying that they were upset because he was generous with those who only worked an hour and gave them the same pay, so they were lookin' at him like that was a bad thing.
I'd relate it to us by saying that those who have been Christians a long time might get upset that new Christians get blessings and are received as brothers and sisters as much as those who've been in the family for years and years.
The point would be that all of our work is for Christ, and we are as precious and equal in his site and of value whether we've been working for him all of our lives or for just one day. :)
Chrys
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Foster and Adoptive Parents are the embodiment of the Good Samaritian. They take in the injured and the hurting and give them love, compassion, and grace. Jesus said,"That that you do unto the least of My children, you do unto Me."
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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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'Hitch (and others): Bighouse has pegged the kingdom parables of Matt. ch. 13. '
Following this logic the sum of the historical workings of the HS on earth is abject failure as the leaven affects the 'whole lump'. Of course this means that Christ's efforts at building the Temple of 'living stones' is also a failure, since all are of the 'leaven 'as well.
I dont recognize this puny Holy Spirit nor the weak defeated Christ you present. I do reconize the foul stench of a dead lawyer in the person of CI Scofield who was an originator of this doctrine that is 180 degrees opposed to Christ's teachings.
BTW gents, even Pentecost of DTS fame has reversed the failed official (read Scofield Bible) position on the parables specifically the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. I'll provide the quotes,before and after , if you like.
Take care
Hitch

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(19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

He hears the Gospel but never believes!

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(20-21) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

This person believes in part but has not received the Holy Spirit!
The person can't read his Bible because he doesn't understand it.
He also confesses I am saved but is not truly Born Again!
It says that because of the Word of God by and by he is offended.
When somebody tells this person what the Bible says they are offended because what they hear in Church doesn't match what the Bible says!
They usually end up making comments like this:
Jesus didn't die on the cross and tell us all we had to do wuz believe in him and we were in Heaven. That would be too simple. A lot of people believe in him. It's that you have to confess that Jesus is your savior and that he died on the cross so that we could go heaven. We have to pray to him and ask him into our hearts.
John 3:16 destroyed by Theology! This person was a 16 year old baptist! Simple it is!!!!!!!!!!!!

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(22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

This person believes in part but has not received the Holy Spirit neither!
The person can't read/understand his Bible because he doesn't understand it.
This person cares for sin and money more then God!
He also confesses I am saved but is not truly Born Again!

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(23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

This person believes and has received the Holy Spirit!
The believe has been turned into a fact!
This can tell you when he believed and when he received the Holy Spirit!
The person can read his Bible and understand it.
He also confesses I am saved and is truly Born Again!

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The "fig tree," without fruit, represented fruitless Israel. Christ had sought fruit for three years, and had found none[Luke13:6-9]. There was nothing but leaves. Thus, the tree was to be "cut down", with a view to the Church being called into existence to bring forth fruit in relation to the kingdom of the heavens, in the stead of Israel [Matt. 21:43].
And, though Israel would be restored at a future time, Israel could never again be placed in the fruit-bearing position in relation to the heavenly sphere of the kingdom[Matt.12:31,32]. The nation, through a failure to bring forth fruit in this realm, had forfeited this right forever. Israel, when restored, can only bring forth fruit in relation to the earthly sphere of the kingdom
Thus, in Genesis, fig leaves only, apart from the figs themselves [fruit], depicted man's condition following the fall. He was in a fallen state, in no position to bring forth fruit relative to the reason surrounding his creation. Then, in the gospel accounts, Israel, though in a position to bring forth fruit surrounding the reason for the nation's existence[ as Gods first born son,in possession of the passover lamb], didn't bring forth fruit. And Christ used a fig tree without leaves only to respresent not only Israel's condition at that time [fruitless] but to also show, through the cursing of the fig tree, what was about to befall Israel.
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i think it is a real tribute i do that you people can love god so mutch
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all these responses helped me a million. im suppose to give a lesson tomorrow for my honors eng. class about the prodigal son and all these points of views gave me a variety on which to present to the class. :)
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jesus christ is the good shepard, he is the source of salvation, if you want to go to heaven you have to go through christ.
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I think that this parable is a great way of christian love. I think it is good because, the samaritan and the jews never liked each other and the only person that helped the jew on the road of jericho was a samaritan. Tnis is showing that the man that helped the jew wasn't racist. In the same way as this samaritan loved this man as much as he loved his own people, we also should have the same kind of love for all races. We shouldn't have a grudge against people of certain races. Loving all races is a positive kind of love. This is a great example of Agape love. Christian love.
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Please consider that a simple reading of this parable teaches something that is actually untenible.

How can it be that the 99 are " just persons, which need no repentance."

There are no such persons anywhere, ever.

So who are these 99, and to what is Jesus referring?

In Matthew 15:1-2 we read to whom Jesus was speaking: tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees and teachers of the law. These latter two groups were being critical of Jesus as he spoke.

Is it not the case that the Pharisees and teachers of the law were the ones who represent the 99? Would not they, and all who heard, have know Jesus was speaking of them as the ones "which need not repentance?" Not that they did not need repentance, but that they denied needing repentance.

The whole story is about the pruning of the vine, in which the hard hearted Jews were removed. The one sheep is then those Jews who would hear, and the gentiles as well.

As you read the following 4 stories Jesus gave, you will see this same thread in all of them, culminating in the Rich Man and Lazarus.

This is the real reason the Pharisees and teachers of the law got more and more perturbed as Jesus spoke!

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