We are all sinners. Whether we have God in our hearts always (stay with the Father) or whether we stray away and find our way back to our Father, He will always welcome us home with open arms.


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The Jungian view would be to see these two sons as parts of ourselves. The Shadow side would be the son we deny (hide). The Father represents Individuation, or Wholeness.
Many haggle over which brother should receive the most praise. If we consider that the risk-taking adventurer and the dutiful cautious law abider are just two slices to investigate within ourselves, we may deepen our understanding of how God can love both when we are centered in Him (or home). The older son "projects" his shadow on the younger instead of owning it. This is like the pharisee who prayed (regarding the sinner( "I thank you God that I am not like him".) Or like the woman about to be stoned by those who probably fantasized about what she did, but never dared act it out. Shadow issues come out when we get critical and judgemental.
Regardless of which brother moves us or yanks our chain, the Father symbolizes the wholeness (in Christ) that can come when we don't split-off (judge) and we come home to forgiveness (reconciation) and a wholeness that gives us peace. I am a Christian as well as a Jungian psychotherapist (pastoral).



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need for my sunday school lesson Feb. 25, 2004
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To this woman who wrote the reply above me, you use man's wisdom. Those who have ears to hear will hear what the parables mean. Other people are deaf.
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The man who left Jerusalem and started out on his way to Jericho is a picture of a man who is leaving the presense of God (Jerusalem), and is going downhill or backsliding to the fleshly way of life (Jericho), a city that was known for its immorality. When he started down the dangerous path of backsliding, he left himself open to thieves and robbers, a type of spiritual wickedness and demonic activity. He was pounced upon and robbed. The first things the thieves took from him was his robe, a type of the robe of Christ's rightousness. While he lay at deaths door on the backslidden path, a priest walked by. The priest is a type of "religion". When your soul is in desperate need of a touch from God, "religion" is worthless. Your religious tag is of no value whatsoever. The priest, or "religion, passed the wounded man by. Then a Levite came by. A Levite was a lawyer. When your desperate and out of touch with God, the "law" can't save you. The law is good, but only for letting you know you are a sinner. The law can't save you. The Levite walked on by. Then came the Samaritan. The Samaritan's were mongrel Jews. They were Jews who had married with other nationalities. The Jews were commanded not to do that, so Samaritans were outcasts. The Samaritan is a perfect type of Christ, because you see, Jesus was also somewhat of a mongrel. If you read his geneology, you will find Rahab the harlot mentioned, as well as Ruth. These women were not Jewish by blood, but had married into the Jewish race. ---------let me inject here that interacial marriage has never been contrary to God's Law except for the Jews, and that only because of God's Divine Purpose for the Jewish people and the Jewish nation for the reconciliation of all things-----------The Samaritan, or Jesus in type, placed the injured man on His jackass and took him to the Inn, a type of the Church. The innkeeper (a type of the five ministry-pastor) was told to take care of the man and the Samaritan (Jesus), paid the price for his care.
The man of Law was being taught by Jesus through this parable that the Samaritan, the man of grace, was his neighbor. In salvation, the law is very important because it convinces man of sin. Religion is important, if it is pure and undefiled religion. But we are saved by Grace through faith and that not of ourselves lest any man should boast, but it is the gift of God.
One of the most important points in the story is the fact that the Samaritan (Jesus), placed the wounded man on his jackass. The jackass is a type of you and I, average joe Christian. God wants us to be obedient in going into the highways and hedges and compelling souls to come. The jackass followed Jesus and took the injured man to church so he could be placed in the hands of the five-fold ministry and be healed mentaly, physically,and spiritually. I would encourage all of us to be jackasses for Jesus until his return.
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In the parable of the barren fig tree, something that stands out to me is the all-importance of producing fruit in our Christian lives. In other portions of scripture Jesus said that the axe is laid to the root, hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Have you ever asked yourself “do I produce fruit”? And for that matter how is fruit produced?

Look at the consequences of not producing fruit. “Cast into the fire”? It sounds like hell to me. This is serious business and I think it requires something over and above human opinion.

Oh, and get this, Jesus said that not only are we rewarded for our fruit, but that “every tree that my heavenly father has not planted will be uprooted in that day” Matt 15:13 (paraphrased). Capture that! All of the things that we apply ourselves to in the course of everyday life that does not come about from the sowing of the seed of Gods word will be uprooted and counted for nothing. That’s scary. There are going to be a lot of empty gardens in heaven if everything unfounded in the word is not permitted there.

I know a lot of Christians who think their Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, (I had to ask to find out the name) as they conduct the affairs of life. Stars in their own picture shows they are! All the while not realizing that when they stand before God he’s going to say “ah, I don’t reward for that up here”. “But I have a crazy smile like Mel’s” you say. I can just hear God saying, “Yea we’ll have to talk about that”.

So you have a person with no “Word” abiding in them and the few things that they do have abiding in their hearts-TRASH is not allowed in his kingdom. LOO-SER!

I encourage everyone to study the precepts of the “Kingdom of God” as found in Mark chapter four.

Jesus said, “with what measure you mete, it will be measured unto you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that has to him shall be given and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. Have what you may ask? How about the Word of God abiding in your heart? One scripture said that the man would have abundance. It sounds like the rich getting richer to me. But then what do I know.

All of us should be doctors of faith and of Mark chapter four, making sure that our hearts are filled to overflowing with the word of God.

I firmly believe that when we stand before God, the light that he emits will strike the word of God abiding in our hearts and it will look like a laser light show. Kind of like a chandelier, reflecting light in all directions. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father”. Of course Jesus said, “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”. Some people will be like black holes-the total absorption of that light.

If for no other reason then my asking you to, don’t be found in that state of disrepair on judgment day. When you look into the eyes of some people you’ll be overwhelmed by the desire to look away because of such an inglorious state. And yet others will carry this glorious light around throughout eternity. Can you imagine that? People will know that you’re coming from a distance because of the brilliance of light that you carry around. All because you took the time to sow to your inward garden the word of God.

What a glorious thought. Just think of it, you dear reader can have the white light of the sun shinning out of you’re inner man once we get into the presence God. And it’s your reward throughout eternity. But conversely, “he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”.


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I can not agree that these sheep are the pharisees and the tax collectors because Jesus in John goes to great lengths to say that those sheep within HIS fold KNOW his voice...do those who are unrepentant KNOW jesus' voice? Is Jesus the door to their fold? I don't think so! As leigh points out...there is only 1 sinner realising he is lost? No I don't think so...and of course there is the question...where does Jesus take this lost sheep back to????? the fold? or some other place? what then would happen to the 99 sheep????????
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How come some user has reported that the Rich Fool with a few comments had received the fewest when this one had not received even a single comment? I urge you to read the comments to all parables given on the site through before typing any comparisons. We need to listen and read more and talk and type less but more wisely. Now, I discuss this parable for the first time.

Of all parables spoken by Jesus, this one is the most inadequate from a single gospel. Only four verses are given because Saint Mark was a man of action with the Sensing function dominant in the MBTI personality indicator; his gospel, the shortest, reads like the script for a movie and omits details in order to keep the interest of a Sensing reader with a typically short attention span. His natural readers are the quickest to doze off, leave or interrupt. As if to answer in court, Mark cared to testify concerning Jesus' deeds at the expense of His teachings. In order to understand what the quoted Jesus actually taught, we need to remember what Matthew and Luke reported about watching and waiting for a surprise return (Matt. 24 : 32 - 25 : 46 , Luke 21 : 29 ff ). It is those accounts which will empower us to watch for the return of Christ.

Saint Mark's way for us to watch is to see and do, to listen and learn from those versed in the other accounts. He leaves the thinking, feeling, and intuition to others: Matthew, Luke, and John. Faith in the Bible will not resist them; fortunately for us, however, Matthew and Luke mentioned all those details so that John had no need to fill them in. Three gospels thus suffice to teach us what watching and waiting means in practical terms.

From Mark we know that of all the servants, we disciple of Jesus, the Messiah, are likened unto porters, "thyro^roi" (door + see, watch) or butlers in Greek, with responisibilities to answer the door (or telephone) when people come knocking (or calling) to ask and to seek (Matt. 5 : 42 , 7 : 7 ). One Sunday morning about two months ago, a homeless neighbor of mine and her man kicked out by her grown daughter knocked on my door at 5 a.m. on a Sunday before morning when they could not stand the cold night outside any longer. The woman asked for three hours inside. Found sleeping and hastily clad in a robe I let them in, even though the man was not mentioned, even though they disobeyed my command to sleep on my floor and left leaves on my new couch, and even though they stayed four hours before I moved toward kicking them out and they took the hint. My own night's sleep was ruined, and I felt jetlagged. I had, however, used my living room to keep them warm and to get four hours of televangelists' presentations of the Word into their ears and perhaps sinking into their hearts. I have planted a seed.

I was found sleeping by homeless unbelievers. Don't let Jesus, however, knock at your doors to find you sleeping on the job, so to speak. Mark omits all the details for the precise timing of Jesus' return. Back then, nobody save God knew anything about time zones, and many believed the earth to be flat despite observations of ships sinking beyond the horizon. Anybody who might predict such a time for Jesus return as 6 a. m. (regardless of location) would be a liar to the vast majority of the world beyond his narrow time zone even if He should chance to come then unto him. For our times, however, St. Matthew reports that Jesus taught that He would return by surprise in a time of plenty when people were not looking for Him and while women were grinding grain and men were at work in the field. All I assume below is that Jesus Christ, because of His good, loving character rather than a knavish, tricky character, would never return to an inhabited time zone without the signs of field work and milling there with word that Americans were hard at work far away, nor would He return to the Russians without the sign in winter with word that Americans far away were eating fresh fruits and vegetables flown in.

In that case, we can know general periods throughout which to watch for Christ from Matthew 24 : 32 - 44. The first sign, the fig tree, represents modern Israel. The generation which Jesus has promised will not pass away until the Glorious Appearing ... was twenty years old when modern Israel was founded in 1948 (v. 34; reference to Ezek. 38). Thus, out of all centuries of history, Jesus' Second Coming is for our times. Verse 35 is a warning to every believer who despairs of world evangelism in time (v. 14) that Jesus will live up to His Word to make it happen and return in time to find live Jews of the mentioned generation. Hallelujah! In need of warning are all Christians who made or believed promises to evangelize the whole world by the year 2000 but now forget them or cover them up. Mark elaborates on verse 36 while The sign of Noah in vv. 37 - 39 tell us when in the year or economic cycle to watch for Jesus: in the boom times with fresh fruits and vegetables to eat and weddings taking place.

We would be foolish, therefore, not to watch in June of all coming years. The more we learn about life in more austere mission fields such as Siberian settlements, the fewer weeks will remain in the year in which we must watch for Jesus, at the expense of having God call us to give your wealth away to help their people because they will ask. Next comes the time of day in our respective time zones with more admonition to watch (vv. 40 - 42), which I understand as follows:

Before the Industrial Revolution with its continuous processes and electric lighting, people worldwide farmed and ground grain by day and partied or slept at night throughout the week. Whenever the sign of field work and milling existed throughout one hemisphere, it was absent in the other. Nowadays, however, farmers in the United States and South America are observed with their equipment in the fields making progress at night whether to hide drugs or to finish in good weather, and Cargill and other milling companies process grains continuously throughout the week. Such a practice invites Jesus Christ to return by night. This leaves no promise from Christ for Americans concerning the time of day, yet He will keep his promise to the underdeveloped nations of the Old World, where farming the fields and grinding grain are still done only by day. If you go to Africa or Asia, where many peoples have yet to hear a testimony of the Gospel, you can see the signs in the daytime, while those who remain in the United States might have to watch around the clock. I thoroughly expect that the Rapture will occur between midnight and 4 a.m. in Indianapolis because of Jesus' promises to the Old World. That's a wide swath of four hours in the inconvenient night because no one but the Father God knows the day or the hour (v. 36). Those of us who cannot watch require sending out as missionaries to the Old World. And now, let us examine verses 43 and 44: that people will be caught sleeping and live to regret it like a successful burglary. This sign, like that of Noah, shows us that people will not be naturally seeking Christ at that time and tells us when in the week we must watch in season at the right time of ***night*** (American times). Our Lord will not return during any American church's Sunday School or Sunday Morning Worship or Weekly Bible Study or Wednesday Worship or on the Jewish Sabbath. He will not return when many pastors are preparing their lectures without cause and desire to demonstrate the apostasy of all their teachings. Therefore, since most pastors take Mondays off after teaching on Sunday, in season we had better watch on so-called Sunday nights and Monday nights actually falling in the wee hours (in Indianapolis) on Monday and Tuesday, although Jesus could return to take us home later in the week before Sabbath preparations. With at least two nights in the week to watch, we do not know the day of the week for Jesus' return (v. 36).

I have discussed the next parts at length on the Ten Virgins page. Now that we know when to be best prepared to meet Jesus, I turn to Luke for guidance on how to watch. While Saint Luke parallels Matthew in Chapter 17, it is Chapter 21 which shows Jesus' warning against being left behind to face the Tribulation (Luke 21 : 34 - 36 ). From Jesus' mouth in verse 34, it is a heart laden with overeating and drinking or drunkenness and
worries of life which set many of us up for being left behind by Jesus. Just belonging to Jesus will not spare us the Tribulation. If you are continually worried, that is habitual sin (Matt. 6 : 24 ff ). The worried believer who cannot or dare not ask, seek or knock for relief (Matt. 7 : 7 ) and whose prayers fail to avail relief gets called by God to fast. Why, with the guilt of Israel, Moses fasted forty days! Our Lord did the same in order to stand His Temptation. Yes, genuine Christians can, and many probably will, be left behind to face the Tribulation for living it up despite their persistent worries and sleeping when Jesus takes the prepared believers home.

I have desired to preach Second Thessalonians at some graveyard on television during Indiana's wee hours in season on so-called Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights to warn American Christians that the Lord Jesus Christ expects us to watch, to wait up for Him, and to go abroad as evangelists if they cannot stay up, but my friend in Christ, Dallas Barr, has discouraged me for fear that I might appear to be there to rob graves. I lack formal theological credentials and declare my informal learning good enough with the time short. (Lord's Prayer)

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

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









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My take is first thing I have read the tree by the rivers take and I must say I disagree. Jesus never has need for anything. He is the almighty, omnipowerful God. He wants something he has it.
Anyway, My take is that Jesus had come to the barren fig tree and used it to symbolize the man. The man as a christian had not beared fruit for three years and I think God is trying to tell us that if our christian tree doesn't bear fruit then it is more useful to be cut down. As christians we have a spiritual fig tree and It is our job to make it bear fruit. And that comes through studying the Bible,praying, and believing and working for the Lord. If we do not do these things and our tree's do not bear fruit than we are useless as christians. That's my take. Love ya Jim
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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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Please send me a picture of a mustard tree/plant. I need it for church. Thanks, HEIDI
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I agree with you! The fowls of the air are from Gen 1:20-21, 31 where God, who is Love, brought forth the fowls of the air to fly in the firmament of heaven and God saw everything that he made and behold it was very good. (Why would a good, loving God create evil birds to fly in His heaven? He did not.) Why would anyone want to take a symbol of inspiration, love and protection such as birds reflect and want to see them as they are described but once in the Bible as unclean, foul and hateful? There are so many inspired references to wings, brooding, flying, nest, eagles that are beautiful in the Scriptures. I'd rather take the inspired Word of the Bible. Mustard seed and leaven are synon. and both small but growing and changing into good, useful things. The woman hid the leaven in three measures of meal---modes of human thought. Meal in the Bible stands for healing. The leaven is NOT that of the hypocritical Pharasees but of God's Christ, Truth. This leaven of Truth is changing the whole of thought until the whole of evil thought is leavened--changed into Truth. The grains of mustard signify this growth of Truth too, until the leaves of the tree of Truth are used for the healing of the nations--knowing the Truth that makes us free----free from what? A lie. Truth always frees us from lies. Truth never frees us from itself! Only, only from lies. The devil is a liar and the Father of it and abides not in truth. John 8:44
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I have food for thought for anybody interested in the Mark Chapter four or the seed parables. Allow me to put this in the form of a question: Might the thing that we are growing in this mystical garden be faith? Found below is an excerpt from Luke’ account, it’s chapter eight. Notice that I’ve emboldened and italicized-if it came across that way-the words “believe” in verse 12, and “a while believe” in verse 13.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Notice that in verse 12 the devil took the word out of a person’s heart “lest they believe and be saved”. Why the lest? Maybe because the “believing” (belief, faith) is the actual thing that were cultivating, and that will eventually produces results. They received the word of God on a matter, “faith cometh by hearing…” and a belief began to grow. Had they maintained it, it would have produced fruit. It would have manifested. But if there’s any truth to this idea of faith (belief) being likened unto a plant, then we know that the plant will have to grow until harvest time (a while).

Notice verse 13. There were people who’s hearts were likened unto rock (hard hearted) that received the word just fine, and also notice that they “believed” for “a while”. What determined when the “a while” was over? How about when they let go of the word of God? They probably did this: they prayed “father I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I accept him into my heart by faith-I believe that I’m now saved ”! But when Satan launched a campaign to convince his senses that nothing happened, he opened his mouth and said, “dang, I’ll never be saved, just when I try may hardest to get serious with god, for some reason I end up doing all these things that I haven’t done in years. I am so pathetic. Is there any help for me? Man, I don’t deserve any grace-the way I’ve been acting. What on earth happened? Oh, just skip this stuff. It’s too hard”.

What happened? He said something contrary to the prayer he prayed when he accepted (received) Gods word. Satan convinced him to call it off. Now, what if he would have responded this way: “Man I can’t believe the stuff I’ve been doing. I don’t know why all this crud is just attracted to me. But it doesn’t daunt my faith in the least. I stand firm on what I said and I don’t care what I do or how bad it gets, I BELIEVE THAT I’M SAVED! CASE CLOSED. Come hell or high water Jesus lives in my heart by faith and I AM A BELIEVER. And If I die from being pathetic, I’ll die believing that Christ lives in my heart by faith”. This man is good ground, because he’ll see this thing through unto the end-harvest time.

The thing I want you to notice is this: There is a time in which a believer is indeed “believing” and yet the cycle hasn’t been completed-no manifestation. Remember we don’t plant a seed one day and reap the next. Patience is involved. But as long as he held fast to the word that was “believed” by verbally receiving it (“if you had faith as a grain of Mustard seed you might say… whosoever shall say unto this mountain…. I believed therefore have I spoken-the spirit of faith” (2nd Cor. chapter 4:13) “, the person was meeting the requirements set forth by God. HE WAS DOING IT. And yet it was not manifested.

I once did some studying of the Mustard plant. I even bought some seeds to see how long they took to grow. Most packages say that in forty days it’s mature, one said about fifty days. I don’t know if that was indeed the plant that Jesus talked about, but I find it interesting, the growing time of the Mustard plant.

Did you know that in Gematria-the biblical study of numbers, that forty means a time of trial, chastisement or probation (Jesus was tempted forty days of the devil)? And fifty means rest or completion due to the perfect consummation of time and it denotes deliverance after that period of time? As in the day of Jubilee, or Pentecost. I’m still undecided about the numbers thing, but isn’t it interesting that the growing time of Mustard coincides with biblical numbers that have relevance?

Could there be a God appointed growing time to faith? It makes sense to me that there would be. What farmer doesn’t know the growing time of the crop that he plants? However, that being said it’s still just speculation.

I believe that the parables of the Kingdom pertain to faith or to “believing”. This being said I think it’s a good idea to learn to use that expression often in prayer. “I BELIEVE” such and such. It conveys to the inner man that your not basing these things upon anything that can be seen, but your choosing to use this God given mechanism given to every man-to cultivate an inner picture in your heart. That picture being faith, which is based purely on what God says is true, but what the senses say isn’t-at that time. But held fast to, we can manifest it to the world around us.








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I am doing Children's Message on faith and the mustard seed.
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Remember the context of this story was "who is my neighbor?" A question Jesus answered with this parable. To say that a person will inherit eternal life simply by having a good heart, ignores too many passages, which require a person to "accept Jesus as their Lord and savior and accept that he dies on the cross for their sins". Passages like Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10 within their contexts make this quite clear. To say that having a "good heart" is all a person needs to insure their eternal life, contradicts the Bible rather severely and I hold the view that the Bible is dispensationally correct.

Also remember, that the passage "Judge not lest you be judged" must also be viewed in its context. Jesus was saying in that passage of Matthew that you should not judge another if you too have the same sin or worse in your life (the idea of a beam in ones own eye...). However, as Christians we also read that to "restore an erring brother is to cover a multitude of sins". Therefore, to know that he is erring, we must judge him to know whether or not he needs restoring. Jesus was not saying that judgement in and of itself is bad, but rather he who judges others should judge his own self first for he, and every other man, will one day stand before the throne and answer to the Great High Judge Himself.

I hope this has clarified the importance of context and helped all whom read this parable to stay true to its context.
-myself your servant for Jesus' sake.


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Dear Kathleen,

I am also a CGS catechist and am looking for a photo of a mustard tree that would be appropriate to use with the children. If you have anything like this, sould you mind forwarding? Thanks! Nadine
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Imagine another 144,000 jews like Pauls running around the world preaching the Gospel. Wow is all I can say. We need some of them in the USA now!

144,000 jews doing the job the church hasn't done!


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

The comment should be "to Abraham" rather that "to God"

Simply another reminder that I am as fallible as the next man.

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The ten virgins represent those to whom the offer of the kingdom of heavens is presently being extended. They, thus, could only represent ALL of the saved ["ten"showing ordinal completion] during the present despensation [ all of the saved ], would represent those who will form the bride[those called out of the called]. All ten of the virgins possessed lamps with oil.The request of the five foolish virgins in Matt. 25:8 should read," Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out'[ ref,ASV, NASB,NIV]. The difference between the wise and foolish virgins lay, not in the thought that the foolish had no oil[ otherwise, their lamps could not be "going out"], but in the fact that the wise virgins possessed an extra supply of oil. "OIL" is symbolic of the Holy Spirit[1Sam. 10:1,6;16:13; Lev.8:10-12;21:12]. The five wise virgins possessed an extra supply of oil typify Christians possessing an extra supply of the Holy Spirit , i.e., Christians filled with the Holy Spirit; and the five foolish virgins lacking the extra supply of oil typify Christians lacking an extra supply of the Holy Spirit, i.e.,Christians not filled with the Holy Spirit. All ten of the virgins in Matt.25 went forth to meet the bridegroom together- just as all Christians will go forth will go forth to meet the bridegroom together. But only those five wise virgins with an extra supply of oil entered into the marriage festivties [v.10]. Thus, will it be in the future experience of Christians relative to being filled or not being filled with the Holy Spirit
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One Talent Man buried it in the "earth," was cast out into utter darkness. For when the Light-Word-Truth came, the darkness comprehended it not (The John 1:5). Because the darkness believed that salvation was for the Jewsish church. For those who believe Jesus spake not for without a parable, it's reasonable to believe that the pre-Incarnate Jesus taught Moses how to write Gensis in parable, metaphor, and allegory. For the apostle Paul in Galatians 4:24 confirms the 2 covenants, the first with the bondwoman, Hagar, as well as the freewoman, were allegory. Likewise Moses addressed his people as following, "Give ear O' heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O' earth, the words of my mouth." Deuteronomy 32:1. Therefore the priesthood equated with the emotionally, spiritual matured were cast out into utter darkness because they failed to reflect the Light-Word-Truth to their own church. They buried their very reason to be in utter darkness. A serious warning to Christendom. Deone Hanson
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Shaloom Guys (again, I'n not a jew),

The traditions spoken of the pharisees are actually the book of Talmud, which is their interpretation of what the Torah actually means, and how to comply them.

In example, the Talmud says that the meaning of not working during the sabbath are, to name one, not walking more than ### number of paces. Lifting things are considered working, but holding a baby is not. However the baby must not carry anything more than the usual baby clothing, in example a lamp. So lifting and holding a baby is not working, but if the baby holds a lamp you are breaking the Torah, so they say. (That's why israelis nowadays have moslem servants ha ha ha). One famous talmud tradition is washing of hands before eating.

The Talmud is not considered THE WORD OF GOD by Lord Jesus, rather HE called it a human tradition.

Sugeng Wiguno

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And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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in no way does it say the kingdom of heaven is derived from the works of satan matt 13:31 it is another parable with no connection to matt 13:24
This is the tares by Robert Corbitt on Tuesday, May 13 2003"The mustard seed is seen growing after an adnormal fashion, showing Satans success in stopping Christains from bearing through causing an unnatural devoloping so abdormally that it eventually became a tree; and this tree is seen to be of such a nature that" the birds of the air", indivduals doing the work of Saten, found a lodging place in its branches[v.32;cf.vv.4, 19.]". NOW Robert Corbitt you shall understand read matt 13:14,15
go claim your healing but tell no one.
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There is nothing that says the older brother is loved less, the father says in the story that what is his is the older son's also, jus because he isn't rewarded like the younger son is doesn't mean anything negative. The older son should not be jealous or envious because his reward will come also. It's just that God's love is also there for those who have sinned and have recognized their sin and return to accept God's love by asking for forgiveness.
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Just because someone with riches who wishes to keep them dare insult a beggar as a thief does not imply that Jesus would consider the beggar to have even thought about stealing anything, as if it were a sin to ask. On the contrary, Jesus Christ taught His followers to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, expecting to receive, find, and benefit from opened doors! (Matt. 7:7, Greek )

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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The “secret” (Death of the seed)

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

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

Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the LEAVEN of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

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

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

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

What’s Jesus saying?

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

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

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

Hid
Concealed
Kept secret
Covered
Planted
BURIED

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

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

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

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

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

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

But still how does that apply to us?

Jesus said:

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

Paul said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does that sound familiar?

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

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

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

Have you hid your candle?

WHAT?

Jesus said in Mark chapter 4:

21And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.


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

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

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

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

God Bless and “tell no man”.

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If the wise virgins are the Church as many of us(including me) why did they not tell the foolish virgins to come as you are to the master? We as the Church often fail to see the wideness of Gods mercy and grace. God welcomed the prodigal as he was not requiring that he go to those who sell oil first. The wise virgins basically told the foolish to go and cleanse yourself and make yourself ready for God. We cannot do this. Justification comes from God alone and through Grace we are sanctified. We too tell those who are seeking Christ that they must pray a certain way, act a certain way, tithe etc. in order to be the right kind of Christian. In short we send the foolish out for the oil of the world, that is works. But praise be to God, even though we who have tasted salvation continue to be blind to the wideness of Gods mercy we are still welcome at the Lords Table. I am fully convinced if the foolish virgins came out and fell at the Bridegrooms feet he would have embraced them. And further if when they came to the gate and told him that they had tried the oil that the world offered but now have come to God for salvation that God would have thrown wide the door and let them in. When they came however they came still trying to gain entry with the oil of the world. Let the Church stop offering the oil of the world and start offering Christ.
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To Robert Corbitt, THAT explanation is to me the correct one. I read some of the answers, but yours fits the bill. Thank you.
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You missed a very important point in the scripture you used, 'if it were possible' the elect shall be deceived.
It is impossible for God's Elect to be deceived, God uses His Elect, to fulfil His Word!
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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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Parable of Pharisee and Publican

1) Whats the religious message of the account for the people of Jesus' time?
2) Whats the religious message of the account for people today?
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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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Here is what I see fits better.

1.The leaven is the Gospel. 2.The woman is Israel which hid or cut off the Gospel in the world. 3.The 3 measures of meal can mean the Jews, the Gentiles, and the people during the melennial reign of Christ.

When a new believer is added to the body of Christ, the number of the redeemed grows. Similiar to leaven, it grows until it is fully grown, and then it is finished. This does not mean that everyone will be saved, but that the harvest is ripe to reap at this time.

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what is the significance of the two silver coins when the good samaritan gives them to the man in the inn?
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The man was asking Who was his neighbor in response to loving others as yourself. By saying we don't have to believe in Jesus to inherit eternal life leaves out the first half of verse 27 where you are to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strenght and with all you mind." This is HUGE! and we cannot ignore it when trying to understand Jesus's message about loving EVERYONE not matter who they are in relation to you.
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And new hidden door to blessing iIwill open today in Christ and many treasure may the Lord give to me and joy that go an and win the lost to him and teach them of the bibles wisdom and holiness in righteousness and joy,thanks and bless and pray,keijo sweden
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I am teaching pre-school childred and would like a picture of a mustard tree to show them
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The fig tree without fruit represents our fruitless life. The leaves represent the word of God. You see we can have a lot of word in us but not produce fruit. The word of God in us has to be watered, birth in our spirit and then preached to the people. When the Lord told the man that he was going to cut the tree down and the man told the Lord no give me a year I will dig it up and fertilize it this reminded me of how Jesus interceeds on our behalf. Even Moses interceeded for the people of Israel when they were worshipping the golden calf. Even though this was a tree the man loved that tree and he knew that if he was given the chance to dig up the ground and fertilize it there would be fruit the following year. This is the same love the Lord has for us he always gives us a second chanc
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Yes, the symbolic name of the younger son is Ephrahim. The older's name is Judah.

Selah,
Donimus
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WE AS CHRISTIAN'S NEED TO WELCOME SINNER'S!! OUR TESTIMONY COULD EITHER PLANT THE SEED FOR THEM OR BRING THEM INTO GOD'S PRESENCE AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
IT IS HARD SOMETIMES AS A CHRISTIAN TO IDENITIFY WITH SINNERS BECAUSE WE HAVE JESUS LIVING WITHIN US TEACHING US THE RIGHT WAYS. JUST REMEMBER THAT EVEN AS A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE STILL A SINNER BUT WITH BENEFIT & ETERNAL LIFE.
APPLICATION TO MY LIFE:
IDENITIFY THAT DESPITE A SINNER'S TROUBLES & ATTITUDE THEY TO ARE JUST AS ELIGIBLE FOR HEAVEN AS I WAS. IT WASN'T UNTIL JESUS CAME TO LIVE IN ME DID I CHANGE MY WAYS.
GO AFTER SINNER'S TEACH THEM, GUIDE THEM, & LOVE THEM. SHOW THEM JESUS IN YOU.
THANK YOU FOR READING! I HELP IT CAN BE A HELP AND A BLESSING AS IT HAS BEEN TO ME.
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Janette,
I feel like i know what you are going through. I was saved several years ago, I have also strayed away from God in the past year or so. I question if I lost my salvation and faith. I realized that Once the LORD is in your HEART he is there for GOOD. NO MATTER WHAT. He will alswya be there for you even if he feels distant.
I pray that God would reveal HIMself to you today and that his HOLY SPIRIT will rest upon you in a might way today. Where he is Evil cannot be. The only way evil can enter into us is if we open a door to it. focus on him and his faithfulness to you.


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My team at my chruch is going to be teaching this to K-5th graders what should we do to help them learn.
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Hello,
Thanks for all the comments. It's been very interesting reading the inputs. I've always felt for the older son because he had stayed with the father all the time and yet he felt that there was no reward for him. His father seemed to "prefer" the younger son who had squandered all his inheritance in loose living. I think I am guilty of this as well.

My concept of God's character is one who keeps accounts - that if I am good and do good deeds, He will love me more. But actually, God is not like that. He loves us whether we do anything good or bad. That's just how he is. God is LOVE. When Jesus died on the cross for us, He died while we were still sinners, even though we rejected Him, He chose to die for us.

I am so glad and grateful that my heavenly Father is always so loving and so good. His love for me is never dependent on my performance (preach to 1000 people or don't even bother to go to church). I am reminded that I must not be like the older son. I need to be set free from self-righteousness (just like the Pharisees). To recognise that I am just a sinner who needs Jesus so badly. There is nothing I can ever do to earn His love for me. Praise God ! ! !
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Follow the Path the Lord has chosen for you & you will be a wise builder.

Follow your your own desires and will and you shall fail in the end. ( the foolish builder)

Gods principals of Life are rock solid. Mans way of success and living according to the reliance on money and ourselves is a sure way to fail.

Build your house on the Rock of Faith in the Lord, not on the dangeroues and unsafe foundations on man - ( to build on sand.)
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The ring signified his acceptance and authority back into the family

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Please send me the picture of the Mustard Tree. I would like to use in a presentation when we dedicate our community garden in May 2009.

Thanks so much. May God continue to send us all blessings!
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Big Island, please see my response under the topic of "leaven and the dough parable". But yes. I think you've seen the light!
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Please send me via e-mail or inform me as to where I can obtain a picture of a mustard tree. Thank you!
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What is and needs to be hidden?
God's gift WAS hidden. Lots of good things were hidden to protect them.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Is 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Matt 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Ps 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Col 2:2-3 the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 3:3 your life is hid with Christ in God. Matt 13:33 The kingdom of heaven (leaven) which a woman hid in three measures of meal. Matt 13:44 the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Ps 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Ps 63:1-2Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Is 45:2-3 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Ps 17-19 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. Ps 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Ps 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; Ps 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Is 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. John 8:59, 12:36 Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 1 Cor 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Col 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

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I am a deeply troubled believer in Christ Jesus harmed and long neglected by today's evil churches. If their leaders are true to the Word of God rather than apostates, usually an evil servant such as a Church Growth Movement pastor runs the show and dominates his needy, for which exceptionally severe judgement is coming (Matt. 24:45-51). If I find a church faithful in doctrine with a good servant, he usually disppoints me with his flock's utter unfaithfulness regarding the unrighteous mammon, that is, worldly wealth. They won't even let me teach Luke 16!-- a critical passage without which they will continue to refuse my requests in the face of Jesus' own words (Matt. 5:42, 6:42, 7:7, and 18:5-7) for fear of being made poorer. I condemn the stinginess of today's American churches in Jesus Christ in His holy Name! Let us examine Luke 16:9, the actual command from our Lord, to be truly obeyed. Prepare for pandemonium among the churches!

Let it be known that many texts of Luke 16 are corrupt in verse 9. Worse yet, Christian authors have prophesied falsely from the corrupt text translated into one of many English translations. Scribes or printers in the seventeenth century shortened the Greek word for "(when) ye fail," eklipe^te, to "(when) it fails," that is, "when the mammon of unrighteousness fails" (eklipe^i / eklipe^). Even secular historians understand the strife which the addition of an iota into the word "homoousios" in the Nicene Creed caused; here we see a change of an important personal ending in sacred Scripture. This mistake, taking "eklipe^i" with perhaps half a T and no E as a finished word in place of "eklipe^te," will lead many readers of Luke 16 to misunderstand Jesus' command as follows:

They will see need to prepare for the depletion of the wealth of unrighteousness rather than the need to prepare for THEIR OWN financial failures! I translate "eklipe^te" as "whenever ye may lose your homes." Many believers even among authors have interpreted from corrupt texts and concluded that the command is for each believer to befriend many mostly poor Christians for welcomes in heaven for the afterlife by means of ill-gotten wealth rather than for each congregation to befriend several specifically wealthy people out in the world in the here and now for future welcomes in everlasting dwellings belonging to unbelievers and still available during persecutions when our homes get confiscated or when God calls us to give our houses away (Matt. 5:42) so that we Christians fail financially. Burn the books of false prophecy, O Lord Almighty! I pray.

Jesus' point in the commanding part (verses 9 through 13) is fourfold:

(1) We are commanded by him to have members of our congregations meet and befriend the wealthy people out in the world and not free to accept the ways of the worldly poor as God's will for His people.

(2) If we fail to obey this command, like most Americans in Christ, Jesus asks who will give us endowments for His work, and for most of us nobody will. Therefore, we see most American churches operating on tight budgets, still stingy if they have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank. All American Christians in my experience have feared financial loss whenever I manifested my neediness or begged, and nobody has ever surmounted these fears in my experience. Still, Jesus Christ wills that we have access to wealth... if we obey Him regarding Luke 16:9.

(3) Jesus refuses to trust anyone who complains, "If only I had..." as an excuse for sin. If you had an enormous fortune, would you willingly give it away to a mental patient who dare impoverish you with his insane request? Only the congregation which is faithful in the least, in the unrighteous mammon, could faithfully go broke out of love for their Lord, and it is just such a congregation which Jesus Christ would entrust with plenty. Are you aware of such a congregation?

(4) Finally, we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Money). The current situation with Church Growth Movement leaders keeping as many people as possible sitting in their pews on Sundays as possible and serving the world through the week rather than sending as many people out into foreign nations to spread the Gospel is just terrible. I can't wait for the Master of Matt. 24:45-51, the state legislatures and the governing boards of churches and hospitals if not Jesus Christ Himself, to wise up and return to amputate each "evil servant," assign each his portion with the hypocrites for teaching to the effect that "you should be terribly heartbroken for asking us for anything" in Jesus' name despite Matt. 7:7, kick them out into the cold outer darkness of homelessness and weeping and gnashing of teeth, and even then beat or flog them, according to Luke's account, according to the extent of their knowledge of their wrongdoing in charge. Worst are the pastors who turn God's needy over to hostile psychiatry to be bound and wracked and ruined and caused to sin habitually with "witchcraft" (Gal. 5:19, Gk.; Matt. 18:5-7). I have suffered in perilous poverty and abominable affliction for far too long to forgive these evil men, and I cry out for faithfulneess in the unrighteous mammon!-- and for judgement of the evil servants!

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. The kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...
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