There were three main Jewish feast. Pass Over had no leaven, Penecost had leaven, And Tabernacles had no leaven in the bread. Passover speaks symbolically of the shed blood of Jesus and there is no leaven in that blood. Penecost speaks of the law/church age and there is plenty of division and separation and malice etc be it now or though out this long 2000 years. Tabernacles speaks the fullness of time when God will bring forth a new Kingdom of heaven. There will be no sin in that age. The Law pointed to grace but the law was not the answer. God will have a church with out spot or wrinkle. In fact he does right now if you understand the Kingdom of God is with in us.
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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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To this man who wrote the message about me, I'd advise that you dis-continue your comments. God is not the author of confusion, the scriptures has one and only one meaning to it, Malachi 3:6 - For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.", why should the words of God change to people? Obviously, you twist the words of God to suit your own needs, which is wrong.
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I especially wanted to say thank's for reminding me, that despite the difficulty of this life, that our faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ remain's and shall remain, until the end. No one may shake it or cause it to fall and by it, We are saved.
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What is the main difference between the prodigal son and the elder brother? The prodigal son came to his senses.

The elder brother does what he is supposed to do, but as we can see at the end of the story, his heart is not right either. He is only following with his head. I think he would be considered "luke warm".

My question is, what would it take for the elder brother to come to his senses?
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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 Beloved Brother / Sister in Christ,

Greetings to you in Jesus Name Amen!

First of all I praise and thank Lord Jesus for giving an opportunity to have beautiful fellowship with your Blessed Ministry by sending this Email. This is pastor pravardhan varma from SOUTH-INDIA. Running a church named by Good Seed Church Ministry since the year 2000.

Good Seed Church Ministry is moving with a vision not only preaching Gospel, but also feeding the destitute street Children with Food, Cloth & Good Education. Most importantly, all of this work is carried out in the name of the Lord, with the result that many are finding Salvation, deliverance and personal healing through faith in Christ.

For this we are in need of your powerful prayers for my country Orphan Children’s. If you are having a vision to work with our Good Seed Church Ministry to spread Gospel for children and people here in INDIA in these End Days, we heartily welcome you to visit India and share gospel here for the people who are in darkness. And win souls for God. We need your ministry Branch here in India.

We are going on prayers to be fulfilled in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. Please pray for us and for my Ministry. Convey my Greets to your family & Staff.


We are waiting to hear favor from you soon as God leads you Amen!

Our Email Address: - info_goodseedchurchministry@yahoo.com

In His Service,
Pastor.Varma & Family.
GOOD SEED CHURCH MINISTRY.
Gospel On Wheels,
South India.


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I hope by now you have found some of the peace you were seeking. I never understood the parable of the prodigal son until I had one. The argument of the dutiful son always made sense to me. But now that I have a younger child who has gone off to waste and destroy his God-given talents through drug abuse, crime, problem relationships...I fully understand how gladly I would celebrate his return to us, not expecting any favored treatment from us. All the time I love both my children, but more of my prayers have been for the wayward one. The celebration would be for the answer to my prayers.
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Read Matt. ch. 13 again,fowls are are satan and his demons and look at the parables of the sowers especially,the fowls swoop down and take the seed which was sown."
We might wonder how leavend bread was prescribed for peace offerings, peace being a good thing and all. But you''re right about those foul fowls,,,especially the white doves...
Hitch
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This parable teaches us about non-judgemental love, about justice and mercy, humility and redemption. All three of the characters have a difficult problem to face, and the parable tells us the correct way to handle each. The prodigal son has to face his own failures and mistakes and sins without “giving up”, or ending his life. The parable shows him that the way to do this is to acknowledge his sins, ask forgiveness, and to surrender completely to God’s will for him. He did not put any conditions on his surrender at all, and that is what we must do also.
The “good” son must give up the notion that life is “fair”. We are not all given the same opportunities or talents or dispositions, and each must be grateful for what he has been given, rather than being angry that “I didn’t get a fatted calf…” The good son shows no understanding that he had those years of closeness with his Father and years of plenty while his brother was suffering in poverty, he only thinks of what he didn’t get. The parable tells us that to be happy we must be grateful for what we have, not envious or selfish.
The father in the story has to be able to “forgive and forget”. It would be so easy and natural for him to berate the prodigal son for all his failures, but instead the father’s love is openly displayed, spontaneous and genuine. He has more of a problem relating to the older son, but it is significant that he does “go out” to the 1st son, he makes a conscious effort to help the son understand his joy. Here again the father is not being judgemental of another human who is making a mistake in actions or attitudes, but is making a sincere and loving effort to reconcile with him also.
I want to be like this father in all I do, and I pray that I make the right choices in handling difficulties like he has.

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i think your right. to much racism goes around everywhere leading people to death or the hurt of feelings inside. we should all love no matter what religion or what color cause in the inside, we all look the same and are all children of gods. atleast, this is what i think.
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What happened to Barabas, after the death of Christ? Did he change his life? Any information is helpful.
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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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the parable of the ten vgirgins is a warning for all the christians and for all christians to come that we should be ready,coz any time could be the day of Jesus' 2nd coming....

like in our generation,we can see that churches had begun to lose their fire for God's word to be told to eveyone.... some assume that Jesus will not come back until another century or so,not realizing that they are fulfilling the prophecy, bacause the parable is about the churches who got tired waiting for God and they were not prepaired when Christ came.

I hope that you won't be one of the foolish virgins,and so for me....
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Yes the father devided the estate ,but the estate should only become available after death of the father,but the younger insisted recieving his share immediately,the father was obliged to devide.Father had the perogative to refuse,but "Commendeth Love" he acceded to request.The 2/3 is still the fathers but will eventually become available to the eldest son at fathers death.
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Psalm 78 1-8, God commands all generations to teach the testimony of Jacob.

Did Jesus keep this commandment? We, who believe Jesus was the Son of God, knows he was perfect. Therefore, we know he kept the commandment of His Father.


Why has the Church not made the connection that when Jesus taught the Parable of the lost son, he was keeping God's commandment to teach the testimony of Jacob.

To truly understand the depth of the Parable of the lost son, we need to understand, in depth, the testimony of Jacob.

The parable of the lost son is not simply a "neat" story showing us God's saving Grace and unconditional love.

The testimony of Jacob is the key to us understanding what a true relationship with God, Jehovah Jireh, is all about. The Church has not yet made this connection, because they do not understand the testimony of Jacob. If they don't understand it, they definitely aren't teaching it and are not keeping God's commandment of Psalm 78.


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"So we learn that there is rejoicing in heaven over every sinner who repents; but those who are faithful and transgress not any of the commandments, shall inherit 'all that the Father hath,' while those who might be sons, but thought their 'riotous living' waste their inheritance, may come back through their repentance to salvation to be servants, not to inherit exaltation as sons.
"The wonderful story of the prodigal son has been misinterpreted almost universally. How frequently is the statement made from sectarian pulpits that because this younger son transgressed and committed all manner of sin and then repented, he was better off than his older brother who did not sin. By many the real lesson in this parable is lost. The younger son asked for his inheritance and received it. He went out and spent it in the vilest wickedness. When his substance was gone, he was forced by physical suffering and degradation to repent. Had his substance held out longer, he would have sinned that much more. It is needless to repeat all the circumstances of this story. It is sufficient to say that when he returned his father received him, but did not promise to reinstate him in the fullness of the inheritance; this is apparent in the answer made to the obedient son: 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine'." (The Way to Perfection, p21)

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The parable is about the kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said the kingdom is inside of us(his true disciples). What was inside of his disciples? His word. Jesus Himself was a humble man, showing us an example to follow. He existed before we were all created, the Word was with God in the beginning, the Word was God. The Word dwelt in the flesh and was so humble, more humble than any man, because of that, he was exalted to sit beside the highest. The parable has connection with the sower and the seed, the seed can be related to the mustard seed, and He interpeted the seed to be the word of God. Jesus is the bread of life, and whoever eats his flesh, has eternal life. But bread must come from wheat, from a seed. And water must feed the seed. And people must tend and labour for the harvest. We must tend to the word of God, not only hear it, but do it, not be a slothful servant(proverbs talk about slothful servants, they are overcome with thorns and tares). When we tend to it, it grows, the word of God increases(the bible talks about this, I wont tell where the exact scriptures are, you'll have to work for that yourself) inside of us,(Jesus said one must be born of water and Spirit to inherit eternal life) the word of God is like water, washing our conscience(so we have a new conscience, born to abstain from all sin) so we can be baptised and then baptised with the Holy Spirit, born of Spirit. But before that we labour for the word to grow so the birds of the air with nest in it(the Spirit of God, there are gifts of the Spirit, working miracles, speaking differant languages, prophecy, revelation, faith, knowledge and wisdom), be not deceived, Paul said that everyone attending to the TRUE church of God, will and has to bring these things to every gathering. 1 Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, EVERY ONE of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Most of these so called churches are worshipping in vain if the gospel is not preached with power also, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross have no effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." 1 Corinthians 2:4 - And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:" 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:" 2 Corinthians 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
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The rich man will be cast into the lake of fire, and Lazarus is now in heaven!
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Our Father in Heaven's greatest commandment are clearabout our love toward God and others.St. Matthew 5:43-47 shows Our Lord Jesus giving an example of how we are to Love.St. Matthew 22:37-40 shows Our Lord and Savior Jesus speaking the 2 greatest commandments to the pharisees.These are fulfillments of the law.All is given from God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.Read Romans 10:8-10. God Bless You.
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Amen, we can get a blessing from this parable for the mordern church. However, i have been studying parables in my study group and have recieved such a blessing by reading the parbale in context to who Jesus was speaking to at the time.... here is my study.

Parable actually means "to place along side of" Jesus spoke in parables to illustrate a truth.

In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. The Pharisees believed that they did not need to repent... keep this in mind.

Luke 15:4
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?"

Jesus is relating this parable to who he is speaking to, so that they will understand.

Also, God sent Jesus, the great and good Shepherd to seek and save His lost sheep... {Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost"} God didn't send a servant, but His only begotten Son.

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

Rejoicing in the Greek means, to cheer and to be well off. [The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, King James Version]

What stood out to me is that he actually lays the lost sheep upon his shoulders, a labour of love. (Just as Jesus carried all our sins upon His shoulders... a labour of love.)

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

The Lord takes pleasure in our return and celebrates with his friends.

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The Pharisees, who Jesus was speaking to, felt they did not need to repent. Jesus illustrates the truth that God REJOICES over the one lost sheep that repented.

I was blessed by this beacuse I always looked at this parable as highlighting God's love for us, the lost sheep, and how He searches for us. But by looking at this in the context of who it is written to, I have come to see that the truth in this parable is actually of Repentance!


Love and Blessings
Sarah, Australia
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The intent of the parable is to contrast the seemingly insignificant life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the disciples, and the kingdom of God in its present order of the "now and not yet". It speaks to the fact of the kingdom of God in the hearts of believers; that will one day be manifested as great. This is a parable of encouragement to continue and live in the hope of the Glory of God to come. The world looks at the good message and news of the Kingdom, and at the messengers, as un-important in comparison to academic degrees, world philosopies, material riches, politcal power, and whatever else secular man values.
It is a comment related to the prior parable in Mark about the man who sowed seeds and did not know how they grew, addressing the miraculous work on God. The branches and birds reflect the truth of God's government and rule reaching the nations of the world. Birds here refer to the habitation of peoples, as it is referred to in the book of Daniel. Some point out the birds as a negative aspect taking the symblolsim from the book of revelations. But seen in its context the parable refers to God's kingdom and blessing to all peoples who trust in Jesus.
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HARVESTING

The harvesting is nothing more than concentrating the yeast cells by
passing the fermented liquid through large centrifugal pumps called
separators. This process is similar to spinning clothes dry in a washing
machine. The result is off-white liquid called cream yeast. Further
processing is dependent on the type of yeast desired.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

In all the yeast processes, utmost care is taken to produce a product of
the highest possible quality and purity. Samples are routinely checked by
the laboratory and frequent cleaning and sterilization of the equipment
are conducted to assure the proper standards are met.



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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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I hear your words and what you say could be true if that is what the scripture is talking about. My belief is that the 10 virgins are more of an example of being ready to meet the Lord than that. Some will be taken up in the rapture and some will not be ready. 5 were ready to go in to the Bridegroom and 5 were not ready.--I believe that the rapture will take place and it will happen before the 7 years of tribulation. Some of the people will be ready and some will not be. Here is an example of those not ready.

Years ago I did a research paper recounting the people who might be alive at the time of the tribulation. I am a pre-tribulation person and believe in the rapture. Very simply put, the paper was like this. If all of the people on earth stood in a group and then the tribulation started, I believe it would go like this.—
1. The first to leave the group would be those taken out in the rapture at the beginning of the seven years.

2. Of those left behind, there would be those who accept the mark of the beast and the bible says that they are lost.

3. There will also be those who will not have anything to do with believing on God so lets put all of these off to the side as those who will be judged and go to the Lake of fire.

4.. Of those left behind, The Anti Christ will require them to take his mark in their for heads or their right hand. If they refuse, they will be slain for their faith and they become those who are under the altar.

5. Of those left behind, there will be those who the bible says will make it through the 7 years of tribulation and will be accepted so lets just add those who go to heaven.

5. Then there are the Jews. They will be those who are mentioned as having signed a 7 year peace treaty under false pretenses. When the Anti Christ stands in the new temple that will be built and declares that he is God, the Jews will realize that they made a big mistake and they will pull out of the peace treaty and head for the hills for protection. Probably to the city of Petra which is carved in the rocks. At the end of the 7 years, Christ will return to earth for the beginning of the 1000 years of peace.

5 virgins were watching and waiting for the Lord's return and 5 were not. There are those waiting and watching to go be with the Bridegroom at rapture time and there are those who say
it is all nonsense and will not be ready.
I hope you won’t be out looking for oil when that time comes.

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The scripture I used, as (11Thess-3-12) should have been (11Thess-2-3-12)
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please send me a pictures of mustard tree.
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His name is geoffery james
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Peter,
I am a father who for 20 years trusted in and raised 2 children. My oldest stayed faithful to the Lord as you are. My youngest has turned to the same place your brother has returned from.

I can only speak as a father here, but work “real hard” to find peace in your brother’s homecoming. It was because of the Lord’s love for you and your family that He restored your brother. It does sound like your brother needs to still learn lessons. Pray for him because if this is true than the dealings in all of your lives may continue for a little longer.

Stay close to His Spirit and He will show you both peace and rest in this. Family can cause use the most pain, but also the most growth. Jesus is closer to you in this trial than you know. Keep your faith. Pray that your heart not become harden because of this trial.

As a father I pray that God will do the miracle in my life that He has done in yours.

God Bless,
Dan

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Some of you "greatly err, not knowing the scriptures". It is not unlawful for a Jew to lend money for usury in all circumstances, it is only unlawful to lend money for usury to fellow Jews. Reference Exodus 22:25 and Deuteronomy 23:20. These clearly spell out the Mosaic laws for usury. "Giving the money to the changers" would be a reference to the money changers in the Temple who would exchange foreign currency so that foreign worshippers could contribute to the Temple treasury. This was perfectly legal under Mosaic law. It started out as a legitimate enterprise but quickly became a get-rich-quick scam due to people's greed. These are the 'den or thieves' that Jesus chased out of the Temple, not because of their occupation, but because they used this occupation to rip off others.

How can some of you think this is a 'reverse parable' when it clearly starts out with the words "For the kingdom of heaven is as..." ? This describes the parable clearly as a comparison to the kingdom of heaven. Which part of that is backwards?

If you want the true meaning of the parable refer to James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ASK OF GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. " Prayer and meditation will be answered and you will find what the parable means TO YOU. True interpretation of Scripture will not be found in the commentaries of others. Each of us has a personal, individual, and unique spiritual walk. What this passage of Scripture means to you may be entirely different from the interpretation for me. Pray and meditate and get your personal interpretation directly from the one who will give you wisdom LIBERALLY.

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Do you think that there are consequences for our sin? Is it possible, for example, that health problems can be a direct result or consequence for a life of eating junk food?
I'm dealing with a rebelious kid... he's lied, then we've caught him and he's apologized. Then he's lied again. Again, we've caught him later on and he's apologized. Each time, we've gone straight back to having the arms wide open like the father in this story. But it keeps happening again and again. The kid says that he's sorry and that he's been like the prodigal son and we must forgive him because that's what God wants us to do. And forgive, I will gladly do. However, trust is another thing completely... and I'm really struggling with understanding how the "unconditional forgiveness" fits into the whole picture. Does God want us to continue to put ourselves in the position of being lied to and yelled at over and over again? Is that healthy and a part of loving people like He does?
And I'm wondering, are we projecting an attitude onto the older son that was never expressed in Scripture? I think that the older son must have seen how hurt the father had been during the time that his younger son was gone. And that must've hurt him too. And I think that there is the part in me (as the older son type) that wants to know that there is a reason that I'm following hard after God and being faithful to my family and to the things He has called me to. If living life for myself and giving into my ungodly desires has no consequence, then why shouldn't I indulge myself? See, the difference I see between the two sons is that one gave into the sinful desires and another held strong because of his faith in God and his love for his father. It's not a sin to be tempted - heck, Jesus Christ was tempted in the New Testament. What IS a sin though, is when we give in to those desires.
How do I PRACTICALLY respond to the prodigal son... especially when it's hard to tell if he's really returned? After the arms wide open and the party and the ring... what then? PLEASE HELP ME!!!
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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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Can someone please explain the characters. The father, The older son and the younger son

THANKS
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Thank you for constantly updated, always a pleasure to read.
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The message to this little story (told by Jesus) is to treat other people how you would like to be treated, no matter what. Help your enemies.
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AM NONYE I WILL LIKE TO TELL OTHER CHILDREN LIKE ME THAT IT IS GOOD TO SAVER GOD WITH SPIRIT AND TRUET, COS IT IS WAS MAKE LAZARUS TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD TODAY, PRAY ALWAYS AND HAVE THE FAITH, THANK GOD BLESS U AS YOU DO.
AMEN.
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I have a challenge for anyone reading this. In my studies of the “kingdom of God” there is this mystical thing breathing in the background that if you understand and accept, it will make you more productive in the kingdom of God. I’m convinced that it is the actual spirit of the matter, and if not understood, a lot of people will sit there and scratch their heads pondering why their spiritual lives are not more productive. What is this mystical spirit that permeates the teachings of the kingdom of God? It’s the spirit of true humility.

Humility is something that can be misconstrued. One person may think their being humble by saying “there’s none righteous no not one” and this is after he’s made Jesus the lord of his life. In their false sense of humility they reject scripture that support that in Christ we have become the righteousness of God. Humbleness never says “oh, no God. You’re sadly mistaken. I’m a putrid thing, if you only knew how pathetic I really am”. Notice the arrogance in this. Telling God that he’s so stupid he doesn’t know how retched you are. When he’s the guy who told you to repent for being a sinner. There comes a time when we must humble ourselves as children and just accept what he says without challenging him. What do we care if he says you’re the richest person in the universe? ACCEPT IT! What do we care? What if he says you’re the most beautiful person in the universe? Don’t run and look in the mirror and say I’m hideous, and through doing so cast Gods word out as a lie. Just accept it like a child does. “You’re a good boy aren’t you Johnny”? “Oh no mom I’m a retch”! Children don’t act like that and we need to learn to do the same thing. Otherwise his word will never penetrate our hearts and will not sink roots. Doesn’t the ground have to receive the seed before the seed will grow and produce fruit? Well what does it matter what God says-if it’s a good thing?

Now notice these expressions used in scripture and see if you don’t notice an underlying spirit. “HIDDEN”, “SECRET” ”CONCEALED”, “WHISPERED IN THE EAR IN CLOSETS”, (your own prayer closet) “DO NOT DISIGURE YOUR FACE WHEN FASTING LIKE THE HYPOCRITS DO”, “LET NOT THE LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAD DOETH”, “DO THY ALMS IN SECRET” ‘SOUND NOT THE TRUMPET AS THE HYPORITS DO”. Do you see anything in all these expressions? The idea is that if we will humble ourselves and be content to be hidden, to do things in private, not attempting to show things to the outer world, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY.

There is a story that frequently comes up in faith circles that goes like this. A woman was suffering from a terrible goiter that had grown to about the size of a basketball hanging from her neck- if that’s not an exaggeration. Well this woman wood come to the meetings of a very blessed man of God by the name of Wigglesworth (last name). For three years in a row she would come to these meetings and testify to the crowd that she had been healed by God and was demonstrating her faith by doing so. Well, in the presence of the crowd as she was testifying, the goiter disappeared and she was healed. Truly a wonderful miracle. But faith people have seized upon this to say, “Look at the faith of this person who would testify of things that are not yet manifested as though they already were” and they encourage to do likewise But did you know that Jesus taught just the opposite? “Yes, but she was healed” you may say. Isn’t God wonderful! I’ve been blessed too when my thinking was absolutely backwards. The secret of faith is to do just the opposite. It’s called humility or humbling yourself before God. We are to accept Gods word into our hearts through prayer and then to conceal it as though it was a map to a treasure. Harboring it in our hearts and literally fighting its’ coming to the surface. “Let not your left hand know what the right hand doeth” If it’s you, then you have your reward. But if it’s God who’s doing the exalting, you’ll be exalted indeed, in the presence of people. I liken it to a train jumping its tracks at just the right time. Your own heart will assume a mind of it’s own.

Maybe the act of planting a seed is literally humbling that seed. It’s dead you know. The life has gone out of it. Maybe it’s an example of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But one thing is certain to me anyway. There is a spirit of meekness that just beckons God to exalt us. Maybe in this day and age of know-it-alls, we’ve become a little too all knowing ourselves. Maybe we need to hide ourselves in Christ trusting that the father will promote us into the light. Just a thought.



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HI
i am doing this parable for a school essay

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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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Luke 13:18-19 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Ezekiel 17:22-23 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
Remember the song "he is the vine and we are the branches"? Luke, Matthew, and Ezekiel can all be paralleled. Luke and Matthew are descriptive, and Ezekiel gives even more detail on what it is talking about, which is God's fulfillment of his promise for a Messiah (the highest branch that is taken and planted in Israel), and in the shadow of his wings (ok, branches, lol) all of the nations will take refuge and dwell in his presence. (shadow) Chrys

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Pl fwd the above photo. My Christian Cell Group is named Mustard Seed and we have no idea what the tree looks like. Thank you.

Molly
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im not here to reply i just want to tell you that the morals of islam agree completley with the teachings of jesus , you only have to study it careful by yourslef and dont believe what your media tells you .
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Caused to sin (Matt. 18:5-7 ) through work on the Sabbath because of failures to meet my needs through the workweek, I ask, seek, and knock again for leads to churches already faithful in (with) the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16:9-13. Such a congregation must, of course, include among its members at least several who know rich folk of this world. I am too sick and fed up with local churches content to remain short of this goal to let this most important matter slide. Therefore, in the name of Jesus the Messiah I assign you the task of contacting churches all across these United States subject to denominational governance in order to find a list for me of all churches under their guidance wich have many or several members well acquainted with rich folk of this world.

I have no printer. You must have seen my smiley problems by now. My comupter still operates on Windows 95, I am poor, and my mother outside the Lord is in charge of my money from SSI. I cannot serve God's people where I now live, but if I had wealth to turn to I would willingly move out. Televangelists have left me to my own feeble resources. I leave it to you to contact denominational headquarters of the various Christian denominations and to seek a list from each of all churches under them which already have their rich friends. Do not cause me to keep on sinning beyond a reasonable time for your completion of this project (worth a curse, Matt. 18:5-7 ). This is not funny; I need specific guidance to congregations known to be already faithful in the unrighteous mammon lest I sin habitually until the Parable of the Servants (Matt. 24:45-51 ) be fulfilled, my only other way to stand in Christ because the churches nearby are faithless at least in regard to Luke 16 (KJV).

Lacking hearkenings to my preceding requests, now I must assign ***YOU*** the task of contacting denominational headquarters of various denominations with requests of guidance to such churches of theirs are happen to be faithful already in the unrighteous mammon BY NEXT FRIDAY AT SUNSET. You will be in sin next Sabbath if the letters remain yet to be sent out. Please help your brother in Christ in need!

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

a martyr for continuing to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7 )
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in a way you can add me to your tally.
I read this parable today and was online searching for some insight.
I really didnt get much from most ot the comments, but your well thought out response and your dedicated research really helped me understand.
I appreciate the time you took to quote the Scriptures and link these
biblical words together in a public place that I could access. These verses really do support the conclusion that you suggested, that talents and seeds of the word of God are the same thing. I just wanted to say "thank you."
May God Bless You, Continuosly
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Christ did not give us a way to salvation and then be able to take it back. If this were true, then Christ going to the cross would have been for nothing. The prodigal son did not receive salvation until he had come to his senses, returned home and was received with open arms. That's what Christ does for us when we come to him, repenting of our sins.
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There is nothing we *alone* can do to be saved. The fruit is from the Spirit in us, not actions we make alone. See Gal 5:22-26;

(KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Spirit will produce the fruit according to the Father's Will...don't let people tell you what that should be. Live (abide) in the Spirit of the Lord and He in you! Our salvation is found in the Savior, not in how many tracks we hand out. :-)

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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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the parable has so many lessons and each of us will take a different lesson away from it.

both sons thought they knew better than the father and were both proven wrong. the father knows what we don't and we need to respect that.

i'd like to draw attention to some of the verses:
(12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. (the younger son); and (29) ... And yet thou never gavest me (a kid), that I might make merry with my friends (the older son).

notice: both sons asked for the same thing.

the difference follows: when the younger son sinned he sinned. then when he repented he repented. his dirt was dirty and his clean was clean (because his father forgave him without malice). the older son had the same sinful inclination but lacked the nerve to follow through. with the older son, his dirt and his clean were almost identical; not quite dirty enough to be sinful, but not spotless enough to be righteous. his righteousness changed depending on how much you knew about him. there isn't a right son/wrong son debate. to me, one son was wrong in public where his sin was exposed and corrected, and the other was wrong in private where his sin was well hidden but the father knew it all along and corrected him also.

the younger son and older son alike were also selfishly demanding. it wasn't until the younger son lost all that he learned to pray. furthermore, the younger son learned to be decisive, to stand and account for his actions (in v18 and 19). the older son never did but instead resorted to excuses (v29) and blame (v30). he stayed selfish to the very end.

only one son repented and only he was happy to be in the mansion. how many of us who have been saved too long will enjoy being in heaven? i'm sure some of us 'older son' believers will complain when we see streets of gold and whine because they're not streets of platinum. surely god owes us some platinum after we've served him all these years, doesn't he? i won't even mention what we'll say about some of the other 'younger son' believers we scorn as 'unsaveable' who arrive in heaven before we do. the devil himself would be ashamed to utter such backbiting and cursing.

now i'd like to contrast the sons' demands with the father's actions:
(22) ... Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry (to his younger son); and (31) ... All that I have is thine (to his older son).

bring the fatted calf! all that i have is yours! could either son say the same thing to their father? this shows the error of both their ways. the first couldn't say this because he had nothing. the second couldn't say this because he was selfish. neither son could be generous to their father because they were dependent on what he gave them. neither one was an earner. both failed to learn the lesson of wealth-building their father taught them daily with his words and actions. if you can't learn to be wealthy from a tycoon, who will teach you to be wealthy. if you can't learn to be generous from one who can afford generosity, who will you learn it from. these are important lessons neither son learned. again, it's not about which son was 'better' off. both missed the mark.

and now, let's contrast the story with the storyteller.

jesus himself was a son who inherited his father's great wealth. he's also a son who left home, so he did what both sons did. unlike the other sons, jesus increased his father's wealth and returned home to unselfishly share with his father. he didn't sqander his returns like the younger son or try to angle his way to his father's portion of the family money like the older one. jesus didn't try to cut his father out of the picture like the other sons. his father was ever foremost in his mind. jesus didn't divide his wealth from his father; he multiplied it unto his father.

so often we read this parable and we wonder which son we're like. instead, we are free to look to the storyteller for the best example.
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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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Keep it up! The more you talk, the more your expose your evil heart! The only one Who can bring Judgment upon me, is The Living God!
When you think you can place your Judgment on me for speaking Truths to you, Be Careful what you say, that His Judgment doesn't fall upon your own head!
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