was the man attacked the robbers a Jew ?
Why then the priest who was a Jew negleted him ?

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In reply to several previous emails, especially Rozilne: My book, If the Prodigal Were a Daughter, was released in January and contains four modernized parables. I also review the first century historical/social context and the parable's relevancy to the twenty-first century. The requirement of a parable is to see ourselves. In the prodigal story, most of us have been the prodigal (disrespectful of the father, seeking independence, finding ourselves stuck in a pig pen); we often act like the elder brother (selfish, self-serving, judgmental, refusing to go inside the house for the party because "he" or "she" is inside. Once we ourselves as we really are, we are to become the Father (loving, forgiving, merciful, welcoming, rejoicing). It is human nature for teenagers to break free from parental controls, as it is to obey out of obligation or requirement. But God wants us to grow up, to mature in the very image of the father, the reflection of God.
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What do you mean "symbolic name"?
What provenance is there for the actual name of the youngest son who is descibed? Or are you just assigning the names in the order that they would have be given? We think?
Interested but not convinced.

Regards
John


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My youth preacher once explained this parable to me. This is a summary of what he told me:....................The one who build his house on the rock was the one who trusted Jesus with his salvation. And the man who build his house on the sand was one who thought he could use good works to get into heaven. Those who have faith in Christ will be carried through the storm, and those who try to build their foundation on sand (just good works) need to get themselves the rock (Jesus)

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There is a Buddist sect that carries brooms with them and sweep the ground where they step so as not to step on a bug out of their respect for life. THis is taking things way to far! KJV1611 all the way!
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i want every body to change and go back to GOD almighty.i am nigeria living in wiss
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I agree, the unfaithful servant is simply not saved and therefore incapable of serving the master.

"...his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God has overcome the world." (1 John 5:3b,4a)

Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching...He who does not love me WILL NOT OBEY MY TEACHING." (John 23, 24)

"Those controlled by the sinful nature CANNOT PLEASE GOD. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST." (Romans 8:8,9)

Abraham was circumcised as a requirement of the covenant God made with him. This circumcision, or absence of the flesh, was the outward proof or evidence that Abraham was indeed in covenant with God:

"You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the SIGN OF THE COVENANT between me and you." (Genesis 17:11)

In the same way today the absence of the flesh (specifically the sinful deeds of the flesh) is the outward proof or evidence that our hearts have been circumcised by the Spirit and that we are in fact in covenant with God through Christ.

"In him you were also circumcised, in the PUTTING OFF OF THE SINFUL NATURE (or flesh), not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ..." (Col. 2:11)

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. "
(1 John 2:3-6)

Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, BECAUSE IN THIS WORLD WE ARE LIKE HIM."
(1 John 4:17)










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can i request a picture of the mustard tree
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THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, IS BASICALLY ABOUT TWO SETS OF CHRISTIANS ONE WISE ANOTHER FOOLISH. NOW THE OIL THAT PASSAGE IS TALKING ABOUT IS THE HOLY GHOST. ROMANS 8 VERSE 9 VALIDATES WHAT I'M SAYING ALSO 2TIMOTHY 3 VERSE 7 THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE SAVED HAVE THE HOLY GHOST AS THIER WITNESS THAT THEY ARE KNOWN OF BY GUIDE FURTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD THRU THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. WHICH CAN ONLY BE ADMINISTERED TO US THRU BAPTISM ROMANS 6 VERSE 4 COLLISIANS 2 VERSE 12,13 WITHOUT IT WERE NOT SAVED IN GOD'S EYES


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As you treat others in life so to shall ye be treated.

Forgive others and you will be forgiven. Be merciful to others and God will show you mercy.

What we see in life is a dim reflection of ourselves.


God does work through everyone and every thing.

The good the bad and the ugly.

Be merciful to thers when they wrong you, forgive them and you will find that people will treat you the same.

Love your brother as you love yourself.

Forgive others and God will forgive you.



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Dan,
As a mother in a similar situation, I empathize with you. since you wrote almost 1 year ago, I just wanted to write to ask how things are going. I know I never stop praying for my younger child (Is it something to do with birth order?!). I have become devoted to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She prayed for THIRTY YEARS for the conversion of her son from his paganistic, hedonistic ways! Her bishop told her that the prayers of a mother who had shed so many tears for her son would not go unanswered. St. Augustine eventually converted to Christianity and became one of the greatest scholars of the early Church.
Praying for the same miracle for all our sons...
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It seems by the way Jesus told the story, that one need not be a christian to inherit eternal life. Jesus was asked this question and after the parable answered " Go and do likewise". Now the good samaritan was not a christian, but a product of mixed interbreeding between jews from the Northern Kingdom and other people after Israel's exile. They were considered heretics. Yet, it was what was in the samaritans heart that was the focal point of the parable. To say that only christians ( only people who accept Jesus as their Lord and savior and accept that he died on the cross for their sins) are going to be saved, is in a way like, judging other people. And as you well know, Jesus clearly states "judge not, least you yourself be judged.
Amen and God bless everyone.
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Violation of any command is an act of disobedience or rebellion. Sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man. There are many commands from God unambiguously expressed in different parts of the Bible. Contravention of these commands is a sin punishable in different ways.

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

Another point to be noted is that there is very little leeway for us to justify ourselves by means of contextual explanations of our disobedience. Once we are convinced of our error, the only way back to His grace is through confession and renunciation. Remember the Pharisee and the tax collector at the synagogue, and the contrasting cases of the two thieves on the crosses flanking our Lord's cross on Calvary.
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The wise were those who build their lives on Christ, not on any worldly form so many are doing. So many seem to build their supposedly Christian life on anything but the real Truth of Christ. The power of reason is so strong in many that they become as god's to themselves. They decide what the rules are based upon their own way of believing. It is a form. a shell of godliness, but is shallow and without power. They do not have the approval of God upon their heart. They know nothing of the assurances the true believer experiences when they follow the Lord. These have been decieved by the great deceiver of mankind, the Devil. To these, the Bible has been largely ignored. Or they have not divided the Scriptures so it all fits together without contradictions. Their supposedly educated reasoning is so wonderful, that in fact they make their own laws, and worship themselves. These have not built their house upon the eternal rock of Christ, but upon the sand of their own ideas. Or they have picked out some of the Bible truth, according to their own liking, and left some other vital facts of the Bible out. This is building on sand. Their house will not hold up in the time of testing, of the trials of life.
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My problem is why did the father not send for the elder son in the field. He told his servants to do a lot of things, but never thought to send for the brother.

He had to come home and see all that was happening. I would have been upset.

The father did not think of the older son.
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Go to the church where you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and ask them to explain it further. Tongues is a devine language that God understands. A direct communication line to him that the Devil can not understand. Also, check out..
http://www.bible.com/answers/ahsbaptiz.html
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Every hurting person is your neighbor. Many times our concentration is on the good samaritan but what made him a good samaritan was the victim! What was his character, a hurting person and stripped of everything. Would you help or avoid him? They are every where, you do not need to travel to a third world country.

Christopher Lobo
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THE SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION IS THIS. A PERSON WHO LOVES HIS MAKER FATHER-GOD FOR HIM MONEY MATTERS PROPERTY JEWELS BONDS THE RICHES THAT WORLD GOES AFTER ARE NOT IMPORTANT AFTER-ALL ALL ARE CLASSIFIED AS MAMMON PERIOD. MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HUMAN LIFE IS WE ARE STEWARDS THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THE CREATIONS, LOVE AND RESPECT HIS CREATIONS AND HAVE COMMUNION WITH OUR MAKER FATHER-GOD ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TO BE SMART NOT DUMB NOT ANTI-CREATION WHICH IS ANTI-LIFE THEREFORE ANTI-GOD THEREFORE THE BEAST. WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE RESOURCES WITH WISDOM. SHARE CARE COMPASSION FORGIVENESS AS JESUS SAID AND PRACTICED TO THE END WHEN HE WENT TO THE CALVARY AND SAID "IT IS FINISHED" AND WHAT IS FINISHED THE WORK FATHER-GOD WANTED AND HE BECAME THE SACRIFICE, SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD GAVE HIS LIFE WILLINGLY TO WASH THE SINS OF THE WORLD THOSE WHO WHERE SACRIFICING OTHER CREATIONS FOR THEIR SINS AND FINALLY SO BELIEVE JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO HAS TAKEN THE SINS OF THE WORLD "FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" AND SEE THE RESULT THAT OUR LORD IS ALIVE AND WELL SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF OUR FATHER-GOD WITH ALL THE ENEMIES AS FOOTSTOOLS AMEN. JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD AMEN BECAUSE HE PRACTICED ALL SCRIPTURES TEACHINGS PERFECTLY BUT HE ALWAYS PRAYED COMMUNED WITH THE FATHER-GOD THE GOD OF ALL GOOD CREATIONS THE MAKER, THE FATHER OF ALL WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, GOD ALMIGHTY IS THE ULTIMATE FATHER OF ALL CREATIONS AND HE IS THE LIVING GOD THE GIVER OF LIFE IN ALL CREATIONS AMEN. IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE FOR OUR BEING IS IN HIM AMEN. GOD IS CLOSER THAN OUR BREATH AMEN. THANK-YOU FATHER-GOD FOR EMMANUEL GOD WITH us AMEN
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I never see mustard tree (and seed) in my life. As a christian woman, its important for me to see this tree. Thankyou!
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I have found the role of the older brother in this story quite fascinating as well. Of the three parables told to the same groups at the same time this one alone addresses the issue at hand, in that he speaks directly to the pharisees and scribes about their attitude toward the "sinners" Jesus is investing time in.

I have to believe that this is significant in the understanding of the story. The proud, selfish desires of those who remain in the faith can overshadow the true and significant finding of the lost. I dont know how many times I have encountered people who say they desire to see the lost saved, but then when the lost come the house of worship the very same people who cried out for their souls wish the lost would have chosen another place to seek out God. We are all lost without Christ, for crying out loud!!!

Many times it does not makes sense to us how in our faithfulness we find the same grace as the one who has wondered off and then returned. It seems only fair to us that they should recieve a lesser gift or a smaller portion of grace. We only need to look as far as the closest mirror to find the one has "earned" less grace. That is the wonder of the gospel.

His grace is indeed sufficient for each one of us. Those who remain 'faithful' and those who do not.
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Hello; When Christ was on earth the first time there were two major religious parities in Judaism--the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees were the fundamental legalists. They believed the letter of the law. They believed in a future resurrection, in angels, and in the spirit realities. The Sadducees though were more liberal in their theology. They rejected any thought of a future resurrection, and they didn't believe in angels or in spirit realities [ Acts 23:8 ]

But the Pharisees and the Sadducees did have one thing in common. Neither would have anything to do with the message surrounding the proffered kingdom [Matt. 16:1-6 ]

The Pharisees followed Christ about the country, seeking to counter the signs being manifested , and seeking to bring about unbelief on the part of the people. They formed, by far, the largest religious sect in Israel. And, because of there numbers, they held undisputed sway over the people and masses. The sadducees were the second largest sect in Israel and sometimes joined themselves with the pharisees who controlled the religious like of the nation. They sat "in Moses seat" [Matt.23:1,2]. I hope this helps , Bye.....
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Ok I do attend a catholic high school but I'm not that knowledgeable on this stuff so I have a question is somone could answer it quickly.........
True or False .... The message of Jesus given us in the parable of the Prodigal Son is God's unconditional forgiveness.
Thanx
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Pastor Mike,

Thank you for your response.

There is one thing that stands out to me about the article that you wrote and it’s this: It’s “academic”. I don’t mean that offensively. A lady once used that word around me talking about a well known ministry and the things that they were saying. That threw me for a loop. I literally had to look up the meaning of that word and then figure out what she said. What she was saying is that “those things go without saying”. There is no “magic” in that.

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept SECRET from the foundation of the world.

I think your failing to give credence to that fact that there is a hidden mystery revolving around the teachings of the kingdom. Jesus was saying something so mind blowing that only IT (the secret, the mystery) could qualify as something so magnificent, that God almighty felt the need to hide it-and then reveal it at the opportune moment as the "secret" of the kingdom.

Look at the scriptures listed below.

Matthew 6:4
That thine alms may be in SECRET: and thy Father which seeth in SECRET himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 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.

Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in SECRET: and thy Father, which seeth in SECRET, shall reward thee openly.

Notice the word SECRET. Isn’t it safe to say that there is something about this idea that is a lot more far reaching then what we’ve given credit for being?

Did you know that there is a scripture in the Old Testament where a man demands to know Gods name from the angle standing before him representing God, and do you know what the angel said? (Paraphrased) “Why do you ask me my name being that it’s “SECRET” (might Gods name literally be “SECRET”? As in “hi my name is Denny, I’d like you to meet my friend Secret).

Is it just me or is there something a lot more to this; that God would keep centering on the idea of “secret”?

Well in my articles I seize upon this idea and I expound on what I believe this secret is. In what you just wrote, you can’t glean anything out of it that could be construed as a “secret hidden from the foundation of the earth”. Can you see that? It’s all academic.

JESUS WAS SAYING SOMETHING INCREDIBLE! I mean in terms of helping the human race.

I would submit that the pearl of great price or the treasure hid in the field is this ability that a human being has to resplend the contents of his heart onto the picture screen of his life. I.E, get it to MANIFEST.

Now seriously, isn’t that more of a fulfillment of the scripture:

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world”.

Who cares about things that don’t help you get God manifest in your life? Haven’t you ever been afraid of something? Haven’t you ever been in a jam in which you need God NOW! Haven’t you ever been anxious, careful, strung-out (stressed out-whatever)? Haven’t you ever asked “isn’t there something for my being (body) in terms of the presence of God? Why would a person have to lie in bed feeling spiritually cold, dark, as though God is totally absent? Shouldn’t we have a “manifestation” of the presence of God to where we always know that he’s there? Some will say “but you must take it by faith”. But the whole reason why you take it by faith is because Hebrews says “faith is the substance, or giving substance to the things that we hope for. We use our faith to get something to manifest.

God wants to be manifestly present in our lives. Many people have had an experience with God in which they say it was as though a being of fire came upon them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get this experience and impart it unto others? Instead of kids blowing the brains out on dope, impart this being that the bible calls the Comforter unto people and just see if that wouldn’t far out do what crack can offer.

Isn’t this better than all of that theory business?

I don’t want theory; theory doesn’t pay the bills and give me something to look forward to. FUSHTANE? (I think that’s German for do you get it? I’m probably wrong. Forgive me thou German people.)

I would submit that THIS, IS THE “CONTEXT” THAT JESUS WAS ADDRESSING.

Just remember though, Jesus said many things. Some of which may be an overall view from above concerning the predicament of man. But by far his most awesome teaching was that of manifesting the Word of God to the world around us via Kingdom principles.

Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The parables of Mark chapter four are the ones that open the door to all the others. And it speaks of manifesting things hidden, to the world around us.

God bless.

Tell no man.

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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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Pharisee Sadducees you do not see the phrases in the Old Testament. I am assuming they originated during the inter testamen period. Are they in the lost books
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Please send picture of mustard seed tree. We will be covering the parable in our preschool Sunday School class this week.
THANK YOU!
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Sheryl,

It may be that you’re experiencing a “move of the spirit” in your life. God may be manifesting his spirit to you and I feel it’s a wonderful thing. The question you have to ask yourself is, are you a Word founded person? Do you have an active knowledge of the New Testament? And of course do you confess Jesus as Lord? If you do, then there isn’t any reason of concern-as far as fearing it goes. But you have to be honest with yourself. I would be very disappointed if I found out that you had a history of drug use etc.

What your describing could be a type of Pentecostal experience that many people have had in history and they ended up having incredible ministries-though that’s not always the case. Don’t think that you’re necessarily being called to the ministry though.

But as long as you’re a Word oriented person, there’s no reason to be afraid of it. But then again it sounds like a good experience. If you deem it bad then it could be the devil trying to pull something on you.

Actually I believe that that’s the way it should be and if it is a TRUE manifestation of the Holy Ghost then accept it. But I can only judge based on what I’ve heard you write.

My suggestion is to do this: Go to a search engine (google will bring you right to it) and plug in “New Zealand Revival”. Then scroll down looking for the article “great healing revivalists-how the power came” by Andrew Strom. Then read about some of the experiences that Gods great ones have had in history. It’s a fabulous article. Compare your experiences with theirs and see if it sounds similar. But a lot of people would discourage you from accepting that anointing-I however do not and would encourage you to accept it. There again if it’s a good thing. You have to decide.

Just make sure that everything that you believe lines up with scripture.

God bless

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D'Laine,
I myself wondered about this parable/illustration till I found a commentary on these two verses from Mark 4 in Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible commentary series of books on the Bible. His comments really make sense when we think about how "religion" in the largest sense, has gotten away from the simplicity and the purity with which Christ taught, and instead metastasized into a huge aberrant all encompassing umbrella imbracing man made tradition's, social reform, and the very encumbrance's Christ spoke about of the Pharasee's. Here are Dr. McGee's remark's:
"Mustard is not food, it is a condiment. And the growth of a ustard seed into a tree is unnatural. This picturs the outward growth of Christendom into great organizations big churches, large programs, all produced by human energy and not by the Holy Spirit. The birds in the branches are not even good. They represent Satan". I hope this helps, G. Weldon
P. S. His website for listening to his Thru the Bible series is located at:
"http://www.ttb.org" and if your interested in my Biblical poetry mixed with my secular, my website is: "http://home.earthlink.net/~weldon" .
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I am the prodical son. I need all of you to pray for me, and with me. I need to come back to my father.
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Hi as you can see my name is Judy and for a project i was wondering if you can tell me what the scientific name for angels are. Please reply ASAP(as soon as posible) Thank you so much for helping me

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Did you mean to use the word "apposed" which means, "to put before; apply (one thing) to another; to place in juxtaposition or proximity?"
There are two kinds of leaven mentioned in the Bible. One is the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the other is the leaven of the Woman. The leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees is the leaven of which we should beware. The Pharisee’s leaven was/is sensuousness, self-righteousness, vanity and hypocrisy. If one wanted to compare that to "rot", I suppose one could say that sensuousness, self-righteousness, vanity and hypocrisy "rot" the moral character and moral fabric of individuals and countries but I think it has little to do with a Jewish kitchen. (I have seen a dirty Jewish kitchen. One of the jokes I've heard from my Jewish friends is that there is NO such thing as a Jewish kitchen, "we make reservations." Perhaps that's why they are generally neat and clean.) All "leavenity" aside, the leaven the woman hid in three measures of meal---in modes of human thought--- is a different kind of leaven, in that it is Truth. "Meal" in the Bible stands for healing. The Woman's leaven is NOT that of the hypocritical Pharisees but of God's Christ, Truth. This leaven of Truth is changing the whole of thought until the all of evil thought is changed into Truth. Woman plays a very important role in Biblical history. The golden thread of Truth and prophecy come through her from Old Testament times to the New, culminating in Mary giving birth to Jesus and the beautiful Woman in the Apocalypse clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars. She opposes the dragon and is the opposite of the wicked woman Jezebel and is finally given the wings of an eagle to fly away to her place and be nourished. Her babe that the dragon is so intent on destroying is Truth. The dragon, serpent, satin, devil (Rev 12:9) is the lie and the liar that Jesus said he was in John 8:44. A lie always tries to destroy the Truth, but never will or can. Truth ALWAYS destroys a lie.-----I think the point should be that everything is a matter of human interpretation and it seems to me that what is most important is to gain the SPIRITUAL import of the Scriptures of which there is only one. It is not mine or yours but God's, given to each of us in the quiet of silent prayer. I agree that word definitions are MOST important and useful in discovering the spiritual aspect of the Scriptures, but only to that end.-------Sometimes the analogies people make about very serious spiritual things, are worse than silly. They steer our thought away from contemplating the Word of God. I would much rather "be silent, and know that I am God" than listen to someone tell me about Jewish kitchens. You said you heard this from someone. I think I would steer clear of that someone.
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Thank you so much for all of your comments.
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I found Morris's commentary on Matthew very helpful here. The background on the Jewish wedding ceremony at the time was helpful to me in understanding.

The virgins are bridemaids, waiting for the groom to come so that they can have a torch-light procession back to the groom's house where there is a fantastic wedding celebration. Reading too much into the parable can be dangerous- we could start to read all kinds of things into it which aren't there, and pretty soon we have a whole new wonderful theology based on the wild assumptions we have just made (eg: the Oil is good works, the lamp is the 10 commandments being taught, etc.)

As far as I understand it, the parable fits in with the other parables about the delay and the return of Christ catching some people out, but not the wise stewards, wise virgins etc. They are ready for the return- whether the return is late or early.

This parable focuses on the delay- so late that everyone falls asleep (notice, as Morris says- no-one gets any blame for this, it was not an offense)- but when it is finally time for the wedding (obvious OT parallels with God as Israel/(true Israel)'s bridegroom or husband), what was previously an invisible difference between the bridesmaids comes to the fore: some of them were ready not just for the delay, but more importantly are ready now that the groom has arrived. The others are not ready. The upshot: they don't get into the party- and that is a disaster.

Hope this helps!
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They did not quite get paid on commision, but most where not paid as much as they realy needed. This lead to many demanding more money then was needed from the people they collected from.

This is why, later, Jesus tells Publicans to collect only what is due.

It was common at that time that Publicans would have a lawyer like rap, in that they where all looked upon as great sinners, always cheating everyone for every last mite and shekel.
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How are you? I believe that we have to look at the fact that a talent was worth many years wages back then. So this is something valuable that is given to each of us...."the gospel" We all have a measure of faith and talents (which is how we get this english word for an ability) to spread this word to others. If we do this and incooperate our ability with the spreading of God's word to others than we will receive rewards and the Lord will be pleased w us...Faith without works is dead. Therefore if we just internalize the gospel and keep if for ourselves (bury it) than we don't have anything at all. the nature of the gospel is to spread it to others that we may win some. He who wins souls is wise. We are all called to evangelize and to spread what we know about Jesus to others. If all you know is John 3:16, then spread that to everyone. God bless you and continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Jesus reigns!!!
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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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How blind people can be!! Jesus explains it in the parable itself!! Read the first sentence! Then read it again, and again, and again, let it sink in your ears, those who do Jesus' commandments are the wise builders!! John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Now, it would be wise to do what Jesus says, right?
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teaching grandchildren faith is as a mustard seed

please send info as described

greatly appreciated

louise

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Dear Friends,
Ecxuse me please, let me attract your attention
my interesting observation about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, when
Jesus Christ baptized.
There is in the Luke 3:22 we see the next:
"And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him" (Luke 3:22).
There is the Holy Scripture said, that the Holy Spirit descended in a
bodily shape like a dove, not in a dove shape. Everywhere in the Holy
Scripture we see only "like a dove", and nowhere "in a dove shape".
(Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, John 1:32).
It is possible to descend in any shape like a dove, but there is in a dove
shape is only in a dove shape. And the phrase “like a dove” is meaning,
that it is not a dove. For example, “ like a man” is meaning, that it
is not a man.
Why two thousands years all artists in the episode of baptism of
Jesus Christ are drawing the dove, and there are
in the many theologize works we see the words "in a dove shape"?
Please see the pictures of well-known artist, and you will see the
dove. And there is in all temple you will see the dove.
"And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him"
(Luke 3:22), not "in a dove shape".
(Please see the attached file Image_6).
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,
but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men"
(Matthew 12;31).
Excuse me please my mistakes in English, I am sorry, I don't speak
English.
Thank you.

God bless you,

Vladimir Rumyantsev
St. Petersburg, Russia,
E-mail: bigroad@olvex.ru

Son of God – King of the Old Testament

Many assert, that Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but that He is not the God, completely ignoring that
fact, that under law of Moses the Son of God means only one – “equal to the God” and “the God, as well as His
Father”. Verses of the Holy Scripture where Jews condemn Jesus Christ that He names himself Son of God testify to
it:
“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that
God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John. 5:18);
“The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being
a Man, make Yourself God” (John. 10:33).
Therefore any person who declares itself, that he is the Son of God, under law Moses makes itself equal to the
God, makes itself by the God, naming the Father of the God, that under law Moses is classified as blasphemy, and
adequately death what of Jews and have declared Pontius Pilate, condemning Jesus Christ on death:
“The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the
Son of God” (John. 19:7).
From what follows, that if Lord Jesus Christ is not the God as well as His Father Jews have acted fairly, having
condemned Jesus Christ on death. Who today will dare to make the similar application?
Law of Moses speaks that Lord Jesus Christ is the true Son God, equal to the God and the God, as well as His
Father.
Words “sons of God” in relation to the man in the Holy Scripture specify that it sons of God on good fortune,
instead of by the nature as Jesus Christ, and to confuse these two concepts is inadmissible:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14);
“nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the Angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection”
(Luke 20:36).
And only Jesus Christ is Son God by the nature, is equal to the God and the God, as well as His Father:
“For to which of the Angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You?” (Hebrews 1:5).
“I have made the earth, and created man on it” (Isaiah 45:12)
Sons of God are creature of God, but only Jesus Christ is begotten Son, not created.
God the Father and the Son of God Jesus Christ are the two separate Persons having the nature of the God, and to
mix the Father and the Son in one Person is inadmissible.
The God is one, but the Persons having the nature of the God, not one.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4);
“I will announce the definition: God has told to Me: You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (Psalm 2:7).
Set of these two verses gives the full basis to name Lord Jesus Christ “one more Person”, having the nature of
the God. To name Jesus Christ “one more God” in aggregate with told in Deuteronomy 6:4 “the Lord is one” - means
to contradict to definition of God, what Jesus Christ announced in Psalm 2:7.
From what follows, that the “God is one” is definition of God, which the Son of God in 7-th verse of 2-nd Psalm
has solemnly declared.
“I will announce the definition’ - the words of 7-th verse of 2-nd Psalm to which today it is not given any
value, as if these words in the Holy Scripture is not present. But these words in the Holy Scripture are, and
they are told by somebody, but Lord Jesus Christ, and they have the most direct attitude to the nature of the
God.
At reading the Holy Scripture at the person the impression is created, that on behalf of the God in the Old
Testament is submitted speaking only one Person, God the Father, but at close examination it is simple to define,
that it is far from being so.
“God said to Moses, “I am Who I am (Jehovah)”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I am has
sent me to you. » (Exodus 3:14).
Who is submitted speaking in the Exodus 3:14 Father, the Son or Holy Spirit? Today practically everyone, not
reflecting will answer, that it is the God the Father while except for the Father speaking can be submitted both
the Son and Holy Spirit.
Let's result a verse of the Old Testament in which Father is submitted speaking only:
“Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its
offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it,” (Isaiah 42:5).
Verses of the Old Testament in which the Son is submitted speaking only:
“Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them, they stand together” (Isaiah 48:13);
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me” (Isaiah 43:10,11);
Verse of the Old Testament in which it is submitted speaking only Holy Spirit:
“The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me” (Numbers 14:11).
About a verse in which it is submitted speaking Holy Spirit, prophet Isaiah has mentioned:
“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;” (Isaiah 63:10).
The special attention should be turned on verses of the Old Testament in which the word “King” in relation to
the God because in all these verses King is only the Son of God Lord Jesus Christ about what the God the Father
has told to us in 6-th verse of 2-nd psalm is mentioned:
“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:6).
Therefore further in all verses in the Old Testament in the Holy Scripture where the word “King” in relation to
the God is mentioned the Son, not Father and not Holy Spirit is submitted, and to confuse these concepts besides
is inadmissible:
“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King” (Isaiah 43:15);
Speaking only about the Father, we speak about the one God, speaking only about the Son, we speak about the one
God, speaking only about the Holy Spirit, we speak about the one God, speaking about the Father, the Son, the
Holy Spirit, we speak about the one God, but not about one Person. That is why King is only one Person, the Son,
and to name King of the Father or Holy Spirit, it means to suppose mixture of Persons that to make it is
impossible. The Son of God is the one God, eternal King:
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and His
train filled the temple.
Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1,5).
“These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him” (John 12:41), about Son of God, Lord Jesus
Christ, King, Lord of hosts.
“And about the Son: You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work
of Your hands” (Hebrews. 1:8,10);
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is
just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9);
“And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be. “The Lord is one,” And His name one”
(Zechariah 14:9);
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34);
“Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the
Jews” (John 19:19);
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings;
and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14);
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).
“Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; the peoples fall under You” (Psalm 45:5);
“For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2);
“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:6,7);
“For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3);
“Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off» (Isaiah 33:17);
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10).
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy
3:16).
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Vladimir Rumyantsev
E-mail: bigroad@olvex.ru
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I don't have a picture right here of a mustard seed but if you go into your local grocery store to the spice/food rack section you can locate them there. They are tiny little almost circular shape things. I am doing a presentation about them in my youth group. So, there ya go! Good luck!
Amanda
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Webmaster, I found the link for the "Parable of Servants" to lead me afar to the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Without a page for Matt. 24:45-51, I include it with this Parable of the Ten Virgins.

The preceding Parable of the Two Servants is critical to the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which begins with the word "Then" (Matt. 25:1). Therefore, the fulfillment of the Parable of the Ten Virgins will shorly follow that of the preceding Parable of the Two Servants (Matt. 24:45-51). Well, when will that be? Who are the servants in charge, and who is their master?

For centuries churches have taught that Jesus Christ is the Master of His parable, but this understanding is collapsing before our very eyes in today's end times. He has prophesied that the end of the age, when He would rapture us home to heaven, would come once the gospel of salvation through Him got spread throughout the whole inhabitable earth for a testimony to all peoples (Matt. 24:14). My problem with the traditional church teaching is as follows: what if the evil servant in charge should prevent world evangelism so that Christ should never return? Well, in that case, Jesus Christ obviously was not the master of His parable. Hebrew and Aramaic grammar can shed light on this.

In English, we usually speak of classes of things in the plural unless we use collective nouns. The same was true of Greek, yet Hebrew and Aramaic were exceptions. In those two tongues, there is a "general (use of the) masculine singular" as we see in Psalm 1, in which a righteous (man) in Hebrew represents righteous people ("am) in general. In the Parable of the Two Servants (Matt. 24:45-51), the general masculine singular "master," "wise and faithful servant," and "evil servant" have been retained upon translation to Greek and English rather than receiving grammatrically correct plural translations to preserve the meaning of the text. The verb "dichotome^sei" (will cut asunder) could merely mean "will categorize" if the evil servant were presented naturally in the plural in Matt. 24:51. By leaving the general masculine singular forms intact upon translation to Greek, Saint Matthew makes it completely clear to us that, yes, the master(s) will most certainly cut the evil servant(s) to pieces. Now that we understand the general masculine singular, I examine the plural meanings of the master and each servant in charge.

If the master be not Jesus, he must have entrusted the servants in charge of his wealth or at least now hold the position to return and judge them. Only the people, or successors threof, who entrusted the servants in charge of the goods of God's people and responsible to nourish them can then be this master. Furthermore, when this master returns, he must recognize faithful service and entrust the good servant with all his goods: who is so incredibly generous today? Furthermore, he must conceal his intentions to return to the evil servant unawares, do so in good times, cut him to pieces, understand how the evil servant was hypocritical and assign him his portion of the hypocrites, cast him out knowing the weeping and gnashing of teeth to result, and beat or flog the evil servant according to the servant's conscience (Luke's account). The text to condemn the evil servant is Matt. 7:7 to refute the spiritual claims of every pastor who browbeat his needy while he lived it up. By putting his needy down when they made requests, the evil servant has caused them to sin habitually (worth a curse, Matt. 18:5-7) by putting aside Jesus' commands not to worry but to ask, seek, and knock. In light of the general use of the Hebrew or Aramaic masculine singular forms, the master, if not Jesus, over servants, represent the following situations...

Board of elders (master) over pastor, treasurer, Sunday school teacher;
State legislature or accreditation board (master) over psychiatrists, corrections officers, physicians, psychiatric gatekeepers, etc.;
HR Department (master) over hospital billing staff, nurses, etc.;
College of cardinals (master) over Roman Catholic bishops (servants);
Head of the United Methodist Church (master) over itinerant ministers;

and so on. Still, this judgement cannot happen yet because these masters still have today's laws to fear, laws against aggravated assault and battery. Remember, in order to return as master, each of these gatherings in power must be able to amputate the evil servants, so literal a word in the Greek as to make Matthew retain the general masculine singular of Hebrew in Greek translation to preserve its meaning of cutting into pieces, of absolute amputations, perhaps just one, perhaps several amputations. Furthermore, from Luke's account they must have the power and will to beat the crying evil servants already kicked out severely according to the content of the conscience of each. How the various masters will gain their rights to impose these corporal punishments, judgements of Scripture, I leave to the Lord Almighty. (Lord's Prayer)

Next, after all this has happened, the Parable of the Virgins will be fulfilled as the church worship industry dies and loses its buildings. The five wise virgins with extra oil represent believers, such as churchgoers, with salvation and sufficient obedience to Jesus to be received into house churches. In contrast, the five foolish virgins represent lukewarm so-called or backslidden Christians who believe or go to church for social reasons and are unwilling to desist from sin in order to stay welcome at a house church. When the Kingdom of Heaven moves out of the dedicated church buildings and into house churches to meet in mundane places, will the social churchgoers indeed feel locked out! And thus our "extra oil" represents sanctification beyond the oil in the lamps, justification. Lastly, the wedding banquet will occur then in the house churches if not after the Rapture in heaven.

Finally, the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) will be fulfilled as masters call their rank-and-file stewards to account. Each steward, each of us in charge of wealth of our own, however little, has been entrusted to make a profit according to our abilities. The good stewards or servants (not necessarily in charge of people) will have profits to show their masters, their rich friends of Luke 16 if not Jesus Christ in heaven. The lazy servants have failed to do what was right: to trade with their wealth and make profits. Perhaps the load of seventy-six pounds avordupois of silver was too heavy for the lazy to carry; soldiers who drop their seventy-pound rucksacks are those most likely to get killed because others have to carry their packs for them. Perhaps his experience is with funerals and burials rather than in trading; perhaps he does not trust in his master's return, thinking instead, "He won't ever come back. When he dies, I won't trust his heirs; they won't know what I have hidden to free myself." In the worst case, however, the lazy servants say they never had money to invest. In that case, I, Kevin Douglas Rosenberg, prophet of Luke 16, or some ally of mine, shall be their master if the faithful servants answer to their rich friends then instead of to Jesus Christ after the Rapture.

I will tell the hard-lot lazy servants that they had Luke 16:1-13 in their bibles; how come they contented themselves with financially limited congregations despising Jesus' commands to generosity as they hewed to their Budgets? Very few of them indeed in Christ can say they never had the chance to read this passage, only that no one led them to it. I will be far less sympathetic toward those lazy servants who did not have such a problem as incarceration yet still ignored Jesus' clear command to make friends with the rich people of the world so that people might welcome us into everlasting dwellings if we lost our homes and so that our congregations might be granted the wealth for our ministries. And the profitable servants will be commended by their grantors while the lazy servants get stripped of their little wealth and possessions and cast out into the outer darkness of homelessness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yes, the lazy servants content to serve God by themselves with what they have will lose it all, and that will be given to the best stewards.

By obeying Luke 16, we may know the rich people of the world, and they may let us in on their investment advice. In contrast, the proud among us who avoid the rich will make dumb investments such as gambling. Therefore, faithfulness even in the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16:1-13 is even more important than investment advice for hard-earned money.

I wish you all the best of luck in these end times as we get our houses in order for these awesome events.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

(reply here; e-mail is exclusive of junk mail)



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A mustard seed should stay an herb,if it becomes as a tree it is not good for seasoning.It has become something it shouldn't be and the birds perch in it looking for an easy meal.
Mustard seed = The Church,GOD's children Birds = satan and his croneies,false teachers
To GOD be the glory.

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Sandals in the Bible are connected with the feet. Feet are connected with the WALK. The father is interested in our walk. The son was obviously barefooted. His feet/walk were exposed to stones, glass, injury of all kinds whilst unshod. When we are not walking with God, our feet, our lives are exposed to the pains which are caused by sin and transgression. When our feet, our walk is protected by the sandals we can walk in a way that is pleasing to our father. Sandals represent protection for the feet, a renewed walk, walking on a right path. See Psalm 1.

Paul also spoke of the feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. See Ephesians 6. There we can relate to the need for the feet to be prepared to walk or run with the gospel message. Without feet that are properly shodden or covered, they too will be exposed to the harshness of the road. It won't be long that we shall not be able to walk with the gospel. We need help.

We need to have feet that are properly prepared for the journey, wether the Christian life or the gospel.

How beautiful are the feet of them the publish the gospel of peace.
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You're both wrong. It's obvious that in this parable it is being taught that, should you have a talent, do not waste it. Although it's shown, the relationship between servant and master really isn't what's really being portrayed (you could take to this, though.). Things like this happen a lot when extremely talented people get into the wrong things before the talent is allowed to flourish, or people just too lazy to care, to take the time to develop what they have.

Faith is a great thing, but don't let it blind you.
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First of note in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders is the word "these" (Matt. 7 : 24 ). "These sayings," in Greek "tous logous toutous," accusative plural of "ho logos houtos," are the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 : 3 - 7 : 27 ) and the parallel accounts in the other Gospels, exclusive of everything that Jesus later taught. Therefore, if we would be like the wise builder, we would obey everything He commanded in His Sermon on the Mount -- and would be found wise even if we never understood His later teachings such as the camel passing through the eye of the needle in Matthew 19.

Conversely, dare we ignore the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, by asserting that it is intended for heaven but no earthly way to live life, Jesus has warned that then He will liken us unto the foolish builder regardless of otherwise good works, scriptural training, and understanding of the rest of the Bible. In light of this, it is a good sign for me that my comments on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (which I take together with those of the good and evil servants and of the talents) refer to the Sermon on the Mount, particularly when I make a moral claim. Now, let us examine the details of the wise and foolish builders: how we use the Sermon on the Mount. Do we obey Jesus' words therein, or dare we shove it aside for our convenience?

Far shorter than any compilation of everything that Jesus taught on earth, the Sermon on the Mount is still not easy to follow in practice. Teaching those Gentile Christians who know some of the Jewish Law to obey it as God's will because their consciences are aware of it among Gentile believers presumed ignorant and able to tell the Jews "I didn't know better" is not easy, for "all" was not "fulfilled" at the time of the Resurrection in Matt. 5 : 17 - 20 , for example, prophecies from Yichzeqi'el (Ezekiel 38) concerning modern Israel. Therefore, for a Gentile believer in Christ who knows the Jewish dietary laws to let his light shine before men (people) in Matt. 5 : 15 - 16 must include keeping those laws in his own home (also Matt. 23 : 1 - 3 ). Jesus knows our awareness or ignorance about keeping kosher kitchens; whoever knows God's clear commands yet disobeys sins. Settling out of court (Matt. 5 : 25 ), refraining from leering (v. 28 ), and amputating the part of the body that brings scandal (vv. 29, 30 ) are not all easy. The wise builder's communication will be full of clear Yes or No answers in place of the usual hedging or sworn answers from unbelievers. The difficult verses in Matt. 5 : 39 - 41 require interpretation in the context of the Roman Empire, and verse 42 requires absolute generosity from Jesus' followers!

It is the stinginess of most American churches and pastors toward the needy which has me most convinced that the Church Growth Movement along with the rest of the Great Apostasy (II Tim. 4 : 3 - 4 ) is like the foolish builder who built his house on the shifting sands. Many churches nowadays are sinning in trying to serve both God and Mammon (wealth) as masters and expecting prudence from their followers and from the needy (Matt. 6 : 19ff ; also Luke 16 : 1 - 13 , the Parable of the Unjust Steward). Without the generosity of Jesus Christ in our hearts, we look an awful lot like the foolish builder. Punishment is coming soon after it becomes certain that the hypocritical churches never will spread the Gospel throughout the whole inhabitable earth in time to fulfill Jesus' prophecies at the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24 : 14 , 34) without uprooting the evil servants in charge on this earth (Matt. 24 : 45 - 51 ).

I look to LUKE 16: 1 - 13, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, for the means to live the bountifully generous way our Lord commanded. That Luke 16 is neglected and not tolerated at many churches shows that entire congregations are foolishly building their Christian lives on sand. Still, we have a choice to learn and follow the Sermon on the Mount to the letter by beginning with LUKE 16 to make it practical.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg
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If you're looking for a contemporary take on this parable... and any other biblical passage, for that matter, you might try Eugene Peterson's "The Message". He has done an admirable job of re-writing the Bible in today's context.
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I would like a picture of a mustard tree for my Junior Church class but can't seem to find one on the internet!

Do you still have the website address which has the picture of the tree with the boy standing next to it?
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My heart goes out to Edwin who reached out and helped accident victims and became a victim himself. Edwin, I do not believe that this is God's perfect will for your life -- to serve time for giving of your time, talents and the love of God in your heart to help someone. Certainly we can see the hand of the enemy in this. I will pray and ask God to turn this thing around, to cause you to find favor and to reward you for your efforts to walk in love. I believe in prayer and I know that prayer changes things. Begin to speak a positive message of change. Know, by faith, that God has not forgotten you. He will save you and deliver you from this cruel thing that has happened to you. In addition to that, He will reward you for the 10 years you have spent fighting this thing. He will reunite you with your wife and cause your life to be filled with abundance. I decree it in the Name of Jesus!
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I want to understand what it means to and how it referres to us people.Were these true talent or what?I need the real meaning of the parable
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Is the prodigal the father or the son. ?

Look back to definitions...given or giving in abundance. Prodigious means very generous. Could the prodigal be the father? Over abundance of grace and forgiveness when not deserved!?

He always knew where the son was but he could not go and get him.

He used the other brother to go and get him.

Lots to ponder when looked at that way.

I know I am a year late on that thought. How did your research turn out?

May God continue to bless!
SBC
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