This passage is offered as a comparison allegory to the coming of Christ. Christ came and gave us a great gift, through Grace, and then "went away on a long journey." Christ will come back. How have we responded to the freedom and power given to us through Jesus Christ? Have we cowered in fear or are actively living out God's will?


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Dear Steven,

Read Revelation 18 in the light of 9/11. America is 'Prophetic Babylon' the Kingdom of the Beast. American Christians should get out of the US in line with Revelation18:4. Soon the Beast will take dictatorial control of the US and introduce the mark: 666.
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The meaning of this scripture is very simple if you allow the other scriptures concerning the kingdom to interpret it. All that's being said hear is that "there is nothing hid which shall not be manifest". It's an example of how the word of God reacts with the human spirit and together they radiate the fact that his word was put in. If you take two balls of dough, insert yeast in one of them and come back in twenty minutes, it doesn’t take a genius to say "hey someone put yeast in that one". Yeast is not good or bad it's just a catalyst that works with something else for a desired end. Certainly it can be bad, "beware of the leaven of the scribes and Pharisee’s-hypocrisy" for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed (same idea). But it also says that the kingdom of God is like leaven.

The meaning is this. When we "hide" the word in our hearts, the leaven of god’s word will work with our spirit to "manifest" or bring to light or "reveal" the fact that we "sowed" to our hearts the word. It will manifest. Now, if there's nothing hid that shall not be manifest, shouldn't we as Christians be asking "then how on earth do I "hide" something? This is the idea here. We have a treasure hid in our hearts, and the person who discovers how to hide something, will be able to "manifest" or tap into that hidden treasure. He'll bring forth fruit.

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Where is the moral? I need a moral for tomorrow. Please show it.
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OK, I admit I don't know what this parable means. Verse 1 says that man should pray often without becoming weary. Verse 5 states that persistant pestering pays off. Yet verse 8 says that God will answer prayers speedily.
Is this a contradiction?
Does "pestering the judge" mean that we should pester God until we get what we want?
What's speedy about that?
How does that relate to Christ asking if He shall find faith on earth?

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(Selective Grace or Selective Disgrace)
The Parable is the greatness in what can be from what is little. The least is best, and sometimes in life the greater is less. We seldom look to what is and what we are in his will and not ours. Many say I am a good Christian, and many say I am a great person and know I am saved. I do not believe in "Skateboard Salvation" Yes we are saved by Grace through Faith, but let those who do not live by any standard read the book of James. James speaks of works in saying: "Faith with out Works is Dead"It is better to have done ,than to say I have done much and yet have done nothing. We miss the boat in our Marketing of Religion like it is a part of a cereal isle, get the numbers up and tell them what they need to hear, not hard & firm or they may go elsewhere! The word can grow as the Mustard seed, and the message is "Let it grow" and the height is limitless" The Parable is The word of God in all our lives,"Listen with our eyes".
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The web linke to Ched Meyer's article does not work. Error 404... web page not found!

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hello fellow my Christian neighbors!! i was wondering what yall thought of what the religious significance was of this parable, the Good Samaritan, and how it pertains to our lives today. What is God trying to say in this parable? what message is HE trying to convey? PLEASE get back to me!! thankyou ever so much
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Bob:
Was Dr.Scofield a Freemason at any time?
Your answer will be greatly appreciated.
George
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The fig tree without fruit represents our fruitless life. The leaves represent the word of God. You see we can have a lot of word in us but not produce fruit. The word of God in us has to be watered, birth in our spirit and then preached to the people. When the Lord told the man that he was going to cut the tree down and the man told the Lord no give me a year I will dig it up and fertilize it this reminded me of how Jesus interceeds on our behalf. Even Moses interceeded for the people of Israel when they were worshipping the golden calf. Even though this was a tree the man loved that tree and he knew that if he was given the chance to dig up the ground and fertilize it there would be fruit the following year. This is the same love the Lord has for us he always gives us a second chanc
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Very thorough exposition. I wish more and more people, Christians and non, will pursue a less identitist ethic and embrace and imitate the example set by Jesus. By the way, I am a volunteer in an ecumenical interfaith community in Manila. It is called Kaalagad (fellowship of fellowservants). It is a very small community engaged in ecological and gender concerns, ecomonics of sufficiency and critical pluralism. The murderous ways of the Arroyo government is patent, but even the Philippine Left is a Jericho of ideological segregation.

Thank you so much for the reassurance. Bless you and your family and your community.
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In fact, the father did "reinstate" the son to his former place - that is the significance of the giving of the ring and the sandals. Servants did not wear sandals, and would certainly not have been given rings. These gestures indicated the father's full acceptance of the son "back into the fold".
You are probably right that the son came home out of desperation... sometimes, that's what it takes to effect a turnabout in one's life.
Each son had something to learn... the father's love extended beyond what either considered fair or "expected".
As far as each "righteous" person is concerned, when it comes to God, there is good news and bad news.
The bad news is - we don't get what we deserve.
The good news is - we don't get what we deserve.

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Hello,
Thanks for all the comments. It's been very interesting reading the inputs. I've always felt for the older son because he had stayed with the father all the time and yet he felt that there was no reward for him. His father seemed to "prefer" the younger son who had squandered all his inheritance in loose living. I think I am guilty of this as well.

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

I am so glad and grateful that my heavenly Father is always so loving and so good. His love for me is never dependent on my performance (preach to 1000 people or don't even bother to go to church). I am reminded that I must not be like the older son. I need to be set free from self-righteousness (just like the Pharisees). To recognise that I am just a sinner who needs Jesus so badly. There is nothing I can ever do to earn His love for me. Praise God ! ! !
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I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE IMAGE OF THE The Mustard Seed TREE.

THX, GOD BLESS,

JOSEPH
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the good samaritan is a person full of blessing and understanding and he is not self-concieted he had a humble heart like jesus christ that never be change even yesterday and today.Be with jesus so that you will be like a good samaritan and the gift of god which is the eternal life is waiting for you in the golden paradise of heaven.

GOD BLESS TO US!!!
BE WITH JESUS AT ALL TIMES!!!
READ AND APPLY THE WORD OF GOD!!!
BE LOVABLE AND CHEERFUL TO YOUR NEIGHBOR!!!
FORGET EVERYTHING BUT PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR HEART!!!

YOUR BROTHER,
VICAR
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I am a catholic teacher and would love a copy of the mustard tree as we are looking at how our faith grows from a little seed. I want to use the parrable in our class prayer service.
Thanks and God bless Liz
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Actually the son that stayed at home was also wayward...not in location...but in relationship to his Father! His relationship was built on duty and perfection and not on love!!!
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And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.


I think Jesus might be talking about other than an Earthly fold here. He could be acknowledging lineage other than Adams, which he is the God of. It might be something worth considering.

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I'm wondering about this connection - the "prodigal" son has a life issue - ADHD. Anyone who has lived in a family where one child has this life issue and another doesn't understands perfectly well the distress of the elder son on the return and celebration for the younger. The non-affected child, in many ADHD living situations, takes back seat to the behavior and emotions of the affected child as the parents spend most/all of their parental energy working with the affected child to maintain some sort of stability in the home and between the family members. The non-affected child does not KNOW that he is welcome to all the parents/father have as most of the family resources go to maintain the issued child.
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I would also like to know where I can find a picture of a mustard tree as discussed in the Bible.

Thanks
D'Laine Evans
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My conscience simply will not let me solicit the friendship of someone (saved or unsaved) just to realize some financial gain for myself or the ministry. The thought of it is completely contrary to what God has been teaching me about what reaching out in true love really is. I can't think of a more selfish way to use somebody.

Partiality and favortism is at the very heart of our sinful nature--entertaining people for whatever benefit they can provide. That is precisely the 'old man' I want to see crucified.

Thank God that He (God) did not do that to me, leaving me an example to follow. Just when I had nothing to offer Him, He saved me:

"...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS..." (Ephesians 2:4)

"You see, at just the right time, when we WERE STILL POWERLESS, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)

One of my favorite scriptures that almost always causes me to well up in tears is Luke 14:12-14 (THIS is the very heart of God!)

"...When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, OR YOUR RICH NEIGHBORS; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, INVITE THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE LAME, THE BLIND, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, YOU WILL BE REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS."

God, create in me THIS kind of love that you might be glorified and my joy will be complete.

"...the ONLY thing that counts is faith EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE." (Galatians 5:6)
















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Sounds like a very interesting view but I don't know how to make a connection to the original story. Are you saying all 100 sheep were actually "lost" but only 1 was willing to admit ?
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u dont kno wat ur talkin about. da church is lieing 2 u. jesus never said worship me.u can read da bible u will never see him say dat
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Something as simple as finding a picture of a mustard tree, as turned
into a sales product to make others money, I just want to see a picture of
a Mustard tree.
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What a waste of time!!! We have a lost deceived world, on it's way to Hell, and all you can do is post your nonsense, that you might gain worldly riches!
If you would spend half the time that you waste, posting your nonsense, down on your kness before Holy God, praying for the Lost of this world, you might learn some sound doctrine, that would benefit the lost, instead of trying to use God's Word, for your own gain! Woe to you!
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This forum concerns the interpretation of Luke 16:1-13. Some scholars see an allegory of the love of Jesus in it; however, I see an eye-opener and direct commands from our Lord instead. That I do not discuss salvation (John 3:16ff, Romans etc.) here does not imply any lack of that teaching from me. I simply believe that the parables on which I have commented do not much concern salvation and justification or that others will easily expound those aspects while I delve through the commands and the predictions of Jesus Christ, lest we be deceived.

Regarding my posting and the kingdom of heaven, if your entire congregation dare ignore or refuse Luke 16:1-13 (KJV/Greek), unless it already consist of the rich, it will run out of money to give away liberally as Jesus Christ taught to do (Matt. 5:42 ) and start to despise Jesus' command to give freely and hew instead to its Budgets, the service of Mammon, just as Jesus warned (Luke 16:13 ). If we cannot afford to give freely for fear of what would happen to us without our wealth or our homes, how could we possible minister in any way true to Jesus? Then, problems with money and needs will load us down with habitual sins.

As for the very people whom I "want to use" winding up in Hell, if one came to me seeking relief from sin or some other lead to need for the gospel of salvation, I would indeed try to win them. I would not mince words about damnation to keep his favour; the command from Jesus is to make friends with the rich rather than to keep them. Still, I will not place irrelevant postings about salvation on this page devoted to a parable. This site is not the right place to win the lost; it concerns believers.

If all our congregations had done their hobnobbing already, there would be far more ready assistance for our needy and for more funds for world evangelism than we see under the evil servants in charge and under Modern English social expectations passed off as "God's will". There would be ample means for God's ends! Would I be glad!

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg


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I dont know what this is about...will someone give me sum help?? I am scared
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does not matter if p-son hated father, dont let hate scare ya it's normal
part of existence in material plane...from some angles we all hate that
we were thrown onto this plane thru no reckoning of our own, and
mostly coerced to accept or deal with it...if we're truly awake/aware
we're being the prodigal son/daugher/entity incessantly in each
here-now moment and so shaping our next moments - even the
luxury of having a little bit of clarity/real-consiousness doesn't
guarantee that we will be comfortably accepted, embraced, cared-for
by some (god, father, mamma) entity...but ownership of how this
parable can really work for you is reeeallly something!

it's neither good nor bad,only thinking tends to make it so.
all men wanna be better and aren't but for lack of knowing how.
this one can only suggest how you might: we get to being parts of
each other this way
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The fig tree in this instance does represent us. ( In Gods Garden ).

Sometimes in life before we have excepted the Word of God we do not produce the desired fruit by God. (Compassion, kindness, wisdom etc)

In turn God "put shit on us" or fertilyzer. (A situation that stinks to us, but in turn allows us to grow spiritually.)

The Gardener, Jesus asks that God allow us to stay a little longer with the hope that we will one day fruit.

The fruit of God. - Gods Will.

If we fail to turn back to God and except His guidance, that we are indeed an unfruitful tree.

If this happens than we are not needed in Gods Green Garden.


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Big Island,

Look at the word axiomatic. It means: A self-evident principle or one that is accepted as true without proof as the basis for argument; a postulate.

Notice the expression “self-evident”.

I once read that if a certain muscle contains a lot of a certain nutrient, then it’s axiomatic that that nutrient is necessary for the function of that muscle.

What is the “secret”?

If I drive through a farming community and observe a farmer out planting seeds, we call that farming. He’s planting seeds for the sake of reaping a harvest.

Jesus took this idea and by the wisdom of God extracted the things out of it that makes it work, and then applied it to himself. He also taught others how to do it. In essence, HE PUT IT ON. HE PUT IT IN THE FIRST PERSON. He put on the principle of sowing and reaping.

When we look at a farmer, HE IS FARMING. When we attempt to use same the principle upon ourselves it’s called…..Drum roll please!

“KEEPING A SECRET”.

This entire hullabaloo about seeds and candles under bushels is merely Jesus’ teaching on faith and how it works. The subject matter is FAITH.

He’s saying that when we pray to God for something we have to declare it a “SECRET”. We literally say it out loud “heavenly father I declare it a divine “secret”; that I have received such and such (-whatever you have asked for in prayer), by faith, and I will not attempt in any way to exalt myself though attempts to bring this to light. It will remain a secret forever”.

The term SECRET is axiomatic to the principle itself. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DECLARE IT A SECRET, AND THEN KEEP IT A SECRET FROM THE WORLD AROUND YOU. Anything less is going the opposite direction-the direction of mans reward-PEW! (lordy thaz nassy.)

YOU DON’T WANT THAT. Mans reward is not always good. If you want Gods reward then you have to declare it a “secret” and then keep it a secret from the world around you.

Apparently the human heart or spirit is a revealer of “secrets”. But you have to establish a secret in prayer and then maintain the secrecy.

Why would that be?

Job 28:21
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

When we seal Gods word within our hearts/spirits, we are “hiding” it from the fowls of the air that Jesus taught were the satanic forces in this world that want to devour that seed.

“Hiding” is synonymous with “secret” or “keeping a secret” (it’s merely a metaphor for planting). We are in essence hiding the Word of God within our hearts behind a pane of proverbial glass that all hell wants to come into for the sake of devouring the seed. As long as we keep it secret, we are keeping it in a place where Satan can’t get in and devour it. If we attempt to take it to the world through helping ourselves to mans reward I.E. self exaltation, we open the door to the devil and HE TAKES IT TO US.

When we take it to the world through “acting our faith”-WRONG, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL, TAKES IT TO US (BAD).This would be accounted for by the expression “the cares of this world ENTERING IN, chokes the word and it becometh unfruitful”. Found in the parable of the sower. The cares of this world-worrying about how to “act your faith”-has to “enter in”. It can’t’ enter in when we have no connection or ties to the world by virtue of sealing off attempts to bring it to pass ourselves.

When we stack the various overtones of hiddeness over our lives we lock ourselves in the “secret place of the most high” as David said. It then is just a matter of time before God exalts us into the open. But it’s a lifestyle not a temporary fad.

Mark 7:24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

In the Old Testament a man demanded to know the name of the angel that was standing before him representing God. What did the angel say his name was? “Why do you ask me my name seeing it is SECRET” was the angels/Gods response.

This is axiomatic as to how God works in this earth. He wants to be hidden within our hearts and kept a secret. Again why? Because the human spirit is a culminator of sorts, it’s a revealer of secrets much like ground grows seeds that are planted. If God is held within our hearts in this hidden mode, there will come a time when he can show up in our lives I.E. MANIFEST. But until then, he beckons to be regarded as a secret-a planted seed.

I hope this helps.

Tell know man.

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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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Hi, Rae-

I think drug addiction and mental illness have to be checked out in your son's case. That said, if it is a case of willfulness, then tough love must come into play. Tell him you are sorry for whatever misfortune he may encounter, but that he will be on his own when he reaches 18. If he is under 18, he loses whatever privileges you can withhold, and if that doesn't work check into reporting him to child services as a child out of control. Of course this must be done in a loving manner in which you explain that he himself holds the key to his treatment. A loving parent wants a child to be an independent, contributing member of society, able to support himself. If that doesn't happen, your son will face great obstacles in life, not just from you but also from the rest of society. Forgiving is one thing, holding a person responsible is another. Children and everyone else must be held responsible, that is, have to face the natural consequences of their actions. Enabling an irresponsible child to continue that way does him and you a disservice.
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Many people focus just on the younger son...lets remember something here. The scriptures say that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost. What did the younger son actually feel in his fathers arms? Do you recon he was more excited about the feast, or the redemption? What had the older son lost sight of, in the presence of his father, but not in his arms? We tend as christians to get so busy in our "works efforts" that we loose sight of the purpose of our stewardship. Our carnal natures sneak into prominance and then we wind up working to achieve the wrong goal.....to please ourselves, not to glorify our Father! The Father said what to the older son? DO we as christians take full advantage of our inheritance and the privelidges of our Bloodline? The wealth had already been divied up, the older son had received his fair share, and should have then been enjoying the status of just living in accord with His Father....all the benefits of the Fathers prosperity were there for his use....but he wasn't using them was he! He was so busy still trying to please his father, that he lost sight of the fact that he was already in good standing with him. WHy do you think he felt he had to keep trying? See, it wasn't about pleasing his father....it was about pleasing himself....to be better than the lost brother..(in his own eyes). Our Father wants to see us take advantage of our status as his child.....to put to use and enjoy the benefits bring his children....or are we too busy (self absorbed) to see the big picture here? As children of the Father...we are sanctified, holy, we are his Glory.....so why do we scurry around trying to earn an inheritance we have already been given? That inheritance isn't ours to earn...it came as a gift! We own it...so why don't we put it to use!
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There are several ways to look at this parable and still fulfill gods love.I am sure that Jesus was being very specific though when he spoke at the time.Our Lords words just seem to touch each persons life in a little different way.Our Lord was all things to all people and this parable reaches all in one way or another.This parable to me shows me that even the type of person that might outwardly in appearance be rough and offensive, may just be the person that the Lord uses to touch your life in a blessed way, or to pull you from the gutter.Who knows truly about anyone around us but the Holy Spirit that guides us and speaks to us.Our jobs as christians is to be as accepting as possible and to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.We are to set the example like christ , being Good samaritans and to lift others into the position of Good Samaritans.God Bless and keep your Hearts to all who read this.
Your Brother in Christ,
Chris
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Not much is said about what the prodigal son LOST in the process of riotous living. He was restored to his father but the son who was faithful retained more than what the prodigal did. Remember, sin always take sus farther than we planned on going, it keeps us longer than we planned on staying, and it costs us more that we planned on paying.

The scars of our indulgent living sometimes remain, ( ie: consequences of the sin such as pregnancies, jail, diseases, health issues, etc.) but God is the ever loving and faithful forgiving Father who restores us and helps us deal with the consequences.....Praise God for His awesome love!
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Thanks for the insight, I was looking for insight on the web about this parable that I am teaching on Sunday morning. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.

I can see how a church getting larger can get out of control, regarding the birds of the air making their nest in it.

May the Lord help us "small or large" to keep the birds out.

God Bless.
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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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i used this site , thanks alot for your preaching and to that kid , id have to say it is true +++_
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for all my life i've belived in jesus and his teachings even though i have never read the bible i have decided to live in jesuses footsteps WWJD, but as i grow old i get deeper in the belive but i get the sence that i am going very insane with my intence belive because i do not belive in having to go to church every day that is to teach children, i think if u have god on your mind all the time and live in Jesuses footsteps as he told us to live that is being a true cristian please get back to me i was brought up in a very strict catolic family and if i said this to people i know they would laugh at me.
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Hey, Rick......I don't know you personally, but I saw you were from home town, I thought I would say hello. I go to Spanish River and have lived in Boca 32 years now. How 'bout you?
There are quite a few interesting comments on this web-site. I think it's neat how people break stuff down and look for meanings. Like, "what do the sandals represent?"
I've been the prodigal son recently. got really off track. wheh! I mean really off track. It's so wonderful to be able to come to God with a broken and contrite heart and accept His forgiveness. What a pleasure being back in fellowship. Let me hear from you.
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cornell
I dont have the scriptures.. but the way i understand it is ...
There is repentance and blasphemy of the holy spirit.. i am not to clear on it either.. but here is what i do know

When we sin, if we confess our sins and turn God will forgive us.
Sin could be murder, murders,stealing, hate lust, lying, gossiping

Blasphemy as i understand it, not quite sure is when a person totally reject God , they have been given over to reprobate mind, they have
completly sold out and have no desire to come back home to God the Father

God knows the diffenence and he is not confuse when someone has completely rejected and refuse his Love, Him, His Son, His Spirit, His ways...

a story, testimony i love in the bible, is saul that perscuted, killed christians, one day on the road to Damascus was stop in his tracks
turn around repent of his evil ways was forgiven and greatly use by the same God, the same Jesus he tried to kill, and destroy his name and his people.....What a great testimony....God loves it when we turn, he is not a tricky God is not trying to trick us, sometimes the enemy tries to trick us into thinking i have gone to far God will never accept me now, look how i reject him,look at all those time he spoke to me, warn me and i walked away, rejected him and would not listen, will he listen to me now.... this is want the prodigal son parable son 's essence of the message is he will accept you, love you, bless you, if you come back home, return, repent confess, Lord, Father God i have sin against you
i have rejected you,i have(you fill in the blanks)
i want to come back home
i believe in You Father God, I believe in Your Son Jesus that he died for my sins, and that he arose on third day, and now i am made free by
The Blood of Jesus, and i ask for you The Holy Spirit to come into my heart and live inside of me,
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Eccl 12:6-8
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

i think that this is more a relating of an actual specific occurrence rather than a parable.



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hey do you hav picture of the parable of the seed and the sower... i need it for my project pls. reply me to my email if do you have
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"leaven" - n. - a substance due to fermentation which causes bread dough to rise - Webster's Dictionary

"leaven" - n. a substance to make dough rise, esp. yeast; anything that makes a general change, --vt to raise with leaven; to spread through, causing gradual change. [Fr levain--L levamen-- levare, to raise--levis, light. (There is an accent " - " over the "a's" in levamen and levare, unfortunately I do not know how to do this)] - Webster's New Dictionary and Thesaurus

"meal" - is food, or bread

The kingdom of heaven is like unto yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of flour/bread, till the whole was risen??

Jesus is the Bread of Life see John 6:48


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i think 1948 is the super sign no doubt, we are already 60 years into the future so we can't be too far off,it's close.
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Well, I suspect this won't change Kevin Rosenberg's mind about the matter (I respect your freedom to believe what you see there). But for the sake of any readers who have not come to a decision as to what God wants to say to us in this parable, I submit more evidence. Evidence that disallows (is that a word?) the interpertation that Christ requires us to seek the wealth of rich unbelievers to finance ministry and support destitute believers.

Ephesians 4:28
"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, BUT MUST WORK, DOING SOMETHING USEFUL WITH HIS OWN HANDS, THAT HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH THOSE IN NEED."

Honest, proud work really does have a place in God's will for supporting ourselves AND the ministry. Why would Christ teach to the contrary?

I stumbled across more 'disobedient' believers who tried to pay their own way in ministry. "It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving NO HELP FROM THE PAGANS." (3 John 7)

I've see at least three very dangerous mistakes made in the Church (Especially regarding end-times teachings).

1) Ignoring straightforward truth. Why do we purposely throw out the plain, undisputable instructions of scripture in favor of veiled, and speculative interpretations of one, maybe two, scriptures? What I mean is, why do we ignore the compelling, straightforward, undisputable meaning of one scripture, that requires no interpretation--one that would instantly disqualify any possible contrary meaning of a less clear scripture--in favor of another interpretation?

2) Taking the scriptures WAY to literal. Don't get me wrong, it takes the Holy Spirit to understand any truth, and it can be dangerous to spiritualize where you should not, and vice versa. But, I see so many people ignoring the precedents set down by Jesus and Paul of what they themselves spiritualized and then continue on in misguided, fleshly literal interpretations of the same things? Again, I say end-timers are especially bad about this. This is exactly why Jesus was rejected! He spiritualized and it made him look irreverant and anti-Law/ anti-Moses! It's no different today.

Thank God, Jesus clarified what he meant when he said 'Born again' in John 3. Even though scripture itself teaches the 'spiritual' reality that Nicodemus didn't see at first, amazing enough I heard of a group of believers who would actually act out 'birth pangs' in prayer for unbelievers they wanted saved (see Galatians 4:19 to understand their misguided motivation)!

3) Making scripture say what it doesn't say anything about, one way or the other. "Do not go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man (and his teaching) over against another" (1 Cor. 4:6) In other words, know when you're only speculating and let it go and keep your superior, spiritual insights, that no one else can see, to yourself. "...whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." (Romans 14:22)

With many scriptures, though, we have to depend on a pure heart and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to see the spiritual truths taught through the literal, physical things of this life. Taking us to the things we can't see through the things we can. Like much of the Law, the physical, literal things only point us to more important unseen Spiritual truth. The parables do just that, too. If you miss it you are doomed to the "godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge" (1 Tim. 6:20).

(As a side note, the parable of the unjust steward has a profound spiritual teaching that we haven't even touched on. The parable is really about forgiveness (you forgiving others, that is). That's why the steward could only forgive part of the debt. The debtors ultimately have to have ALL the debt relieved by the master.)

Be careful! May we all heed the Bible's warning to beware of division and it's resulting confusion. And not to cause it ourselves!

"...watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites..." (Romans 16:17,18)

Galatians 5:19,20. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:...discord...dissensions..factions

May all of us be found spotless and blameless in these.

Unless I really feel compelled to do otherwise, this is my final word on the matter. God bless and may all of you be "enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge." (1 Cor. 1:5)

L. Mertes


















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i think it is a real tribute i do that you people can love god so mutch
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Okay, I think I understand your take on this parable. Do these points accurately represent your view?
(1) Jesus's message is to literally make friends of rich people.
(2) These rich people will take care of us if we lose our jobs and homes as a result of persecution.
(3) This is God's explicit will through which he intends to provide for his people and his work through this recruitement of rich people.
(4) These rich people are unbelievers, particularly.
(5) Anyone who does not teach that this is the meaning of this parable is leading the body of Christ astray through false teaching.
(6) These false teachers need to be exposed publicly.
(7) Only congregations who are truly doing the will of God are actively recruiting unsaved rich people to pay the expenses of out of work members and the general expenses of the ministry
(8) This is a supremely important message that you are in danger of damnation to not fulfill it.

Please correct any statement above that does not represent your views.

I have rarely found any value in breaking out and examining Greek words, phrases and usage to support a position. These Greek examinations are almost always used to defend an argument, not establish one. What I mean is, rarely, if ever, do people go to the Greek words to find out what a passage means. They go to the Greek words to defend an interpretation they've already come up with. Don't get me wrong, at first glance I would say there is merit to what you say about the corruption of the original Greek, but I don't think it alters the meaning of the parable. The truth is, most people cannot grasp a wordy, complicated Greek word study designed to change their minds about the meaning of a passage.

Paul was not blowing hot air when he told Timothy to "warn then before God against quarreling about words; IT IS OF NO VALUE, and ONLY RUINS THOSE WHO LISTEN" (2 Timothy 2:14). I can testify that these futile exercises often motivated by the 'pride of knowledge' only serve to further confound and confuse ANY useful understanding of scripture that we might have otherwise received. You have to agree it's a tool of the Devil to confuse and confound, and--worse yet--to divide brethren through strife and envy and the pride of knowledge. If that isn't the Devil's work then I don't know what is.

My wife is one of those people who was 'ruined' by this kind of contentiousness. Instead word studies bringing her deeper into Christ and whetting her appetite for more, it has repelled her away from Bible studies and sharing. I'm ashamed to say many of us truly are 'unaware of his schemes'--meaning the devil--and has swayed us into grudges, strife and quarreling. Why do we think this is a Godly, righteous pursuit?

May I submit my understanding of this parable? I won't agrue with you, I won't condemn you for disagreeing. My sincere hope is that you and others will see some truth, be transformed and grow up into the image and character of our Lord and Savior, filled to overflowing with His joy.

In as few words as possible.
(1) Even unsaved people know how to use wealth to gain friends and influence people.
(2) They do it to insure their future security.
(3) Even an unsaved boss can't help but to admire the shrewdness of his dishonest servant's wisdom--think how the master benefits, too.
(4) Jesus asks why we as the people of light don't consider how we might win the praise our Master in heaven, and gain influence with the people around us for the Kingdom's sake, by being generous with our Master's possesions (worldly possesions--money, and spiritual--forgiveness, mercy...)
(5) Why don't the people of the light do the things that will insure their future security, the things God says we should do?
(6) The Bible interprets/ defends itself: 2 Corinthians 9:11-13 is really what this parable is all about.
(7) As you well know from Jesus's other teaching, it's our actions, our obedience that secures and confirms the promise of the bright future we have in Christ. No action, no promise--no future.

I have questions that one can ask him/herself that bring your interpretation into suspicion. If you'd like I can share those. Let me know.
Can I get an 'amen' from anybody on this?




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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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hi i am also looking for a picture of the mustard seed tree, i was wondering if you ever found one. If so would you please send it to me or tell me where you found it. If not would you still please reply. Thank You and God Bless You!!
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