The father in the story of the prodigal son required no proof of repentance. God's love is stronger than his vengeance, as seen in Hosea 11:9.It also teaches us that the Father's love does not depend on our actions, and He loves us unconditionally.
To Davobrian, perhaps we could think of some of the offenses we have particular difficulty forgiving. Do we give others a second chance? Take, for instance, the ex-convicts, do we give them a chance to reintegrate themselves back to society without discrimination?
The younger son travels a journey similar to all Christians. We sin and fall from grace but the Holy Spirit within us constantly reminds us to return to the father, and when we are spiritually dry, we will return. Yet, when that happens we also yearn for our brothers and sisters to welcome us, not only the Father.
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A point to consider. The older son was not good. He had a hard heart. He was instead, much like the Pharisees, self-righteous and proud of his performance rather than being true to his Father's love. He demonstrates no grace or mercy, but rather ridicules his Father for his rejoicing at the return of his brother. In effect, he curses his brother and his Father. This story really should be entitiled the parable of the prodigal Father. The Father expresses recklessly extrtavagant love for his sons just as our heavenly Father does for those who accept His Son as savior and LORD.
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The power of the sower parable comes with the key 23rd verse of Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew: "But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Never underestimate the power of God's gifts for you. These gifts that we reap are many fold more plentiful and bountiful than the actual strength of our faith.
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i love the prodigal son parable. to me, the brother is all of us...jealous, miserable, our own obstacle to enjoying the things before us. he was so resentful of his brother's forgivenss that he could not enjoy the party. he, like us, was given all god things by his father. but he lost the appreciation for those things because all he could see is that his brother got the recognition and celebration. he forgot about his time wiht the father, being fed and cared for and clothed.
aren't we like that when someone repents? we say " good" but maybe we feel that they don;t really deserve God's mercy. that makes us like hte brother.
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The man who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
The feild is the whole world.
The good seed represents those who worship God, while the weeds represent the opposite: those who don't worship Him.
The person who planet the weeds is Satan.
The harvest is the close of probation at the end of the world, all who are wicked are picked out of those who are good and will not go to heaven.
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The sandals represent that the prodigal son was taken back not as a servant or slave but as a son. That goes along with the ring. The servants and slaves did not wear sandals!
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At our home group tonight wed 16th July there was a suggested tie between the 2 fig tree accounts the one where Jesus looks for fruit and the husbandman says that he would till about it for another year that it might bring forth fruit. and the other account where Jesus finds the fig tree without fruit. This was suggested that prehaps it showed that the farmer was not merciful to the poor in not leaving figs on his tree for the poor. or prehaps like a picture of Israel were fruitless as a nation in leading others to the living God whom they had a mandate to share the truth of the merciful and just God whom men will have to do with at the end time. they obviously did not think the way Paul the apostle thought after his conversion shown to us in his letter to the Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek".
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Dear Beloved Brother / Sister in Christ,

Greetings to you in Jesus Name Amen!

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

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

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

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


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

Our Email Address: - info_goodseedchurchministry@yahoo.com

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


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Actually augusta, the idea of the Trinity originated in Genesis Chapter One and reaffirmed in John Chapter One. The Trinity is threaded throughout the entirity of Scipture. Remember, the Trinity does NOT represent three gods.
God is ONE. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as you are one: mind, soul and spirit. Just because you have three parts does not mean you are three different entities. Consider the egg. It has shell, white, and yolk; yet is one egg. I like to think of the Trinity exampled this way. The sun:
That large ball of fire 93 milliion miles away representative of the Father, the light which reaches us representative of the Son, and the heat which we feel representative of the Holy Spirit. Three definitive parts yet:::::: ONE SUN!
It is an interesting theory that the trinity idea started about 345 AD, but the Bible was written well before that date!!!!!
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" Three " is the number of Divine perfection. This number shows Divine perfection within that which is in view. "Three measures of Meal"- three measures of ground grain, used to make bread- are in view. The reference is to the Word of God [Matt.4:4;cf.Isa.55:1,2],though not the word in general sense. Rather , the reference, contextually, is to the word in a specific sence, a specific part of the word, a specific teaching in the word.
The subject at hand has to do with the WORD OF THE KINGDOM. It has to do with how the message surrounding the coming kingdom of Christ would begin to be proclaimed in Christendom and how this message would progressively change because of something [a foreign substance] placed within the message [Matt.13:19-24,31,33].
And ,again, it is that part of this Divinely perfect revelation having to do with the Word of the Kingdom which is in view. Satan simply began placing those proclaming a false message about the kingdom among those bearing fruit for the kingdom. The false message took root and began to spread, resulting in corruption and deterioration. Understanding the parable of the leaven is that simple. This parable has to do with a progressive, continuing deterioration. It has to do with the corruption agent placed within that part of God's Divinely perfect revelation referred to as " the word of the kingdom." And it has to do with this corruption agent working " till the whole [the message surrounding the coming kingdom of Christ]" has been leavened. Near the end when the Word of the kingdom has been completly corrupted, that which Jesus fortold in his parable will be fulfilled. In those days, at that time, the true message surrounding the coming kingdom of Christ will not be- it cannot be-heard throughout the Churches of the land.
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The parable is about the kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said the kingdom is inside of us(his true disciples). What was inside of his disciples? His word. Jesus Himself was a humble man, showing us an example to follow. He existed before we were all created, the Word was with God in the beginning, the Word was God. The Word dwelt in the flesh and was so humble, more humble than any man, because of that, he was exalted to sit beside the highest. The parable has connection with the sower and the seed, the seed can be related to the mustard seed, and He interpeted the seed to be the word of God. Jesus is the bread of life, and whoever eats his flesh, has eternal life. But bread must come from wheat, from a seed. And water must feed the seed. And people must tend and labour for the harvest. We must tend to the word of God, not only hear it, but do it, not be a slothful servant(proverbs talk about slothful servants, they are overcome with thorns and tares). When we tend to it, it grows, the word of God increases(the bible talks about this, I wont tell where the exact scriptures are, you'll have to work for that yourself) inside of us,(Jesus said one must be born of water and Spirit to inherit eternal life) the word of God is like water, washing our conscience(so we have a new conscience, born to abstain from all sin) so we can be baptised and then baptised with the Holy Spirit, born of Spirit. But before that we labour for the word to grow so the birds of the air with nest in it(the Spirit of God, there are gifts of the Spirit, working miracles, speaking differant languages, prophecy, revelation, faith, knowledge and wisdom), be not deceived, Paul said that everyone attending to the TRUE church of God, will and has to bring these things to every gathering. 1 Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, EVERY ONE of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Most of these so called churches are worshipping in vain if the gospel is not preached with power also, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross have no effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." 1 Corinthians 2:4 - And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:" 2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" 2 Corinthians 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
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I was struck that the father did not run after the son to bring him home. He let him go and I think that was another powerful part of this incredible story. You see so many parents in this day not allowing their adult children leave to make mistakes. For example, I can think of several families dealing with adult children involved in activities such as drug abuse and lack of drive to earn a living. In many of these families, parents enable their children because of fear of what would happen if the child was made to leave the family nest. I think the father may represent tough love - his son left and had to deal with the consequences of his actions. But when the son was as low as he could get - then he went home with the repentant spirit and the father forgave him. Now the son is back home and in the right spirit. I think we parents can learn alot about parenting from this parable. Am I reading something into this parable that really doesn't exist?
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Please give the answer about the elder brother t the prodigal son
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All 3 servants were given talents to work with. The talents were given according to the ability of the servant. (The Master knew what they were capable of). The servants who receieved the 5 & 2 talents both did the same thing: went at ONCE and put his money TO WORK and GAINED five more. Although they were given the talents, they were not told how to invest (or use) them. (but they did understand that they were expected to produce an increase.) The Master expected a return on the talents he trusted the servants with. The servants who produced an increase were called good and faithful and had their responsibilities increased. The servant who hid his talent was called WICKED and LAZY, had his talent taken away, and was thrown outside. Was he called wicked solely because of his failure to use his talent wisely or was it because of his reasons why? ("You are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow)" Is the word "afraid" in Matt. 14: 25 an accurate translation?

Finally, the faithful servants made no mention of the Master's methods or practices. They saw the giving of the talent to they as a sign of trust & belief in what they could do (or what fruit they could produce) and understood that they were to produce an increase.

I think this parable has layers of meaning with the most obvious one being that God has gifted us for service in His Kingdom and when His Son returns, we will have to give an account of how we made use of the many blessings he gave us while we were on this planet. God means for us to impact a lost world through His gifts in us.

I hope this helped you. Just continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth & understand and He will reveal to you what God has for you in this parable.
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The virgins are the church ofcourse. The wise ones are the church or the body of believers who live wisely in this wicked world and work out their salvation with fear and trembling. They walk by the spirit (oil). They love the bridegroom (Jesus) and stay in wait for him. They live as citizens of heaven.
The foolish ones in contrast although christians, yet fail to live up to the calling. They forget the binding they will have with the bridegroom (Christ), they lack a love realtionship with the bridegroom instead they love the world and the cares and things of the world (sleep). They walk according to their flesh rather than the Holy Spirit indwelling in their hearts. Lukewarmness, worldliness,Shallowness and Immaturity is the characteristics of the foolish ones. They are unprepared for the marriage with the bridegroom. Hence they are left behind and only the wise ones are joined to the bridegroom.
The Bible says the Lord is preparing the bride (Eph 5:27 KJV) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

If the believer is unprepared he will not be raptured but go through the process of refining in the tribulation. These two points must be kept clearly in mind: 1) the kingdom is a reward to the overcoming believers, and 2) rapture requires the maturity of the overcomers.

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This is one of any number of "Odd God" stories meant to overturn our notion of how God works and how we are to relate to one another. The younger son in effect tells his father to 'drop dead' or at least recognize that he is so senile, it is time for his sons to take over. The Father does what is most undignified for a semite, 'runs' out to meet his son. This Father, like our heavenly Father forsakes all dignity demonstrates the initiative to embrace us with love. Then all that is asked of us is what is asked of the older brother, that we in turn embrace one another.

I take exception to the persistent suggestion that the younger son has committed the most vile of sins. A consistent reading of the Gospels shows almost scandalously easy forgiveness for those who have committed sins of weakness and momentary lapses. Jesus reserves his strong condemnation for those who misuse power and authority, take advantage of the helpless, scorn those in need, or stand in the way of his mission. This provides a key to understanding the older brother whose sin of self-righteous comes dangerously close to the later category.
Dave Rogerson
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I have traveled the Country and always heard the same interpretation of the Mustard Seed and never say one mention above (unless I just missed it). There are many times people feel down but if they can maintain their faith, even if it feels so small, small as a mustard seed, God will always be there to grow that faith into the largest of seed baring plants. If you want to debate herbs, plants and trees, go nuts (no pun intended). The importance of the parable is that God is there-Always. Keep the faith, even when it seems unbearable, He will grow your faith to the largest.
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the parable of 10 virgins,( we as christain we have to be ready for the comeing of christ. some will be ready and some wont be ready.jesus are the bridgrome, we are the brids, oil are salvation. stay in christ untill jesus come
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Found in the postings below is a case that I’ve made for what I believe is the secret of the kingdom of God. Mark chapter four calls it Jesus’ doctrine.

Mark 4: 2And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his DOCTRINE…

The principle that Jesus talked about referred to a prayer or words being placed in a “secret” place. The context of the kingdom teachings support that this secret place is none other then the human spirit. However, it’s not just that. Jesus said that “the kingdom of God is within you”. Wherever this “secret” place is it’s where God abides. Jesus said “Our Father which art in HEAVEN, Hallowed be thy name”.

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.

I think it’s more proper to regard the spirit of a man as a crossroads-so to speak-that heaven (the realm of the spirit) converges upon or is routed through.

Jesus taught that everyman has a spirit that works like an inner candle resplending things upon the picture screen of our lives. Good and bad.

But there is an inherent dilemma that occurs when attempting to understand the application of kingdom principles. Being that it thrives off of “secret” things “spoken in darkness”-Jesus being the grand master “covered” his prayers to perfection. In other words, you’ll never know what he prayed and the words that he chose.

What’s a believer to do in terms of finding examples?

Well thank God there are some things that can be used as examples. God wouldn’t leave us blind to the application of these things when he taught that we are to live by them.

Look at this scripture: Matthew 6:19-21.

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Consider the idea of “laying something up”. Can you see how that heaven is almost considered a plateau or a realm above our heads? It’s really not; it’s just another realm that is obviously distinct from the world around us. Apparently you can place things there. Might this be this proverbial plateau where things are “hidden” I.e., “there is nothing hid that will not be manifest”?

Now don’t scriptures like these take on new meaning?

Psalm 37:5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

I Peter 5
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; for he careth for you.

I guess all that I’m saying is that when you pray for something, make sure that you commit it into the hands of God who dwells in heaven and see’s in secret. Then leave it with him refusing to exalt yourself by attempts to bring it to pass. In the long run it may take a little longer pursuing “Gods reward”. But look at Abraham and Sara in their stint of foolishness creating a son with a different woman. Can you see how that mans reward can get you into trouble?


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Where is the moral? I need a moral for tomorrow. Please show it.
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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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reverend father,
i am a 4th year theology seminarian from st.mary's theologate i would like to secure a copy of your sermon on "good shepherd" for my homily guide regarding the same subject....tnx
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James J suggests this parable has "the master" (God) asking for immoral earnings from his servants. Even the suggestion to put the money in the bank and get interest would have been against the Torah law against usury.

The more you think about this parable as it would have sounded to the people of the time, the more strange it seems.

I think the chances of us getting at what Jesus actually mean, if he ever said it, are slim.

Still, like many parables it can be made to fit in with what ever current thinking is, and thereby demonstrate that that current thinking is based on "Biblical principles". Or am I being cynical?
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Dear Bob,

I'm intrigued by your questions. I'm not sure how to answer them satisfactorily but here goes.

1. Luke records 19 parables not found in the other Gospels. This is also true of the other writers. Not all of them tell the same stories. There is no simple answer. It may be helpful to study Luke's purpose, readers, style, emphases etc. Have you read or studied the Synoptic Problem. This would be helpful. How do we explain the similarities and the differences if there are common sources?

2. Parables usually make a single point. This parable is one of three in Luke 15 that deal with the grace of God in seeking and saving what was lost. The lost sheep and the lost coin stress the work of God in the search for what is lost. and the subsequent joy when found. The third looks at the experience of the lost but it is underlined by the unfailing love of the father in welcoming home the lost son.

While the third is set in a family context it is not about family but about the father's love for the lost son. All three parables are a stinging rebuke to the Pharisees who, in their self righteousness legalism, despised sinners. It is part of Jesus' running debate with the Pharisees on the nature of salvation; is it by works or by grace? In illuminating the character of our Heavenly Father. Luke apparently did not think it necessary to include the mother.

3. There are interessting parallels of the grace of God to each but since there is neither reference nor allusion to Jacob I doubt if Luke has him in view. Luke is writing to a Gentile, mainly Greek audience. Jewish history would be of little help there.

4. I think that the robe, the ring, the shoes and the welcoming feast all indicate a complete reconciliation and restoration of sonship.

5. There are many paradoxes in the Christian faith. The tension between grace and justice is only one of them. Others would be the tension between love and fear. We are to both love and fear the Lord.
There is tension also between God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. We like things to be simple, black and white, but it simply is not that way. The older I become the more I see the paradoxes as not only a mental challenge but, more importantly, a great means of growth in plumbing the depths of the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this is of some help to you. It has been a privilege to interact with you.

Sincerely,

Tom
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In my ignorance of the details of your walk with God, I do not know how Jesus will reconcile us. Perhaps the coming judgements will change your mind, and I count on it. It is the evil servants in charge whose "fellowservants" such as church members or mental patients have lost their teeth through captivation or disabling drugs who are most likely to be compelled to gnash their teeth to pieces on steel pipe during their floggings. All evil servants in charge and all lazy stewards of wealth or of Bibles with Luke 16 who remain alive, however, will either witness the most severe weeping and gnashing of teeth which I have described or experience their own weeping and gnashing of teeth, for instance, in a mild form such as homelessness.

I produce different conclusions concerning the meaning of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" because different forms of it will be inflicted by the various masters to represent Jesus Christ yet to come. I am not in any position to choose how to judge any evil servant in charge; different boards will make their own decisions based on Jesus' own words and the wrongs of their evil leaders -- all in a future time when the laws which would restrain their violence today will no longer be effective.

They will be extremely angry toward the evil leaders when the mentally ill in Christ finally ask "the moon" of their congregations and habitual sin is no longer tolerable in the house churches. Without financial compensation to last and without glory, honour, or praise to give any mortal, and with many mentally ill Christians each asking, Sell everything your congregation owns, individually or corporately, and give me the proceeds, only to be compelled through Christ to share it betwixt many others like them, there will be immense wrath against the evil servants in charge. This must come to pass to shape up other churches and fulfill the Parable of the Virgins.

I continue to seek help for faithfulness in the unrighteous mammon of LUKE 16:9. Please stop arguing bitterly with me and help in deeds and in truth! Grant me your cooperation.

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg
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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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Jesus does show in this parable that it is the content and character of a man's heart that is important to God. But to say that there will be those who will go to heaven without Christ as their Savior is a misunderstanding of this parable. Jesus is showing that no matter what amount of religion a person seems to have, as in the case of the priest who passed the beggers by, that a person will not be saved by religious acts but will be judged by our heart and the actions that ultimately come forth from it. Jesus is very clear (if one really does believe in the authenticity of scripture) in John 14:6 - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, noone comes to the Father except through Me" Either believe Christ or don't, but do not twist His words to make any unacceptable religion ok in your own eyes.
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Most take the "certian man" as being a Jew .... but is he? I always thought he was, and this also depends on the version you read ...

Example Luke 10:30:

KJV: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho

NLT: A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho

NKJV: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,

TLB: A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho

I can not see where it actually refers to the certian man being a Jew in older versions of the bible, only the newer translations ...

Can anyone spark some light on this?
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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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Dear Sir" I Would like to get a copy of your sermon about the good shepher. In august I requeste one time, so far I did not get it. I am a foreign student in OU.
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Psalm 78 1-8, God commands all generations to teach the testimony of Jacob.

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


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

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

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

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


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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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Shaloom People,

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

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

Any opinion on this friends ?

Sugeng Wiguno

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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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The main subject is about growing and bearing fruit. Other places in the bible talk about fruit of the Spirit. Other places talk about backsliders, who hear the word of God, live by it, but then start to sin again. Thats the soil (heart) that receives the word among thorns, other places Jesus talks about thorns being the fruit of evil on trees. The 2nd soil is the person who goes through persercution, Jesus said we will all be persecuted John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.", those people are beat up or sent away from everyone and hate them, they can't handle it, so they turn from the faith, and become unfruitful. May grace be with you.
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The rich man will be cast into the lake of fire, and Lazarus is now in heaven!
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In reading again the articles found below, I am going to attempt to prove that Jesus was talking about a PRINCIPLE and not sin, as many seem to think that leaven represents. My concern is that if this idea of leaven pertaining to sin is not purged (no pun intended) from believers hearts (and yes sometimes it does pertain to sin but not in this instance) then a lot of the teachings of the Kingdom will go unrecognized.

An example: if the leaven being hid in meal pertains only to sin hidden wherever, the church, society, etc., then how does it relate to the other parables that are related to good things?

Luke 13:
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure HID in a field; the which when a man hath found, he HIDETH, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that FIELD.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Notice the words HID, HIDETH, and FIELD. Aren’t those words that are found in the parable of the leaven and the dough?

Luke 13:
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and HID in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Might the field (in verse 44) be the dough-the meal (the heart)?

Now, where is the “TREASURE” in sin? Where is the “PEARL OF GREAT PRICE” in sin? You would think that if this idea of leaven being sin were true, then the scripture would have to read something like this:

The Kingdom of God is like unto a man walking through a field, upon which he stepped in something…So he bought the field! (Lorde, lorde, lorde, it waz nassy.)

Joking aside, it doesn’t fit. Sin does not fit in with the whole of the parable teaching. Treasure, and Pearls of great price are BLESSINGS-GOOD THINGS. They’re not foul and putrid things as these people believe they are (I realize they haven’t given it much thought).

Can you see how you can take a wonderful idea and turn it into a real stinker?

The dough, the meal, the field, the ground-in this network of parables-is the heart of a man. THERE’S A TREASURE HID IN YOUR HEART. And it’s worth “SELLING ALL THAT YOU HAVE, TO AQUIRE IT” (paraphrased).

Look at this scripture.

33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

People think that this is difficult to understand because it’s filled with idioms and metaphors. But if you understand that Jesus is talking about the same idea here-what goes into the heart, gets radiated to the world around us-if done properly, then you can see how that it’s about a principle that can work either way. In the good direction or bad.

The light in this instance is the heart of a man. It’s the part of us that retains spiritual vision. That’s why Jesus likened it to an eye. But this eye can radiate things good and bad. “as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light”.

Mathew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good TREASURE OF THE HEART bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the EVIL TREASURE bringeth forth evil things.

Once again, it’s the principle. We can deposit things in our hearts good or bad. And our hearts radiate it forth to the world around us good or bad, light or darkness.

Jesus said how great is that darkness!

If the human being was designed to carry about this inner light, “let your light so shine” and yet darkness gets injected into it, you can see how that it’s almost a double negative. A light bulb that can radiate darkness-hey a “black light”-just kidding.

I think this will serve as food for thought for now. But just remember that the Scribes and Pharisee’ probably seized upon this (idea that leaven is always bad) and thought that they knew what he was saying, and yet they really didn’t. The Kingdom principles are hidden FOR us, not from us. For we are the good hearted ones desiring to hear.

May God bless.





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Denny,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Or so it seems to me,
Rob




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First we have to know where the Kingdom of God is on this earth.

Luke 27:21 For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.

Every believer of Jesus has the kingdom of God in our hearts. It is not in the church, or in a building or in a ministry. It is in the hearts of men.

So the kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed sowed in our hearts. Remember it is greatest amongst all herbs and can grow into a tree so that the birds of the air can come and find solace and refuge on its branches. Remember Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches."

What is this mustard seed in our hearts?

Matthew 17:20
I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'

So here it refers mustard seed to faith.

This is interesting. The Word of God says faith as a mustard seed. The Word of God never says faith like the small size of a mustard seed, which is often preached. Therefoe faith is like the total characteristics of the mustard seed. Size is only one small part. If we preach on size alone, then we miss the whole point.

The total characteristics of the mustard seed can encompass the following:
1) Althought smallest seed of all herb plants, it can grow the biggest.
2) Its branches give birds of the air a resting place.
3) Mustard is an easy crop to grow.
4) Mustard greens are an excellent source of vitamins A, B and C.

So when we receive Jesus the faith in our hearts as a mustard seed can easily grow into a spiritual giant. And the birds of the air (the people who are directionless in their spiritual life who come across our path) can find our testimony and sharing of Christ that they will come to a place of living spiritual life.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. It is really our close relationship with Christ (praying, reading and hearing the Word) that easily makes our faith grow, even though we are a nobody, because that faith will grow very fast and very big in next to no time so that we can be a blesssing to others. And nothing will be impossible because Jesus is behind every miracle.

Remember you can be highly used by God to reach out to the troubled and unsaved.

Randy Tan
http://geocities.com/whentheholyspiritcomes





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hi, i am doing a project in my theology class where i have to read the parale of the to virgins and explain to the class what i learned on it. I will actually be teaching the class!! You commentary will helped me understand what this parable meant. Thankyou George!
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Vs 17 states "When he came to himself". It's important to stay with God.

When do not know how long God's mercy is going to last. You may not be

as fortunate as the Prodigal son coming to himself. You may not come to

your senses (NIV). "Stay with God"
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Fred what did you mean by yet he was saved yet so as by fire. I don't understand what you are saying here?


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One Talent Man buried it in the "earth," was cast out into utter darkness. For when the Light-Word-Truth came, the darkness comprehended it not (The John 1:5). Because the darkness believed that salvation was for the Jewsish church. For those who believe Jesus spake not for without a parable, it's reasonable to believe that the pre-Incarnate Jesus taught Moses how to write Gensis in parable, metaphor, and allegory. For the apostle Paul in Galatians 4:24 confirms the 2 covenants, the first with the bondwoman, Hagar, as well as the freewoman, were allegory. Likewise Moses addressed his people as following, "Give ear O' heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O' earth, the words of my mouth." Deuteronomy 32:1. Therefore the priesthood equated with the emotionally, spiritual matured were cast out into utter darkness because they failed to reflect the Light-Word-Truth to their own church. They buried their very reason to be in utter darkness. A serious warning to Christendom. Deone Hanson
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i am currently doing an assignment in school on biblical parables. i was wondering if you had a simplified childrens version that i could get hold of. thank you
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I also needed a picture of a mustard tree for my summer Sunday School Class. I have K-6th and we are doing the Parables over the summer. After quitting in flustration, at finding a picture of a mustard tree big enough to hold birds, my husband found one. He went to Google Images and typed in mustard. It brought up many pictures of various varieties of mustard plant. And a couple were big enough to house the birds. Hope this helps all the others who are trying to find one. God bless you all!

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The 10 virgins are bridesmaid. They are NOT brides to the groom. It was devasting because they could not fulfil the role they were were supposed to play. The characters are used to convey the story of the certainty of the wedding. In interpreting the parable, we are not to allegorise the parable (like the lamp means this and the oil means that) - because all parables carry a central message and a main thrust. (The school of allegory belongs tot he times of Oriegen that follows the school of typology. )

The central thrust of the parable is this:

The Kingdom of God is coming with all certainty. We must be prepared like the 5 prudent virgins. The essential consequence is that those who are unprepared will miss the boat - hence will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven refers to the sovereign reign of God here on earth and also eternally in Heaven. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah will enter the Kingdom of God and will be counted as the SAVED. Salvation is only in Jesus ALONE! We are not saved by our titles or respectable religion but only on our trust in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus saved us from the penalty of sin because sin is cupable. Here is 3 basic Steps in entering God's eternal kingdom.

1. "Sorry"
"Dear Lord Jesus, I am sorry that I have greviously sinned against you. Please forgive my sins and wipe away all my trangressions. (1 Jn 1:9 says that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleansed us of all unrighteousness.)

2. "Please"
"Please take full rein of my life. Please enable me to live with a sense of God in my life so that I will transfer alll my trust in you. Please give me your guidance how to live a life worthy- that I may be your disciple."

3. "Thank You"
"Thank you for your saving grace, so that I do not need to face the eternal damnation of hell. Thank you for leading me into your kingdom."


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This matter has had my concern for some years now. I see that there is a great confussion in mainly wo the virgins realy represent.
My concern lies in the fact that if the virgins are wives to be of the groom, then Jesus was using a parable using poliginy (understandable for the jewish and new chritians). If these virgins are not the wives to be of the bridegroom, bu merely bride's maids, what is so devastating if 5 of the maids can not enter the marriage feast?

What is the relation 'Kindom of God" and not so significant brides maids?

If Jesus is the groom, should the parable not be talking about the wive(s) to be instead of the brides maids?

When we get a definite and eliable expanation on this matter, oter issues will become clearer.
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many christians who read this parable, tend to see the two sons, and lack focus on the father.the sons represent humanity with all its frailty. having the distinct tendency to drift away from GOD .represented by the father,, the father fogiving the son is the embodyment of GODs true love for humanity.. in that GOD would use an earthly father to represent himself,Speaks of the true humanity of JESUS CHRIST the father , Who with open arms will fogive all who come to him.. IT is to be observe also a triune in this parable.. As it involves the father the son and the HOLY SPIRIT who pricked the heart of the repentant son, thus restoring him to the father....................GOD bless us all
Kitt Thompson.........
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I added them several days ago. Please email if anybody finds anymore pictures. Also anybody email if something is (C), I am running 4 websites and don't have the time to check everything. I really need some moderators and other help on the websites.

Thanks
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How come some user has reported that the Rich Fool with a few comments had received the fewest when this one had not received even a single comment? I urge you to read the comments to all parables given on the site through before typing any comparisons. We need to listen and read more and talk and type less but more wisely. Now, I discuss this parable for the first time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

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









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