Like the other parables of Jesus, this one is about fruit-bearing, and the un-fruitful are thrown into hell. Those who hear the TRUE word of God, they are cleansed by it by doing it. Christ abides in the TRUE hearers and doers. Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them..." John 8:47 - He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 Corinthians 4:15 - For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" 3 John 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Who can do good, but the true ones on the vine? Even TRUE faith is not from flesh and blood, but from God. John 3:27 - John answered and said, A man can receive NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven." 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" Not one man can TRULY say that Jesus Christ is the son of God nor can any man truly tell people,(so-called preachers, ministers, or pastors) Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Also, to put an end to false teachers that say if you believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and saviour, you'll be saved, NO MAN can come to Jesus unless God Himself decides that he would. Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." But then, those people heared the TRUE word of God, and the words of JESUS CHRIST, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then again, same gospel, 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.(God revealed it to them, and had faith in him, that faith is not from their own heart, but from God) 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve(God approved those 12, not the other disciples, because if He did give it to them to come to Jesus, they would of stayed, like the true disciples), and one of you is a devil?" Now all you people that read this, the false christians will not believe this, but the true christians will. 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." These sayings are in the bible, those who just ignored them in the bible will ignore my words(no, not truly mine) also. Those who believe these things, or knew them already, please, please contact me, at dallascourchene @ hotmail.com (NOTE: there are no spaces in the address.) Also to the so-called born-again christians, what did God call you to do? Live a normal life? I don't think so. People who are truly called are CALLED to do something for the LORD, not just worship Him and those who are called, know what they have to do by a certain wonder, or phenomemon. Acts 16:10 - And after he had seen the VISION, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had CALLED us for to preach the gospel unto them." Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 1 Corinthians 7:20 - Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," We MUST be also worthy of this calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 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:" And yes, we can be perfect like Jesus. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 1 John 2:13 - I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father." 1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." We are called to be made into the image of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said so himself, the called can and will be like him. Matthew 10:25 - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord..."
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Webmaster,
Yesssss! Love it! Like we're all trying to get into that BAD heaven. I used to call that hell!

The operative word is LOGICAL.

If the kingdom of heaven is BAD as Bighouse5 is implying by his statements (if we LOGICALLY state them for him), then what about the BAD heaven that was a BAD man seeking BAD pearls? Matt 13:45 The BAD man that sowed BAD seed so that the really BAD tares could make it worse? Matt 13:24 The BAD Word coming from the BAD kingdom? I don't think that God's Word is BAD! Matt 13:19 The BAD mustard seed of the BAD woman whose BAD branches hide all those BAD birds? Matt 13:31, How about the good seeds of the BAD kingdom? Matt 13:38, The BAD treasure in a field? Who wants to search for a BAD treasure? Matt 13:44 The BAD net gathering all those good and BAD fishes so that the good can be separated forever from the BAD? Matt 13:47

This negativity lacks inspiration. Inspiration is uplifting and GOOD.

No, you're not confused or missing something, Webmaster. Bighouse5 has missed the point and hasn't logically thought this through. You're a scholar and a gentle man. YOU understand.


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What's the difference between a Pharisee and a Sadducee? Is it true that the Pharisees were based in the synagoges while the Sadducees were based in the Temple? What kind of "traditions" did the Pharisees adhere to? Why were they perceived to be so rigid?
I was told that the Publicans at the time of Christ were Jews themselves who collected taxes from their own people and got as much as possible because they were paid on commission. I was also told they were paid not in currency but in goods. Is this the case? Can you tell me more about the Publicans at the time of Christ.

Thanks
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Leaven is always represented as a bad thing in the Bible and in the context the women also. I think this is sin and false teachers being in the church and the church growing into something it shouldn't be.

To GOD be the glory

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For michelle Tobin and everyone else:
It seems by the way Jesus told the story, that one need not be a christian to inherit eternal life. Jesus was asked this question and after the parable answered " Go and do likewise". Now the good samaritan was not a christian, but a product of mixed interbreeding between jews from the Northern Kingdom and other people after Israel's exile. They were considered heretics. Yet, it was what was in the samaritans heart that was the focal point of the parable. To say that only christians ( only people who accept Jesus as their Lord and savior and accept that he died on the cross for their sins) are going to be saved, is in a way like, judging other people. And as you well know, Jesus clearly states "judge not, least you yourself be judged.
Amen and God bless everyone.
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tares are the children of the wicked one! Who is the group planting this seed?
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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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http://www.ilhawaii.net/~danrubio/mustard/
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I hope your study of the good Samaritan brings forth amazing fruit in your life. I think it is time for all of us to realize that time is running out and we should spend ourselves, as the good Samaritan demonstrated, seeking out and caring for the lost. We can truly be ambassadors from heaven if we're willing to take Christ to a lost and perverted world. Jesus is the only answer. May God bless you and anoint you to proclaim his Word with boldness to all who will listen. My prayer is that He will give you such a love for souls that you will spend time in prayer and fasting believing for a harvest of souls. God Bless.............in His service, Bro. Pat
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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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Short parable, but meaningful! The truly saved WILL bring forth fruit, just by the true indwelling of the Spirit! Two ways to look at the last verse...one, as the second coming occuring at the fulfillment of the kingdom, and two, as our branches getting "pruned" when full to that we can produce more fruit. Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.


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This is my parable. All my life I have coasted on the opportunities God gave me, rather than striving to use them to increase his kingdom. I called it humility or being satisfied with small things, when deep down it was fear and laziness.

This parable reached deep in me and challenged me. It spoke the words my father always asked me: Why didn't you do your best? What are you afraid of?

Now I am in law school. For the first time in my life I am laying it all on the line and doing my best, not caring whether I'm first in the class or last. Doing my best for God with with talent he gave me. It is scary to do your best, because then you have no excuses if you don't succeed, no ifs or buts to comfort your pride.

What would the servant had felt if he had gambled and lost the talent, seeing the other two with their riches?

I don't know, but this is what he would have heard:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant."
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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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Just because someone with riches who wishes to keep them dare insult a beggar as a thief does not imply that Jesus would consider the beggar to have even thought about stealing anything, as if it were a sin to ask. On the contrary, Jesus Christ taught His followers to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, expecting to receive, find, and benefit from opened doors! (Matt. 7:7, Greek )

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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Ya know it amazes me that so many different people looking at the same parable come up with so many different ideas and interpretations of it. Who on earth is right? Obviously only God knows. But wouldn’t it be wiser to just let the context, and others that are talking about the same thing interpret the parable?

The parable of the Mustard seed is merely the parable of the sower modified to use upon ourselves. One account says that the kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed in HIS garden. Well the parable of the sower already has conveyed that the soil is the heart of a man. It also teaches that the seed is the word of God. The fowls of the air are spirits that seek to keep the word from growing in our hearts. What’s being said here is that we are privileged to be able to invert this principle upon ourselves by planting Gods word in our own hearts. Upon doing so we sleep on it. Have you ever been told by a parent that if you have a problem, sleeping upon it will help you see it differently in the morning? Well this is the idea. We sleep upon it night after night and the seed springs up automatically. Notice the word automatically. This is the actual word in the Greek that was translated “for the earth brings forth fruit of HERSELF”-AUTOMATICALLY. Automatic means, “done without conscious thought or volition (decision of the will). In other words, our jobs are to bury to word of God in our hearts, and our hearts automatically brings it forth to fruition, without our having to think about it. The principle entails knowing how to plant the seed and then being patient-the hardest thing.

Why a Mustard seed? I looked up mustard in an encyclopedia. The first sentence of the first line said, “mustard is an easy crop to grow”.

Now notice the COMPARISON, “whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God and with what comparison shall we compare it?” The comparison is this: The mustard seed is so small that the fowls can literally eat it. But if it’s planted and allowed to grow, it becomes so big that the only thing that the fowls can do against that tree, is to lodge in its branches. Do you think that birds bother a tree? It’s probably not bothered by humans! It’s too big and strong. It’s like there not even there.

When we plant the Word in our hearts, the seed is very small and insignificant, it’s at this time the Satan represented as fowls of the air come looming in around us. To the small size of that seed the birds seem like 747 airplanes. The spirits of darkness are TEMPORARILY stronger than us. “Then cometh the devil to take out the word that is sown in the heart”. He uses affliction and persecution in the beginning phases. Then after the seed has sunk roots and has become stronger, he employs different tactics, he attempts to CHOKE the word, with “the cares of this world the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things”. But if the seed is allowed to grow, with time the tree will become a 747 to the birds. In other words their non-existent as far as their influence goes.

What we are really doing is cultivating faith. Faith is the result of the word living and abiding in us. And it brings forth fruit. It manifests!

Now, the big question is how do we plant the seed?

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The elder son represents those who stand to inheriet the kingdom of God,yet are unwilling to follow God's standards on forgiving those who have trespassed against us. God has such a loving heart, He freely shows love to those who have strayed from Him, but come back with a repentant heart seeking His forgiveness. The elder son should take a few lessons that his father practices and learn how to be more forgiving.
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The Jewish lawyer asks him 'Who is my neighbour?'
When Jesus is telling the story we think 'the dying man is the neighbour needing to be loved' and YET this is not Jesus' conclusion!
The neighbour surprisingly is the Samaritan who loved (not the one who was loved - remember the question 'who is my neighbour? ie who is the one I am to love?' - Jesus answer is effectively 'the samaritan'.
What does Jesus change the subject of the neighbour? Is it hinting that we should love the saviour figure who everyone despises - ie Jesus!!!

What do you think?
thanks
frederick
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the parable of good samaritan is very interesting topic because what good deeds do we want to do is in the topic.and we know that love is very important in this world and without this is everywhere is chaos.
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The ring signified his acceptance and authority back into the family

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Keep it up! The more you talk, the more your expose your evil heart! The only one Who can bring Judgment upon me, is The Living God!
When you think you can place your Judgment on me for speaking Truths to you, Be Careful what you say, that His Judgment doesn't fall upon your own head!
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Big Island, please see my response under the topic of "leaven and the dough parable". But yes. I think you've seen the light!
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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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can you give me any information on the scientific name of bread and where it was originally found?
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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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Selvino,

You can contact me or you can enroll in World Bible School over the internet at http://www.wbschool.org/

Thanks

Jason
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Jews believed that since they were God's chosen people, the first ones in being called; the gentiles(non-Jews) converted to God through the techings of Christ will not received the same reward. What Jesus was saying was that salvation was for all. No matter when you believed or how. What is important is who ha chsosen you. His character is just. He has prepared blessings for all who come to him.
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You asked, "Is it hinting that we should love the saviour figure who everyone despises - ie Jesus!!!"

Samaritan was a stranger to the one who was wounded, yet he showed mercy to some one whom he did not know. Jesus meant to explain it is easy to show sympathy to some one you know, but to show sympathy to a stranger is difficult. Going back to beginning of the story, Jesus narrated this parable in answer to the question,"What shall I do to have eternal life?" Some bible have interpreted as thus,"What shall I do to enter the kingdom of heaven? The parable was the answer to this question and not to the question, "who is my neighbor?" It means to enter kingdom of heaven or to have eternal life is as difficult as loving a stranger. Perhaps the people in kingdom of heaven would love strangers as well as we love our neighbors.

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Can anyone help me? My teacher gave me an assignment, and i am not sure which perspective to take. Should the prodigal son be called the Parable of the Prodigal Father? Does the story describe a father that is prodigal with his property and at the end is prodigal with his love?
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I was recently asked if this parable referred to lost people or backslidden christians. I think both. This, to me, is a story of God's unconditional love. I will not get into as to whether or not we lose our salvation. I believe that the point is we are allowed to make our own decisions and that if we are willing to repent, God will accept our return with great love and understanding. We will never be perfect in this life and will always be guilty of sin.
Thank for letting share my opinion.

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I have read many different explanations for this group of parables in many commentaries and on many websites (including this one). It never ceases to amaze me how often we try to draw out of scripture our own viewpoints. In trying to interpret these parables certain guidelines of interpretation have been distorted, and ignored. In an attempt to draw out "our" viewpoints we often approach a passage bringing additional info that could corrupt and distort the actual meaning.
The following are some very basic guidelines to follow: 1) observe, observe, observe! Don't try to break everything down to the smallest component in such a way that you miss the main point but rather try to see the big picture and how the small components relate to it. 2) Start with the text you are looking at! We often want to take other passages and "bring" them into our study. This has it's place, but should be done later. 3) Setting and Context are essential, not optional! What is going on? Who is involved? What happens before? What happens after? Are there any "keys" within the text that give us any clues or insight? Are there any themes? 4) Try and draw out what is being said or taught! What is being stated or taught in the passage is more important then what I want it to mean. Write out the results of your study of the text. 5) Check and double check! Now you can go to other passages and compare. Ask: Is there any scripture or biblical principle that conflicts with or contradicts the results of the study? We often get hung up on this one. Word studies, and cross-referencing are great, but when we do this we must also understand the context of those words and passages as well ( YEAH MORE STUDY! ). It is improper to take something outside the passage studied (including other scripture) and use it to completely change it's meaning just because we can. There must be valid reasons for doing so (e.g. The reults conflict or contradict other scripture). If there is no valid reason then it is probably best to leave the results as they are if you have spent adequate time and effort studying ( reading through it a few times and then seeing what everyone else says is not adequate studying). Just because we are not sitting in a classroom doesn't mean we stop learning and should stop studying!! I believe that if we will take the time and put forth the effort, these parables are not as difficult and confusing as we are making them out to be! So enjoy the journey and adventure of studying God's Word, hiding it in your herats and allowing it to transform our hearts and lives for God's Glory!

P.S The majority view isn't always the right one!
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No theology here, just a thought. Seems as though the younger son had a hole in his stomach, but the older son (the non prodigal) had a hole in his heart. Didn't seem to have much of a relationship with either his father or his brother. Didn't join in the celebration; referred to the prodigal, when talking to his father as "YOUR son". Appears that his actions were out of duty, not love, when we hear him say: "All these years I've worked for you, and you never had a celebration for ME!" (Paraphrase). Jealous? Angry? What for? His father told him, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours." I believe Jesus told this parable because the hearers could find themselves in either category: outwardly rebellious, or inwardly resentful. The father reached out to both, but only the prodigal could receive, perhaps because he was repentent.
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The ring is a symbol to represent apart of the convenant again. The robe is his robe of righteousness. The shoes identify him as a son as opposed to a servant.
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I am a deeply troubled believer in Christ Jesus harmed and long neglected by today's evil churches. If their leaders are true to the Word of God rather than apostates, usually an evil servant such as a Church Growth Movement pastor runs the show and dominates his needy, for which exceptionally severe judgement is coming (Matt. 24:45-51). If I find a church faithful in doctrine with a good servant, he usually disppoints me with his flock's utter unfaithfulness regarding the unrighteous mammon, that is, worldly wealth. They won't even let me teach Luke 16!-- a critical passage without which they will continue to refuse my requests in the face of Jesus' own words (Matt. 5:42, 6:42, 7:7, and 18:5-7) for fear of being made poorer. I condemn the stinginess of today's American churches in Jesus Christ in His holy Name! Let us examine Luke 16:9, the actual command from our Lord, to be truly obeyed. Prepare for pandemonium among the churches!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. The kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...
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1. The fig tree may have been recalcitrant.
2. OR, although the environment (temperature and moisture content of
the soil, and sunlight), may have been supportive of the early show of
leaves, perhaps the roots of the fig tree were not yet deep enough to
glean the rich nutrients needed for the fruit to develope.
3. Either way the fig tree was out of line with its own nature.
4. Much more to this. But it is really quite simple when you consider
God's universe.
5. Jesus did the right thing in stopping that tree in its tracks.
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Every hurting person is your neighbor. Many times our concentration is on the good samaritan but what made him a good samaritan was the victim! What was his character, a hurting person and stripped of everything. Would you help or avoid him? They are every where, you do not need to travel to a third world country.

Christopher Lobo
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This statement is wrong, sorry. I retract it.
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the moral of this story is you have many people in your life and many

people who do the works of God and have gifts and talents, but your real

neighbor is the one who shows mercy , compassion and love. That's the

one who is your neighbor. that is true religion.
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Not completely do I hold your inpression of my tenets. I agree with Point #1 that Jesus expects us to make friends of rich people, with the qualifier that some people in each congregation and not actually every believer will do so. In point #2, I say that some of the rich people, not all, will take care of us in failure. I agree with points #3 and 4 completely. I differ with Point #5 because most Christians are actually silent on Luke 16; they are not leading Christians astray unless they teach, and even if they teach it wrong, God expects us to hearken unto His Word and not turn him a deaf ear. I agree with Point #6 just to the extent of the teaching. I differ with Point #7 in that heretical sects such as the Mormons may do these things.

I disagree with your belief that it is of the devil to confuse and confound because God confused the language of the builders of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). Futhermore, I actually reinterpret what I have read in response to the Greek texts, and I abandon preconceived notions in English in light of the Greek.

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg
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There were three main Jewish feast. Pass Over had no leaven, Penecost had leaven, And Tabernacles had no leaven in the bread. Passover speaks symbolically of the shed blood of Jesus and there is no leaven in that blood. Penecost speaks of the law/church age and there is plenty of division and separation and malice etc be it now or though out this long 2000 years. Tabernacles speaks the fullness of time when God will bring forth a new Kingdom of heaven. There will be no sin in that age. The Law pointed to grace but the law was not the answer. God will have a church with out spot or wrinkle. In fact he does right now if you understand the Kingdom of God is with in us.
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i need to know a modern day example of thee good sameritain. if you can help me that would bu great
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I wanted to know if Mildred Dean Windham who emailed your website July 25th, 2003 if she was able to get a copy of the mustard tree, story or legeng of the mustard tree. If so where could I get that information.
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And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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


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sue has no scriptures to back-up her say-so
that leaven is the holy ghost
that the meal is man body mind soul and spirit
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Here is what I see fits better.

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

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

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What is the main difference between the prodigal son and the elder brother? The prodigal son came to his senses.

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

My question is, what would it take for the elder brother to come to his senses?
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Hi Willy,

The Good Samaraitan act doesn't need a "modern day" example. It is relevant today as it is yesterday and in the future. The principle is to do "good" to anyone irregardless of who they are. To offer assistance to anyone who is in need. If you will, today, it is the "act of kindness". But most of all it must come from the givers heart, that the willingness to do good is pure and without asking or seeking any form of compensation or return.

You many have been doing this without you knowing it.

Willy
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I think you've seized upon something that isn't a part of the parable of the sower. The context is the kingdom of God. The place where we're sowing the seed is into the realm of the spirit, our hearts. Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. Did you notice that Jesus never addressed the issue of watering the seed? Well don't seeds need to be watered? Then why not address such a critical thing? Because if you go back into the Garden of Eden, you'll recall that a mist watered the plants of Eden, the watering was already provided for in this garden. In this realm of the kingdom within, the watering is already provided for. And lets not forget that the seed were talking about is the Word of God. "Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God which live and abides forever. If the seed is planted it will grow! God will provide the increase. The curse that has come upon the earth and our physical bodies has not contacted that place where these seeds are sown. It's infinitely easier to produce in the realm of the spirit for "he watches over his word to perform it." The tough part is in having enough scriptural knowledge to be able to plant the seed and turn loose of it for long periods of time. Being patient. But I wouldn't seize upon the curse that IS in this earth to allow the enemy to say why ever bother. Maybe your just saying that God has the final say. But then what about dope and poppy plants? If seeds are planted in the realm of the kingdom of God inside us they will grow. Good or bad.
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The father loved both sons equally. He celebrated the return of his lost son because he was found, not because he loved him more or less than the other (older) son. The older son was reminded by the father that all he has was his and that he should not be upset by the celebration for his younger brother but to rejoice with the father over the return of the younger son (brother). The father is still trying to teach us about the very basic meaning of love. Love is a choice and God's Love is enduring!
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