Maybe to stretch our thinking?
Maybe you are right Katie.
.
.
.
Maybe you could give lessons on good One line replies.
It is a greatly needed talent . It requires thinking.
Thank you for those lessons..
Please continue
It took me 6 lines to say that
Why Did Jesus Christ Speak Ini Parables?
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Maybe you are right Katie.
.
.
.
Maybe you could give lessons on good One line replies.
It is a greatly needed talent . It requires thinking.
Thank you for those lessons..
Please continue
It took me 6 lines to say that
In his explanation of the Biblical passage "but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing, may not understand," Bro. Peter Dimond says that Jesus Christ often slightly conceals His truths, or puts them just under the surface, so that superficial efforts or insincere people will pass over them or be left with the wrong impression. However, those who are more patient and dig deeper - or who simply trust the Church which Jesus established (i.e. the Catholic Church) - will find the gem and true meaning.Jude said:
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John Bunyan was a great writer in metaphors/parables and he explains the use of them in his, "The Barren Fig Tree" work (http://www.chapellibrary.org/files/6413/7642/2824/bun-barren.pdf):
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. - Luke 13:6-9
In parables there are two things to be taken notice of, and to be inquired into of them that read.
First, The metaphors made use of.
Second, The doctrine or mysteries couched under such metaphors.
The metaphors in this parable are,
1. A certain man;
2. A vineyard;
3. A fig-tree, barren or fruitless;
4. A dresser;
5. Three years;
6. Digging and dunging, &c.
The doctrine, or mystery, couched under these words is to show us what is like to become of a fruitless or formal professor. For,
1. By the man in the parable is meant God the Father (Luke 15:11).
2. By the vineyard, his church (Isa 5:7).
3. By the fig-tree, a professor.
4. By the dresser, the Lord Jesus.
5. By the fig-tree’s barrenness, the professor’s fruitlessness.
6. By the three years, the patience of God that for a time he extendeth to barren professors.
7. This calling to the dresser of the vineyard to cut it down, is to show the outcries of justice against fruitless professors.
8. The dresser’s interceding is to show how the Lord Jesus steps in, and takes hold of the head of his Father’s axe, to stop, or at least to defer, the present execution of a barren fig-tree.
9. The dresser’s desire to try to make the fig-tree fruitful, is to show you how unwilling he is that even a barren fig-tree should yet be barren, and perish.
10. His digging about it, and dunging of it, is to show his willingness to apply gospel helps to this barren professor, if haply he may be fruitful.
11. The supposition that the fig-tree may yet continue fruitless, is to show, that when Christ Jesus hath done all, there are some professors will abide barren and fruitless.
12. The determination upon this supposition, at last to cut it down, is a certain prediction of such professor’s unavoidable and eternal damnation.
But to take this parable into pieces, and to discourse more particularly, though with all brevity, upon all the parts thereof. ‘A certain MAN had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard.’ The MAN, I told you, is to present us with God the Father; by which similitude he is often set out in the New Testament. Observe then, that it is no new thing, if you find in God’s church barren fig-trees, fruitless professors; even as here you see is a tree, a fruitless tree, a fruitless fig-tree in the vineyard.
Fruit is not so easily brought forth as a profession is got into; it is easy for a man to clothe himself with a fair show in the flesh, to word it, and say, Be thou warmed and filled with the best. It is no hard thing to do these with other things; but to be fruitful, to bring forth fruit to God, this doth not every tree, no not every fig-tree that stands in the vineyard of God. Those words also, ‘Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away,’ assert the same thing (John 15:2). There are branches in Christ, in Christ’s body mystical, which is his church, his vineyard, that bear not fruit, wherefore the hand of God is to take them away: I looked for grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes, that is, no fruit at all that was acceptable with God (Isa 5:4). Again, ‘Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself,’ none to God; he is without fruit to God (Hosea 10:1). All these, with many more, show us the truth of the observation, and that God’s church may be cumbered with fruitless fig-trees, with barren professors.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. - Luke 13:6-9
In parables there are two things to be taken notice of, and to be inquired into of them that read.
First, The metaphors made use of.
Second, The doctrine or mysteries couched under such metaphors.
The metaphors in this parable are,
1. A certain man;
2. A vineyard;
3. A fig-tree, barren or fruitless;
4. A dresser;
5. Three years;
6. Digging and dunging, &c.
The doctrine, or mystery, couched under these words is to show us what is like to become of a fruitless or formal professor. For,
1. By the man in the parable is meant God the Father (Luke 15:11).
2. By the vineyard, his church (Isa 5:7).
3. By the fig-tree, a professor.
4. By the dresser, the Lord Jesus.
5. By the fig-tree’s barrenness, the professor’s fruitlessness.
6. By the three years, the patience of God that for a time he extendeth to barren professors.
7. This calling to the dresser of the vineyard to cut it down, is to show the outcries of justice against fruitless professors.
8. The dresser’s interceding is to show how the Lord Jesus steps in, and takes hold of the head of his Father’s axe, to stop, or at least to defer, the present execution of a barren fig-tree.
9. The dresser’s desire to try to make the fig-tree fruitful, is to show you how unwilling he is that even a barren fig-tree should yet be barren, and perish.
10. His digging about it, and dunging of it, is to show his willingness to apply gospel helps to this barren professor, if haply he may be fruitful.
11. The supposition that the fig-tree may yet continue fruitless, is to show, that when Christ Jesus hath done all, there are some professors will abide barren and fruitless.
12. The determination upon this supposition, at last to cut it down, is a certain prediction of such professor’s unavoidable and eternal damnation.
But to take this parable into pieces, and to discourse more particularly, though with all brevity, upon all the parts thereof. ‘A certain MAN had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard.’ The MAN, I told you, is to present us with God the Father; by which similitude he is often set out in the New Testament. Observe then, that it is no new thing, if you find in God’s church barren fig-trees, fruitless professors; even as here you see is a tree, a fruitless tree, a fruitless fig-tree in the vineyard.
Fruit is not so easily brought forth as a profession is got into; it is easy for a man to clothe himself with a fair show in the flesh, to word it, and say, Be thou warmed and filled with the best. It is no hard thing to do these with other things; but to be fruitful, to bring forth fruit to God, this doth not every tree, no not every fig-tree that stands in the vineyard of God. Those words also, ‘Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away,’ assert the same thing (John 15:2). There are branches in Christ, in Christ’s body mystical, which is his church, his vineyard, that bear not fruit, wherefore the hand of God is to take them away: I looked for grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes, that is, no fruit at all that was acceptable with God (Isa 5:4). Again, ‘Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself,’ none to God; he is without fruit to God (Hosea 10:1). All these, with many more, show us the truth of the observation, and that God’s church may be cumbered with fruitless fig-trees, with barren professors.
Jesus/Yahshua spoke in parables because He is the I AM/Yahweh, Jehovah God of the OT who also spoke in parables. The entire BIBLE is a parable, every story, each law and prophecy. Ask and it will be given to you. The Holy Spirit will reveal Himself to all who search and knock and pray and study with an open heart and mind. The reason for parables is that they can have many different revelations for different people with different needs. There are times God speaks plainly for the whole, but mostly He speaks in parables to give to each one according to their needs.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
This is not the only day of salvation...
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day.And why?
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
There is coming a day of choice in which these will have their eyes opened and will make the choice everyone has to make...
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
John 8: 32; we agree!
Israel was deliberately blind as per the prophecy of Isa. which you quote, not forgetting that Jesus at that time was "sent only to the lost sheep of Israel".
The disciples had to work at understanding, after referring to the Master.
There is an interesting parallel to the mathematical parabola , which has no true radius; but is constructed from many small radii. this takes tedious work in some cases , and much practice, which can be the same with understanding Scripture.
However; as with the disciples, we can refer to the Lord in prayer, with much rewarding revelation!
Floyd.
Israel was deliberately blind as per the prophecy of Isa. which you quote, not forgetting that Jesus at that time was "sent only to the lost sheep of Israel".
The disciples had to work at understanding, after referring to the Master.
There is an interesting parallel to the mathematical parabola , which has no true radius; but is constructed from many small radii. this takes tedious work in some cases , and much practice, which can be the same with understanding Scripture.
However; as with the disciples, we can refer to the Lord in prayer, with much rewarding revelation!
Floyd.
Why did Jesus speak in parables or illustrations ? For one, it was to fulfill Psalms 78:2. Matthew 13:34, 35 says: "All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds by illustrations. Indeed, without an illustration he would not speak to them, in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet who said: “I will open my mouth with illustrations; I will proclaim things hidden since the founding.” What did the use of illustrations accomplish ?Jude said:
To separate the "wheat from the chaff ", or those (the "wheat") who seriously examine the Bible, letting it speak for itself, from those (the "chaff ") who permit prejudice and religious dogma of the churches to dictate to them what the Bible supposedly says, like forcing a square peg in a round hole, or is just disinterested in really "searching for it (accurate knowledge of the Bible) as for hidden treasures."(Prov 2:4)
Jesus gave an illustration of different types of "soil" (a person's heart condition) that would have opportunity to understand the "Kingdom", but in which three fail and only one succeeds (the "fine soil") to grasp its real meaning.(Matt 13:3-9)
To his disciples (the "fine soil"), Jesus said: "To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of the heavens, but to them (those who thought of his illustrations as just a "good story" and are noted as being ""alongside the road", "rocky ground", "among the thorns", Matt 13:4-7) it is not granted."(Matt 13:11)
Jesus used the Greek word ginosko here, meaning to "understand", but over the course of Matthew 13 in giving several illustrations or parables, Jesus used the Greek word syniemi six different times, meaning "to mentally put the pieces together."(Matt 13:13-15, 19, 23, 51)
Thus, Jesus genuine disciples, those who follow the leadings of God's holy spirit and allow the Bible to interpret itself, "mentally putting the pieces together", rather than imposing personal beliefs on it, are able to unlock "the sacred secrets ("mysteries", KJV) of the Kingdom of the heavens." In testing people as to their true interests, Jesus thus gave a series of illustrations and when these are understood, permits his authentic disciples to grasp what the "Kingdom" really is.
After condemning the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Jesus home base during his ministry) for their failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite performing "powerful works" there (Matt 11:23), he then says in prayer to his Father: "I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children."(Matt 11:25)
Yes, only "young children" or those who humbly allow the Bible to speak for itself in harmony with God's spirit, who do not try to impose a biased belief so as to fit their own ideology (as the churches have done), can have the Bible's "truth" revealed to them.
On the other hand, the "wise and intellectual ones" are barred from grasping what the Bible really teaches, although they may have "high-sounding" degrees in the religious field, such as "Doctor of Divinity" or "Doctor of Sacred Theology" or "Doctor of Ministry" and being called "Reverend" or "Bishop" or "Archbishop" or "Pope" (yes, none of the popes have never been able to assemble the meaning of the "Kingdom") The Bible and its theme of the "Kingdom" can be likened to a large puzzle, whereby there are many pieces that must be carefully noted and assembled in order to accurately see the picture. But when complete, the grand "picture" of the "Kingdom" stands out.
For example, where it will be located (in heaven, not on the earth, Matt 13:11; Rev 5:10) who make it up and how many "rulers" there are (144,000 [Rev 7:4; 14:1], "bought....out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation....to be a kingdom and priests", Rev 5:9, 10), when Jehovah God made the 1st reference to it (at Gen 3:15 concerning the ' woman's offspring ' [Jesus being the primary one]), the purpose of the "Kingdom" (to ' restore all things of which God spoke through his holy prophets of old' [Acts 3:21], for the earth to be transformed into a paradise as was the garden of Eden for "meek" ones [Ps 37:11; Matt 5:5], and the total removal of all the wicked, Prov 2:21, 22, with Satan being ' crushed in the head ', Gen 3:15), when it went into operation (in 1914, Rev 6:1-8) and when Jesus will hand "over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power."(1 Cor 15:24, at the end of Jesus millennial reign after the destruction of Satan and his "seed", Rev 20:7-10; and the deathblow of Adamic death, Isa 25:8; 1 Cor 15:26)
It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning........ The Lord Jesus frequently used parables as a means of illustrating profound, divine truths. Stories such as these are easily remembered, the characters bold, and the symbolism rich in meaning. Parables were a common form of teaching in Judaism. Before a certain point in His ministry......., Jesus had employed many graphic analogies using common things that would be familiar to everyone (salt, bread, sheep, etc.) and their meaning was fairly clear in the context of His teaching. Parables required more explanation, and at one point in His ministry, Jesus began to teach using parables exclusively.
Our Lord Jesus understood that truth is not sweet music to all ears........ Simply put, there are those who have neither interest nor regard in the deep things of God. So why, then, did He speak in parables?............... To those with a genuine hunger for God, the parable is both an effective and memorable vehicle for the conveyance of divine truths............ Our Lord’s parables contain great volumes of truth in very few words—and His parables, rich in imagery, are not easily forgotten. So, then, the parable is a blessing to those with willing ears............. But to those with dull hearts and ears that are slow to hear, the parable is also an instrument of both judgment and mercy.
Today..many....who only know of Christ.......will use scriptures to tell you about Him......gets no one no where. Since the enemy has his full meaning of the scriptures inbedded into the one (individual) who lets say...............takes it hook line and sinker.
Lets.............as Jesus did.............show people Jesus and not just tell someone about Him. How many religions to we have today actually using these same scriptures....WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They need to be introduced, shown, and led into the arms of Christ.
Is He not alive?...............Is He not with us right here? Parables today coming from a Christian..............
should be your TESTIMONY. And your passion for your savior.........they won't understand it at first............as a parable..
But they will most definitley want what you got...
And isn't that the whole point..............KEEP FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our Lord Jesus understood that truth is not sweet music to all ears........ Simply put, there are those who have neither interest nor regard in the deep things of God. So why, then, did He speak in parables?............... To those with a genuine hunger for God, the parable is both an effective and memorable vehicle for the conveyance of divine truths............ Our Lord’s parables contain great volumes of truth in very few words—and His parables, rich in imagery, are not easily forgotten. So, then, the parable is a blessing to those with willing ears............. But to those with dull hearts and ears that are slow to hear, the parable is also an instrument of both judgment and mercy.
Today..many....who only know of Christ.......will use scriptures to tell you about Him......gets no one no where. Since the enemy has his full meaning of the scriptures inbedded into the one (individual) who lets say...............takes it hook line and sinker.
Lets.............as Jesus did.............show people Jesus and not just tell someone about Him. How many religions to we have today actually using these same scriptures....WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They need to be introduced, shown, and led into the arms of Christ.
Is He not alive?...............Is He not with us right here? Parables today coming from a Christian..............
should be your TESTIMONY. And your passion for your savior.........they won't understand it at first............as a parable..
But they will most definitley want what you got...
And isn't that the whole point..............KEEP FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Webers_Home
Well-Known Member
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Webster's defines "parable" as a usually short fictitious story that illustrates
a moral attitude or a religious principle
But were Christ's parables fictitious? Well; can you name even one of them
that couldn't possibly, by any stretch of the imagination, be true to life? No;
they are all very realistic, and none fit the "Aesop's Fables" category at all.
Where he said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell
among thieves; there is no good reason that I can think of to doubt that
really happened. And where Christ said a sower went forth to sow; I see no
good reason to doubt that really happened. And where Christ said a man's
enemy sowed tares in his field of wheat; who's to say that never really
happened? And where Christ said a woman mixed some leaven in three
measures of meal to leaven her dough; tell me that couldn't possibly have
really happened.
Christ's parable are all like that. Every one of them appear to me to be
events that his Father appropriated from real life. Why do I say his Father?
Well; because Christ was micro-managed.
"He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure
or limit." (John 3:34)
"He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have
heard of Him." John 8:26)
"I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father
taught me." (John 8:28)
"I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49)
"The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (John
14:24
America's fiat currency isn't backed by gold or silver; rather, it's backed by
the full faith and credit of the US government. Well; Christ's parables are
backed by the full faith and credit of Almighty God. So then; seeing as how
Titus 1:2 says that God cannot lie; then I think it safe to assume that He's a
person of integrity who always tells the truth. That being the case; then
seeing as how Almighty God is the true author of all of Christ's parables;
then I think people should stop thinking of them as fiction; and start
thinking of them as real-life incidents that really took place.
Buen Camino
/
Webster's defines "parable" as a usually short fictitious story that illustrates
a moral attitude or a religious principle
But were Christ's parables fictitious? Well; can you name even one of them
that couldn't possibly, by any stretch of the imagination, be true to life? No;
they are all very realistic, and none fit the "Aesop's Fables" category at all.
Where he said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell
among thieves; there is no good reason that I can think of to doubt that
really happened. And where Christ said a sower went forth to sow; I see no
good reason to doubt that really happened. And where Christ said a man's
enemy sowed tares in his field of wheat; who's to say that never really
happened? And where Christ said a woman mixed some leaven in three
measures of meal to leaven her dough; tell me that couldn't possibly have
really happened.
Christ's parable are all like that. Every one of them appear to me to be
events that his Father appropriated from real life. Why do I say his Father?
Well; because Christ was micro-managed.
"He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure
or limit." (John 3:34)
"He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have
heard of Him." John 8:26)
"I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father
taught me." (John 8:28)
"I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49)
"The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (John
14:24
America's fiat currency isn't backed by gold or silver; rather, it's backed by
the full faith and credit of the US government. Well; Christ's parables are
backed by the full faith and credit of Almighty God. So then; seeing as how
Titus 1:2 says that God cannot lie; then I think it safe to assume that He's a
person of integrity who always tells the truth. That being the case; then
seeing as how Almighty God is the true author of all of Christ's parables;
then I think people should stop thinking of them as fiction; and start
thinking of them as real-life incidents that really took place.
Buen Camino
/
.
For me, this has been the most God-honoring and truth-full thread I've yet read on this entire site! Thank you, Jesus, for the brothers and sisters you have brought to the fore here!
Concerning the OP, God knows the hearts of men. He knows that if he gave us the answer(s) up front, if he spelled it all out for us at the onset, then when we received the 'clear explanation,' we would simpy consume it upon our lusts.
Rather he wants us to seek him out on it. He is a jealous God (that's jealous in the good sense that there can be no others before him).
When you say you’re ‘in Him,’ you’re abiding in him. When you are of him, that means you belong to him. You don’t belong to the world. And when you say you’re ‘in Him,’ you’re out of the world. There’s your separation and sanctification.
God hates the Nicolaitan-types who set themselves up as intermediaries between God and man. Just like when Jesus said to the Pharisees that they show people the Kingdom of God, but prevent them from going in, churches today say, "There is Jesus. Here are all the leaders. You must go through us before you go through Him." They are showing people the way, but not letting them enter. They set up a wall between God and themselves. When they stand before the Kingdom of God and you, they don’t care what the Law of God says (Isaiah 5:24), they have cast it aside. Their back is turned towards the Kingdom of God, and they are facing whoever wants to come in through Jesus’ door (Revelation 3:20). So they have cast Jesus aside. It’s all self-will. They have cast the Law of God behind them, and anyone who wants to get into the Kingdom of God, they can’t do it.
Chapter two of Malachi tells us it is the scholars who have corrupted the covenant and led many astray. They have NOTHING over you, fellow saints of God!
Pray, and pray, then pray again. Ask, and ye shall receive.
For me, this has been the most God-honoring and truth-full thread I've yet read on this entire site! Thank you, Jesus, for the brothers and sisters you have brought to the fore here!
Concerning the OP, God knows the hearts of men. He knows that if he gave us the answer(s) up front, if he spelled it all out for us at the onset, then when we received the 'clear explanation,' we would simpy consume it upon our lusts.
Rather he wants us to seek him out on it. He is a jealous God (that's jealous in the good sense that there can be no others before him).
When you say you’re ‘in Him,’ you’re abiding in him. When you are of him, that means you belong to him. You don’t belong to the world. And when you say you’re ‘in Him,’ you’re out of the world. There’s your separation and sanctification.
God hates the Nicolaitan-types who set themselves up as intermediaries between God and man. Just like when Jesus said to the Pharisees that they show people the Kingdom of God, but prevent them from going in, churches today say, "There is Jesus. Here are all the leaders. You must go through us before you go through Him." They are showing people the way, but not letting them enter. They set up a wall between God and themselves. When they stand before the Kingdom of God and you, they don’t care what the Law of God says (Isaiah 5:24), they have cast it aside. Their back is turned towards the Kingdom of God, and they are facing whoever wants to come in through Jesus’ door (Revelation 3:20). So they have cast Jesus aside. It’s all self-will. They have cast the Law of God behind them, and anyone who wants to get into the Kingdom of God, they can’t do it.
Chapter two of Malachi tells us it is the scholars who have corrupted the covenant and led many astray. They have NOTHING over you, fellow saints of God!
Pray, and pray, then pray again. Ask, and ye shall receive.
Matthew 13:10 "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"
Jesus disciples turned to Christ and asked Him, why are you speaking in parables, in riddles that they can not understand?
Matthew 13:11 "He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
What is a mystery? It is something that is unknown. The answer may be in plain sight, only if you cannot put all the details together, and take all the clues and give an understanding to them, you do not know. There are things dealing with the kingdom of heaven that seem foolish to mankind, and will always remain hidden, unless the Spirit of the Living God reveals them to you.
Today, because those things are mysteries, mankind is going to great lengths to understand the past, when all the time it is written in His Word. However, those truths cannot be understood because it is God that has blinded them for their own protection. Why would this be? Because if they had the understanding, and were tried by the Antichrist Satan, and his system, (which is coming shortly), they would not have the ability to stand against Satan. They lack faith and willpower to turn themselves over completely to the Holy Spirit. They just don't care, and they continue to live in a state of hopelessness.
Matthew 13:12 "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
What are we talking about here? The Word of God! If a certain amount is given to you, can you sow it, and replant it in someone's mind? If you do not sow the Word of God in another persons mind, then God will take the understanding that He has given you, and and He will allow you to become deceived in the ways of the world, just as if you never received the Word in the first place. If you have a truth, share it with someone else, or you will lose it.
Matthew 13:13 "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:"
This was prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 6:9, 10; "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. [9] Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.[10]."
Our Heavenly Father has sent us His Son, and He performed many great miracles in their sight, and yet these blind and dumb scribes and Pharisees, after seeing and hearing Christ with His many wonderful acts yelled out, "show us a sign". Though they saw with their eyes and heard with their ears, they understood nothing that was going on around them. Their minds were closed, and they perceived nothing. Jesus is saying it here, Paul said it later, and the prophet Isaiah said it five hundred years prior to Jesus Christ's birth; "these people" are in a stupor. We will find out later who "these people" are with the "fat hearts", or thick minds.
Matthew 13:15 " For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
Jesus gave us many prophesies and rich teachings, as He walked upon the earth, and all the time these scribes and Pharisees, stumbling after Christ missed the whole thing. It's like they went to the ball game, and were more concerned with the lead in the paint on the scoreboard, then the score posted. It was written long ago, many times, by the prophets, and in the sky that the Messiah would come, and when He came He performed the prophesies, and performed the miracles so that those with eyes to see and ears to hear would understand.
God didn't close their eyes, they closed them themselves, then God sent the stupor. They made the choice, and then God acted on their choice. This is also what will happen again very shortly. Those who choose to study and know the truth will be sealed in their minds with the understanding of God and His prophecies of the end times, And those who choose to believe Satan's lies, God will send them into a stupor, and they will be deceived.
Revelation 9:4; "And it was commanded them [Satan's locust army of fallen angels] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
The reason for God allowing this stupor to come over even Christians, is for their own protection, so that they would not commit the unpardonable sin, the refusal of the Holy Spirit to speak through them. This is what is discussed in Hebrews 5:11, 12; that they become dull of hearing, until the time of teaching. That time is the Millennium Age, for if they understood now, and committed the unpardonable sin, that time would be closed to them.
The unpardonable sin will be a thing of the past in the Millennium age.
Matthew 13:16 "But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."
Jesus is speaking to his disciples, His elect even to this last generation.
http://www.theseason.org/matthew/matthew13.htm
Jesus disciples turned to Christ and asked Him, why are you speaking in parables, in riddles that they can not understand?
Matthew 13:11 "He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
What is a mystery? It is something that is unknown. The answer may be in plain sight, only if you cannot put all the details together, and take all the clues and give an understanding to them, you do not know. There are things dealing with the kingdom of heaven that seem foolish to mankind, and will always remain hidden, unless the Spirit of the Living God reveals them to you.
Today, because those things are mysteries, mankind is going to great lengths to understand the past, when all the time it is written in His Word. However, those truths cannot be understood because it is God that has blinded them for their own protection. Why would this be? Because if they had the understanding, and were tried by the Antichrist Satan, and his system, (which is coming shortly), they would not have the ability to stand against Satan. They lack faith and willpower to turn themselves over completely to the Holy Spirit. They just don't care, and they continue to live in a state of hopelessness.
Matthew 13:12 "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
What are we talking about here? The Word of God! If a certain amount is given to you, can you sow it, and replant it in someone's mind? If you do not sow the Word of God in another persons mind, then God will take the understanding that He has given you, and and He will allow you to become deceived in the ways of the world, just as if you never received the Word in the first place. If you have a truth, share it with someone else, or you will lose it.
Matthew 13:13 "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:"
This was prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 6:9, 10; "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. [9] Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.[10]."
Our Heavenly Father has sent us His Son, and He performed many great miracles in their sight, and yet these blind and dumb scribes and Pharisees, after seeing and hearing Christ with His many wonderful acts yelled out, "show us a sign". Though they saw with their eyes and heard with their ears, they understood nothing that was going on around them. Their minds were closed, and they perceived nothing. Jesus is saying it here, Paul said it later, and the prophet Isaiah said it five hundred years prior to Jesus Christ's birth; "these people" are in a stupor. We will find out later who "these people" are with the "fat hearts", or thick minds.
Matthew 13:15 " For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
Jesus gave us many prophesies and rich teachings, as He walked upon the earth, and all the time these scribes and Pharisees, stumbling after Christ missed the whole thing. It's like they went to the ball game, and were more concerned with the lead in the paint on the scoreboard, then the score posted. It was written long ago, many times, by the prophets, and in the sky that the Messiah would come, and when He came He performed the prophesies, and performed the miracles so that those with eyes to see and ears to hear would understand.
God didn't close their eyes, they closed them themselves, then God sent the stupor. They made the choice, and then God acted on their choice. This is also what will happen again very shortly. Those who choose to study and know the truth will be sealed in their minds with the understanding of God and His prophecies of the end times, And those who choose to believe Satan's lies, God will send them into a stupor, and they will be deceived.
Revelation 9:4; "And it was commanded them [Satan's locust army of fallen angels] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
The reason for God allowing this stupor to come over even Christians, is for their own protection, so that they would not commit the unpardonable sin, the refusal of the Holy Spirit to speak through them. This is what is discussed in Hebrews 5:11, 12; that they become dull of hearing, until the time of teaching. That time is the Millennium Age, for if they understood now, and committed the unpardonable sin, that time would be closed to them.
The unpardonable sin will be a thing of the past in the Millennium age.
Matthew 13:16 "But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."
Jesus is speaking to his disciples, His elect even to this last generation.
http://www.theseason.org/matthew/matthew13.htm
The Lord once told me that He speaks to me in parables thereby taking something I don't understand and pairing it with something that I do. That I might gain more understanding. And of course also to confound the wise that only His true sheep may follow. Although I suspect that as with all things in Christ there are many facets to this diamond.
Attachments
Parables were Christ's "practical application." A pastor will do the same thing today, often showing how a particular principle applies to everyday life. As far as the wise entering Heaven, the answer would depend on what you mean by "the wise." I am inclined to say yes, only the wise will enter Heaven, not because they understand parables, but because they show wisdom in accepting the gift of salvation from the Word of God (that is, Jesus Christ).
As Always,
Waddle On
As Always,
Waddle On
Half of everything Jesus said was in parables, but the whole other half of very important words are not in parables and therefore a lot easy to understand for the majority of the world's population nowadays.
Check out this video, where Jesus repeats almost everything he says in the Holy Bible that is not in parables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78U9F1WXpQY
Check out this video, where Jesus repeats almost everything he says in the Holy Bible that is not in parables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78U9F1WXpQY
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