In the Parable of the Pounds, each servant got a separate pound--one pound, no more, no less. The Lord did not explain what a pound meant, but the pound was a symbol. We suggest that these pounds represent justification; that each believer gets justification. [...]
Matthew 22:2 begins with “The kingdom of heaven.” This phrase is used 32 times in Matthew. And the same thought, “kingdom of God”, appears over 60 times in the New Testament. What specifically is the parable teaching about God’s kingdom? This parable is focusing [...]
God’s judgment against unrighteousness is unalterable and eternal. He declared unto Adam that in the day he disobeyed he would die. (Genesis 2:17) The Apostle Paul wrote that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Notice that there is no mention of “eternal [...]
The context of this scripture is Jesus’s explanation of the wheat and tares parable. He identifies the wheat as “children of the kingdom,” the tares (which look like wheat) as “children of the wicked one,” and the field as “the world.” The reason for [...]
The parable of the talents illustrates the individual responsibility of every Christian to serve God. Christian living is much more than saying, “I accept Jesus.” We are to demonstrate our salvation by service through our works. (James 2:17-26). Remember that Jesus, himself, was called [...]
Matthew 13:10-11, 15 (NIV), “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them…For this people’s [...]
The following is a brief interpretation of the parable of the Wise and Foolish (Unwise) Virgins, Matthew 25:1-10. 25:1 “…like 10 virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom” these are pure, holy people – not lovers of sin [...]
This parable demonstrates that not only must good seed – the Word of God, the truth – be sown, but chiefly that the attitude of the heart – the ground which receives the seed – must be good. The wayside illustrates hard, compacted earth, [...]
Some of Jesus’ followers were tax collectors and gross sinners. (Luke 15:1) The Pharisees and teachers of the law were disturbed that Jesus welcomed this fallen class and even ate with them. They believed the “sinners” were living outside of a relationship with God. [...]
Abraham’s bosom represents the Abrahamic covenant. The reference to Abraham’s bosom or chest is found in Luke 16:22 as part of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The parable starts with the Rich Man clothed in purple and linen living in luxury. [...]
At the time that Jesus made this statement (Luke 18:25) the city of Jerusalem had many gates, all of which were closed at sundown. One small gate, however, was accessible to late-arriving merchants. Because it was so small, it was necessary to unload the [...]
"Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine; otherwise the swine will trample them under their feet and the dogs turn and maul you." Matthew 7:6 (Weymouth translation). No one would give real pearls to swine, [...]
In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins there are ten virgins. Five were wise and Five were foolish. To identify the two classes of virgins, you have to go to the book of Revelation. Revelation 7:4,9,14-15, “…I heard the number…sealed…144,000…and I saw [...]
Jesus answers this very question. Mark 4:10-12, “When Jesus was alone, some of those who had heard him came to him with the twelve disciples and asked him to explain the parables. ‘You have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God,’ Jesus [...]
Luke 13:6, “…A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I [...]
Jesus starts a series of lessons that are in parable form (Luke 15:3). (Parable = one thing said, another thing meant). The parable found in Luke 16:19-31 is called “The Rich Man and Lazarus”. At first reading, the text seems to say that this [...]
Joh 5:45-47, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe [...]
Luke 5:36-38 "No one tears a patch from a new garment to patch an old garment. Otherwise, the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t match the old garment. Nobody pours new wine into old wineskins. If they did, the new [...]
Luke 14:7-11 "And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how theychose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more [...]
The origin of the saying “a wolf in sheeps clothing” goes back to Aesop’s Fables (620-560 BC) where a wolf disguised his appearance in order to gain the trust of sheep so that he could more easily secure one of them as food. This [...]
