Revelation 7:9-17 describes a picture of the spiritual classes, of which the "great multitude" is a piece of this puzzle. The setting of the picture is heaven, a spiritual plane of existence.The first participant in the picture is God Himself.The second participant in the [...]
Mark chapter four begins with Jesus addressing a “great multitude” of people. One of the lessons he taught them was the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:2-9). In the parable, a sower (farmer) sows a parcel of seeds. Different things happen to the seeds. [...]
John chapter 9 opens with an account of Jesus restoring vision to a man who had been blind since birth (John 9:1-7). Afterward, the man’s neighbors question him. The man tells his neighbors that Jesus healed his blindness (John 9:8-12). The neighbors take the [...]
Jesus was a masterful teacher. He often used stories, known as parables, to convey concepts and lessons in a way that his audience could relate to and apply to their lives. Some parables have multiple levels of meaning depending on the listener’s level of [...]
Jesus used this opportunity to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.One of the traditional ways to communicate with the learned men of Israel was by asking questions. First, one would ask a question, and then the other man would respond to the question [...]
(Excerpted from the Herald Magazine)The Vine and Branches (John 15:1-11)The lesson of faith taught by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 11:1) was to make the invisible things more tangible with their eye of faith. Jesus accomplished this with the Parable of the Vine and Branches. He [...]
This incident, recorded both in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, is an example in practical terms of the way Jesus (and God) looks at giving. The world tends to be impressed with large gifts and grand gestures; the Lord looks at the heart. When [...]
Jesus understood that part of his ministry was to teach those around him about pleasing God. To accomplish this, Jesus often used parables as a teaching tool. Parables are stories whose characters and events convey a greater lesson to their audience. Jesus’ use of parables [...]
This verse referred to is part of a series of parables Jesus gave beginning in Luke chapter 15. There in verse 2 the scribes and Pharisees murmured because Jesus received sinners and ate with them. Because of their superior attitude, Jesus went on to give the [...]
God, the householder of the parable, graciously and generously offered the laborers the opportunity to work in His vineyard - a privilege offered out of the goodness of His heart (Matthew 9:37,38; 1 Corinthians 6:1,2). For this work, He granted a very generous wage, [...]
Summary: No, this is not a reference to hell. Jesus used this expression seven times, and each time it symbolizes the deep regret of great loss - not eternal torture. In the Parable of the Closed Door (Luke 13:22-308) and the healing for the [...]
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 phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” appears seven times in the Bible to express a reaction to a great loss of opportunity throughout and at the end of the age of the gospel message going out to the world. This loss is most [...]
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 found in 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 sinLamps represent [...]
Matthew 13:3-9, NIV “...A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang [...]
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. [...]
