Luke 16: 1 - 13; Parable of the Clever But Evil Steward, 1st post.
There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward." Then the steward said within himself, "What can I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, "How much do you owe my master?" And he said, "A hundred measures of oil." So he said to him, "Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty." Then he said to another, "And how much do you owe?" So he said, "A hundred measures of wheat." And he said to him, "Take your bill, and write eighty." So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
This was spoken by Jesus during the third and last year of His earthly ministry.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
528th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Fig Tree Con't. - Luke 13: 6 - 9 Con't. - 3rd Post.
Luke 13: 6 -9 Continued Parable of the Fig Tree third post.
Look how serious the situation is here, in this parable. God the Father, the owner of the vineyard, wants to have the vinedresser, Jesus to cut down the fig tree because it was not bearing fruit and wasting good soil. Cutting down a fruit bearing tree is against the Word of God! The Fig Tree represents Israel, God's chosen people! The Father is through with Israel and their unbelief and wants to cast them out. Jesus being the Messiah, the Redeemer; then is called upon to destroy God's chosen! Think about that, and how much more would God the Father be through with us, because we are not His chosen, and our unbelief is just as bad. Look how the vinedresser, handles the situation. He asks the owner to give the Fig Tree more time, and the Messiah, will personally take time to dig around it, fertilize it, and make sure it has all it needs to be fruitful. After one year if the Fig Tree does not bear, the vinedresser will cut it down. Jesus is truly our Intercessor, Redeemer, and Savior. Jesus truly came to save the whole world, all we have to do is believe and follow His Words.
Look how serious the situation is here, in this parable. God the Father, the owner of the vineyard, wants to have the vinedresser, Jesus to cut down the fig tree because it was not bearing fruit and wasting good soil. Cutting down a fruit bearing tree is against the Word of God! The Fig Tree represents Israel, God's chosen people! The Father is through with Israel and their unbelief and wants to cast them out. Jesus being the Messiah, the Redeemer; then is called upon to destroy God's chosen! Think about that, and how much more would God the Father be through with us, because we are not His chosen, and our unbelief is just as bad. Look how the vinedresser, handles the situation. He asks the owner to give the Fig Tree more time, and the Messiah, will personally take time to dig around it, fertilize it, and make sure it has all it needs to be fruitful. After one year if the Fig Tree does not bear, the vinedresser will cut it down. Jesus is truly our Intercessor, Redeemer, and Savior. Jesus truly came to save the whole world, all we have to do is believe and follow His Words.
Monday, May 28, 2012
527th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Fig Tree Con't. 2nd Post - Luke 13: 6 - 9.
Luke 13: 6 - 9; 2nd Post, Parable of the Fig Tree continued.
Trees that bear fruit were considered to be very valuable in Israel. Even the ones that did not produce up to projected yield, were not to be cut down because they were protected by the hand of God (Deut. 20: 19 - 20) . After three years, it would be expected for a fruit bearing tree to provide fruit in Israel. The owner of the fruit tree had a right to be upset with the fact that this fig tree had not yet provided any fruit. The owner of the vineyard was within his rights to ask the keeper of the vineyard to cut the tree down because it was wasting the nutrients of the soil, and taking up space where it was planted. Now at this point, you need to remember why Jesus chose this time to tell this parable. Jesus was preaching on the subject of "Repent or Perish", Luke chapter 13. Now we need to start revealing who the different, parts of this parable are. The vineyard in this parable represents the Kingdom of God, the fig tree represents Israel, the vinedresser is the Messiah (Jesus Christ). These are the cast of characters, now we will try to explain the role and significance in this parable. I have run out of space again, will continue next post.
Trees that bear fruit were considered to be very valuable in Israel. Even the ones that did not produce up to projected yield, were not to be cut down because they were protected by the hand of God (Deut. 20: 19 - 20) . After three years, it would be expected for a fruit bearing tree to provide fruit in Israel. The owner of the fruit tree had a right to be upset with the fact that this fig tree had not yet provided any fruit. The owner of the vineyard was within his rights to ask the keeper of the vineyard to cut the tree down because it was wasting the nutrients of the soil, and taking up space where it was planted. Now at this point, you need to remember why Jesus chose this time to tell this parable. Jesus was preaching on the subject of "Repent or Perish", Luke chapter 13. Now we need to start revealing who the different, parts of this parable are. The vineyard in this parable represents the Kingdom of God, the fig tree represents Israel, the vinedresser is the Messiah (Jesus Christ). These are the cast of characters, now we will try to explain the role and significance in this parable. I have run out of space again, will continue next post.
526th Post Jesus SaidConcerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Fig Tree 1st Post - Luke 13: 6 - 9.
Luke 13: 6 - 9; Parable of the Fig Tree, First post.
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, "Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?" But he answered and said to him, "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down."
This was spoken by Jesus 1 - 1.1/2 years into His earthly Ministry. Jesus told this parable while teaching in the northern part of Israel around the Sea of Galilee. There were some in this crowd that told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. The question was raised concerning sin and judgment, it is in this context that Jesus tells the Parable of the Fig Tree. At the time of Jesus it was not unusual for an owner of a vineyard to plant a palm, or fig tree, in their vineyard. A palm tree and fig tree were prized and would not be cut down even if they failed to bear fruit. Will continue this next post.
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, "Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?" But he answered and said to him, "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down."
This was spoken by Jesus 1 - 1.1/2 years into His earthly Ministry. Jesus told this parable while teaching in the northern part of Israel around the Sea of Galilee. There were some in this crowd that told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. The question was raised concerning sin and judgment, it is in this context that Jesus tells the Parable of the Fig Tree. At the time of Jesus it was not unusual for an owner of a vineyard to plant a palm, or fig tree, in their vineyard. A palm tree and fig tree were prized and would not be cut down even if they failed to bear fruit. Will continue this next post.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
525th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - The Parable of the Good and Bad Stewards Con't. - Matthew 25: 14 - 30 4th Post.
Matthew 25: 14 - 30; Luke 19: 12 - 27; 4th Post.
The one steward who received only one talent, buried it and when the Lord came back, dug it up and gave it to him. The Lord rebuked this servant severely and said "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." It is interesting how the Lord deals with this servant. He rebukes him and then strips him of all he has and then throws him into outer darkness. This servant did not increase the talent, neither did he lose it. He delivered it back to the Lord exactly how it was given him. The lesson here is you have a choice either further the Kingdom of God, or not and lose your salvation in the process.
The one steward who received only one talent, buried it and when the Lord came back, dug it up and gave it to him. The Lord rebuked this servant severely and said "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." It is interesting how the Lord deals with this servant. He rebukes him and then strips him of all he has and then throws him into outer darkness. This servant did not increase the talent, neither did he lose it. He delivered it back to the Lord exactly how it was given him. The lesson here is you have a choice either further the Kingdom of God, or not and lose your salvation in the process.
524th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of Good and Bad Stewards Con't. - Matthew 25: 14 - 30, 3rd post.
Matthew 25: 14 - 30; Luke 19: 12 - 27; Parable of Good and Bad Stewards Continued 3rd post.
When Jesus talks about the steward who returned only the talent he was given, provides the basis to see something further in this parable. The steward who received one talent said, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed." How can you reap where you have not sowed, and gathered where you have not scattered seed? The only way this could happen, is if you continue to receive through the efforts of others. The stewards in this parable, are Jesus' followers, and as such we are supposed to be increasing the Kingdom of God. This means by increasing converts, but also in increasing our knowledge and understanding of Christ. This is accomplished by spending time not only reading, but trying to deepen your understanding of the Bible; and by spending time in fellowship with Jesus, through prayer and meditation. We call ourselves "Christians", but do you really understand what that term means? When you call yourself a "Christian", you are telling others you are trying to be Christ-like. We should remember this always, and try to live up to the title. We will continue next post.
When Jesus talks about the steward who returned only the talent he was given, provides the basis to see something further in this parable. The steward who received one talent said, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed." How can you reap where you have not sowed, and gathered where you have not scattered seed? The only way this could happen, is if you continue to receive through the efforts of others. The stewards in this parable, are Jesus' followers, and as such we are supposed to be increasing the Kingdom of God. This means by increasing converts, but also in increasing our knowledge and understanding of Christ. This is accomplished by spending time not only reading, but trying to deepen your understanding of the Bible; and by spending time in fellowship with Jesus, through prayer and meditation. We call ourselves "Christians", but do you really understand what that term means? When you call yourself a "Christian", you are telling others you are trying to be Christ-like. We should remember this always, and try to live up to the title. We will continue next post.
523rd Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of Good and Bad Stewards Con't. Matthew 25: 14 - 30. 2nd Post.
Matthew 25: 14 - 30; Luke 19: 12 - 27. Parable Good and Bad Stewards Continued 2nd post.
Looking at where in Matthew this parable is found, you would think this parable deals with "End Times", and you would be right; so why was it not included in the section we just looked at that dealt with end times? There is more to this parable than just handing out some goods, going on a long trip, and returning and handing out rewards and punishment. As was stated in my comments introducing this section, this parable is quite complex. We will break the parable down into sections, and look at those in more detail in up coming posts. The parable opens with a man going on a long journey, and before leaving distributes his goods to his servants to take care of until his return. Jesus is the man in this story, heaven is the destination of his journey, and He will return and ask his servants to return his goods. Jesus has asked His servants to continue His work, in His absence. The first servant received five talents, and by the time the Lord returned, he had added five more talents to the total. The servant who received two, also was able to increase the amount of his talents also.
I will continue next post.
Looking at where in Matthew this parable is found, you would think this parable deals with "End Times", and you would be right; so why was it not included in the section we just looked at that dealt with end times? There is more to this parable than just handing out some goods, going on a long trip, and returning and handing out rewards and punishment. As was stated in my comments introducing this section, this parable is quite complex. We will break the parable down into sections, and look at those in more detail in up coming posts. The parable opens with a man going on a long journey, and before leaving distributes his goods to his servants to take care of until his return. Jesus is the man in this story, heaven is the destination of his journey, and He will return and ask his servants to return his goods. Jesus has asked His servants to continue His work, in His absence. The first servant received five talents, and by the time the Lord returned, he had added five more talents to the total. The servant who received two, also was able to increase the amount of his talents also.
I will continue next post.
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