MATTHEW 25:14__30 _The great mistake of the unfaithful servant is in misjudging the character of his Master: THOU ART A HARD MAN. He could not have known the Master well to assume him to be servere and merciless. He fails to understand the real generosity of his Master, who wanted him to experience the joys of service. Whereas the parable of the 10 virgins emphasizes personal preparation for the coming of Christ, the parable of the talents stresses the importance of faithful service during His present absence.
THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN !!!!!
MATTHEW 21:33__45 _In the parable of the wicked husbandmen, the HOUSEHOLDER represents God the Father, and the VINEYARD is Israel, a symbol of the theocracy that was familiar to the Jewish leaders (PSALM 80:8__16; Isaiah 5:1__7). The HUSBANDMEN were the priests and religious leaders, and the FAR COUNTRY is heaven. The anticipated Fruit represents spiritual evidence of true conversion, which was to be the end result of the work of the husbandmen. The SERVANTS sent by the owner represent the Old Testament prophets who came to correct religious abuses in the nation and were also rejected by their contemporaries (though venerated by subsequent generations). LAST OF ALL indicates that Jesus was God's final emissary to Israel. None has ever appeared since Him, and none ever will until the Jews recognize Christ as their final Prophet and Messiah. The desire to kill the rightful heir of the Father had already been expressed by the Jewish leaders (JOHN 11:47__53). Jesus clearly foretells His coming rejection and death with the statement THEY . . . SLEW HIM.
MARK 12:1__12 _Israel, pictured as a vineyard, was the nation God had cultivated to bring salvation to the world. The religious leaders not only frustrated their nation's purpose, they also killed those trying to fulfill it. They were so jealous and possessive that they forgot the welfare of the very people they were supposed to be beinging to God.
LUKE 20:9__19 _The owner seeks to collect his share of the estate's proceeds. The tenants rebuff the messengers. Yet the owner shows forbearance in giving repeated second chances. :15__16 _Such rebellion must be punished and the owner's patience is equaled or exceeded by His thirst for justice. The wrongdoers receive their reward. The horrified response of the listeners likely stems from the shock of Jesus strong hint that the Jews, or their leaders, have so conducted themselves and are now standing at the brink of reaping the consequences.
THE LOST SHEEP !!!!!
MATTHEW 18:12__14
Just as a shepherd is concerned enough about one lost sheep to go search the hills for it, so God is concerned about every human being he creates (he is "not willing that any should perish," 2 PETER 3:9). If you come in contact with children in your neighborhood who need Christ, steer them toward him by your example, your words, and your acts of kindness.
LUKE 15:3__7 _It may seem foolish for the shepherd to leave the 99 sheep to go search for just one. But the shepherd knew that the 99 would be safe in the sheepfold, whereas the lost sheep was in danger. Because each worthwhile to search diligently for the lost one. God's love for each individual is so great that he seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is "found." Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep__people considered beyond hope__the Gospel of God's Kingdom. Before you were a believer he sought you, and his love is still seeking those who are yet lost.
THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT !!!!!!!
MATTHEW 18:23__35 _The parable of the unforgiving servant (VERSES 23__25) is used by Jesus to reinforce the power and importance of the principle of forgiveness. A CERTAIN KING represents God, the sovereign Father (VERSE 35), to whom the debt is owed. The ONE who OWED HIM is a servant or satrap who had access to the king's money, and represents the individual sinner. TEN THOUSAND TALENTS was an insurmountable debt equivalent to millions of dollars in our currency. It represents the debt of sin, which the sinner cannot possibly pay by himself. The command that he be SOLD . . . AND PAYMENT TO BE MADE indicates his being placed in a debtor's prison. In COMPASSION the king releases him and forgives (cancels) the DEBT. The picture illustrates God's total forgiveness when dealing with our sins at the point of salvation. The debt has been paid by Christ and we are set free from it forever!!!
THE NET !!!!!
MATTHEW 13:47__50
The parable of the fishing net has the same meaning as the parable of the wheat and tares. We are to obey God and tell others about his grace and goodness, but we are not dictate who is part of the kingdom of heaven and who is not. This sorting will be done at the last judgment by those infinitely more qualified than we.
THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD !!!!
MATTHEW 20:1__16 _This parable reinforces Jesus teaching regarding true Christian service and riches. The HOUSEHOLDER is Christ Himself, the Master of the VINEYARD, the field of labor (service to the world through His church). EARLY IN THE MORNING: The first workers were hired at dawn. A PENNY (Greek denarion) represents a denarius, or a common day's wage. OTHERS STANDING IDLE IN THE MARKET PLACE were not lazy but were in the usual place to seek employment. From this unemployed group, the household hired additional workers at 9 A.M., noon 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. The pay scale will be WHATEVER IS RIGHT, indicating Christ's justice to His laborers. When even [evening] WAS COME, that is at the end of the day, every man was paid the same wage. Therefore, the first hired laborers MURMURED AGAINST THE GOODMAN. However, he reminded them that he had been just in paying them what they bargained for. The statement I WILL GIVE UNTO THIS LAST, EVEN AS UNTO THEE is Jesus interpretation of "the last shall be first, and the first last" (verse 16). There is here, perhaps, a sweeping view of church history, in which those working in the last hour are promised blessings equal to that of His original disciples. Thus, Jesus warns against jealousy and impurity of motive in serving Him.
THE TWO SONS !!!!!
MATTHEW 21:28__32 _The parable of the two sons (verses 28_32) follows as an expose of the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, as a vindication of John's ministry, and as a vindication of the true work of God is general. The first son intially said I WILL NOT (verse 29), representing the immoral disobedience of the PUBLICANS and HARLOTS who later REPENTED under John's and Jesus preaching. The SECOND son promised to go but did not follow through with obedience. Jesus asked, "Which DID THE WILL OF HIS FATHER?" By answering, THE FIRST, the religious leaders condemned themselves. This very effective teaching method is commonly used in the Bible as the judicial parable, whereby the answerer condemns himself by the obviously implied response.
THE FIG TREE !!!
MATTHEW 24:32__44 _The illustration of the FIG TREE is referred to as a PARABLE. The immediate context seems to refer to the fig tree in a natural (not symbolic) sense. While it is clear in Scripture that Israel is symbolized, at times, by the fig tree (chapter 21), the usage here simply seems to be that as these events reach the apex of their fulfillment, the actual and ultimate return of Christ follows immediately.
MARK 13:28__32 _The emphasis of this verse 32 is not on Jesus lack of knowledge, but rather on the fact that no one knows. It is God the Father's secret to be revealed when he wills. No one can predict by Scripture or science the exact day of Jesus return. Jesus is teaching that preparation, not calculation, is needed.
LUKE 21:29__33 _And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and allthe trees; :30 _when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. :31 _So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. :32 _Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. :33 _Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS !!!!!
MATTHEW 25:1__13 _The parable of the 10 virgins explains the place of Israel's true converts of the Great Tribulation period in relation to the church. These VIRGINS (Greek parthenos 1:23) are the attendants at the wedding, not multiple brides. The one bride of Christ is the church, John the Baptist is the best man (John 3:29, friend of the Bridegroom), and the prepared virgins are the saved of the Great Tribulation. While all share as the people of God, the church is accorded a unique relationship to the Master. The LAMPS seem to refer to their lives light and may properly be illustrative of the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. The fact that they all slept WHILE THE BRIDEGROOM TARRIED implies a period of Jewish inactivity during the church age, while the bride is gathered.
No comments:
Post a Comment