When we always and forever speak of "the unseen things," speaking always in language filled with mystical and other-worldly things, thus shrouding the gold, silver, gems and jewels that can enrich the minds and souls of the hearers, what good is our effort?
I have looked somewhat at the two different approaches to interpreting what some call tulip.
As far as effort it can be good if God blesses it. . But the pleasures of sin the enjoyment of things we can receive in these dying bodies are a shadow. . the temporal.. As new creatures we already have the highest good "eternal life". All die not receiving the promise of the new incorruptible (Hebrew 11:39).
I am more of the Heize 57 varierty . I am not the author of the spiritual language of God. Like any believer we can plant the seed and water it but are considered nothing .He must do the work of both giving the wil and acting with the believer empowing them to finsish the will
Dare I say it, but Jesus had His reasons for shrouding some of what He taught in hidden meanings that He had to later explain so that only what the Father revealed to them would have any meaning. We today are not called to such. We reveal to the listener the deep things of God. Speaking exclusively of parables and spiritual language, and how all the parables hid from most the largest and most profound of meaning, like the water shrouds the largest part of the ice burg under its surface, frankly that's a dishonest handling of the word of God to us. It's a form of false conduct and thought processes that the scriptures don't demonstrate as God's ways for our conduct and words.
I would agree parables do not take away the simplicity of the gospel accroding to its purpose "the unsen understanding hid in aparables" that again to teach us the walk by faith. . mixing the things seen the temporal with the unseen understasning of faith . The one purpose teach us how to obey God not seen praying without ceasing keeping on the whole armor of God .
Paul spoke directly and succinctly to the Greeks, Romans, and all others when it came to the Gospel. When he reasoned with the Greeks, explaining to them that "Unknown God" among all the idols in that pagan place, he didn't spout parables and spiritual sounding jargon to try and impress them with how much more spiritual he was than they. It wasn't about one-upmanship. He loved those people because the God of Love was in him, looking upon those He created by His own hand.
In Paul's epistles to us believers, we're blessed that he spoke clearly rather than to make use of a memorized, spiritual dictionary of coded language to give himself some contrived feeling of superiority over others around him, including mature believers. When asked if he would elaborate further for better understanding, he would do so. It was a part of his spiritual DNA.
spiritual DNA.?
And yes the noble Barens moved by the Spirit working in them with them they were empowered to search the scriptures asa for silver and gold as
it is
wtitten to see if
it was so ,
Paul would not make any claim that men were to look to his flesh and blood as a source of authority higher than all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura) , the reforming, restoring tool of God in any generation. .
1 Corinthians 4:5-7 King James Version (KJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes;
that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For
who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst
receive it, why dost thou glory,
as if thou hadst not received it?
The prodigal son parable Jesus spoke is clear in its lesson to all. It did not shroud hidden meanings. It spoke deeply, and hit upon profound realities, yes. Those whom I have encountered, dredging up the soil of the garden to study and talk about all the nutrients in the soil, meanwhile having destroyed the crop of the garden that may otherwise have nourished those who sought to benefit from the garden's yield, are left standing there, hungry and lacking in benefit from what the speaker is saying.
Yes the parable of the waiting father great one.
I can see that happening many misunderstanding >it would seem to be a learning curb .I am slow at that .I think I lost interest in school at 12. got a hundred jobs Got drafted 20 Maried 22. Three daughters, Starting reading the Bible at 33 and attending church . Yesterday LOL .
Again, still speaking generally, many of us can likely speak spiritual circles around those practitioners who portray themselves as spiritually superior to most or all others around them. When the morsels are unobtainable, or are too tough to chew, the hearers spit them out and look for something more palatable. The practitioners of "spiritual speak" have an understanding that I find foreign to the scriptures. We're not dealing with Pharisees as did Jesus. The Pharisees were cheap, slight-of-hand magicians who created only an illusion of their superiority to the masses around them.
Not my goal to speak in spiritual circles. I would think not anymore that it was of Jesus as he talght the apotles how to walk by faith the corect manner of Spirit . they not understanding must of though jesus went of the ddep end in the end of the mater he informed themthat they n knew not what maner of sotit they were off .I would think to help us walk by faith .
Yes that reminds me of one of the many parables he offered to the apotles in Luke 9. Still in a state of wonderment (no beleif) Jesus hiding the meaning he offered another this time the apotles portrayed themselves as spiritually superior as if Jesu had went off the deep end .Taking a vote for a new spiritually superior Alfa dog . To teach the faithless ones how to walk by the undssen understansing.
Note. . . .
(my addition) in a hoipe of making a pont
Luke9:45-47 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them
(faithless ones) , that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. Then there arose a reasoning among
them, which of them should be greatest.
The voice of the unsen Father was not reveled to them they sought after flesh and blood one that made their kind of sence the wrong manner of spirit. Not from within.
We are called to be the greatest lovers of all; who have rivers of living waters that flow from us to a thirsting world. We are called to enlighten the unbeliever, not to impress him with our spiritual prowess. The prideful lure of cheap parlor tricks is very strong, and is one of many tactics the enemy of our souls employs within those of us who are subject to such enticements. The cults out there make copious use of these parlor tricks. In my foolish youth, I was taken in by the mormons by just this tactical ploy, not knowing their deeper beliefs and the meanings behind the similar words they used, but with vastly different meanings.
yes they are very stongs .Arong enough to make Jesus into a circus seald do sa mircle we can see then we will but of our in you .
John 6:30 They said therefore unto
him, What
sign shewest
thou then, that
we may see, and
believe thee? what dost
thou work?
I would agree we offer the aprable as it is written he provide the understanding if any is given .
We are called to be better than all those who do such. I prefer Paul's example, who always put the morsels and cookies on the lower shelf so the kiddies can get some, and grow.
The parable self? We can teach each other how we hear or say we hear his voice alone he can give us the reaching power .I love your work
What I found useful is looking at words that can cause good division perhaps the gospel is hid in them ?
Like the parable of the "bloody husband" and how it is used to preach the gospel in respect to the suffering of Christ beforehand .That is a great parable giving those who heard it a rest being yoked with Christ under the Spirit of circumcision
A blessing you have received by looking at words revealing the meaning it would seem .
I find words like prophecy, prophesying, and prophets are easily misunderstood just as the word apostle. Most bible studies do not teach other how to hear it seems . But rather what they believe as a private interpretation or personal commenetary. , a necessaary difference so that we can seek the apporval of God the one good teaching Lord as Master
Having the proper understanding as a foundation to one word can have a great effect literal historical as well as signified the language of parables .Teaching how to walk by faith the power generated by the unseen word
Change the meaning of one word, change the authorship. Commandments (plural).
God protecting the integrity of his word from Plagiarism Blasphemy. a violation of the first commandment No gods in the likeness of man of this world before him .
Deuteronomy 4 King James Version (KJV) Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the
word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from
it, that ye may keep the
commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.