What is RIGHT HEART?

 

Proverbs 23:26 

King James Version

26 My son, 

give me thine heart, 

and let thine eyes observe my ways.

What does it mean to have the right heart?

What is pleasing to the LORD?

This amazing 41-minute video will fill your heart with things of the heart, through verses chosen by J.C. Ryle*.

Read beautifully, this will open your heart to the LORD.

A wonderful way to begin, and end your day -- listening to Scripture, making sure you get God's WORD right.

*Ryle was a writer, pastor, and evangelical preacher. His heart was close to the Jews, and was part of the movement that led to the Balfour Declaration.

Updated 22 January 2022

What Do the PARABLES of JESUS Mean?

 

In the previous article, we spoke of what the word "parable" means, and why JESUS often spoke in parables.

What are some of the LORD's parables, and what do they mean?

Are they easy to understand?

Find out through these examples from Matthew 13.

JESUS really made everything simple for us to understand.

A backgrounder -- where JESUS spoke these parables:

Matthew 13:1-2 

King James Version

13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, 

and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes 

were gathered together unto him, 

so that he went into a ship, 

and sat; 

and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Parable of the sower: 

Matthew 13:3-9 

King James Version

3 And he spake many things unto them 

in parables, saying, 

Behold, 

a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, 

some seeds fell by the way side, 

and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, 

where they had not much earth: 

and forthwith they sprung up, 

because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, 

they were scorched; 

and because they had no root, 

they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; 

and the thorns sprung up, 

and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, 

and brought forth fruit, 

some an hundredfold, 

some sixtyfold, 

some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, 

let him hear.

JESUS explains the parable of the sower:

Matthew 13:18-23 

King James Version

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, 

and understandeth it not, 

then cometh the wicked one, 

and catcheth away 

that which was sown in his heart. 

This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, 

the same is he that heareth the word, 

and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, 

but dureth for a while: 

for when tribulation or persecution ariseth 

because of the word, 

by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns 

is he that heareth the word; 

and the care of this world, 

and the deceitfulness of riches, 

choke the word, 

and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground 

is he that heareth the word, 

and understandeth it; 

which also beareth fruit, 

and bringeth forth, 

some an hundredfold, 

some sixty, 

some thirty.

------------------------

Parable of the tares of the field:

Matthew 13:24-30 

King James Version

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, 

saying, 

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man 

which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, 

his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, 

and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, 

and brought forth fruit, 

then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came 

and said unto him, 

Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? 

from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, 

An enemy hath done this. 

The servants said unto him, 

Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, 

Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, 

ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: 

and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 

Gather ye together first the tares, 

and bind them in bundles to burn them: 

but gather the wheat into my barn.

JESUS explains the parable of the tares of the field.

Matthew 13:37-50 

King James Version

37 He answered and said unto them, 

He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; 

the good seed are the children of the kingdom; 

but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; 

the harvest is the end of the world; 

and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered 

and burned in the fire; 

so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, 

and they shall gather out of his kingdom 

all things that offend, 

and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: 

there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun 

in the kingdom of their Father. 

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, 

the kingdom of heaven 

is like unto treasure hid in a field; 

the which when a man hath found, 

he hideth, 

and for joy thereof goeth 

and selleth all that he hath, 

and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven

 is like unto a merchant man, 

seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, 

when he had found one pearl of great price, 

went and sold all that he had, 

and bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, 

that was cast into the sea, 

and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, 

they drew to shore, 

and sat down, 

and gathered the good into vessels, 

but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: 

the angels shall come forth, 

and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: 

there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

---------------------

Parable of the mustard seed:

Matthew 13:31-32

King James Version

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, 

saying, 

The kingdom of heaven 

is like to a grain of mustard seed, 

which a man took, 

and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: 

but when it is grown, 

it is the greatest among herbs, 

and becometh a tree, 

so that the birds of the air come 

and lodge in the branches thereof.

Parable of the leaven:

Matthew 13:33

King James Version

33 Another parable spake he unto them; 

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, 

which a woman took, 

and hid in three measures of meal, 

till the whole was leavened.

Related material:

SOWER and SEED

Updated 10 July 2023

Why Does JESUS Speak in PARABLES?

 

What is a parable?

According to Google, a parable is:

"a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels"

Ah, that probably explains why JESUS teaches us through parables.

But let the LORD tell you Himself why He speaks to us in parables:

Matthew 13:10-17 

King James Version

10 And the disciples came, 

and said unto him, 

Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, 

Because it is given unto you 

to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, 

but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, 

to him shall be given, 

and he shall have more abundance: 

but whosoever hath not, 

from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: 

because they seeing see not; 

and hearing they hear not, 

neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, 

which saith, 

By hearing ye shall hear, 

and shall not understand; 

and seeing ye shall see, 

and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, 

and their ears are dull of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed; 

lest at any time they should see with their eyes 

and hear with their ears, 

and should understand with their heart, 

and should be converted, 

and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: 

and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, 

That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see 

those things which ye see, 

and have not seen them; 

and to hear those things which ye hear, 

and have not heard them.

Matthew 13:34-35 

King James Version

34 All these things spake Jesus 

unto the multitude in parables; 

and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled 

which was spoken by the prophet, 

saying, 

I will open my mouth in parables; 

I will utter things which have been kept secret 

from the foundation of the world.

Related material:

SOWER and SEED

Updated 10 July 2023

What are ABOMINATIONS to GOD?

 

Luke 16:15 

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

What, then, are things "highly esteemed among men", which causes God's wrath the most?

Exodus 20:2-5 

King James Version

2 I am the Lord thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation of them 

that hate me;

Exodus 35:2 

King James Version

2 Six days shall work be done, 

but on the seventh day 

there shall be to you an holy day, 

a sabbath of rest to the Lord: 

whosoever doeth work therein 

shall be put to death.

Leviticus 11:10 

King James Version

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, 

and in the rivers, 

of all that move in the waters, 

and of any living thing which is in the waters, 

they shall be an abomination unto you:

Leviticus 11:13 

King James Version

13 And these are they which ye shall have 

in abomination among the fowls; 

they shall not be eaten, 

they are an abomination: 

the eagle, 

and the ossifrage***, 

and the ospray,

Leviticus 11:23 

King James Version

23 But all other flying creeping things, 

which have four feet, 

shall be an abomination unto you.

Leviticus 11:42 

King James Version

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly****, 

and whatsoever goeth upon all four, 

or whatsoever hath more feet 

among all creeping things 

that creep upon the earth, 

them ye shall not eat; 

for they are an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22 

King James Version

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, 

as with womankind: 

it is abomination.

Leviticus 19:26 

King James Version

26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: 

neither shall ye use enchantment, 

nor observe times.

Leviticus 19:28 

King James Version

28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh 

for the dead, 

nor print any marks upon you: 

I am the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:25-26 

King James Version

25 The graven images of their gods 

shall ye burn with fire: 

thou shalt not desire the silver or gold 

that is on them, 

nor take it unto thee, 

lest thou be snared therin: 

for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

26 Neither shalt thou bring 

an abomination into thine house, 

lest thou be a cursed thing like it: 

but thou shalt utterly detest it, 

and thou shalt utterly abhor it; 

for it is a cursed thing.

Deuteronomy 18:10-13 

King James Version

10 There shall not be found among you any one 

that maketh his son or his daughter 

to pass through the fire, 

or that useth divination, 

or an observer of times, 

or an enchanter, 

or a witch.

11 Or a charmer, 

or a consulter with familiar spirits, 

or a wizard, 

or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things 

are an abomination unto the Lord: 

and because of these abominations the Lord thy God 

doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 22:5 

King James Version

5 The woman shall not wear 

that which pertaineth unto a man, 

neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: 

for all that do so 

are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

1 Kings 11:1-6 

King James Version

11 But king Solomon loved many strange** women, 

together with the daughter of Pharaoh, 

women of the Moabites, Ammonites, 

Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which 

the Lord said unto the children of Israel, 

Ye shall not go in to them, 

neither shall they come in unto you: 

for surely they will turn away your heart 

after their gods: 

Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, 

and three hundred concubines: 

and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, 

when Solomon was old, 

that his wives turned away his heart 

after other gods: 

and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, 

as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth 

the goddess of the Zidonians, 

and after Milcom 

the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, 

and went not fully after the Lord, 

as did David his father.

Proverbs 3:32 

King James Version

32 For the froward* is abomination to the Lord: 

but his secret is with the righteous.

Proverbs 6:16-19 

King James Version

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: 

yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, 

a lying tongue, 

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, 

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, 

and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 8:13 

King James Version

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: 

pride, 

and arrogancy, 

and the evil way, 

and the froward* mouth, 

do I hate.

Proverbs 11:1 

King James Version

11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: 

but a just weight is his delight.

Proverbs 11:20 

King James Version

20 They that are of a froward* heart 

are abomination to the Lord: 

but such as are upright in their way 

are his delight.

Proverbs 15:8 

King James Version

8 The sacrifice of the wicked 

is an abomination to the Lord: 

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 16:5 

King James Version

5 Every one that is proud in heart 

is an abomination to the Lord: 

though hand join in hand, 

he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:5  

King James Version

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: 

and he that is glad at calamities 

shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:15 

King James Version

15 He that justifieth the wicked, 

and he that condemneth the just, 

even they both are abomination to the Lord.

Isaiah 1:11-16 

King James Version

11 To what purpose 

is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? 

saith the Lord: 

I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, 

and the fat of fed beasts; 

and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, 

or of lambs, 

or of he goats.

12 When ye come to appear before me, 

who hath required this at your hand, 

to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; 

incense is an abomination unto me; 

the new moons and sabbaths,

 the calling of assemblies, 

I cannot away with; 

it is iniquity, 

even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts 

my soul hateth: 

they are a trouble unto me; 

I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, 

I will hide mine eyes from you: 

yea, when ye make many prayers, 

I will not hear: 

your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash you, 

make you clean; 

put away the evil of your doings 

from before mine eyes; 

cease to do evil;

Mark 7:20-23 

King James Version

20 And he said, 

That which cometh out of the man, 

that defileth the man.

21 For from within, 

out of the heart of men, 

proceed evil thoughts, 

adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, 

deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, 

blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, 

and defile the man.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 

King James Version

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous 

shall not inherit the kingdom of God? 

Be not deceived: 

neither fornicators, nor idolaters, 

nor adulterers, nor effeminate, 

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, 

nor revilers, nor extortioners, 

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

NOTES:

*Froward is a person "difficult to deal with; contrary".

**Strange means "foreign". More definitions here.

***Ossifrage is "an older name for the bearded vulture, a scavenger famous for dropping animal bones and live tortoises on top of rocks to crack them open". (Wikipedia)

****That "belly" verse is supported by this verse, when God cursed the serpent that deceived Eve:

Genesis 3:14-15 

King James Version

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, 

Because thou hast done this, 

thou art cursed above all cattle, 

and above every beast of the field; 

upon thy belly shalt thou go, 

and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, 

and between thy seed and her seed; 

it shall bruise thy head, 

and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Related material:

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