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:

The PARTS deleted

Sin AWARENESS

SINS of the FLESH

What is the SEAL of the HOLY SPIRIT?

 

I had no idea.

So I searched SCRIPTURE.

And here's what Scripture had to say:

Ephesians 1:13 

King James Version

13 In whom ye also trusted, 

after that ye heard 

the word of truth, 

the gospel of your salvation: 

in whom also after that ye believed, 

ye were sealed with that holy Spirit 

of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 

King James Version

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, 

whereby ye are sealed unto the day 

of redemption.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 

King James Version

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you 

in Christ, 

and hath anointed us, 

is God;

22 Who hath also sealed us, 

and given the earnest 

of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:5 

King James Version

5 Now he that hath wrought us 

for the selfsame thing is God, 

who also hath given unto us 

the earnest of the Spirit.

John 6:27 

King James Version

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, 

but for that meat which endureth 

unto everlasting life, 

which the Son of man shall give unto you: 

for him hath God the Father 

sealed.

Revelation 7:3-4 

King James Version

3 Saying, 

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, 

till we have sealed the servants of our God 

in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them 

which were sealed: 

and there were sealed an hundred 

and forty and four thousand 

of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 9:4 

King James Version

4 And it was commanded them 

that they should not hurt 

the grass of the earth, 

neither any green thing, 

neither any tree; 

but only those men which have not 

the seal of God in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 

King James Version

14 And I looked, 

and, lo, 

a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, 

and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, 

having his Father's name written 

in their foreheads.

Revelation 22:4 

King James Version

4 And they shall see his face; 

and his name shall be 

in their foreheads.

Isaiah 42:1 

King James Version

42 Behold my servant, 

whom I uphold; 

mine elect, 

in whom my soul delighteth; 

I have put my spirit upon him: 

he shall bring forth judgment 

to the Gentiles.

Additional material:

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"Who is the HOLY SPIRIT?"

SEALED by the HOLY SPIRIT

Source: Knowing Jesus

Updated 30 March 2023

What Did GOD Command PARENTS and CHILDREN to Do?

 

God is precise.

Nothing could be more precise than what He commanded parents and children to do, very early on in the Bible.

What GOD commands PARENTS to do:

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 

King James Version

5 And thou shalt love 

the Lord thy God 

with all thine heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy might.

6 And these words, 

which I command thee 

this day, 

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently 

unto thy children, 

and shalt talk of them 

when thou sittest in thine house, 

and when thou walkest by the way, 

and when thou liest down, 

and when thou risest up.

What GOD commands CHILDREN to do:

Exodus 20:12 

King James Version

12 Honour thy father 

and thy mother: 

that thy days may be long upon the land 

which the Lord thy God 

giveth thee.

Updated 22 January 2022

What Does FEAR the LORD Really Mean?

 

What does it really mean when the Bible says, "Fear the Lord"?

As always, Scripture is precise, and you will understand clearly through these verses:

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.

Deuteronomy 10:12 (KJV)

12 And now, Israel, 

what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, 

but to fear the Lord thy God, 

to walk in all his ways, 

and to love him, 

and to serve the Lord thy God 

with all thy heart 

and with all thy soul,

Deuteronomy 13:4 (KJV)

4 Ye shall walk after the Lord 

your God, 

and fear him, 

and keep his commandments, 

and obey his voice, 

and ye shall serve him, 

and cleave unto him.

Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

7 The fear of the Lord 

is the beginning of knowledge: 

but fools despise wisdom 

and instruction.

Proverbs 2:5 (KJV)

5 Then shalt thou understand 

the fear of the Lord, 

and find the knowledge 

of God.

Proverbs 3:7 (KJV)

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: 

fear the Lord, 

and depart from evil.

Proverbs 10:27 (KJV)

27 The fear of the Lord 

prolongeth days: 

but the years of the wicked 

shall be shortened.

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV)

26 In the fear of the Lord 

is strong confidence: 

and his children shall have 

a place of refuge.

Proverbs 14:27 (KJV)

27 The fear of the Lord 

is a fountain of life, 

to depart from the snares 

of death.

Proverbs 19:23 (KJV)

23 The fear of the Lord 

tendeth to life: 

and he that hath it 

shall abide satisfied; 

he shall not be visited 

with evil.

Proverbs 23:17 (KJV)

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: 

but be thou in the fear of the Lord 

all the day long.

Job 28:28 (KJV)

28 And unto man he said, 

Behold, 

the fear of the Lord, 

that is wisdom; 

and to depart from evil 

is understanding.

Psalm 19:9 (KJV)

9 The fear of the Lord 

is clean, 

enduring for ever: 

the judgments of the Lord 

are true and righteous 

altogether.

Psalm 25:14 (KJV)

14 The secret of the Lord 

is with them that fear him; 

and he will shew them 

his covenant.

Psalm 33:8 (KJV)

8 Let all the earth 

fear the Lord: 

let all the inhabitants of the world 

stand in awe 

of him.

Psalm 34:7 (KJV)

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth 

round about them that fear him, 

and delivereth them.

Psalm 86:11 (KJV)

11 Teach me thy way, 

O Lord; 

I will walk in thy truth: 

unite my heart to fear 

thy name.

Psalm 112:1 (KJV)

112 Praise ye the Lord. 

Blessed is the man 

that feareth the Lord, 

that delighteth greatly 

in his commandments.

Isaiah 33:6 (KJV)

6 And wisdom and knowledge 

shall be the stability 

of thy times, 

and strength of salvation: 

the fear of the Lord 

is his treasure.

Luke 1:50 (KJV)

50 And his mercy 

is on them that fear him 

from generation to generation.

James 2:19 (KJV)

19 Thou believest 

that there is one God; 

thou doest well: 

the devils also believe, 

and tremble.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)

13 Let us hear the conclusion 

of the whole matter: 

Fear God, 

and keep his commandments: 

for this is the whole duty 

of man.

Updated 22 January 2022