Questions tagged [parables]
Questions regarding the short stories of Jesus known as the parables. They were common teaching devices in Jesus's era. Famous ones include the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and the Pearl of Great Price.
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Did Luke get the figures mixed up Luke 19:11-20?
According to Luke's narrative the king called ten servants and gave each a pound.Yet when the king returns he only accounts for three servants and nothing is said about the other seven servants and ...
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Can you tell me about the wineskin parable?
Can you explain the parable of the wineskin? what was Jesus trying to tell the disciples?
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the ...
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Exegesis of Matthew 13:30; 40-42
[Matthew 13:30; 40-42] Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but ...
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What is the literal meaning of `gathering what was not strawed ' in the parable of the talents?
We read in Mtt 25:24-27 (KJV), of the response of the servant who had received one talent from his master :
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art ...
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Is there a connection in meaning between Psalm 103 and Luke 10:25-37?
In Sarah Liberman's music video she sings Psalm 103 in Hebrew, but the video obviously portrays the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Is there a connection in meaning between these two?
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Is there a connection between Luke 10:25-37 and John 21:15-17?
Evaluate this argument for the connection:
The context of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is answering the question “… who is my neighbor?” (ESV) The question arises from Leviticus ...
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Did Zacchaeus say "I [already] give," or "I will give" half his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8)
Translators seem about equally divided on this question, with older translations such as KJV, Geneva, Darby and even RSV using the present tense and newer ones leaning toward the future tense. My ...
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According to Matthew 25:31-46 when are the sheep separated from the goats
Jesus begins the parable of the sheep and the goats by saying it concerns His return in glory to set up His kingdom (Matthew 25:31)
All those on earth at that time will be brought before the Lord, and ...
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Mt. 22:14 - Who are the "many" (invited) and "few" (chosen) Jesus refers to in the parable of the wedding banquet?
In the parable (Mt. 22:1-14), those who had been invited refused to come. However, the wedding hall was filled with guests nonetheless. Of the many in the hall, only a man (not wearing wedding clothes)...
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Why is the punishment to Babylon presented as a "parable"?
In Habakkuk 2:5--8 we read about the king of Babylon (CEB):
5 ... He opens his jaws like the grave; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself and collects all peoples for ...
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"For each tree is known by its own fruit" ( Lk 6: 44; Mt 7:20) - how should we understand and apply the saying of Jesus to believers in the context? [closed]
We assume "know the tree by the fruit" to mean, for example, if one bears no or bad fruit, he was never saved, to begin with, which is akin to the fox assuming in the Aesop Fables - "...
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Parable of Talents -Mt. 25 (& Mina, Lk 19) - Was the wicked servant condemned for the inaction/no profit, or more for the independent mindset?
Though he did not bring in any profit - so the thief on the cross and many of us as well; at least, he did not squander away the principle, after all, he too was "the servant," a trusted, as ...
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In the Parable context (Mt. 18:23-35) -When will the heavenly Father do the same to everyone, in the kingdom NOW or Future?
Jesus spoke the parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt. 18:23-35) by saying: "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants (v.23).
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In Luke 15:1-24 - What can be the cause(s) of the three "lose" and which party(s) responsible for the "lose," the party who lost or both?
Jesus spoke in parables of three lost and found: One sheep out of 100; One Drachma out of ten; and the Prodigal son who left Father's house and returned. Of the three, the Drachma is an inanimate ...
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What fruit does Jesus refer to in Luke 8:14?
We read:
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the
path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the
word from their hearts, so that they may not ...
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Did the response on the servant in Matt. 18:26 indicate he thought he could earn salvation?
The servant owed 10,000 talents (18:24). The footnote on talent in 18:24 in the ESV is "A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer." Thus, 10,000 talents = ...
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When The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree will fulfill?
In Deuteronomy 8:8 it says that:
אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית
שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ׃
Which is the same as:
a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and ...
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Is the story of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel a parable?
The late bishop John Shelby Spong, argued a few years back about how to understand the account of the magi of Matthew's Gospel (see Matthew 2:1-12). In his book, Born of a Woman, he writes how the ...
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Why would King Herod not know where the Messiah was to be born?
In Matthew 2 it records that King Herod called together all the chief priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah was to be born:
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he ...
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Luke 14:25-33 (Discipleship Tested/Counting the cost Parable) as instructions for Personal Financial Planning/Project management/Business Planning
Is evaluating Luke 14:25-33 verses which discusses the Parable about Discipleship Tested / Counting the cost as instructions for Personal Financial Planning/Project management/Business Planning be ...
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Luke 16:8-9 - What are the explicit clues in the context about Jesus' intention of the eternal dwelling (v.9b) not to mean heavenly eternal dwelling?
Text: Luke 16:8 - 9 (ESV)
The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.For the sons of this world are more shrewd
in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I
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Why was the first servant(five talents) given an additional talent in Matthew 25?
In the parable of the talents(Matthew 25:14-30) when the master returns he somehow rewards one servant more than the other
The first two servants had achieved the same results/output(100 percent) ...
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"For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14) - who does the calling and who does the choosing in the parable of Wedding given?
Texts: Matt: 22:1-10, 14 (ESV)
v.1-10 -"And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his ...
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Is the Jew versus Gentile/Tax Collector theme an interpretive framework for the gospel of Luke?
There seems to be a Jew vs Gentile theme running in the gospel of Luke.Most of the parables seem to pit the faith of Jews vs that of Gentiles/Samaritans/tax collectors
Luke 5:27-32
Levi the Tax ...
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Would the rich man have extended the invitation to the second group if it had not been rejected by the first group in Luke 14:16-24? [closed]
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14:16-24 ESV
In the above parable there are two groups mentioned who are invited separately in the parable of the great banquet.The first group rejects the ...
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In the parable of the ten bridesmaids, why wouldn't those who had oil share with those who had none?
Matthew 25
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones ...
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What is meant by "secret" in John 18 20?
During the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin:
John 18:19 [NIV] ~ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus ...
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Parable of the unjust steward - is Jesus teaching people to follow this example or to NOT be like this? What is meant by His comments on wisdom?
The parable of the unjust steward records that a steward/manager was to be fired. He proceeded to reduce the debts owed by debtors to his master, and he was commended for this. This has long been a ...
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Understanding the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
Matthew 13:24-30 (ESV):
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy ...
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What are the new and old treasures relative to the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13:52?
Matthew 13:52 NIV
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures ...
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3. In The Parable of the Pearl, Mat13:45-46 how does one reconcile the phrase, “and bought it” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
I’m have a hard time understanding the Parable of the Pearl. Mat.13:45-46. All of the Pastors I’ve talked to explain it this way; the merchant man is the sinners in the world and the pearl of great ...
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Did the unfaithful servant lose his salvation or was he never saved to begin with?
Luke 12:41-48 (NIV) reads:
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant
41 Peter said, “Lord, does this parable apply to us, or do you mean it
for everyone?”
42 The Lord answered, “Who, then, is the ...
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Did the 5 foolish virgins lose their salvation or were they never saved to begin with?
Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) reads:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were ...
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Who are the “friends” in Luke 16:9?
Luke 16:9:
And I say to you, make friends of yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into eternal dwellings. (NASB)
Who are the “friends” ...
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Link(s) between Jesus' Prodigal Son parable and Esau & Jacob's reunion story?
In Genesis 33:4 (NKJV):
"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept."
In Luke 15:20 (NKJV):
"But when he was still a great way off, ...
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Who is my neighbor?
Through the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus teaches about charity. As Jesus often does, he turns the question of “who is my neighbor?” on its head and instead answers “who might be a neighbor to ...
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When does the devil take the word away from people’s hearts?
In Luke 8:12, Jesus describes the first scenario in his parable of the sower:
Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so they ...
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Is there a contradiction in being told by disciples the hidden (disciple only) meaning behind parables for the masses, even though we are the masses?
In for example Matthew 13, Jesus says parables (e.g. of the sower), says that he, Jesus, does not want to tell the masses their meaning, then tells the disciples the parables' hidden (disciple only) ...
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In the parable of talents, does Jesus speak on the "money -talent" or natural aptitude(s)? What is the return(s) Jesus expected?
The Words used in the parable - "entrusted them his property" (Mt. 25:14); "talents" the monetary unit with specified quantity; "traded" and "made" - all ...
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Lk. 16: 8 - Was the steward commended for the act of wise provident care of his future or the change of heart from "wasting" to the benevolent acts?
The parable has two sections - Verse 1-9, the wasteful steward & Verse 10 -15, the lovers of money, and could it be that Jesus, by commending the shrewd steward of his wise and appropriate ...
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In Matthew 12:10-13, why does Jesus equate a withered (ξηράν) hand (χεῖρα) as a pit (βόθυνον) to be saved from?
We read in Matthew 12:10-13, that Jesus equates having a withered (ξηράν) hand (χεῖρα) to being trapped in a pit (βόθυνον) :
Matthew 12:10-13 [KJV]
[10] And, behold, there was a man which had his ...
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What does the produce of the vineyard represent in the Parable of the Vine-growers?
In Mark 12 verses 1-11, Jesus tells a parable of the vine-growers.
Verse 2:
At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the ...
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(Matthew 5:38-42) "slaps you on your **right cheek**, turn the other to him also" means enemy will have to right-hand punch victim as an equal
A Roman Catholic priest explained during a service that Matthew 5:38-42 gives the victim a chance to show the opponent/adversary/enemy that said victim is an equal. To elaborate, the aforementioned ...
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What is the “harvest” in Mark 4:29?
Mark 4:29 (NASB):
But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.
What does putting in the sickle mean (spiritually), and what is the “harvest”?
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Why does the sower not know how the seed grows in Mark 4:27?
Mark 4:27(NASB):
and [the sower] goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know.
Who is the sower in this passage? I had traditionally read ...
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What does “fall away” mean in Mark 4’s Parable of the Sower?
In the parable of the sower in Mark 4, verse 17 says
“and they have no root in themselves, but are temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall ...
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Is Luke 15 intended as an argument for, against or to qualify the idea of irrecoverable apostasy?
In Hebrews 12, the author argues from the account of Jacob and Esau to warn against apostasy. He suggests that if one sells their inheritance as Esau did, then there is no way to get it back, because ...
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Meaning of Matthew 21:44
Matthew 21:44
And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.
Jesus referred to Himself as the “stone which the builders rejected” ...
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Did Jesus imply that others cast out demons by the finger of God in Luke 11:17-20?
Luke 11:17 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, ...
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What clues contained in Jesus' explanation of the parable of sower (Mt. 13:18-23) that were hidden to them, and who are "them" (v10) in the context?
This is one of a few parables Jesus gave explanation to help disciples for understanding of its messages, which should provide us the hermeneutic clues.
Text: Mt. 13:18-23(ESV) (also, Mk.4:13-20; Lk. ...
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