The Significance of Jesus' Parables
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Our Lord Jesus used parables to address the multitudes because hidden within each parable is the mysteries of the kingdom of God since the foundation of the universe. He wants every Christian to be able to understand God's will, God's work at the particular moment, God's plan for the future especially the end time mysteries and events by understanding His parables. The Book of Revelation is also written as a type of parable. Only to His disciples, will our Lord reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
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Hidden within the parables are the mysteries and secrets of God.
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And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given." Matt 13:10-11 (NKJ)
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Our Lord Jesus wants only all His disciples (followers), including all Christians who keep His word, promises and teachings, to know the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God. All others will only understand the content of the parables.
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And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Mark 4:33-34.
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Our Lord Jesus spoke only in parables. Thus, everyone will only understand the content of the parables but not the hidden meaning within the parables. Our Lord Jesus Himself will explain them to His own disciples (those who follow Him).
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Only to His disciple will the mysteries be revealed
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But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.'" Mark 4:10-12
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Only His disciples could understand the mysteries and secrets hidden within the parables for He Himself would explain or reveal the truth to them. All those who were not His disciples (outside) will not be able to understand the truth and the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God.
Truth always reveal the sins of every Christian and spontaneous repentance will be manifested by His disciples.
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How are the mysteries revealed to us ?
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But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Cor 2:7-13 (NKJ)
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Mysteries of the kingdom of God and the things of God are revealed
1. To those who love God
2. By the Holy Spirit
3. By comparing spiritual things with spiritual
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1. Those who love God
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"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.".... Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:21,23. (NKJ)
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The revelation of the mysteries of God is through the Spirit of God. It is revealed only to those who love Him (i.e. His disciples). Only those who keep our Lord Jesus' commandments and word are those who love Him. These are His true disciples. Both the Father and our Lord will dwell in them, and our Lord will also manifest in them.
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Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
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All those who abide in His Word are truly Jesus' disciples. Only then, will they know the truth and the truth will set them free from the bondages of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.
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I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Prov 8:17
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2 By the Holy Spirit - the Helper
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"If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17 (NKJ)
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Only those who keep the commandments of our Lord are those who love the Lord. God will send the Holy Spirit as the Helper (not only as the seal of redemption. Eph 4:30 ), who will reveal the truth to them. Brethren, please read the Bible and keep the commandments, sayings and word of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26 (NKJ)
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The Holy Spirit will help us by bringing to our remembrance all things that the Lord Jesus had said to us and then He will reveal the truth to us.
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"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." John 16:13
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The Holy Spirit will only reveal the truth from what had been spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father. He will also reveal the future (end time events) within the parables.
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How can the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you when you do not even read His word (the Holy Bible) ? When the Spirit of God or Holy Spirit comes upon our Jesus' disciples, He will reveals the mysteries and secrets of Kingdom of God in accordance to His word and sayings, and only then will they know the truth.
Brethren, read 20 chapters (at least 15 chapters of the New Testament) of the Holy Bible daily, and remember all the contents of Jesus' parables or sayings.
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3. By comparing spiritual things with spiritual (Scripture explaining Scripture)
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All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)
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For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom 8:5-6 (NKJ)
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We must set our mind on the things of the Spirit - the word of God.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63 (NKJ)
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Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Rom 8:12-14 (NKJ)
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It is only by the Spirit (abiding in the word of God .. John 8:31-32) that we can put to death the deeds of the body (flesh).
Only then, we are counted worthy to be the sons of God, if indeed our very beings and lives are led by the Spirit of God.
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An example of understanding the following parable
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matt 13:45-46 (NKJ)
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For Scripture to explain Scripture (i.e understanding spiritual things with spiritual) firstly, we have to find out the meaning of `pearl' in the kingdom of heaven from Scripture.
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The twelve gates (of new Jerusalem) were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Rev 21:21 (NKJ)
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The pearl is the gate into the new Jerusalem (kingdom of heaven), thus the moment you know what you must do in order that you can enter through the gate (own the pearl) into the kingdom of heaven, you will be prepared to sacrifice all earthly wealth and wisdom.
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For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Col 1:9-13 (NKJ)
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Brethren, seek the Lord diligently. Love Him with all your heart and He will reveal His mysteries and secrets to you via the parables. When you understand Him and comprehend the end time mystery, you will be astonished at His vast wisdom. Then you will appreciate His love, wisdom, faithfulness and greatness, which will help you to crucify your flesh and overcome the things in this world
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All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." Matt 13:34-35 (NKJ)
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But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Pet 2:1-3
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