THE PARABLES OF JESUS

“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 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.” Matt.13:34

     In Matthew, chapter 13 Jesus gives a series of parables. In each one may be found a spiritual lesson that lends itself to salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ. In dealing with the unbelieving multitudes GOD the Father chose to tap into our emotion of intrigue, awe and wonder. This method was to give the Holy Spirit some influence to draw the hearts of men to consider Christ’s salvation.

     The disciples believed on Jesus as the Messiah but the multitudes did not. They saw Him merely as a tool to fulfill their selfish expectations that the rabbis held concerning the character of “Messiah the Prince.” In this, Jesus would disappoint them. This is why Jesus said to the Twelve: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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: 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. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 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.” Matt.13:11-17.

     The multitudes today are no different than they were when Christ walked among men. Always in search of the temporal rewards of life and rarely the spiritual rewards from the Presence of the LORD in the heart. Jesus had a huge following just as many mega-church ministers do today. And our LORD’S sermon on the mount along with other great passages of heavenly counsel cannot be measured in their value until the millennium judgment. The same can be said of today's mega ministers; but their message leads souls in the opposite direction of Christ's salvation. Sadly what will become more and more pronounced in the great judgment is the false basis on which men have followed Jesus, just as the multitudes today follow their ministers whether of the Christian faith, Islam, or Atheism. The lessons of the past perfectly reflect where we are today. In the case of Jesus Christ the multitudes were so fervent to rid the land of Judaea of the Roman yoke that they ignored their own spiritual poverty and chose the temporal things over the spiritual. Two times in Christ’s ministry the multitudes showed their carnal hearts in their judgment, demanding the temporal over the spiritual:

1. “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Jn.6:14,15.
2. “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 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.” Jn.6:24-27.

     Such is the moral direction we see with today’s mega churches. These mega preachers place their focus on carnal tendencies and not the spiritual struggles the Bible defines as GOD’S method to purify the soul of our innate earthliness. And the hypocrisy from ministers who call for sacrifice but themselves avoid what the LORD expects of them in their service to Christ and His salvation. “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matt.23:3.

     Therefore, it is a gross disservice to Christ to place the emphasis on securing financial prosperity, and ease of living—a life void of the spiritual discipline, fortitude and sacrifice we need to stand against the enemy of souls. Satan’s grip on the life of Earth is given no commentary. The character of world leaders held in the shackles of bankers and religious tyrants (religious and atheist alike), the allowing of the starvation, the deliberate financial collapse from the cruel competition for money and power, the medical industry pushing poisonous pills that are nothing more than a show of inept judgment and selfish ambition, the malnourished population through foods that have no contribution whatsoever to fortify the body’s nutritional needs.

     The sins that lead men to share the devil’s destruction, the empty platitudes that avoid the words of Christ, especially those words where men said “this is an hard saying.” But each word of Jesus Christ must be taken into account. It is the same principle Jesus quoted to Satan in the wilderness temptations: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt.4:4. This exposes the belligerence of the Roman Catholic church when they publicly declare: “The church is above the Bible.”—Catholic Record, Sept.1, 1923. In this stance of rebellion against the counsel of GOD Jesus declared: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” Matt.25:41.

     There is a moral depravity each of us must face in our own lives, and compare our ill spiritual condition with the purity of Christ’s holiness; to the end that we may reflect our LORD in word and deed as the Apostle Paul so eloquently put it: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Cor.3:18. Whatever we fix our eyes upon, into that do we become changed. This is where idolatry becomes exposed as the great snare that it is. And idolatry is so pervasive throughout our atheist society who boasts every moment of every day in their rebellion against heavenly virtue. In the Ten Commandments there is seen GOD’S wisdom in the order of their counsel.

     The first: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Jehovah, the eternal, omniscient GOD, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, from the motions of atoms to the slow but sure dance of galaxies, is Alone entitled to our supreme love, reverence and worship. We are forbidden to give to any other object the first place in our affections or our service. Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god.

     This segues into the second Commandment:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them."

     The second commandment forbids the worship of GOD by images or likenesses. Many heathen nations claimed that their idols were mere figures or symbols by which their gods were worshiped. In the Second Commandment such worship is declared to be sin. The attempt to represent the Creator by manmade creations would lower man's understanding of the Majesty and Unbounded Love of GOD and His purposes for the life He created. The mind, turned away from the infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator. And as his conceptions of God were lowered, so would man become degraded. And when life’s many threats come into view the eyes are turned to the image for salvation and not the One on whose power alone can the soul be saved.

"I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."

     The holiness of love seen in GOD’S relationship to His people is represented under the figure of marriage. Idolatry being spiritual adultery, the resentment of GOD against it is fitly called jealousy.

"Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me."

     In the law of inheritance we see how children have always suffered from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not judged for the parents' guilt, except as they commit the same sins. But typically, children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father's sin. Destructive tendencies, untempered appetites, desecrated morals, as well as physical disease and vice, are bequeathed as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation. This principle of inheritance should have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin. It is the same as when Adam first sinned, and the inheritance of the sinful nature was bequeathed to his children. It was this inheritance of a selfish nature and its consequence of death that led our Creator to become the Incarnate Christ, “the Saviour of the world!”

"Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments."

     In GOD’S forbidding the worship of false gods, the second commandment implies the invitation to the worship of the One True GOD. And to those who are faithful in His service, mercy is promised, not merely to the third and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened against those who hate Him, but to thousands of generations.

     It should be noted that the Roman Catholic Church deleted the Second Commandment entirely. GOD condemns the church’s claim of His approval to any doctrine that secures the destruction of His children.

     The last of the Holy Laws of Jehovah, the 10th Commandment, had to be divided into two commandments by the Vatican to cloak their removal of GOD’S 2nd Commandment. Otherwise, people would be saying, "I thought there were ten!" The Catholic Catechism verifies the arrogance of Rome against the Sacred Law of GOD. Here is their version of the closing commandments:

"9) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife;
10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods." –Baltimore Catechism No.3, p.115.

     In essence, Rome lusts for the power that is only safe in the hands of GOD, creating a lawlessness bringing all life to ruin. But the Holy Law of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting. It is "The Testimony" of His Character of Love (Rev.11:19). It reveals the perfect rule of Government (Jn.15:10). The Bible says it is GOD’S "Testimony" in both the ark of Israel, (still hidden in Jeremiah’s grotto—but not for long) as well as the ark in the temple of heaven (Ex.26:34; Rev.15:5). Christ, hanging on the Cross of Calvary, dying for the sins of the world, fulfills the 2nd Commandment (Ex.20:6). And the very “mercy” of GOD revealed only in the Second of the Ten Commandments, Rome claims the divine authority to remove.

     It was man’s original transgression of GOD’S Law that brought death to the earth. It was Christ’s obedience to that law that brought our deliverance! GOD’S law commanded our salvation, and our obedience to it secures our salvation! Jesus verifies this: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." "If ye love Me keep My commandments." Matt.19:17; Jn.14:15. This is the only way the Holy Spirit can have the legal right to dwell in the soul of the believer (Is.59:2; Rom.8:11). “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom.8:9.

     So why are the dominant churches at war with the very Law that both honors GOD and protects human beings? "Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches." "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Ps.73:12; I Tim.6:10; Jer.6:15,16.

     The whole issue of sin that presently dominates this world has its origin in men choosing to discard the Law GOD gave to bless, to guide, and to protect the creatures formed by His hands. GOD cannot and will not change His Laws, either of physics or morality, simply because men demand it to be so. "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name [not man’s: not Jerry Falwell’s or Jessie Jackson’s]. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." Ps.111:7-10.

     The Bible teaches that none can have a good understanding as long as they refuse GOD’S Commandments; and ruling Christianity has rejected them for over 1700 years. Due to the church’s acceptance of a life of sin these men are unfit to govern themselves let alone anyone else; and yet, they work in the political arena to gain an authority that Christ forbid them to have (Lu.22:25,26). Bible prophecy says the day is coming when they will take the throne of human government; and through their initiating religious legislation, creating a national apostasy against the Law of GOD, they will bring America to environmental, economic, and spiritual ruin (Deut.28:15-45; Ps.119:126).

     Rather than take responsibility for their contribution to the ruin of this land and the millions of souls deceived by them, they will point away from themselves and accuse those who obey the Holy Law of GOD. This has always been and will ever be (I Ki.18:17). Merely connect the first act of religious tyranny with that of the last: "Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." And, "the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Gen.4:8; Rev.13:15.

     The churches have been deceived in the most fundamental issue of the Gospel; and this explains why the vast majority of professed Christians will be lost (I Pet.4:18) because they are being suckered by the Devil to take someone else’s opinion on salvation (based on traditions of sin, pride and prejudice) when their very soul’s salvation hangs in the balance.

     "Search the Scriptures," Christ commanded. Most Christians haven’t even read the Bible, and the majority that do study their Bibles have preconceived opinions as to what is being said based on the traditions of their upbringing. The church is filled with men who go to their knees with their minds already made up! As a result, most do not know the legal framework of GOD’S Salvation. Even the Apostles stood in the way of Christ by clinging to manmade doctrines that opposed the purposes of GOD. Jesus said: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Lu.24:25.

     But the simplicity of the Gospel reveals itself over and over again: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Jn.14:21. The commandments that Christ speaks of are none other than the Decalogue of Jehovah. “Remember,” (as the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment begins) Christ gave to the world the Ten Commandment Law: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was I am.” (Jn.8:58).