Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

matthew 25:1-13

25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids^[a] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, ⁴ but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. ⁵ When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

⁷ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. ⁸ Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. ¹¹ Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

¹² “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

¹³ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-ten-virgins.html
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Ten_Virgins#Interpretations
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Faithful_Servant

False Teaching and True Riches – Paul’s Final Instructions

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onnuri_Community_Church
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewardship_(theology)
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty_of_God_in_Christianity
[4] https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/the-sovereignty-of-god

Offerings for the Tabernacle

Exodus 25:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

25 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. ³ Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them:

gold, silver, and bronze;

⁴ blue, purple, and scarlet thread;

fine linen and goat hair for cloth;

⁵ tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;

acacia wood;

⁶ olive oil for the lamps;

spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

⁷ onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.

[1] https://chongsoonkim.blogspot.com/2013/05/offering-for-jehovah.html
[2] https://www.goodsalt.com/details/stdas0747.html

²⁴ When Jesus saw this,^[b] he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

²⁶ Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

²⁹ “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, ³⁰ will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

References & Reflections

[1] https://www.christianforums.com/threads/jesus-replied-what-is-impossible-with-man-is-possible-with-god.8014265/
[2] https://www.samaritanspurse.org.au/what-is-impossible-for-man-is-possible-with-god/

Ask God – God Answers – Seek Scripture In Action – Knock & Know!

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-credit-card.html

“Wasting money on interest is not good stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us (see 1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 22:7). Wise spending means we strive to live below our means so that we always have money for emergencies and enough to share with those in need.

Earning interest on our investments, rather than paying interest on our spending, is a wise way to handle money. In Matthew 25, Jesus gives the example of three servants, two of whom invested what the master had entrusted to them and doubled the initial sum. The third servant, however, did not invest. In verse 27, the master tells him, “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.””

(1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 22:7; Matthew 25)

References & Reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-credit-card.html
[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/raffles-in-church.html
[3] https://www.slideteam.net/deuteronomy-16-17-the-lord-your-god-has-blessed-powerpoint-church-sermon.html
[4] https://www.slideshare.net/guestcde0828/11162008-purpose-priorities-presentation
[5] https://slideplayer.com/slide/15158336/
[6] https://heavens-beauty.com/?page_id=3857
[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/head-of-the-church.html
[8] https://slideplayer.com/slide/16682919/
[9] https://biblia.com/bible/esv/proverbs/22/7
[10] https://biblia.com/bible/esv/matthew/25

Matthew 26:6-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

⁶ Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. ⁷ While he was eating,^[a] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

⁸ The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. ⁹ “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? ¹¹ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. ¹² She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. ¹³ I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Remembrance, criticism, discussion?

[1] https://www.quora.com/How-much-was-the-oil-from-Marys-alabaster-box-worth-in-modern-terms
[2] https://twoodeh378.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/how-expensive-was-the-ointment-that-the-woman-poured-on-jesuss-head-and-what-made-it-so-valuable/

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anointing_of_Jesus
[2] https://inspired2think.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/understanding-the-significance-of-jesus-being-anointed-by-oil/
[3] https://bible.org/article/anointing-bethany
[4] http://answersfromthebook.net/what-is-the-significance-of-anointing-the-feet-of-jesus/
[5] https://www.gotquestions.org/anointed.html
[6] https://www.biblestudy.org/question/woman-washing-jesus-feet-and-its-meaning.html
[7] https://mylordkatie.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/jesus-and-mary-of-bethany/
[8] http://yahwehishisname.blogspot.com/2013/08/study-of-mary-of-bethany.html
[9] http://pavilionedinpraise.blogspot.com/2009/08/letters-to-jesus-mary-of-bethany.html

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14

9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed,a ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

References & Reflections

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee_and_the_Publican
[2] https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/18.htm