parables – Bible About Money

Grapes of Wrath — Parable of the Wicked Tenants #2

Parable of the Wicked Tenants

MATTHEW 21:33-46

³³“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. ³⁴At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. ³⁵But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. ³⁶So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

³⁷“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

³⁸“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ ³⁹So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

⁴⁰“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

⁴¹The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

⁴²Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’^[b]
Psalm 118:22-23

⁴³I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. ⁴⁴Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.^[c]”

⁴⁵When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. ⁴⁶They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Mark+12-6+The+Landownder+and+Wicked+Servants+red.jpg

34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling.
Luke 13:34

NOTES

In the last days, two prophets will be slain in Jerusalem—After 3½ days, they will be resurrected—Christ will reign over all the earth.[2]

REFERENCES & REFLECTIONS

[1] https://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-lesson-in-parable-of-wicked.html
[2] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rev/11?lang=eng

Vineyard Vengeance. — Parable of the Wicked Tenants #1

Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46

³⁷“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

⁴⁰“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

⁴¹The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

⁴²Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’^[b]
Psalm 118:22-23

34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling.
Luke 13:34

Notes

In the last days, two prophets will be slain in Jerusalem—After 3½ days, they will be resurrected—Christ will reign over all the earth.[2]

references & reflections

[1] https://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-lesson-in-parable-of-wicked.html
[2] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rev/11?lang=eng

Never Too Late To Start the Day — Parable of the Vineyard Workers Mt 20 #1

Matthew 20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

20 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

²He agreed to pay the normal daily wage^[a] and sent them out to work. ³“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. ⁴So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. ⁵So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
⁶“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
⁷“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
⁸“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. ⁹When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. ¹⁰When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. ¹¹When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ¹²‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
¹³“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? ¹⁴Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. ¹⁵Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
Matthew 20:2-15

¹⁶“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Matthew 20:16

References & reflections

[1] https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog-and-stories/parable-vineyard-workers.html
[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-laborers-vineyard.html
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Workers_in_the_Vineyard
[4] Vineyard costs, where are the lessons? Where is wisdom? https://vineyardandwinerysales.com/newsletter/napa-and-sonoma-county-real-estate-market-elements-vineyard-values-and-wine-grape-prices/

Financial Decisions With Eternal Consequences! — Francis Chan Christ’s Crazy Love Ministry

Luke 16 Parable of the Shrewd Manager!

Luke 16 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, **who will entrust to you the true riches?**”

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ²So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

³“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— ⁴I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

⁵“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

⁶“‘Nine hundred gallons^[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

⁷“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels^[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

⁸“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

¹⁰“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹²And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

¹³“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13

¹⁴The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. ¹⁵He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”
Luke 16

References & reflections

[1] https://bibleaboutmoneyfinance.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/e0211-2016-11-13parables239-shrewdmanagerluke16_1-172811.13.201629.pdf
[2] https://1fear.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/52514-modern-parables-3-the-shrewd-manager/
[3] https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/2220/prominent-theologians-answer-to-what-is-the-parable-of-the-shrewd-manager-ab
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Unjust_Steward

Sold Out! Selling Possessions to the Poor for Perfection — Matthew 19 #5

“For we brought *nothing* into the world, and we *can take nothing* out of it.” – 1st Timothy 6:7
We actually own nothing! All things belong and are under God’s Sovereignty and control

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

¹⁶Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

¹⁷“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

¹⁸“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹honor your father and mother,’^[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]”

²⁰“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

²¹Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:21

²²When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

²⁴Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:24

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13

Tax-Exemption: Christ’s Children! Free From Tax — Fish Miracle #1

Silver Coin in Fish’s mouth miracle – Jesus’s tax exempt parable – Children’s Artwork

The Temple Tax

Matthew 17

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25“Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26“From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
Matthew 17:26

27“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Precious Pearl of Great Price: Kingdom of Heaven #2 Mt. 13

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46

Questions About the Kingdom of Heaven?

References & Reflections

[1] https://www.slideserve.com/bud/the-pearl-of-great-price-matthew-13-45-46
[2] https://www.gemsociety.org/article/history-legend-pearls-gems-yore/
[3] Matthew 13 and the Prophetic Parables about the Present Age page 128
[4] https://petersomervell.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/the-hidden-treasure-and-the-pearl/
[5] https://godinthebeginning.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/you-are-gods-pearl/
[6] https://pastorross1.wordpress.com/tag/pearl-of-great-price/
[7] https://dublinchurchofchrista.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/pearl-of-great-price-3/

Pearls unlike other precious minerals and rare gems are drawn from life in humble organic origins and spiritually symbolize wisdom earned through pain, polishing, secretion, refining and experiencing of the self to soul’s transformation. Appearing awkward on the outside, oysters are like followers of Christ and the church who have hidden in them glorious power of the Gospel and act as living treasure troves and pearls of spiritual wisdom deep inside

Kingdom of Heaven: Mustard Seed Faith — Secret Seed Words #6

The Parables of the Mustard Seed

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31

Questions About the Kingdom of Heaven?

References

[1]

Trust God and discover the immensity of his love for you.

Hidden Treasure: Kingdom of Heaven #1 Mt. 13

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Ｍａｔｔｈｅｗ　１３：４４

Questions About the Kingdom of Heaven?

References

[1] http://steve-constable-ygkp.squarespace.com/sermon-lane/2017/6/23/the-wheat-and-the-weeds-questions-for-groups-and-personal-study

Kingdom of Heaven: Secret Seed Words #5

Are we wheat or weeds? Good or bad seeds?

The Parable of the Weeds

24　Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25　But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

26　When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27　“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28　“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.　“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29　“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.

30　Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30

We are all sown as seeds with the Word of Jesus. Christ is the good farmer in the parable, and the field represents the world.

The good seeds are the people of the Kingdom of Heaven. The weeds are people of the Evil One.

And angels are symbolized by the harvesters, just as Jesus explains exclusively as the crowds are exiting away, to his disciples, for those who and are receptive to His Word, who have ears to hear, listen, and understand:

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,

39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.

41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Matthew 13:36-43