Parables of Jesus - Parable of the Two Debtors

Parable of the Two Debtors

The Parable of the Two Debtors is a parable of Jesus. It appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to Luke 7:36-50 Jesus uses the story of two debtors to explain that a woman loves him more than his host, because she has been forgiven of greater sins. This parable is told after his anointing.

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

New International Version (NIV)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Parable of the Two Debtors

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The above parable clearly shows us about the God’s mercy and love for each and every individual; it is said in Titus 3:5 NIV - he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

So, we just have to believe in him. From his Mercy we are alive or we would have been perished by now (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.) and by his Grace we are blessed (Ephesians 3:20

King James Version (KJV)

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,)

As God has forgiven us our sins we ought to forgive one another, as God loved us, we ought to love one another. In the above parable the debtor who has been forgiven the most loved the most and forgiven little loved little. 

We may look at the appearances and judge as to whom to forgive, but God doesn't, we may have certain parameters to forgive other person based on what benefit we may get out of it, but God doesn’t. He had mercy on us not on the basis of our spirituality on Godly living or our righteousness, but merely on his Grace. He showed us mercy when we are to be judged for our sins and he has given us the Grace . i.e. blessings, good things abundantly for which we never are eligible but because of his unconditional love he did it all for us.  

Have a Great Day Ahead.

Parables of Jesus - The Parable of the Growing Seed

Parables of Jesus

The parables of Jesus can be found in all the canonical gospels, and in some of the non-canonical gospels, but are located mainly within the three synoptic gospels. They represent a key part of the teachings of Jesus, forming approximately one third of his recorded teachings. Christians place high emphasis on these parables, since they are the words of Jesus, they are believed to be what the Father has taught, indicated by John 8:28 (So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me).  and 14:10 (Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work).

Jesus' parables are seemingly simple and memorable stories, often with imagery, and all convey messages. Scholars have commented that although these parables seem simple, the messages they convey are deep, and central to the teachings of Jesus. Christian authors view them not as mere similitudes which serve the purpose of illustration, but as internal analogies where nature becomes a witness for the spiritual world.

Many of Jesus' parables refer to simple everyday things, such as a woman baking bread (parable of the Leaven), a man knocking on his neighbor's door at night (parable of the Friend at Night), or the aftermath of a roadside mugging (parable of the Good Samaritan); yet they deal with major religious themes, such as the growth of the Kingdom of God, the importance of prayer, and the meaning of love.

In Western civilization, these parables formed the prototype for the term parable and in the modern age, even among those who know little of the Bible, the parables of Jesus remain some of the best known stories in the world.

In Matthew 13:10-17

King James Version (KJV)

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 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.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 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:

15 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.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 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.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.

27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Our universe is said to be an expanding Universe. The Kingdom of Heaven is also said to grow. In the above parable Jesus says about what the kingdom of God is like that of the ever expanding Universe. Giving us an example as a man scatters seed on the ground. God who is said to know the end from the beginning in Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: and never sleeps as said in  -  Psalm 121:4 NIV indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Jesus says about the stages of expansion.

A)     first the stalk - Matthew 24:6 states - "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."

The parallel passage in Mark 13:7 warns,

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."

B)      then the head - 7"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

C)      then the full kernel in the head - 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

D)     As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.

³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

³¹ And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Paul in 1^st Corinthians when he says to The Church and Its Leaders about worldly things: he then says

1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Have a Blessed Day Ahead

THE BEATITUDES - Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5

New International Version (NIV)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

                The persecution of Christians is religious persecution that Christians sometimes undergo as a consequence of professing their faith, both historically and in the current era. In the two thousand years of the Christian faith, about 70 million believers have been killed for their faith, of whom 45.5 million or 65% were in the twentieth century according to "The New Persecuted" ("I Nuovi Perseguitati"). 200 million Christians are vulnerable to persecution in the world, especially in wartorn Iraq & other middle Eastern countries and parts of Asia.

When Jesus was speaking about The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy, he then said in John 16:33 (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus said you will have trouble, not you may have trouble or you can have trouble… but you will have.

Even Apostle Paul said, for all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, not may be persecuted or could be persecuted or can be persecuted… but will be persecuted - 

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

What should be our response when we are persecuted?

Love them who persecute you.(Matt 5:44)

Pray for them. (Matt 5:44)

Rejoice and be Glad, as you know the rewards you will get. (Matt 5:12)

Take it as a moment to test your Faith. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Take it you participate in the sufferings of Christ. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Take courage from the word of God.( Romans 8:35-39)

Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 10:22-23 (NIV)

22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

The Love of God is so strong, that nothing can separate us from his Love. Not even persecution.

Romans 8:35-39 (KJV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Suffering for Being a Christian

1 Peter 4:12-13

New International Version (NIV)

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7

New International Version (NIV)

7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Suffering for Being a Christian.

Have a Blessed Day Ahead.

THE BEATITUDES - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

THE BEATITUDES

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

God is a Peacemaker

In Genesis after the great destruction God said this:

Genesis 8:21 (NIV)

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Isaiah said Jesus as the Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

    For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given.  Mother Teresa

 

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus said he leaves the peace for us and it won’t be as the world gives. Just after saying about the Holy Spirit

John 14:27 (NIV)

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus answers when Jewish opponents tries to stone him, as Jesus claims as God (Which they say is blasphemy and they considered him as a mere man)

John 10:34-36 (NKJV)

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?

35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

Romans 8:14-17 (NIV)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Paul said this when he was in Athens:

Acts 17:28 (NIV)

28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph. 

1 God presides in the great assembly;

    he renders judgment among the “gods”:

2 “How long will you defend the unjust

    and show partiality to the wicked?

3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;

    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.

    They walk about in darkness;

    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;

    you are all sons of the Most High.’

7 But you will die like mere mortals;

    you will fall like every other ruler.”

 

Isaiah 26:12.

God is the one who gives us peace. And it’s not a worldly kind of peace. He is the one who establishes peace for us.

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 

Have A Peaceful and A Blessed Day Ahead.

THE BEATITUDES - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

THE BEATITUDES

Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.

It is said the Heart is the center of our life, not the physical one but the spiritual. And God’s word says to guard it: in Proverbs 4:23 –

                          Above all else, guard your heart,

                        for everything you do flows from it.

Have you wondered you said something and then realize what you said was wrong and then you say, “Did I really say that?” it is said in Luke 6:45 (NKJV) – out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

The heart is deceitful above all things

    and beyond cure.

    Who can understand it?

In 1^st Samuel 12-16 we could see Hannah’s prayer (praying in her heart) about her anguish and grief:

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk

14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

It is the matter of Heart:

It is said in many of the instances that Jesus knew what the people had thought in their Heart (But Jesus knew their thoughts – A house divided cannot stand matt 12:22-30) and Jesus would sometime say, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? (When Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic – Matt 91-8).

In matt 5:21-30 Jesus says about matter of Heart as Murder Begins in the Heart and Adultery in the Heart.

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

So this part of the beatitude deals with the matter of Heart. And the blessings are for those who are pure in heart. And they will see God, not they may, but they will.

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

What does it mean, if it is the matter of Heart?

Mark 12:33 (NIV)

“To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Forgiveness has to come from Heart:

Matthew 18:35 (NIV)

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you

 

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

John 14 (NKJV)

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The Father Revealed

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Have a Purified Heart and Blessed Day Ahead