Parables on the Second Coming of Christ

December 17, 2020

Text: I Thessalonians 5:1-11   I.         The early disciples longed for the return of Christ             A.        I Corinthians 16:19-24 – The term “maranatha” is a transliteration of the Greek, which was in turn transliterated from two Aramaic words. It literally means, “Our Lord come!”             B.        II Peter 3:10-12 – Looking for and hastening the day Jesus returns             C.        Revelation…

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Reading Matthew 25 as a Unit

October 19, 2020

by Matthew W. Bassford The wise and the foolish virgin by Jan Adam Kruseman, 1848 Through the years, God has managed to hammer a few insights about the Bible into my thick head. One of them is that in the gospels, the order of stories matters. It’s common for the Evangelist to arrange material so…

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Is the mustard seed the smallest of all seeds?

April 20, 2020

Question: I have a Bible question, sir. In Matthew 13:31-32 and in Mark 4:30-32, does Jesus say that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds? I have read that the orchid seed is the smallest seed. I’m a little confused. Can you please tell me what Jesus meant when he said that the…

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son

March 15, 2020

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Parable-of-the-Prodigal-Son.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. The Prodigal Son Leaving Was His Fault Alone Luke 15:20-21 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to…

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Is the Parable of the Prodigal Son solely about God’s grace?

June 16, 2018

Question: Could you please speak on the parable of the prodigal son? I had a family member who has been in Christ’s church her whole life saying that repentance has nothing to do with this parable. She focuses solely on the father’s loving compassion as being the whole point of the parable, and while I…

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I am just amazed at how beautiful and clear you made Luke 16:9

June 13, 2018

Question: I just had to send you an email. I was reading Luke 16. Part of it made no sense to me. I searched, looking for an answer. I came across your site. I am just amazed at how beautiful and clear you made Luke 16:9. All I can say is Thank You and God bless you. Hope…

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Could you explain Jotham’s parable of the trees?

July 2, 2013

Question: Would you please give your understanding of the story of the trees in Judges 9:7-15? Thank you. Answer: “Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen…

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The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

January 3, 2010

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ParableOfTheVineyardWorkers.mp3 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ParableOfTheVineyardWorkers.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 20:1-16   I.         When speaking of the nature of our heavenly reward, the parable of the vineyard workers is often cited to prove that each will receive a similar heavenly reward.             A.        Whether a Christian has lived a long life serving the Lord, or only found the Lord late…

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Is the oil to be bought in Matthew 25:1-13 the truth mentioned in Proverbs 23:23?

November 8, 2008

Question: Do Matthew 25:1-13 and Proverbs 23:23 correlate?  Is the oil we are supposed to buy truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding? Answer: When dealing with parables, you need to be careful to use the imagery in the parable consistent with the point being made. It is possible to stretch a parable beyond its intended meaning.…

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