1. In no other parable does Jesus name people.
2. Also, Jesus "led captivity captive, triumphing openly; and GAVE GIFTS TO MEN" - - where do you think that was?
3. Heaven? Couldn't be, for He was the first fruits of righteousness - in other words no one who lived and died before Him came to the Father before Him.
1) yes he does. the verse is referred to in the study. all the prophets spoke His words and prophesied after Christ put the Holy Spirit upon them. every inspired word in the Bible is a red word. Jesus is the living word made flesh. He is the creator of all things including every parable. the other place He used name is the parable in question because to say different would be to go against His words. He
never spake to the pharisees of the mysteries of His kingdom except in parable.
2) that would be in eph. 4:8. gosh that was an easy question...
well if one read this chapter we see in the previous passage that he mentions of giving grace. in v.12 tells us the kind of people he gave it to. v. 13-16 tells us why. but you seem to want to know where He was when this was given or where the disciples were? i will answer both since i am not sure which you are referring. Christ had ascending and sitting at the right hand of the Father. the saints were at shavuot/pentecost when He sent His comforter forth to fill them with His spirit and write His laws upon their hearts.
3) i will assume you are using the word heaven because of my use in the study. i think you have missed the gist of this study. it is a parable that gives a prophetic glimpse of end-times. as the virgins with no oil, as the wheat and tares, as the sheep and goats. i kinda' said that rather plainly. did you not read the whole thing? thus Christ had already ascended and came back since this scripture is imagery of the second coming as is the other prophetic parables i just listed.
however you mentioned first fruits so i am assuming you think that no man had died been resurrected and ascended to God before Jesus, correct? well "first" does not always refer to literal order of things. it also is used to declare preeminence.
pre·em·i·nence
prēˈemənəns/
noun
noun:
pre-eminence; plural noun:
pre-eminences; noun:
preeminence; plural noun:
preeminences
1.
the fact of surpassing all others; superiority.
"the region has never regained the economic preeminence that it once enjoyed"
[TABLE="class: vk_tbl vk_gy"]
[TR]
[TD="class: lr_dct_nyms_ttl"]synonyms:[/TD]
[TD]
superiority,
supremacy,
greatness,
excellence,
distinction,
prominence,
predominance,
eminence,
importance,
prestige,
stature,
fame,
renown
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
this is the same manner we use "the first lady". there is fairly clear Biblical indications that one other dead person had been resurrected, ascended to heaven before Jesus. that would be Moses. if you care to discuss that more just let me know and you or i can start a new thread on that particular topic as i am sure many would chime in and derail this thread from OP even more.
