The Parables, The Rich man and Lazarus, The prodigal son

[Malven]

Are all these just nice stories, and good things to keep in mind as ways we should live; or are they Jesus's way of teaching us and we should take them to heart. I personally thank that they are direct messages from Jesus as to the way things are to be done, and the way things are going to come to pass. I would like to study them if anyone is willing to do so. Mal

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Are all these just nice stories, and good things to keep in mind as ways we should live; or are they Jesus's way of teaching us and we should take them to heart. I personally thank that they are direct messages from Jesus as to the way things are to be done, and the way things are going to come to pass. I would like to study them if anyone is willing to do so. Mal

“Jesus's way of teaching us and we should take them to heart. I personally thank that they are direct messages from Jesus as to the way things are to be done, and the way things are going to come to pass. I would like to study them if anyone is willing to do so. “

I agree and love studying the lords teachings and parables . He is using things we can understand like for instance he uses gardening and fruit trees bearing fruit and not bearing fruit to show us spiritual teachings about his kingdom

he uses a money lender and how he treats his subjects where it’s time to take account

He uses the farming examples of wheat and tares ect but he isn’t really talking about farming or fruit trees or gardening he’s teaching us the ways of the lord

 

[Webers.Home]

~
Luke 16:19-31 tells of three men in the afterlife. The story is alleged to be
one of several New Testament parables: which are stories variously regarded
as fact and/or fiction.

A problem with the fiction view is Abraham. He's an historical person; plus
he's said to be one of God's buddies. (Isa 41:8) Well; the story quotes
Abraham a number of times. It seems inappropriate to me that a Bible story
would quote an important historical figure saying things that he didn't really
say.

The fiction view also alleges that the Greek word haides in verse 23 pertains
to the rich man's grave. Well; we can be reasonably certain that Abraham is
dead and buried (Gen 25:8-10) so I have to wonder how these two men's
dead bodies communicated with each other through solid ground from grave
to grave.

Plus; dead bodies typically exhibit no mental activity; and have lost the use
of their five natural senses of taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell. Yet in
death, the rich man appears fully sentient, viz: he is able to feel heat from
the flames around him, he is in misery due to dehydration, he is able to see
across a chasm to where Abraham is located, and he is said to experience
anxiety relative to the possibility of five brothers joining him in rather
unpleasant circumstances.

The third man's name is given as Lazarus. It appears from the language and
grammar of the story that Lazarus' angelic transportation buried his corpse
alongside Abraham's corpse, i.e. he and Abraham appear to be sharing the
same grave. But the man was a diseased pauper in life so it's extremely
doubtful his remains were given any kind of a funeral at all but instead were
likely incinerated in a community landfill.

Ergo: the "fiction" theory is untenable; it won't even hold up under the
scrutiny of common sense; let alone the stretch of one's imagination.
_

 

[Webers.Home]

~
At Luke 15:11-24 the story is told of a privileged young man who grew up in
a good home but in time longed to go out on his own and make his mark in
the world-- you know: be independent and all that.

The thing is: Mr. Privileged Jr. didn't know how good he had it till setting out
on his own. Well; I rather suspect Privileged Sr. half expected his offspring
to fall on its face and end up needing a safety net 'cause his youngest was
permitted to leave with neither resistance, nor lecture, nor complaint.

Long story short: Privileged Jr's venture out into the world ended badly and
he came to the realization that his ambition to be independent was all pie in
the sky. Sort of like it's said: The dream is better than the reality.

We might expect his dad to scold the lad upon dragging himself back home,
but no; his father was really glad to have him back and I think we can be
reasonably confident that Privileged Sr. guessed his boy had learned a thing
or two about life during his walk on the wild side; so to speak.

Ergo: that father's lenience, combined with patience, was a bit risky but in
the end, Privileged Jr. was a better man due to a father stepping back and
allowing his son space to try his wings.
_

 

[Webers.Home]

~
While we're at it, it might be useful to throw in the Ten Virgins too.

It's commonly supposed that the five unwise girls were stupid for not
bringing along enough oil for their light sources. That may be true, but I
rather suspect that their stupidity was scarcely related to the oil and mostly
related to abandoning their posts.

Had they stuck to their guns (so to speak) they could've joined the
procession along with everyone else. They may have endured a measure of
chagrin for letting their lamps go out, but at least they wouldn't miss the
party.

In other words; they let something relatively minor distract their attention
from something far more important; sort of like Nero concerning himself
with trifles while Rome is on fire all 'round the city.

● Matt 25:10-12 . . While they were on their way to buy the oil, the
bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the
wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. Sir!
Sir! --they said-- Open the door for us! But he replied: I tell you the truth, I
don't know you.

The thing is: while the entrance was open, the general public was welcome
to come on in and join the celebration, but once the door was shut and
festivities commenced, late arrivals were permitted inside only if they were
the bridegroom's friends; which emphasizes that the invitation, though
generous, offered a limited opportunity which if missed, was lost forever.

NOTE: It's commonly proposed the oil represents the Holy Spirit, but were
that the case, then the bridegroom would've let the girls in because the
Spirit serves as an ID badge, so to speak. (Eph 1:13)
_

 

[Nehemiah6]

Are all these just nice stories, and good things to keep in mind as ways we should live; or are they Jesus's way of teaching us and we should take them to heart.

No, they are not just stories, but teachings about spiritual matters. They are to be accepted as such and taken to heart. The NARRATIVE (not parable since it names names) of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a warning to unbelievers that it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. There are no second chances after a person passes on. Regarding the parable of the Prodigal Son, it presents God's amazing grace to all who repent and are converted. Every parable has deep spiritual truths but only for believers.