Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son
‘Prodigal’ behavior is defined by and characterized by a person who is wasteful of their money, their possessions, and their resources.
According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, it was the custom among the early Hebrews according to the Law, that the next of kin should enter upon the possession of the estate of a deceased person. The first-born son usually assumed the headship of the family and succeeded to the control of the family property.
The Law also stipulated that when a man assigned his possessions to his eldest son which were to become his after the father’s death, the father then could not sell them since they are assigned to his son, and the son cannot sell them because they are in the father’s possession. If his father did sell them, they are sold only until he dies; if the son sold them, the buyer has no claim on them until the father dies.
The prodigal son obviously disregarded all of these provisions of the Law since he was not the eldest and his father had not yet died.
The younger’s request was essentially asking his father to die. Money is more important to the younger boy than is his relationship with his father.
The elder brother seemed to have a lack of the ability to forgive his truly repentant brother, judging him based on his own obedience.
This video beings with a brief introductory prologue, followed by a reading of Luke 15:11-32 by Max Mclean.
Perhaps the father in this parable was weighing this possible outcome and chose to let the son have his inheritance with the hope he would learn and come to his senses. He did not want to lose his son completely.
Jesus had a much more significant reason for telling this parable that involves the love and patience God has shown for his children in the hope they would turn back to Him.
Acts of Faith
1975 Speculation or Were They Taught to Believe?
During the latter 1960’s, Watchtower publication regularly implied that Armageddon would arrive in 1975.
However, if you ask most “Jehovah’s Witnesses” about this date today, they will tell you that there were no such statements.
Most of they weren’t part of the group in the 1960’s and 70’s. I was.
If you know someone who denies that Watchtower leaders and Watchtower publications made these implications, encourage them to watch this video.
The Sermon On The Mount-Complete
The Book of Matthew Chapters Five Through Seven
The Sermon on the Mount is a type of moral compass pointing the direction that God wants us to go.
The ruling priest class of the Jewish people in Jesus’ day, the scribes and Pharisees, were very rigid and severe. They were very magisterial and they carried themselves with an appearance of superiority. They went about the streets condemning all about them, finding fault. They were proud and conceited men who were self-righteous. Jesus’ reference to ‘judging’ would have been well understood as a reproof of their behavior.
He condemned the hypocrisy of those who fixate on the faults of others, while having grievous outstanding sins of their own that they have not reconciled with God concerning.
He cautions us to use wisdom in how and where we use our resources. These include our spiritual efforts, our physical strength, and our material assets.
The Lord taught that we must exercise due diligence in seeking guidance, covering, and blessings; we must be persistent and not give out.
He assures us that we can be fully confident that God has both the ability and desire to nurture us and to protect us. So we can put such concerns aside and focus our attention on those things that will lead to salvation.
Romans Chapter 1
– Why The World Is In A State Of Depravity
1St Century Rome
In his letter to the congregations in Rome, Paul identifies why the world of his time was in a state of deep mental darkness. The events of his time was but a shadow of the times we live in now.
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 18
The Fall of Babylon the Great
The Wicked World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
The Finality of Babylon’s Fall
“With a swift pitch”
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 19
Celebration in Heaven
Marriage of the Lamb Announced
The Last Rider on a White Horse
The Beast and His Armies Defeated
Another rider on a white horse
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 20
Satan Bound
The 144,000 Reign with the Messiah
Satanic Rebellion Crushed Forever!
The Great Seat Of Judgment
A new possessor of the key to the abyss and Satan chained
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 21
Chapter 21 details: The New Creation and The New Jerusalem
“And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
“I am the Alpha and The Omega. The Beginning and the End”
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 20
The Source of Life
“I am the Alpha and the Omega”
The Time Is Near
The Book of James
Chapter One
The Book of James– Chapter One
In the first chapter of the letter James wrote that is contained in the Bible Book of James, emphasizes the need of productive Christian works and that we cannot succeed on simple belief alone.
He also stresses the need to grow to spiritual maturity, being full of confidence and not being driven by doubt.Unless we do, we will not be able to stand up under trial.
Finally he drives home the point that we must be more than listeners of the Word, but must be doers of the Word as well.
The Book of James
ChapterTwo
James continues his admonition by condemning acts of favoritism and failure to care for other fellow believers beyond mere words of encouragement.
The Book of James
ChapterThree
The Book of James– Chapter Three
Chapter Three Addresses:
Controlling the Tongue and The Wisdom from Above
The Book of James
ChapterFour
The Book of James– Chapter Four
Proud or Humble?
“What is the source of wars and fights among you?”
“And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.”
Our Will and His Will
The Book of James
The Book of James– Chapter Five
Warning to the Rich
“Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming.”
“Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged.”
“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray.”
The Last Days
-A Sign Given By Christ Luke Chapter 21
“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”
Proof Of God
The natural world and the Universe testify to the existence of God, a Creator
Christ, Prayer, The Cross, and the Bible
True believers rest their faith, hope, and trust in the Bible which outlines the course of true obedience to the will of God. His word points to Christ as the only example and means to approach Him.
The Wicked One Enjoys Inflicting Pain:
‘Schadenfreude’
schadenfreude (n.)
“malicious joy in the misfortunes of others,” 1922, German Schadenfreude, literally “damage-joy,” from schaden “damage, harm, injury” (see scathe) + freude, from Old High German frewida “joy,” from fro “happy,” literally “hopping for joy,” from Proto-Germanic *frawa- (see frolic).
What is the meaning of Schadenfreude?
Schadenfreude is the act of taking joy in somebody else’s pain or misfortune. This refers to the secret glee you feel when a co-worker you don’t like gets reprimanded by your boss, or the maliciously happy feeling you get when someone who thinks they are perfect makes a fool of themselves. The best English translation is most likely “malicious pleasure”.
You see the wicked today reveling in the perverse pleasure they derive by tormenting other people.
The Divine Nature of Christ and His role in God’s Arrangement
The Divine nature of our lord Jesus Christ is no mystery.
We must remember that Jesus is the begotten Son of God Almighty; the one and only.
What does “begotten” mean?.
He was not ‘fashioned’ as the other creations. But taken of God Himself; if you will, of the “stuff of God” (like our children are of our “stuff” or body). He is of Divine nature and uniquely so.
What is important is what Holy Scripture says and the thoughts they are conveying.
The preponderance of Scripture clear identify Christ Jesus is not part of some ‘Godhead’ relationship.
Concerning Christ pre-human existence, Philippians 2:6 states,
“Who existing in the form of God, counted not the being an equality with God a thing to be grasped”. American Standard Version
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force“. Complete Jewish Bible
Lord Jesus was hated and crucified for, not for saying that he was God or a ‘god’. But rather that he was the “SON of God”. (See Matthew 4:6 as well as Luke 4:6 for examples) And Jesus never referred to himself as God or a ‘god’.
The resurrected Jesus Christ is the High Priest (in the order Melchizedek). He is the anointed King of God’s kingdom as well.
The High Priest officiates before God Almighty. His office is therefore beneath the Father as he serves according to God’s requirements.
The Day Of The Lord
Denial
“The Last Days”- Critical Times
Navigating Through The Devil’s World
The Promise Is Faithful
Blackmailed Into Submission
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