Reference: Parable
Hastings
PARABLE (IN OT)
1. The word represents Heb. m
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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? read more. Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers!' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell. And great was its fall."
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great crowds gathered around him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the shore.
And great crowds gathered around him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow his seed.
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on rocky places, where they did not have much soil, and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of soil.
Some fell on rocky places, where they did not have much soil, and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But other seed fell on good soil and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
But other seed fell on good soil and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."
He who has ears, let him hear." The disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" read more. And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. read more. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand; and seeing you will see and not perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull. And their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and they understand with their hearts, and turn so that I should heal them.' But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower: when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But the one who received seed on the good soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
But the one who received seed on the good soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Another parable he put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
Another parable he put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
So when the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'
And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them up?'
He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the weeds you also root up the wheat with them. read more. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers. Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
So was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world."
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and then in his joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' read more. And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called to him a little child, and put him in the midst of them, read more. and he said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' read more. But he refused, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and went and told their master all that had happened. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to each of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."
"What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
"Hear another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vine dressers and went into a far country.
"Hear another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vine dressers and went into a far country. When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit. read more. And the tenants took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did the same to them. Last of all, he sent his son to them saying, 'They will respect my son,' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. [And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."] When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. read more. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents gained two more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground, and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received the five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the two talents came and said, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed? Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. read more. All by itself the earth produces grainfirst the blade, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch thereforefor you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning read more. lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.
"A certain creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had nothing with which to pay him back, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" read more. Simon answered, "I suppose the one to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."
he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others it is given in parables, so that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'
Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing, beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. read more. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; read more. and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
And he told them a parable, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' read more. And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have prepared?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so that they may open to him immediately when he comes and knocks. read more. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. read more. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he is not aware of, and he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? read more. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." He told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. So he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest one more distinguished than you be invited by him;
Then he also said to the one who invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers, your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" Then he said to him, "A certain man gave a great banquet and invited many. read more. And at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and the maimed, the blind and the lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? read more. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Then he said: "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' So he divided his living between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered together all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and here I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion for him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'"
"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. And a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. longing to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus received evil things; but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' And he said, ' Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Then he told them a parable, to show that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said: "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man. read more. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her justice, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you that he will bring about justice for them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Also he told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other menextortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. read more. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
But Jesus called them to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Therefore he said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. So he called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' read more. But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ' Master, your mina has earned ten minas more.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, be in authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, 'I will judge you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a hard man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' And they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas already!' 'I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
And the people stood watching; but even the rulers sneered at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
There was also an inscription written over him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. read more. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. read more. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. read more. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is like a branch that is cast away and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.
"I have said this to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.
"I have said this to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingship is not from here."
But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
This is symbolic for the present time. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.