Thematic Bible: Compared with


Thematic Bible




He will place the sheep at His right side, but the goats at His left. Verse ConceptsRight Sides



So, after they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you really love me more than these [other disciples do]?" Peter answered Him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." [Note: Since two different Greek words for "love" are used in this conversation, some scholars see a distinction in their meaning. See Butler, Vol. II, pp. 453-457 for a discussion of these views]. Jesus replied to him, "[Then] feed my lambs." Verse ConceptsCommitment, to GodLambsLove, Nature OfShepherds, As Church LeaderNames And Titles For The ChristianBreakfastFeeding AnimalsChrist Knowing About PeopleThe Need To Love Christvulnerability


















About that time Jesus said [in prayer], "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things [i.e., the significance of Jesus' words and works] from those who [thought they] were wise and intelligent and have [instead] revealed them to people who are child-like. Verse ConceptsChildren, attitudes towardsBabies, Figurative UseGod, Unity OfHeaven And EarthLordship, Human And DivineUniverseWisdom, Source Of HumanWorldly WisdomChildren And The KingdomNature Of GodRelationship Of Father And SonGod's Things ConcealedBabies Used As A Spiritual ImageEducationRelationship TroublesRelationships And DatingTrust In Relationships


His winnowing shovel [Note: This was a process whereby grain was tossed into the air so that the wind could blow the husks away, leaving only good grain on the ground] is in His hand and He will completely clear off His threshing floor [by removing all of the husks]. And He will gather His wheat into the barn, but will burn up the husks with a fire that will never go out." Verse ConceptsHell, Description OfNames For HeavenHell, As An ExperienceForksSin, God's Judgment OnThreshing FloorToolsWinnowingWicked Described AsEternal JudgmentLight As ChaffReapingBurning PlantsGod's StorehousesWeed

But the farmer said, 'No, for while you are gathering up the weeds, you might root up [some of] the wheat with them. Let both of them grow together until it is time for the harvest; then at that time, I will tell the harvesters, "Gather up the weeds first, and bind them up into bundles to burn. But gather the wheat into my barn."'"












But the way it is, there are many parts, but one body. Verse ConceptsBodily LimbsOne ChurchThe BodyBeing Different

He will cut off [See verse 6] every branch [i.e., follower of Christ] who is in [fellowship with] me that does not bear fruit. And He will prune every branch that does bear fruit, so it will bear more fruit. Verse ConceptsAbiding In ChristPruningChastisementSuffering, Of BelieversUnfruitfulnessAfflictions, Benefits OfBearingCommandments Of ChristCutting Off BranchesThe Source Of FruitClean ObjectsBranches Of Christflexibilityfruitfulnesscutting

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine, so neither can you people [bear fruit] unless you remain united to me. "I am the vine; you people are the branches. The person who remains united to me, and I to him, will bear much fruit. For you cannot do anything if [you are] separated from me.



[Be willing to] suffer hardship with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on active duty, gets himself involved in the affairs of civilian life, so that he can please the person who enlisted him [i.e., his commanding officer].







Now in a large house there are utensils made, not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. And some are for honorable uses [i.e., for special occasions] and some are for common, ordinary use. Verse ConceptsClayGoldWoodPeople Have HonourWood And StonePurposehonourVarieties



When it became full, the fishermen dragged it up onto the shore. Then they sat down and, [sorting their catch], placed the good [i.e., edible fish] into containers, but threw out the bad [i.e., inedible ones]. Verse ConceptsBaskets, Uses OfOccupationsThrowing AwayWicked Described AsBeachesFullness Of The KingdomPulling ThingsPeople Sitting DownDistinguishingGood Or BadFish

His master replied, 'Well done, you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been trustworthy over a [relatively] few things, so I will place you over many things. Come and share in your master's joy.' Verse ConceptsGiving, Of TalentsFaithfulness, To GodFaithfulness, In Human RelationshipsHappinessWhat Heaven Will Be LikeHeaven,  Redeemed CommunityServants, GoodWork, And RedemptionRejoicingEntering The KingdomGood PeopleFew ThingsAuthority Of DisciplesFaithfulnessTalentsimprovement





And if a person competes as an athlete, he is not awarded the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. Verse ConceptsAthletesCrowns, Spiritual UseLeisure, And PastimesPrizesKeeping Man's WordSportsCompetitionRacefootballstrivingcrownscheatersgames





"You people are [like] salt on the earth. But if salt loses its flavoring ability, how will it ever get it back again? From then on it would be good for nothing except to be thrown out onto the roadway and walked on by people. [Note: This was mined salt which, when losing its "saltiness" due to exposure to the sun or rain, was simply disposed of by being dumped onto the roadway where people walked]. Verse ConceptsBeing A Lightdisciples, characteristics ofDecayResponsibility, For God's WorldSaltSanctification, Means And ResultsTastePersonal ContactSending Things AwayTastelessnessRestoring ThingsTastelessSournessMoral Decay



His winnowing shovel [Note: This was a process whereby grain was tossed into the air so that the wind could blow the husks away, leaving only good grain on the ground] is in His hand and He will completely clear off His threshing floor [by removing all of the husks]. And He will gather His wheat into the barn, but will burn up the husks with a fire that will never go out." Verse ConceptsHell, Description OfNames For HeavenHell, As An ExperienceForksSin, God's Judgment OnThreshing FloorToolsWinnowingWicked Described AsEternal JudgmentLight As ChaffReapingBurning PlantsGod's StorehousesWeed



"Do not offer sacred things to dogs, and do not throw your pearls in front of [wild] pigs [i.e., to those who will not appreciate them], because they will probably trample on them with their feet and then turn around and attack you. Verse ConceptsContemptdogsJewelsPrudenceAskingUngodlinessWasteWicked Described AsDespisersName CallingSwinePeople Torn To PiecesPigsUnfitting ThingsPetsHurt And Betrayalpork

It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], "The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit," and "The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud." Verse ConceptsdogsWicked Described AsDegradationSwinePigsUnclean SpiritsOld SayingsUnclean AnimalsBacksliderspork













However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves. Verse ConceptsDeath, Of UnbelieversDestructionProfanityWicked Described AsInstinctAnnihilationDestruction Of The WickedKilling Wild AnimalsBeing Killed Like An AnimalMen Similar To AnimalsMammalsKilled Like An AnimalPetsignorancecorruptionacting



"Do not offer sacred things to dogs, and do not throw your pearls in front of [wild] pigs [i.e., to those who will not appreciate them], because they will probably trample on them with their feet and then turn around and attack you. Verse ConceptsContemptdogsJewelsPrudenceAskingUngodlinessWasteWicked Described AsDespisersName CallingSwinePeople Torn To PiecesPigsUnfitting ThingsPetsHurt And Betrayalpork

It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], "The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit," and "The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud." Verse ConceptsdogsWicked Described AsDegradationSwinePigsUnclean SpiritsOld SayingsUnclean AnimalsBacksliderspork











[They are like] raging ocean waves, whose shameful actions bubble up like foam. [They are like] shooting stars [whose light quickly goes out], for whom total darkness has been reserved forever. Verse ConceptsBlackAstronomyRageColors, BlackHopelessnessThe Fate Of The WickedWanderersWavesEternal JudgementFoamsGod KeepsOuter DarknessShame Has Comewandering


These people are like rotten spots [contaminating the food] at your love feasts, while they gorge themselves without fear [i.e., unashamed of their selfish indulgence]. [Note: This passage may mean "like selfish shepherds, looking out only for themselves, they eat the grain set out for the animals"]. They are like clouds that blow over without producing rain; [they are like] trees in the fall that do not produce any fruit and have been uprooted, [thus] being dead twice [i.e., fruitless and rootless]. Verse ConceptsClouds, Figurative UseRootsAgape LovePlucking OutThe Second DeathLove Exists Between PeopleLove Feast


[They are like] raging ocean waves, whose shameful actions bubble up like foam. [They are like] shooting stars [whose light quickly goes out], for whom total darkness has been reserved forever. Verse ConceptsBlackAstronomyRageColors, BlackHopelessnessThe Fate Of The WickedWanderersWavesEternal JudgementFoamsGod KeepsOuter DarknessShame Has Comewandering



"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you are like white-washed tombs, used for burial [sites], which appear beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of the bones and decaying flesh of dead people. Verse ConceptsWhiteWicked Described AsSepulchresThe Inward BeingBonesFigurative BurialsWhitewashingBeauty Of ThingsUnclean ThingsHypocritesHypocrisyInner Beauty





When it became full, the fishermen dragged it up onto the shore. Then they sat down and, [sorting their catch], placed the good [i.e., edible fish] into containers, but threw out the bad [i.e., inedible ones]. Verse ConceptsBaskets, Uses OfOccupationsThrowing AwayWicked Described AsBeachesFullness Of The KingdomPulling ThingsPeople Sitting DownDistinguishingGood Or BadFish








But what should I compare the people of this generation with? They are like children sitting in the open shopping market, who call out to their playmates, Verse ConceptsGenerationsWicked Described AsLikeningMarketplacesCommerceComparingLike ChildrenLikening Peoplehumor



and the field [represents] the world. The good seed [represents] the children who belong to the kingdom, and the weeds [represent] the children who belong to the evil one [i.e., the devil]. Verse ConceptsNames And Titles For The ChristianSatan, Work OfChildren Of EvilFigurative FieldsUseless PeopleGood PeopleChildren Of The DevilPeople Of The KingdomThe Gospel To The NationsGood ChildrenThe End Of The WorldThe WorldPlanting SeedsSeedsSowing Seeds

And people from all the nations will be assembled in front of Him and He will separate them from one another, like a shepherd separating his sheep from the goats. Verse ConceptsGoatsHell, As An ExperienceSeparationShepherds, As OccupationsThe Judgement InvolvesWicked Described AsSeparating AnimalsGathering Other NationsGod Saves From Sin And DeathSheep And GoatsJudgment Of The Nationsdivisiongatheringgroups




And every person who hears these words of mine but does not obey them will be like the foolish person who built his house on [a foundation of] sand. Verse ConceptsFolly, Examples OfFailureComplacencyWicked Described AsThe Insecurity Of The WickedHearing ChristThe Work Of FoolsDoing God's WorksSand And Gravel


For there is no healthy tree that produces bad fruit; nor is there a diseased tree that produces wholesome fruit. Verse ConceptsWicked Described AsFood DecayingBad Items

And other seed fell on rocky ground where there was not much soil and immediately it sprouted up because the soil was so shallow. Verse ConceptsShallownessWicked Described AsSuddenlyThings Going UpPlanting SeedsSeedsSpilling Your Seed On The GroundThe EnvironmentSowing Seeds