Thematic Bible: Illustrated


Thematic Bible










but a certain Samaritan being on the road, came where he was, and when he saw him, he took compassion on him, Verse ConceptsOpportunities, In LifeOutsidersTravelPeople Showing Mercy


then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Verse ConceptsGuilt, Human Aspects OfRepentance, Examples OfConviction Of SinAfflicted Saints, Examples OfWe Have SinnedBeing A Good Father

but the Publican, who stood a good way lower, not daring to lift up even his eyes to heaven, only smote his breast, and said, O God, be merciful to me, who am a sinner. Verse ConceptsContritionReconciliation, Of The World To GodRepentance, Examples OfRepentance, Nature OfConviction Of SinBeating OneselfBe Merciful!Far From Heredistancebreastspitytaxes



at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried. and being in the infernal regions of torments, he lift up his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bower.

and being in the infernal regions of torments, he lift up his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bower. and he cry'd out, saying, father Abraham, take pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. but Abraham said, son, remember you had your enjoyments, when you were alive, and Lazarus his misfortunes: but now he has his consolation, and you your torments. read more.
besides this, there is an unalterable chasm between us and you, so that the passage from one place to the other is impracticable to those who should attempt it.





In this respect the gospel-kingdom may be represented by that of a temporal prince, who had a mind to call his servants to account. when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him indebted the sum of ten thousand talents. but being insolvent, his lord gave orders that he, with his wife, and children, and all that he had, should be sold for payment. read more.
the servant therefore fell prostrate before him, and cry'd out, Lord, allow me but time and I will pay the whole. upon which the lord of that vassal, touch'd with compassion, gave him his liberty, and discharged him of the debt. but this very servant presently after met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him an hundred pence: and violently seizing him, said, pay me the debt. and his fellow-servant fell at his feet, and embraced him, saying, allow me time, and I will pay thee all. which he would not allow: but immediately threw him into prison, till he should pay the debt. his fellow-servants upon seeing this were very much concern'd, and went to acquaint their master with what had pass'd. then his lord order'd him to be call'd, and said to him, O thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all thy debt, upon your request: should not you then have had the like compassion for thy fellow servant as I had for thee? so that his lord in great displeasure delivered him to the jayler till he should pay the whole debt. in the same manner will my heavenly father likewise treat you, if ye do not sincerely forgive every one the trespasses of his brother.

to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his respective ability, and then set out on his journey. now he that had received five talents, immediately employed them in trade, and gain'd five talents more. so he that had received two, gained likewise other two. read more.
but he that had received one, went to dig a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. accordingly he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: besides those, there's five talents more, which I have gain'd. his lord said to him, well done, thou art an honest faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust; go in and partake of thy master's diversions. he also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: here are two other talents which I have gain'd besides them. his lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust: go in and partake of your master's joy. then came he who had received the one talent, and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered: fear made me hide the talent under ground: but there you have what is your own. his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd: should not you then have lodged my money at the banker's, and so at my return I should have received my own with interest. here, take the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten. for he that makes use of what he has, shall have more; but if he makes no improvement thereof, it shall be taken from him. take then that worthless fellow, turn him out in the dark, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


but Abraham said, son, remember you had your enjoyments, when you were alive, and Lazarus his misfortunes: but now he has his consolation, and you your torments. Verse ConceptsLimitednessRiches, Ungodly Use OfDeath Of The Saints, Results InPainful MemoriesReversalsGiving Good ThingsBad SituationsGod Has ComfortedOvercoming Adversity

to which purpose he propos'd to them this parable: a rich man had some land that was very fruitful. and thus he reason'd with himself, what shall I do for want of room to store up my crop? this will I do, said he, I will pull down my barns, and build greater: and there I will bestow all my rich product. read more.
then I will say to my soul, soul, you have many enjoyments in reserve for a number of years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. but God said to him, thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: who then shall enjoy what thou hast provided?




a nobleman, said he, was going to travel to a foreign country, in order to have his kingdom confirm'd to him at his return. and he called ten of his servants, to whom he deliver'd ten pounds: improve that, said he, till I return. but he being hated by the citizens, after he was gone, they sent a deputation to court, to make this protest, "we will not have him for our king."


wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine. but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth. just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.


but he that had received one, went to dig a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. Verse ConceptsTalentsExcavationHidden ThingsOne Material ThingHoles In The GroundGifts And TalentsMoney Blessingsinvestinghiding

his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd: Verse ConceptsTalentsSlothfulnessNot SowingNot Reaping What You SowKnowing God's Character





take the fatted calf, and kill it: let us eat and be merry: for this son of mine was dead, and is come to life: he was lost, and is found again. and then they began their feast.

I tell you this man went home approv'd as just, and not the other. for whoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Verse ConceptsHumilityPromotionIndividuals going homeHumbling Oneself


perhaps it may bear fruit: if not, you may after that hew it down. Verse ConceptsDivine DelaysFelling TreesBearing FruitOlive Treescutting

He proposed likewise this parable: a certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came expecting it should have had fruit, but he found none. Verse ConceptsMetaphorical VineyardsSeeking For Concrete Things

from whence the son of man is come, in order to save those that were lost. If a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, do you think he would not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go in search for that which was gone astray? and if he happen to find it, you may be sure he is more affected with that one, than with the ninety and nine which went not astray.


So it was when a man was going to travel into a foreign country, he called his servants, and delivered to them his stock: Verse ConceptsTalentsRich, TheLikeningEntrustingLikening ThingsPropertyGifts And Talentsmathlent

who upon the receipt of it fell a murmuring against the master, and cry'd, Verse ConceptsGrumbling At People

how many years have I serv'd you, without having ever disobey'd your orders? and yet you never bestow'd a kid upon me, to make merry with my friends: whereas this son of yours, who has eat up his fortune among a pack of loose creatures, is no sooner come but you must kill the fatted calf for him.

having not wherewithal to pay it, he freely discharged them both of the debt. tell me now, which of the two will love him most? Verse ConceptsPeople Forgiving OthersUnable To Do Other ThingsDebtLove And Forgiveness

so he departed and went to his father. but while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him, and mov'd with compassion, ran and threw himself upon his neck, and kissed him. then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. but the father said to his servants, bring hither the finest robe, and put it on him: put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. read more.
take the fatted calf, and kill it: let us eat and be merry: for this son of mine was dead, and is come to life: he was lost, and is found again. and then they began their feast.


Hear another parable: a certain landlord planted a vineyard, hedged it round, set up a wine-press in it, and built a tower, then lett it out to tenants, and went into a foreign country. and when the fruit-season came on, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive the fruits of it. but they seiz'd his servants, beat some, killed one, and stoned another. read more.
then he sent a greater number of servants, than at first: who met with the same treatment. but last of all, he sent his son, saying, they will reverence my son. but when the tenants saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir, come, let us kill him, and then seize on his inheritance. so seizing upon him, they turn'd him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and it soon sprang up, for want of a sufficient depth of earth. Verse ConceptsShallownessSprouting PlantsSuddenlySproutingThings Going Up

but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt. Verse ConceptsAfflictions, In Christian LivingShallownessFor The Sake Of ThingsPersecutionpressure


Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field. Again, the heavenly kingdom is like a merchant-man, who is in quest of curious pearls: and meeting with one of great value, presently sells all that he has to make the purchase.




but the Publican, who stood a good way lower, not daring to lift up even his eyes to heaven, only smote his breast, and said, O God, be merciful to me, who am a sinner. Verse ConceptsContritionReconciliation, Of The World To GodRepentance, Examples OfRepentance, Nature OfConviction Of SinBeating OneselfBe Merciful!Far From Heredistancebreastspitytaxes

I will depart, and go to my father, and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee; I am no longer worthy to be called your son: treat me as one of your hir'd servants. so he departed and went to his father. but while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him, and mov'd with compassion, ran and threw himself upon his neck, and kissed him. read more.
then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

who had only heard, that I, who formerly persecuted them, did now preach the gospel of faith, which I once endeavoured to suppress: Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of Beliefsenemies, of Jesus ChristGospel, Transmission OfPersecution, Forms Of

I won't, said he: but afterward be chang'd his mind, and went. Verse ConceptsPeople Changing Their MindsPeople UnwillingObeying People

at length coming to himself, how many, said he, does my father keep in pay, who have bread in abundance, whilst I am dying here with hunger? I will depart, and go to my father, and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee; I am no longer worthy to be called your son: treat me as one of your hir'd servants.


foolish as you are, the grain you sow, is not revived except it die. and whatever you sow, you don't sow that body which shall afterwards appear, but only the bare grain of wheat, for instance, or of some other grain.


upon his return, being confirm'd king, he order'd the servants, he had trusted with the money, to appear, and inform him, what improvement each of them had made. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of TalentsOthers Summoninginvesting

and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. Verse ConceptsHourMidnightMeeting God


a nobleman, said he, was going to travel to a foreign country, in order to have his kingdom confirm'd to him at his return. Verse ConceptsHeirsInheritance, SpiritualNoblesRich, TheIndividuals going homeFar From HereGifts And Talents

two men went to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a Publican. the Pharisee in a standing posture pray'd thus by himself, O God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men, a robber, a cheat, an adulterer, or like that Publican. I fast twice a week, and I pay the tythe of all I possess.








when a man that is stout and well arm'd guards his palace, his possessions are safe. but if a stronger than he should assault, and overcome him, he will strip him of all his furniture on which he relyed, and divide the plunder.



according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias.



You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. read more.
in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: of which we are the several parts constituting his body. the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church.









Let your loins be girt, and your lamps burning: imitate those servants who stand waiting for their master's return from the wedding, to let him in as soon as he comes to the door.