'Last Sermon of Jesus'
John 16:25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father."
Our Lord taught and guided His disciples at every opportunity. Regrettably, they could not understand His parables due to the absence of the Holy Spirit, who was given only to the Israelites then.
Luke 8:9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"
Mat 21:45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
The Jews, specifically the spiritual leaders understood many of His parables for they were the people of God and had the Holy Spirit (until the death of our Lord Jesus). God wanted them to understand so that they would repent and be saved. One of such examples is the follower, Nicodemus. Foolishly, the Jews lose the entitlement when they put our Lord to death.
Mat 13:34-35 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Hidden in the parables are the secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom of God. All those without the Holy Spirit will not be able to understand them, for God kept the secrets from them.
Secret of the priceless Pearl
Mat 13:45-46 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. "When the merchant finds this priceless pearl, he will sell all he had and buy it."
In this case the priceless pearl is the entrance to the kingdom of heaven or New Jerusalem.
Rev 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city (New Jerusalem) was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Mat 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."
If a non-believer (swine) was able to interpret these verses, then he would certainly give away everything he owned, in order to be saved, thereby entering the kingdom of heaven (pearl).
In reality, the concept of salvation illustrated above is preposterous to non-believers. The truth would be quickly be dismissed as demonic teachings. In a nutshell, those who are not born again are without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they will not be able to understand the parables of Jesus and His words which have hidden spiritual meanings and teachings, concerning the kingdom of God.
In reality, the concept of salvation illustrated above is preposterous to non-believers. The truth would be quickly be dismissed as demonic teachings. In a nutshell, those who are not born again are without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they will not be able to understand the parables of Jesus and His words which have hidden spiritual meanings and teachings, concerning the kingdom of God.
But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language
Our Lord was crucified a few hours after these final instructions. After His resurrection, He gave His disciples the Holy Spirit as a seal of redemption.
After our Lord was glorified, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of spiritual gifts.
On a different note, His disciples were baptized with the Spirit of truth, who would teach them all things.
After our Lord was glorified, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of spiritual gifts.
On a different note, His disciples were baptized with the Spirit of truth, who would teach them all things.
John 16:13a "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;"
Brethren, unless we are baptized with the Holy Spirit by our Lord Jesus Christ, not by man, with the Spirit of Truth, our understanding of the word of God, the parables of Jesus will be limited.
