webwatch wrote:
Parable of the Net - Matthew 13
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like...
Bless you too. Truly. I know "parables" are not just an interesting title we give to the numerous teachings of Jesus in the gospel accounts. It is indeed a truth, but the truth is IN the parable.
Of course you don't believe the kingdom of heaven is a net, or that there is a shoreline, or that "sitting down" is God sitting down, or vessels are vessels. Pictures are pictures. There is a thousand words behind each one. You believe the kingdom is LIKE a net, people are LIKE a sea, there is something LIKE a beach. The actions and events thereafter are LIKENED to the real thing. And what is the blazing furnace LIKENED to? Has Jesus defined what a blazing furnace is before? Or has our theology books and pulpit defined it us? "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.
How is it we are more compelled take the fire matters literally yet do not take the water events literally? Is there really a sea, a lake, a furnace? A lake of fire? A good water and fire mixture? Some sort of divine-heavenly chemistry?
Correlate all the "fire" mentioned in the OT and NT and perhaps its purpose and representation will become clearer.
8/17/09 12:18 AM
