Why does God speak in parables or allegorical language?

God communicates through ideas not mere words like a man. Our entire universe was created from the ideas of God. So, the ideas of God surround our physical existence in this universe. Hence, the idea of bearing fruit is known by all humans. We realize if plants don't bear fruit many of us will die. Similarly, if human beings don't "bear fruit" many of us will die.

Now those who don't read Hebrew may not realize that the words for trees and carpenter are the same in Hebrew. Hence, in Hebrew there is a linguistic parallel between trees and men. However, I don't need to know Hebrew to make the philosophical leap that - I should bear fruit for the hungry so they won't die just as the trees bear fruit for me so that I can eat.

Also, it didn't help the Pharisees who could read Hebrew. When Jesus told the Pharisees that they should bear fruit they rejected His message. The Pharisees didn’t grasp the concept that all the trees that God placed in Paradise bore fruit. I hope you got the message – there aren’t any trees in Paradise that don’t bear fruit.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth herb and grass that sow seed, and fruitful trees that bear fruit, every one in his kind, having their seed in themselves, upon the earth. And it came so to pass.” - Genesis 1:11

May you always be fruitful,

Dr. J. Clontz, Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

Who do you trust?

During the Last Supper, Jesus referred to the apostles as his brothers. Afterwards, John went to the cross and risked being executed for the man who had called him brother. At the crucifixion, Jesus asked John to look after his mother. No wonder John is referred to as the “disciple whom he loved” – who else would you trust to look after your own mother!

John 19:26 When Jesus saw the mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to the mother, “Woman, see your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “See your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Hoping that we are all disciples that Jesus loves!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

Are you Reading the Bible Correctly?

When you read Exodus 1:1-2:10 if the only thing you see is the story of Moses then you aren’t reading the Bible correctly. Since Jesus fulfilled the prophecy concerning the prophet like unto Moses that was supposed to come to the Israelites according to Deuteronomy 18 and Acts 3 then you should also see the following:

The Israelites would be oppressed for a long period of time by a foreign king, Herod, prior to the start of the ministry of Jesus.MO1 Herod would have building programs that included pouring concrete.MO2 Jesus would be born at a time when the Herodian dynasty began that was hostile to Israelites.MO3 Herod would engage in a program of building temples and fortresses designed to pacify the Israelites.MO4 Jesus would survive an infanticide program that targeted Hebrew male infants.MO5 His birth would be unassisted by midwives.MO6 He would be hidden to keep His birth a secret from Herod who had issued a decree to kill the male children born in the area.MO7 As an infant, Jesus would be protected by being taken from regions inhabited by Israelites to areas controlled by Egyptians.MO8 He would be accompanied on His journey into Egypt by a young virgin named “Mary.”MO9 His adoptive father, Joseph, would be descended from a dynastic line of royalty.MO10

MO1. Exodus 3:1-22 / Matthew 2:1
MO2. Exodus 5:1-23 Herod used hydraulic concrete to build the port at Caesarea - concrete doesn’t contain straw.
MO3. Exodus 1:8-14 / Matthew 2:1
MO4. Exodus 1:8-14 / John 2:20
MO5. Exodus 1:15-22 / Matthew 2:16-18
MO6. Exodus 1:19 / Luke 2:7
MO7. Exodus 2:1-10 / Matthew 2:13-18
MO8. Exodus 2:1-10 / Matthew 2:13-21
MO9. Exodus 2:1-10 / Matthew 2:14
MO10. Exodus 2:1-10 / Matthew 1:2-16

Hoping you always understand spiritual things when you read them!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical references are from “Typology – The New Testament According to the Old Testament Prophets.”