{"id":5075,"date":"2018-05-15T05:17:04","date_gmt":"2018-05-15T10:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=5075"},"modified":"2024-05-29T06:37:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T11:37:01","slug":"world","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world","title":{"rendered":"The World ***"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A WORD WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are eight different words (four Hebrew and four Greek) that are translated as &#8220;world&#8221; in the King James Version of the Bible. It is helpful to study these words if we are to understand the spiritual meaning of the word.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/erets.html\">Eretz<\/a> (a word that appears 2,047 times in the Old Testament) is translated as \u201cworld\u201d four times in the KJ. Looking at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/erets.html\">definitions of Eretz<\/a> we see that it is translated into many words (e.g. land\u00a01543, earth\u00a0712, country\u00a0140, ground\u00a098, way\u00a03, common\u00a01, field\u00a01, nations\u00a01, wilderness)\u00a0 in addition to the four times it is translated as &#8220;world.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/owlam.html\">Owlam<\/a> (a word that appears 439 times in the Old Testament) is translated as \u201cworld\u201d four times in the KJV. Looking at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/owlam.html\">definitions of Owlam<\/a> we see that it is also translated into many other words (e.g. ever\u00a0272, everlasting\u00a063, old\u00a022, perpetual\u00a022, evermore\u00a015, never\u00a013, time\u00a06, ancient\u00a05, always\u00a03, alway\u00a02, long\u00a02, more\u00a02, never 2, miscellaneous\u00a06) in addition to the four times it is translated as &#8220;world.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/tebel-2.html\">Tebel<\/a> (a word that appears 36 times in the Old Testament) is translated as world thirty-four times in the KJV. Looking at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/tebel-2.html\">definitions of Tebe<\/a>l we see that it is also translated into other words (inhabited\u00a01, inhabited world\u00a01) in addition to the thirty-four times it is translated as &#8220;world.&#8221; Curiously, variations on Tebel are translated as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/tebel.html\">confusion (e.g. violation of nature or divine order)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/tebel.html\">incest and perversion. <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/cheled.html\">Cheled<\/a> (a word which appears five times in the Old Testament) is translated two times as &#8220;world&#8221;, two times as &#8220;age&#8221; and once as &#8220;time&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/oikoumene.html\">Oikoumene<\/a> (a word that appears fifteen times in the New Testament is translated fourteen times as &#8220;world&#8221; and once as &#8220;inhabited earth.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/aion.html\">Aion<\/a> (a word that appears 128 times in the New Testament is translated\u00a0 world\u00a038 times. Looking at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/aion.html\">definition of Aion<\/a> we see that it is also translated as several other words (e.g. , never,\u00a0 ever, evermore, age, eternal, miscellaneous).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/kosmos.html\">Kosmos<\/a> (a word that appears 186 times in the New Testament) is translated as world or worlds 185 times and once as adornment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The wide variety of definitions and uses of these words obviously makes understanding difficult. Looking at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/world\">definition of &#8220;world&#8221; in English<\/a>, we see again that it has a wide variety of meanings. What we learn from these observations is that it would be misleading to adopt a simple, definition of &#8220;world&#8221; for all applications in either the Bible or in common usage. The many nuanced meanings require that the context in which the word &#8220;world&#8221; is used must be carefully considered if we are to understand the intent &#8212; especially in the Bible.<br \/>\n<!--nextpage--><br \/>\n<strong>GETTING TO THE RIGHT SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF &#8220;WORLD&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\nThe challenge to apply the right meaning of &#8220;world&#8221; is greatly confused in Bible study where we must keep in mind that we are ultimately looking for the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\"> symbolic meaning of words &#8212; not just the literal meanings<\/a>.\u00a0 For purposes of this page, we will simplify this process by sifting through some of the various possibilities that exist to get to the meaning, or meanings, that, in our opinion, are most important.<\/p>\n<p>We will do that by first looking at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=psalm+73;isaiah+23:12-18;jeremiah+25:21-31;matthew+4:1-10;luke+4:1-8;john+18:31-37;revelation+11:15\">scriptures in which the context of the use of &#8220;world&#8221; is in conjunction with kingdoms<\/a>:<\/p>\n<table class=\" alignleft\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Go to Psalm 73 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/psalms\/73.html\">Psalm 73:<\/a> The term &#8220;kingdom&#8221; is not specifically used here, but the context of wicked, prosperous, ungodly, wealthy men surely speaks of men of position and influence such as that which rulers of kingdoms enjoy. We see that these men are brought to judgment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+23:12-18\">Isaiah 23:12-18: <\/a>The city of Tyre symbolizes a pagan religion that commits <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/3#adulteryandprostitution\">spiritual fornication and adultery<\/a> with other larger religious kingdoms of the world. At the end of a perfect period of time (i.e. seventy years), Tyre&#8217;s religious music, rituals, and religious merchandise (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">Commercial Religion<\/a>)\u00a0 are brought to an end and the city turns to God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/jeremiah\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+25:21-31\">Jeremiah 25:21-31: <\/a>This is a warning to all the religious kingdoms of the world that they shall be punished if they do not repent. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">Cities, Kingdoms and Nations<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven<\/a> for understanding of the symbolism of two kinds of kingdoms (i.e. kingdom of God and kingdom of the world.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Go to Matthew 4:1-10 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:1-10\">Matthew 4:1-10<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/luke\/passage\/?q=luke+4:1-8\">Luke 4:1-8: <\/a>These scriptures report Jesus&#8217; temptations in the wilderness. The essence of these stories are found in the fact that the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=john+12:31;john+14:30;john+16:7-11;2+corinthians+4:4;ephesians+2:1-4;1+john+4:4;1+john+5:19\"> devil, who is the ruler of all kingdoms of the world<\/a>, offers them to Jesus on the condition that Jesus will worship the devil. These are, of course, the religious kingdoms in the world which are under the devil&#8217;s authority, and it is only because the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=john+12:31;john+14:30;john+16:7-11;2+corinthians+4:4;ephesians+2:1-4;1+john+4:4;1+john+5:19\">devil has that authority over those religious kingdoms<\/a> that he is able to make such an offer. The lesson of these stories for religious people is that the devil has made the same offer to them. This, in fact, is the same offer, or proposition that Adam and Eve faced in the Garden of Eden. In choosing to eat the fruit of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>, they in effect opted to worship the devil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a> for the right understanding of the devil.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+18:31-37\">John 18:31-37: <\/a><span id=\"joh18-31\" class=\"versetext\"> Pilate said to them, &#8220;Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.&#8221; The Jews said to him, &#8220;It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-32\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">32<\/span> This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die. <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-33\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">33<\/span> Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, &#8220;Are you the King of the Jews?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-34\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">34<\/span> Jesus answered, &#8220;Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-35\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">35<\/span> Pilate answered, &#8220;Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-36\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">36<\/span> Jesus answered, &#8220;My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-37\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">37<\/span> Pilate said to him, &#8220;So you are a king?&#8221; Jesus answered, &#8220;You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">COMMENTARY: Here we see clearly that Jesus is not the king of the world. But if people live in the natural world, how can he not be king of the world? The only answer is that the term world does not refer to the physical, natural world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">We find the answer clarified in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/luke\/17-21.html#\">Luke 17:21 <\/a>that the kingdom of God is within us &#8212; not in the physical world. In other words,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/1-corinthians\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+3:16-17\"> God&#8217;s kingdom exists in the spirit<\/a> of New Covenant disciples (i.e. people who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/12-2.html\">Romans 12:2:<\/a> <strong>\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"verse-2\">And do not be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/suschematizo.html\">conformed<\/a> to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/dokimazo.html\">prove<\/a> what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">COMMENTARY: We learn here that the world, whatever it is, is not something to which\u00a0 God wants people to be conformed. Knowing from other scriptures mentioned above that the Devil is the ruler of all the kingdoms of the world, we conclude that God does not want his people to be conformed to the Devil&#8217;s kingdom or the Devil&#8217;s world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">We also conclude from this scripture that no one who is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/suschematizo.html\">conformed<\/a> to the Devil&#8217;s world is able to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/dokimazo.html\">prove (i.e. analyze, approve, examine) <\/a>God&#8217;s will.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/revelation\/11-15.html\">Revelation 11:15<\/a>: <span id=\"re11-15\" class=\"versetext\">Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, &#8220;The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.&#8221; <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">COMMENTARY: A better way to interpret this verse is that the kingdom of the Devil <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/ginomai.html\">becomes<\/a> the kingdom of God. We must be careful, however, to think that this transfer is a singular event as is implied in &#8220;has become&#8221; which suggests that the change is global and affects everyone all at one time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">Rather, it is a series of one-person-at-a-time events in which the ruler of each person (i.e. the person&#8217;s mind) stops taking direction from religious leaders of the World of Religion and instead obeys the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">command to listen to God&#8217;s voice.<\/a>\u00a0In other words, they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+12:1-2\">transformed by the renewal of their minds<\/a> from being Old\/First Covenant religionists into being New Covenant disciples. God describes this transformation as being <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">born again.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>We find the New Testament scriptures especially instructive because they contrast God&#8217;s kingdom with the kingdoms of the world over which the Devil has authority. We conclude from the stories of the Temptation of Christ that there are basically two types of kingdoms: The array of many religious kingdoms of the world that are ruled by the Devil, and the one, unified kingdom that is ruled by God (i.e. the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">Cities, Kingdoms and Nations<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven<\/a> for an understanding of the symbolic meaning of the two kingdoms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a> for understanding of the Devil.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing that there are only two kinds of kingdoms is the clue we need to understand what God means when he uses the word &#8220;world.&#8221; Because it is not easy to come to this understanding, we will begin by giving our summary of what God means.<\/p>\n<p>First, we must discard the conventional understanding of &#8220;world&#8221; as the physical planet earth. God is not unconcerned with the physical world, but he is primarily concerned with the spiritual world. And since his kingdom (i.e. world) is within people, he is primarily concerned with people.<\/p>\n<p>Second, we must acknowledge that there is a sense in which &#8220;world&#8221; applies to all people. More importantly, however, we must consider that there is a specific population of the greater world to which God is first speaking in most scriptures: Old\/First Covenant religionists. This includes Jews and Christians who have based their religious beliefs and practices on a literal interpretation of Old\/First Covenant scriptures. There are many scriptures that testify to this fact. We begin by looking at these that tell us that the Messiah was first sent to the Jews:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:1-8\">Matthew 10:1-8<\/a>: <span id=\"mt10-1\" class=\"versetext\">And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-2\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb&#8217;edee, and John his brother; <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-3\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-4\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-5\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, &#8220;Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-6\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-7\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> And preach as you go, saying, &#8216;The kingdom of heaven is at hand.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"mt10-8\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus says clearly that his first ministry is to the Jews. Calling them &#8220;lost sheep of Israel&#8221; indicates that he is referring to Jews in a religious sense. Obviously they were not physically lost but they were spiritually lost. This supports the conclusion that references to the world are to the religious world &#8212; not to the physical world or to the world of people in general.<\/p>\n<p>This conclusion is verified in the exhortation to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons. These are all symbolic references to spiritual healing and deliverance as we reported in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\">Sickness, Disease, Blindness and Deafness<\/a> and in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For an understanding of the spiritual meaning of the Jews to whom Jesus&#8217; disciples were sent, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/israel-jerusalem-jews-christians-and-gentiles\">Israel, Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Gentiles.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a title=\"Go to John 1:1-12 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+1:1-12\">John 1:1-12: <\/a><span class=\"versetext\"> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> He was in the beginning with God; <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> In him was life, and the life was the light of men. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The world into which Jesus was born and in which he conducted his ministry was the religious world of the Jews. But the world of the religious Jews did not accept him. Some Jews did accept him but once they did accept him, they were no longer in the category of the religious world of the Jews.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a title=\"Go to Matthew 10:23 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/10-23.html\">Matthew 10:23: <\/a><span class=\"versetext\">When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: This provides further evidence that the focus of Jesus ministry is to the religious world of Israel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/12-46.html\">John 12:46: <\/a>I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus was first a light to the Jews. Thus it can be said that he was a light to the world of religious Jews because religion is what distinguishes Jews from all other people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a title=\"Go to 1 John 3:1 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-john\/3-1.html\">1 John 3:1: <\/a><span class=\"versetext\">See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The main part of the religious world of the Jews that did not accept Jesus was the religious leaders (e.g. Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.). Not only did the religious leaders not accept Jesus, they maneuvered to have him killed because he threatened their world (i.e.their religious control over Jewish religionists). Many rank and file religious Jews (including the twelve disciples) did come to know Jesus and accept him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/acts\/passage\/?q=acts+3:11-26\">Acts 3:11-26<\/a>: <span id=\"ac3-11\" class=\"versetext\">While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon&#8217;s, astounded. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-12\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, &#8220;Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-13\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-14\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-15\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-16\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-17\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> &#8220;And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-18\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-19\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-20\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-21\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-22\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> Moses said, &#8216;The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-23\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-24\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-25\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, &#8216;And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"ac3-26\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">26<\/span> God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+15:8-13\">Romans 15:8-13<\/a>: <span id=\"ro15-8\" class=\"versetext\"> For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God&#8217;s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, <\/span> <span id=\"ro15-9\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, &#8220;Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name&#8221;; <\/span> <span id=\"ro15-10\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> and again it is said, &#8220;Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people&#8221;; <\/span> <span id=\"ro15-11\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> and again, &#8220;Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him&#8221;; <\/span> <span id=\"ro15-12\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> and further Isaiah says, &#8220;The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"ro15-13\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/1-16.html\">Romans 1:16<\/a>: <span id=\"ro1-16\" class=\"versetext\">For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>While we are arguing that the world to which Jesus was referring was the religious world of the Jews, we must also allow that he did have Gentiles also in mind for future ministry as we see in these scriptures:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+15:21-28\">Matthew 15:21-28<\/a>: <span id=\"mt15-21\" class=\"versetext\">And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-22\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, &#8220;Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-23\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, &#8220;Send her away, for she is crying after us.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-24\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> He answered, &#8220;I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-25\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> But she came and knelt before him, saying, &#8220;Lord, help me.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-26\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">26<\/span> And he answered, &#8220;It is not fair to take the children&#8217;s bread and throw it to the dogs.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-27\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">27<\/span> She said, &#8220;Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters&#8217; table.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt15-28\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">28<\/span> Then Jesus answered her, &#8220;O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.&#8221; And her daughter was healed instantly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/acts\/passage\/?q=acts+13:42-48\">Acts 13:42-48<\/a>: <span id=\"ac13-42\" class=\"versetext\">As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath. <\/span> <span id=\"ac13-43\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">43<\/span> And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. <\/span> <span id=\"ac13-44\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">44<\/span> The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. <\/span> <span id=\"ac13-45\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">45<\/span> But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. <\/span> <span id=\"ac13-46\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">46<\/span> And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, &#8220;It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. <\/span> <span id=\"ac13-47\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">47<\/span> For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, &#8216;I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a id=\"parablesower\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+13:1-23\">Matthew 13:1-23<\/a>:\u00a0<span id=\"mt13-1\" class=\"versetext\"> <a id=\"whyjesusspokeinparables\"><\/a><\/span><span id=\"mt13-1\" class=\"versetext\">That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-2\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-3\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> And he told them many things in parables, saying: &#8220;A sower went out to sow. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-4\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-5\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-6\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-7\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-8\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span><\/span><span id=\"mt13-8\" class=\"versetext\"> Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+13:1-51\"><span id=\"mt13-8\" class=\"versetext\">. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: It is impossible to understand this parable without understanding the symbolism:<\/p>\n<table class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"height: 2582px; width: 80.0039%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #000000;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 319px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; height: 319px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Sower<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; height: 319px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>whom<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+1:1-2;+john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21;+mark+13:27;+matthew+24:31;+revelation+22:6\"> God has sent to speak for him<\/a> to people in the world of religion who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">hard hearts that prevent them from hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>. Sowers include <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">witnesses,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors and\u00a0 <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/apostolos.html\">apostles.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 79px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; height: 79px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a id=\"seed\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-peter\/passage\/?q=1-peter+1:22-25\">Seeds<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; height: 79px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s spoken word<\/a> which is symbolically contained in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">fruit of trees of life<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 106px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; height: 106px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">&#8220;went out to sow&#8221;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; height: 106px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>are committed to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">loving their neighbors as themselves.<\/a> This means that they, like Jesus, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">share (i.e. sow) what God tells them to share.<\/a> They, like Jesus, are empowered to speak for God because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">God has anointed them to speak for him<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 106px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; height: 106px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Rocky ground<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; height: 106px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">Evil, impure hearts<\/a> that have little or no experience hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/li>\n<li>Rocky soil is the heart of people who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">hear God&#8217;s spoken voice,<\/a> but later become deaf because\u00a0evil ones (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">religious leaders)<\/a>\u00a0use their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceptive words<\/a>\u00a0to convince them that religion &#8212; not God&#8217;s spoken word &#8212; is the way to eternal life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Scorched by sun<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Every time religious people go to a religious meeting, their<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/the-gospel\/8#differencesfalsetruegospels\"> hearts are scorched <\/a>by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/the-gospel\/8#differencesfalsetruegospels\">False gospels<\/a> preached by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">trees of knowledge of good and evil. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>The seed sown on rocky ground cannot take root because it lacks good soil (i.e. clean, pure heart) and water (i.e. God&#8217;s spoken word.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Birds<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Birds are symbolical references to religious teachers: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries, Evangelists <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/pharisees-and-scribes\">Pharisees and Scribes. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>Birds consume the spiritual seed (i.e. true gospel) sown by true prophets with a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2#warofwords\">war of words<\/a> in which they convince people that the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/isaiah\/5-20.html\"> the false gospel good, and that the true gospel evil.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Root<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s Spoken Word<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Thorns<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Religious people. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Trees of knowledge of good and evil.<\/a> See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees) <\/a>for understanding.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">thorns choked them (i.e. seeds)<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Religious people use <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deception<\/a> to choke the seed of God&#8217;s spoken word so it can&#8217;t take root. Thorns use the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal Bible<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:2-4;+isaiah+5:20;+isaiah+30:1-10;+1-kings+22:1-8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13;+micah+2:1-11;+romans+16:17-18;+2-samuel+15:1-6;+psalm+12:1-2;+colossians+2:1-4;+philippians+3:19;+colossians+2:4;+2-peter+2:3\">smooth speech<\/a>, and appeals to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">pride<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/5#favoritismpartiality\">acceptance in the religious community<\/a> to convince people who have heard God&#8217;s voice that they should reject what they have heard and remain faithful to religion. See the story of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#temptationsofjesus\">Jesus&#8217; temptation<\/a> for understanding of how religious people try to convince people who have heard God&#8217;s voice to deny what they have heard.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Good soil<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">Clean, pure hearts.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#grainwheat\">Grain<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">People in whom spiritual seed has been sown and who have grown into <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">God\u2019s image<\/a>, and have been harvested so that they will provide spiritual food for God and others.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 28.7879%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Volumes of grain (i.e. 30, 60, 100 fold).<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 127.846%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Measures of spiritual seed that is sown by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>who love their neighbors as themselves by sharing the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/the-gospel\/8#differencesfalsetruegospels\">true gospel.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> He who has ears, let him hear.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: This short statement should be interpreted as a command from Jesus to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-10\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> Then the disciples came and said to him, &#8220;Why do you speak to them in parables?&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: This question by the disciples does not at first seem important, but the fact that they asked it is one of the markers of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciple<\/a>: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\/4\">Asking questions<\/a>. Only curious people will learn how to hear God&#8217;s voice. Asking questions is an act of obedience to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+16:24;+matthew+7:7;+luke+11:9;+mark+11:24\"> Jesus&#8217; command to ask for what you want.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">People who don&#8217;t ask questions when they encounter scriptures that they don&#8217;t understand either think they know what it means or they are too proud to show their ignorance by asking. Either way, they will not receive understanding because they fail to ask for understanding.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/8#askquestions\">this link<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\/4\">this link<\/a> for more about asking questions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-11\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> And he answered them, &#8220;To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: This is Jesus&#8217; reply to the disciples&#8217; question about why he always speaks in parables. In effect, he says that because you are curious about the spiritual meaning of parables you will receive understanding of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">MYSTERY<\/a> of God and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:29;+job+15:8;+psalm+25:14;+psalm+27:5;+proverbs+9:17;+song+of+solomon+2:14;+isaiah+28:17;+isaiah+45:3;+ezekiel+28:3;+amos+3:7;+matthew+6:1-4;+matthew+6:16-18;+mark+4:22;+luke+8:17;+john+7:10;+romans+16:25\">secret meanings of parables.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Knowledge of mysteries and secrets is only available to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples.<\/a> This <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5#epiginosko\">knowledge comes to them by the power of the spiri<\/a>t of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Knowledge of the secrets of heaven has not been given to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religious people. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5#ginosko\">Their knowledge <\/a>is limited to whatever they learn from the literal, written Bible and religious teachers who teach from the literal Bible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Religious leaders<\/a> believe that they understand scripture and proudly claim that they have a special calling from God to explain scripture. They use their natural talents and abilities to convince followers that they understand the Bible.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+6:5;+genesis+8:21;+jeremiah+16:12;+jeremiah+7:24;+jeremiah+11:8;+jeremiah+14:14;+jeremiah+18:12;+jeremiah+3:17;+jeremiah+13:10;+luke+1:51;+colossians+2:18;+jeremiah+27:9-17;+jeremiah+23:16;+jeremiah+28:15;+jeremiah+29:8;+1-john+4:1;+matthew+7:15;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+galatians+1:8-9;+ezekiel+13:1-6;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+proverbs+12:6;+proverbs+1:11;+proverbs+1:16;+ecclesiastes+10:12;+ezekiel+33:31;+revelation+13:1-5\">They are very clever at creating believable explanations out of their own minds.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They study the literal Bible extensively and can quote from it.<\/li>\n<li>They have<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\/3#charismaticcultleaders\"> charismatic personalities <\/a>that makes them believable.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:2-4;+isaiah+5:20;+isaiah+30:1-10;+1-kings+22:1-8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13;+micah+2:1-11;+romans+16:17-18;+2-samuel+15:1-6;+psalm+12:1-2;+colossians+2:1-4;+philippians+3:19;+colossians+2:4;+2-peter+2:3\">They are good speakers\/teachers.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Most receive education and training in religious <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">rituals and traditions<\/a> that equips them to lead people in religious practices.<\/li>\n<li>They are so confident in their knowledge and skills\u00a0 that they have no shame in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/examples-of-business-and-commerce-in-religion\">hiring out their services to people who will pay them for their teaching.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">This is the foundation of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">commercial religion<\/a>. There is always a market for and a chance for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists<\/a> to earn an income selling their knowledge and services to religious people who don&#8217;t know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:1;+matthew+10:8;+revelation+22:17;+daniel+5:1-17;+acts+2:38;+acts+10:45\">God&#8217;s word<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ephesians+2:8;+ephesians+3:1-7;+romans+5:15;+romans+12:6;+ephesians+4:7;+romans+3:21-24;+john+1:16;+2-timothy+1:6;+1-timothy+4:14\">God&#8217;s grace<\/a> are free. This is the essence of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant religion.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">For all these reasons and more, God considers the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/10\">trust that Jews and Christians put in their religious leaders to be equivalent to idolatry.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Because religious leaders and their followers are in an idolatrous, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> relationship, neither will understand the meaning of parables. The only people with a hope of understanding parables are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIPS: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5\">this link,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+1:18-27;+1-corinthians+3:18-21;+2-corinthians+1:12;+james+3:13-18;+1-corinthians+2:1-15;+jeremiah+4:19-22;+isaiah+5:20-21;+isaiah+29:14;+isaiah+47:10;+jeremiah+8:9;+proverbs+3:1-7;+romans+1:18-25\">this link<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/6\">this link<\/a> for understanding of knowledge and wisdom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-12\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The subject of this verse is God&#8217;s spoken voice. The subject is not anything material like money. What people are given and what they have is his voice. The verse can be rightly rephrased like this:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\"><em>Whoever asks to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice can expect to hear God&#8217;s voice more often and more clearly. Whoever does not ask to hear God&#8217;s voice and does not listen to hear it while studying the Bible will lose even the little knowledge he already has of God, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+11:1-3;+isaiah+32:1-3;+ezekiel+12:1-2;+jeremiah+5:21;+ezekiel+40:1-4;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:8-10;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+acts+28:23-28;+romans+11:8;+mark+8:18\">God will not give him\/her eyes to see and ears to hear his voice.<\/a> And the reason he does not give them that ability is that they<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/ezekiel\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11\"> choose to listen to religious leaders.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11;+isaiah+51:7\">God&#8217;s words\/laws stored in their hearts.<\/a> Old\/First Covenant religionists may have some <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5#ginosko\">minimal, elemental knowledge of God,<\/a> but if they don&#8217;t ask to hear God&#8217;s voice, they will lose the little that they have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-13\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Religious people read the Bible with their natural eyes and understand with their natural mind. They hear the teachings of their religious leaders with their natural ears, and understand what they hear with their natural minds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">From their reading and the teachings of religious leaders they only understand the literal Bible. Their focus is always on what they see and hear with their natural eyes and ears which is flesh. They do not understand that the flesh counts for nothing. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">Understanding comes only to people who listen with their heart.<\/a> Because they do not listen with their heart, they do not understand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIPS: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">How to Hear God&#8217;s Spoken Voice <\/a>for instruction on how to hear with your heart.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-14\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> With them indeed is fulfilled the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+6:8-10\">prophecy of Isaiah which says: &#8216;You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: See Commentary above for understanding of why people do not understand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">Jews and Christians have the ability to see and hear with their natural eyes and ears, but they do not have the ability to see and hear with their hearts. That is why they do not understand the teachings of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+13:33-35\">Jesus and the prophets who always spoke in parables.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The meanings of parables are clear and understandable to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples <\/a>because they have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The meanings of parables are vague and impossible to understand for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant religionists<\/a> because they have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">this link for more understanding of why God and Jesus always spoke in parables<\/a>.***<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-15\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> For this people&#8217;s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.&#8217; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">COMMENTARY: Everyone who believes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture is God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness <\/a>will consider that these verses apply to them. People who are very<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\"> proud about their religious knowledge<\/a>, however, will think that these verses apply only to Jews in Jesus time and not to themselves because they have put their trust in Jesus. The fact that they think this way is evidence that their heart has grown dull and that their ears are heavy of hearing and that they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\/3\">spiritually blind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The root of the problem is that religious people<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\"> interpret scripture literally &#8212; not symbolically<\/a> &#8212; and do not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">listen to hear God&#8217;s voice with their heart. Jesus is saying here that they would be healed of their spiritual blindness<\/a> if they would listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">his words which he speaks for God.<\/a> To do that, however, they must first turn (i.e. repent) from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#mainconditionforhearinggodsvoice\">practice of listening to false prophets.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-16\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-17\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-18\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> &#8220;Hear then the parable of the sower. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-19\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-20\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-21\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-22\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-23\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"mt13-24\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> Another parable he put before them, saying, &#8220;The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-25\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-26\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">26<\/span> So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-27\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">27<\/span> And the servants of the householder came and said to him, &#8216;Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-28\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">28<\/span> He said to them, &#8216;An enemy has done this.&#8217; The servants said to him, &#8216;Then do you want us to go and gather them?&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-29\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">29<\/span> But he said, &#8216;No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-30\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">30<\/span> Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-31\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">31<\/span> Another parable he put before them, saying, &#8220;The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-32\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">32<\/span> it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-33\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">33<\/span> He told them another parable. &#8220;The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-34\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">34<\/span> All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-35\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">35<\/span> This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: &#8220;I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-36\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">36<\/span> Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, &#8220;Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-37\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">37<\/span> He answered, &#8220;He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-38\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">38<\/span> the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-39\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">39<\/span> and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-40\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">40<\/span> Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-41\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">41<\/span> The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-42\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">42<\/span> and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-43\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">43<\/span> Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-44\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">44<\/span> &#8220;The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-45\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">45<\/span> &#8220;Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-46\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">46<\/span> who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-47\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">47<\/span> &#8220;Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-48\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">48<\/span> when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-49\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">49<\/span> So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-50\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">50<\/span> and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. <\/span> <span id=\"mt13-51\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">51<\/span> &#8220;Have you understood all this?&#8221; They said to him, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+28:18-20\">Matthew 28:18-20\u00a0 KJV<\/a>: <span id=\"mt28-18\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"strongs\">And<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">Jesus<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">came<\/span> and <span class=\"strongs\">spake<\/span> unto <span class=\"strongs\">them,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">saying<\/span> , <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\"><span class=\"strongs\">All<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">power<\/span> is <span class=\"strongs\">given<\/span> unto <span class=\"strongs\">me<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">in<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">heaven<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">and<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">in<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">earth.<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"mt28-19\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">Go <span class=\"strongs\">ye<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">therefore,<\/span> and <span class=\"strongs\">teach<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">all<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">nations,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">baptizing<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">them<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">in<\/span> the <span class=\"strongs\">name<\/span> of the <span class=\"strongs\">Father,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">and<\/span> of the <span class=\"strongs\">Son,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">and<\/span> of the <span class=\"strongs\">Holy<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">Ghost:<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"mt28-20\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">Teaching<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">them<\/span> to <span class=\"strongs\">observe<\/span> all <span class=\"strongs\">things<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">whatsoever<\/span> I have <span class=\"strongs\">commanded<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">you:<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">and,<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">lo<\/span> , <span class=\"strongs\">I<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">am<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">with<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">you<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">alway<\/span>, even <span class=\"strongs\">unto<\/span> the <span class=\"strongs\">end<\/span> of the <span class=\"strongs\">world.<\/span> <span class=\"strongs\">Amen.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The end of the world in this scripture is not the end of the physical, natural world. It is the end of the religious world. This is the destruction that God has in view when he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+12;+deuteronomy+20;+numbers+21:1-3;+numbers+31:1-18;+numbers+32;+numbers+33:50-56;+deuteronomy+9;+joshua+7:1-15;+joshua+9;+joshua+11;+joshua+23;+judges+2:11-23;+1-samuel+15:10-26;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+deuteronomy+31:1-8;+zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">commanded Israel to destroy all the nations and cities <\/a>that occupied the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/land-and-earth\/3\">Promised Land<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">See this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/4\">link for more about the end of the world\u00a0 and end times.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The end of the religious world is another way of acknowledging the destruction of Satan&#8217;s kingdom and replacement with God&#8217;s kingdom. This is what is meant by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+16:33;+romans+12:21;+1-john+2:13-14;+1-john+4:1-4;+1-john+5:4;+revelation+11:7;+revelation+17:14\">overcoming<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>NOT OF THIS WORLD<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are many logical arguments to rejecting the interpretation of &#8220;world&#8221; as the natural world. We see them most clearly in the following scriptures where Jesus clarifies that there are two different worlds: One is the world of religion and the other is the spiritual world of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/15-19.html\/\">John 15:19<\/a>:<span class=\"verse\"> <span id=\"verse-19\">&#8220;If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus is addressing his disciples here as New Covenant disciples. Before they came to faith, they were loved and\u00a0 accepted by fellow Jews because they practiced the same religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">After they came to faith, however, they were no longer members of the world of religious Judaism. After they ceased being Old\/First Covenant religionists and became New Covenant disciples, religious Jews hated them just like they hated Jesus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This is what anyone who leaves the religion of their birth can expect. They will be loved and accepted\u00a0 as long as they practice the religion of their friends and family. After they reject <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Defiled Religion in favor of Pure Religion,<\/a> they will be rejected and hated because by friends and family because they pose a threat to the security of the religion. At that point,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:34-39\"> friends and family become enemies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religion is the Enemy<\/a> for more about rejection and hate that comes to people who become New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=John+17:14-16&amp;t=nas\">John 17:14-16<\/a>: <span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-14\">&#8220;I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: It is obvious that Jesus and his disciples are in and of the natural world. Thus, &#8220;world&#8221; cannot be referring to the natural world. They did, however, live in the world of religion without practicing religion. They were hated because they did not practice religion. This is true today just as it was true when Jesus spoke.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The world that Jesus and his followers are in is the spiritual world established by God in New Covenant disciples when the law is written on their hearts by his spirit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"verse\">15 <span id=\"verse-15\">&#8220;I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"verse\"> 16 <span id=\"verse-16\">&#8220;They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Even though the religious world is full of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religious Enemies, Adversaries, Oppressors and Judaizers,<\/a> Jesus does not ask God to remove them from it. The reason God does not want to take them out of the world is so that they can speak (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/teach\">teach<\/a>) the truth that religion is sin to those who are still religious. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">True Prophets<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">Model Warriors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">God&#8217;s reason for keeping his people in the world of religion is to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+7:1-5;+deuteronomy+12;+deuteronomy+20;+numbers+21:1-3;+numbers+31:1-18;+numbers+32;+numbers+33:50-56;+deuteronomy+9;+joshua+7:1-15;+joshua+9;+joshua+11;+joshua+23;+judges+2:11-23;+1+samuel+15:10-26\">utterly destroy those nations<\/a> of Old\/First Covenant religion and replace them with New Covenant\u00a0 disciples who are not of the world of religion but are in the spiritual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">God wants his New Covenant disciples to stay in proximity to the world of religion but not succumb to it&#8217;s temptations (i.e. be kept from the evil one.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/2-16.html\/\">1 John 2:16<\/a>:<span class=\"verse\"> <span id=\"verse-16\">For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here Jesus makes the connection between the symbolism of lust of flesh, lust of eyes and pride to religion. This is the clue that allows us to interpret all other Biblical references regarding lust and pride to religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This verse also establishes the concept of empty life acquired in the world of religion as a contrast to abundant spiritual life which comes from God. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">Death, Resurrection, New Life, Heaven, Forgiveness and Eternal Life,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/9#hiddenlifeheart\">Hidden Life of the Heart<\/a> for more about life as God sees it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+8:19-26\">John 8:19-26<\/a>: <span id=\"joh8-19\" class=\"versetext\"> They said to him therefore, &#8220;Where is your Father?&#8221; Jesus answered, &#8220;You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-20\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-21\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> Again he said to them, &#8220;I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-22\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> Then said the Jews, &#8220;Will he kill himself, since he says, &#8216;Where I am going, you cannot come&#8217;?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-23\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> He said to them, &#8220;You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-24\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus says in different ways that the world refers to religion. The religious Jews to which he was speaking are characterized as being from a world below which is symbolically called hell or Hades. Jesus, by contrast, is from above which is symbolically called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God and heaven.<\/a> Symbolically speaking, these\u00a0 are two different worlds. Jesus is from a spiritual world and the religious Jews are from the world of religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"joh8-25\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> They said to him, &#8220;Who are you?&#8221; Jesus said to them, &#8220;Even what I have told you from the beginning. <\/span> <span id=\"joh8-26\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">26<\/span> I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus declaration is to the world of religion symbolically represented by Judaism. This agrees with what Jesus said in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+18:19-21\">John 18:19-21 about <span class=\"verse-20\"><span class=\"red-letter no-red\">speaking openly to the world in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. <\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"verse-20\"><span class=\"red-letter no-red\">But Christians and other religions should not think that Jesus is not speaking to them because Christianity is as much a part of the world of religion as Judaism.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+18:35-37\">John 18:35-37<\/a>: <span id=\"joh18-35\" class=\"versetext\">Pilate answered, &#8220;Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"joh18-36\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">36<\/span> Jesus answered, &#8220;My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus verifies again that his kingship of a spiritual world is different from the kingships that religious leaders have in the world of religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Saying that his servants (i.e. disciples) would fight for him if he was a king in the world of religion is a condemnation of the violent strategies that Jews are willing to apply to preserve their own kingdoms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"joh18-37\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">37<\/span> Pilate said to him, &#8220;So you are a king?&#8221; Jesus answered, &#8220;You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: What Jesus said here is what all New Covenant disciples will say of themselves.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-corinthians\/5.html\">1 Corinthians 5<\/a>: <span id=\"1co5-1\" class=\"versetext\"> It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father&#8217;s wife. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-2\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-3\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-4\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-5\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-6\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-7\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-8\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-9\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-10\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: In verse 10 Paul differentiates between immoral people who are not religious and immoral people who are religious. He allows that associations with immoral, greedy people who are not religious is acceptable. He says, in effect, that New Covenant disciples need to stay in the world of religion so that they can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ephesians\/passage\/?q=ephesians+4:11-16\">speak the truth to religious people about religion being sin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"1co5-11\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber&#8211;not even to eat with such a one. <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-12\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? <\/span> <span id=\"1co5-13\" class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> God judges those outside. &#8220;Drive out the wicked person from among you.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here Paul instructs Corinthians to stay in the world occupied by non-religious people while staying in the world of religion to judge religious people in the church who are guilty of immorality, greed, drunkenness\u00a0 and so on.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=psalm+96:10;psalm+96:13;psalm+98:9;isaiah+13:11;isaiah+26:9;isaiah+34:1-6;jeremiah+25:21-31;nahum+1:5;matthew+13:17-23;matthew+13:38-40;matthew+13:44-50;matthew+16:26;matthew+18:7;matthew+24:14;matthew+24:21;luke+9:25;luke+11:50;john+3:19;john+9:39;john+12:25;john+12:31;john+12:46-47;john+16:8-11;acts+17:31;romans+3:19;romans+5:8-18;1+corinthians+2:6-12;1+corinthians+11:32;2+corinthians+7:10;galatians+1:4\">Many scriptures speak of judgment of the world<\/a>. And there are many other scriptures in which Jesus connects his ministry to the religious world &#8212; specifically the religion of the Jews. The context of these scriptures clearly ties Jesus&#8217; ministry to religious Jews &#8212; not the physical world. It is people who are in bondage to one religion or another that need deliverance. It is nonsensical to say that the physical world needs deliverance from religion.<\/p>\n<p>This does not mean that the religious world at large is not in view at all because God eventually wants that all men should be saved &#8212;\u00a0 no matter where they live. It must be understood, however, that the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=john+4:17-27;isaiah+2:1-3;romans+3:1-2;romans+3:29;romans+9:22-33;romans+15:8-9;2+samuel+22:40-51;psalm+18:41-50\"> salvation of the Jews must come before it comes to the rest of the world.<\/a> In other words, Jesus&#8217; message is first to religious Jews, then to religious Gentiles, and then to the greater world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/israel-jerusalem-jews-christians-and-gentiles\">Israel, Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Gentiles<\/a> for understanding of the symbolic meaning of these people and places.<\/p>\n<p>Tying this all together, we conclude that Biblical references to the &#8220;world&#8221; are to the world of religion in all its various manifestations. This includes Judaism and Christianity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A WORD WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS There are eight different words (four Hebrew and four Greek) that are translated as &#8220;world&#8221; in the King James Version of the Bible. It is helpful to study these words if we are to understand <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1687,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5075","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5075"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12700,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5075\/revisions\/12700"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}