Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
Jesus did a lot of teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus wanted everyone to know how to live forever with Him. Did you know that not everyone one shall enter the kingdom of heaven?
The parable of the ten virgins, in which, five ran out of oil for their lamps is an example of being prepared. We must be always aware that our lamps are the illumination of Jesus Christ. We must be watchful and prepared not to run out of that illumination and be already ready for the return of Christ.
This parable is a reminder we all agree to work for the Lord and our reward is eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The parable of the pearl of great price follows immediately after the hidden treasure in Matthew 13:44. There are similarities but the lesson is one that must be learned by all of us.
Jesus has been teaching about what the Kingdom of heaven is like. This parable likens heaven to be like a net that was thrown into the sea and it brings up every kind of fish. This parable is also a warning to us all.
This is one of the shortest parables in the three Gospels. It is about the smallest seed and how when it is planted it grows into a tall tree. Inside of you is a small seed of Christ and when you are planted and nurtured you will grow into a huge tree for Christ.
Jesus explains the parable of the tares of the field. This is another of the parables that Jesus explains to the disciples to help us, his followers how to interpret the parables.
This parable reveals the truth of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. It is our responsibility to prepare our hearts to seek the Word of God, to do it, to understand it and then to live it to the way our Lord Jesus Christ has directed us to live.
Jesus told the disciples The Parable of the Hidden Treasure. There is a man who found this treasure and he hid it. We know that he got great joy from this treasure because he goes and sells everything he has to buy the field he hid it in.
The Parable of Leaven is another parable that Jesus tells about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.