Question 279: What Is Meant By: “New Wine In Old Skins?
Answer:
Mark 2:21, 22 are designed to illustrate the difference between the old and new economies and the result of mixing up one with the other. The "new wine" was the evangelical freedom which Moshiach was introducing into the old spirit of Judaism. It was as though He had said, "These inquiries about the difficulty between My disciples and the Pharisees and even John's disciples, serve to point out the effect of a natural revulsion against sudden change, which time will cure and which will be seen to be to the better advantage."
Question 278: Did Yeshua In Any Of His Parables make Allusion To Historical Characters?
Answer:
He is thought by some to have done so in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). Dean Farrar points this out as follows: "It is the only instance in which we can connect a parable of the Gospel with historical events. The man who goes into another country to seek a kingdom is Archelaus, son of Herod the Great. Left heir of the chief part of Herod's kingdom by the last will of his father, altered within five days of his death, Archelaus had to travel to Rome to obtain from the Emperor Augustus the confirmation of his heritage. (During his absence he had to leave the kingdom under commission to his kinsmen and servants, some of whom were wise and faithful and others much the reverse. The circumstances of the succession of Archelaus would be recalled to Moshiach's memory as he passed the magnificent palace which the tyrant had built at Jericho. Archelaus was absent at Rome for some months. Yeshua calls him a 'hard man.' The grasping character of Archelaus made him unpopular from the first and the hatred felt for him was increased by his deadly cruelties. The event to which our Saviour here distinctly refers had occurred in His own infancy."
Question 277: Was The Story Of The Rich Man And Lazarus A Parable Or An Actual Fact?
Answer:
It was most likely a parable - an illustration of the kind made familiar in the teachings of Moshiach. But if so, it is the only parable in which a proper name is employed and Lazarus was probably chosen because it was a common name. By some both men in the parable have been considered as real personages and one tradition even gives the name of the rich man as Dobruk, while another gives it as Nimeusis. Neither tradition is deserving of credit and the best commentators agree that the two characters were described by the Saviour simply to illustrate two types of men.
Frequently asked questions and answers:
Question 276: What Is The Lesson Of The Parable Of The Talents?
Answer:
The parable in Matthew 25 was given to explain the principle of the judgment from one who had been well endowed much would be expected and a smaller result would be looked for from one who had received less. Only he would be punished who had made no effort to turn his talents to account Moshiach probably intended it to apply to every kind of gift Men of wealth, of education, of spiritual privilege, with any kind of opportunity for doing good, were affected by it. A man must do the best he could in his circumstances and if he could not do as well or as much as, another who was better equipped, he would not be blamed. The distinction between worldly and spiritual is somewhat vague in this instance. The man who gives to a starving family is not exactly doing spiritual work, but it is the kind of work that this parable would apply to.
Question 275: What Is Meant By: “Heaven And Earth Shall Pass Away”?
Answer:
The expressions "heaven" and "the heavens" mean not only the spiritual, eternal world, but also the stars and the spaces of ether surrounding the earth. Yeshua used the word frequently in both these senses. He spoke of "the Kingdom of heaven," signifying the eternal Kingdom and then spoke of the stars as "heaven" or "the heavens" in passages like the one you mention. Paul speaks of "the house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1.) The teaching of the Bible is that the material universe, including the earth itself, will be transformed, but that the spiritual universe will endure forever.
Question 274: Why Should We Call Yeshua “Master”?
Answer:
Because He Himself has told us to do so. It is a very beautiful and inspiring title which believers everywhere may apply to their beloved Saviour. (See Matthew 23:10.) This passage is a part of Yeshua' denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees, who were given over to formalism and regarded the letter rather than the spirit of Scripture. They sought personal honours and the applause of the multitudes. They carried strips of parchment of Scripture texts, bound to arm, forehead and side in time of prayer and they loved to be addressed by ecclesiastical titles. Rabbi (Master) was a title which they particularly affected and which their whole spiritual conduct discredited. Had they been true teachers and guides, instead of false, he would not have reprobated them, nor would they have belied the title they bore. Titles in the modern Church are vain distinctions, except where they are worthily worn. All should be brethren in Moshiach, the highest dignitary of the church and the humblest follower. Unfortunately, in every age there has been a desire for ecclesiastical distinctions and, while in many cases these have been merited and gladly accorded, in others the honours were not deserved. The ecclesiastical system of the Jews lent itself to this vanity to such an extent as to arouse the divine indignation. The title "Rab" was originally Babylonian and that of "Rabbi," Palestinian. It was given to learned men, authorized teachers of the law and spiritual heads of the community.
Question 273: Was The Man Without The Wedding Garment Harshly Dealt With?
Answer:
No; he was treated as he deserved. At a wedding feast in an Oriental land such as Moshiach was describing, the king would provide garments for his guests, suitable to the occasion. A guest who declined to wear the wedding garment and went in wearing his ordinary attire, would be conspicuous and his conduct would be an affront to the king. He would naturally be considered as despising the dress which the king had provided and preferring his own. Moshiach, in the passage in Matthew 22:11-13, was warning His hearers against trusting in their own righteousness and rejecting YHVH's way of salvation.
Question 272: What Did Yeshua Mean By Faith That Could Remove Mountains?
Answer:
This is the language of similitude and figure which Yeshua frequently employed to illustrate and emphasize His teaching. A leading commentator writes of this passage (Matthew 21:21): "From the nature of the case supposed' - that they might wish a mountain removed and cast into the sea (a thing very far from anything which they could be thought to actually desire) - it is plain that not physical but moral obstacles to the progress of His Kingdom were in the Saviour’s mind." What He designed to teach was the great lesson that no obstacle should be able to stand before a firm faith in YHVH - that it would enable us to overcome all difficulties, if we absolutely trusted in Him.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Question 271: How Are We To Interpret “The Son Of Man Came Not To Be Ministered Unto But To Minister?”
Answer:
This passage in Matt 20:28 is the elevation of the duty of a believer’s service. Of course, Moshiach did come to earth to win all men to His service, but it was for their sakes rather than His own. To serve Him meant salvation; it was sin that kept them from their allegiance to Him. And He came to save them from their sins. All the time He was in the flesh He gave rather than accepted service. He was moved by love. Even when the people would have taken Him by force to make Him King He would not accept it. That was not the kind of service He wanted. He wanted men to serve Him in holiness and spiritual power. He gave His body in humiliation and sacrifice in order that they might be lifted up to this higher plane of service. The whole message of the New Testament is that Moshiach came to earth for the sake of mankind, not for His own sake. And He taught by example the life of humility, self-sacrifice and service which He wishes all men to lead.
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