We continue this issue to the Systematic Study of the New Testament, which includes the study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. The study is based on the Portuguese version of the New Testament that the reader can see from this link: http://www.bibliaonline.com.br/asv/mc/1. 

Relevant answers to questions are at the end of the text below. 

Questions 

1. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and also to yeast. What message the Lord wanted to pass with such comparisons?

2. What teaching is contained in the parable of the supper?

3. Jesus, in three different sentences, established the conditions which we must fulfill to be his disciples. What are these conditions?

4. In chapter 15 of the Gospel narrated by Luke chained three parables appear very similar background - to the lost sheep of the drachma disappeared and the prodigal son. What is the meaning of the parable?

5. Why Jesus said no man can serve two masters, not serve God and Mammon?

  Text for reading 

35. Much will be asked to whom much is given - Following recommended Jesus: "Fear not, little flock, because your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have and give alms. Yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in heaven that faileth not, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart. Are your loins girded, and your lamps burning. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he return from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: Verily I say that he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and come forth and serve them. And if he comes in second vigil, and come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this: that if the householder had known what hour the thief was coming, watched, and would not undermine his house. Therefore be ye also ready: for the Son of Man will come at the hour when ye think not. " Hearing these words, Peter said to him: "Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or to everybody?" Jesus replied: "What, then, the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household , to give them the time to feed? "He added:" Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say about all of your assets will put. But if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and begin to beat the servants and maidens, and to eat and drink and get drunk, that servant shall come the Lord in the day that does not hold, and at an hour he knows not, and will separate him and give him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes, but they knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And whoever much is given, much is asked of her, and that much has been entrusted, much more if you ask. " (Luke 12:32 to 12:48.) 

36. The Master emphasizes that we must be vigilant - Stressing the importance of attention and vigilance, the Lord told the crowd: "When you see a cloud coming from the west, straightway ye say, There will be rain, and it happens. And when the south wind blow, ye say, calm, and it happens. Hypocrites, you know to discern the face of the earth and the sky, as that ye do not discern this time? And why do you not judge also for yourselves what is right? When thou goest with thy adversary to the magistrate, rid yourself of it on the road on the way, lest it lead to the judge and the judge deliver thee to the bailiff and the bailiff thee into prison. I tell you that you will not leave there until you have paid the last penny. " (Luke 12:54 to 12:59.) 

37. Jesus warns of the need for repentance - Once, there being present some spoke of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, Jesus asked them, "Beware ye that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they suffered such things? No, I say: but if ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, think ye that they were more guilty than all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say: but if ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. " And then told them the parable of the fig. (Luke 13:1 to 13:6.) 

38. The last shall be first and the first shall be last - Jesus went through the cities and villages, teaching, when someone asked him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" The Master replied, advising: "Strive to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you that many will seek to enter, and can not. " "When the father of the family get up and close the door, and ye begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he answering shall say to you I do not know where you are; then begin to say: We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. And he will answer and say to you that I do not know where ye are: depart from me, all ye that work iniquity. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And will come from east and west, and north and south, and will sit at the table in the kingdom of God. And behold there are last which shall be first, and there are first who shall be last. "(Luke 13:22 to 13:30.) 

39. It must walk today, tomorrow and the next day - that day there came certain Pharisees, saying to him: "Go and get thee hence, for Herod wants to kill you." The Master replied, "Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and the third day I finished. Nevertheless I must walk today, tomorrow and the next day, lest that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem. " "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stones those who are sent! How often would I have gathered thy children as a hen her chicks under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. And verily I say I do not see me until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. "(Luke 13:31 to 13:35.) 

Answers to questions 

1. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and also to yeast. What message the Lord wanted to pass with such comparisons?  

In the words of Jesus, the kingdom of God is like the mustard seed which a man took and cast into his garden and he grew up and became a great tree, and nested in its branches the birds of the sky. And it is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened.

According to Carlos Torres Pastorino, Wisdom in the Gospel, Volume 5, pp. 114 and 115, the common interpretation is that Jesus points out that the spiritual life, even starting small, growing enormously. Initiation in the field, the image of the seed and the yeast does not mean that the journey is made through external actions, but with the humble beginnings within himself. The kingdom of heaven is not the crowning mundane earthly values, but the hidden labor ("buried, concealed") which alone can ensure further growth and certain beneficial. Put the seed, though small, and yeast, although little in the heart of the creatures, and we stand by each other grow. Let us act in us and in others with humility, and divine action will act on its own. (Luke 13:18 to 13:21.)

2. What teaching is contained in the parable of the supper? 

This parable can be summarized as follows: A certain man made a great supper and invited many. And at supper he sent his servant to say to guests: "Come, everything is already prepared. And all one by one, began to make excuses. I told him the first: I bought a field, and it go see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said: I bought five yoke of oxen, and I'll try them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said I was married and therefore can not go. Returning, the servant announced these things to his lord. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and neighborhoods of the city and bring in hither the poor and crippled and blind and lame. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and still there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Because I tell you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Very similar to the parable of the wedding feast given in Matthew's Gospel, this narrated by Luke has a different outcome, which is usually associated with the idea of awakening, that is, the call of the Gospel is all done, but not all woken up to its acceptance and therefore refuse the invitation, depriving themselves voluntarily to "prove the supper," that is, the boon that the moral teachings of Christ we have, as a foolproof way, according to Kardec, the expected happiness. (Luke 14:12 to 14:24.)

3. Jesus, in three different sentences, established the conditions which we must fulfill to be his disciples. What are these conditions? 

The first condition is this: if someone comes to me, and hate not his father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, can not be my disciple. The second: that does not bear his cross and come after me, can not be my disciple. The third means any person who does not renounce all that he has can not be my disciple.

In all cases, the idea is the same, ie it takes selflessness, dedication, selflessness and renunciation to faithfully follow Christ and bear all the difficulties resulting therefrom. (Luke 14:26 to 14:35.) 

4. In chapter 15 of the Gospel narrated by Luke chained three parables appear very similar background - to the lost sheep of the drachma disappeared and the prodigal son. What is the meaning of the parable?

The first speaks of the sheep that was lost, the second speaks of the drachma disappeared and both emphasize the immense joy that the pastor and his wife felt when they find them. The third parable about the son who returned to her family home, after having dissipated their assets, and was received with happiness by his father, despite the teasing of her older brother, who saw no reason for joy. One explanation of the father, tells the parable as is this excerpt from his conversation with the oldest son was just rejoice and be glad us, for this thy brother was dead and is alive, and had been lost and found themselves.

According to the most famous interpretation, the three parables indicate how important is the awakening of the people really relevant to the issues of life and how God our Father is happy when one of his children back on track. (Luke 15:3 to 15:32.) 

5. Why Jesus said no man can serve two masters, not serve God and Mammon?

Mammon is a term used in the Bible to describe material wealth or greed, but not always appears personified as a deity. The word is a transliteration of the Hebrew word "mammon", which literally means "money." No servant, Jesus said, can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and love the other, or if there will come the one and despise the other. With this image, so clear and logical, Jesus emphasized: You can not serve God and mammon.

The reason is very simple: the interests of our Father are not the same of Mammon, and vice versa, for detachment from material goods is one of the virtues that make the soul rise up, and everyone knows the dangers that come from greed . (Luke 16:13 to 16:15.)