‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it’ (Mat 13:45-46; NKJV). Who is the wealthy merchant who sold all that he had and bought the pearl? A...

In Matthew 13, the disciples ask Jesus privately in the house to explain the parable of the tares of the field (Mat 13:36). Among other referents, Jesus identifies the field as the world, the sower as the Son of Man, and the field is specifically ‘his field’ (Mat...

The parable of the tares of the field (Mat 13:24-30, 36-43) is unique to Matthew. Moreover, it not only received a specific title, but it also is one of only three parables in Matthew 13 that Jesus explained (Mat 13:36-43). That does not mean one should not study and...

To give this parable a name is to already start interpreting it. Only the Gospel of Mark contains the parable that we find in Mark 4:26-29. While the scene depicted in Mark 4:1–34 may appear tranquil – Jesus teaches while sitting on a boat – the tumultuous events...

Few acknowledge what Cranfield (1966:164) rightly emphasises regarding the parable of the lamp (Mk 4:21–23), namely that Mark does not regard verses 21 and 22 as ‘proverbial wisdom or moral exhortation, but as containing the mystery of the kingdom of God’. When...

No, the Messianic kingdom has not yet been established. Just like David was anointed as king but had to wait many years before he was enthroned, so too has the Son of David been anointed but has not yet been enthroned. David was first rejected and experienced...

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul wrote, ‘Do not despise prophecies’ (1 Thes 5:20). These days, however, many ‘leaders’ say that studying Bible prophecies diverts attention away from evangelism, Christians should not ‘try to figure out...

Are you searching for Easter eggs or is the idea that children search for something that is part of the Passover Seder? Why is this question relevant at the time when we commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah? The Feasts of Passover and...

Is there a difference between justification and sanctification, and between a believer’s relationship and fellowship with God? Can we distinguish between God’s gift of eternal life and God’s rewards based on works? I believe the Bible teaches that we are saved by...

Does a woman stop being a woman when she becomes a believer in Jesus Christ? Is the employee-employer distinction erased when a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ? If all who belong to Christ are children of Abraham, does this mean that all Abraham’s children...

On the day that unbelievers are judged, will a person be able to successfully argue that God should acquit him (or her) because there was not enough evidence for the existence of God? Similarly, if a person never heard the gospel of Christ, will he or she be found...

The book of Jonah is neither an allegory nor some fantasy. This is a true story about a true prophet (2 Kings 14:23-25) who fled in a ship to Tarshish and who was swallowed by a large fish and vomited out three days and three nights later (Jonah 1:3, 17; 2:10). The...