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“Now if future events are foreknown to God, they cannot by any possibility take a turn contrary to His knowledge. If the course of future events is foreknown, history will follow that course as definitely as a locomotive follows the rails from New York to Chicago. Common sense tells us that no event can be foreknown unless by some means, either physical or mental, it has been predetermined. Our choice as to what determines the certainty of future events narrows down to two alternatives—the foreordination of the wise and merciful heavenly Father, or the working of blind, physical fate.”

Loraine Boettner

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He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33 (ESV)

Jesus follows the parable of the mustard seed with a parable that has a similar meaning; the parable of the leaven. As with the parable of the mustard seed, many interpret the parable of the leaven as referring to an evil influence which invades the kingdom of God until it totally corrupts the kingdom. Continue reading →

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“Since the universe had its origin in God and depends on Him for its continued existence it must be, in all its parts and at all times, subject to His control so that nothing can come to pass contrary to what He expressly decrees or permits.”

Loraine Boettner

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“The world as a whole and in all its parts and movements and changes was brought into a unity by the governing, all-pervading, all-harmonizing activity of the divine will, and its purpose was to manifest the divine glory.”

Loraine Boettner

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He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV)

There are varying opinions on the interpretation of this parable. One interpretation is based on observations from previous parables. Jesus is the man who sows the seed; which is the kingdom (Matthew 13:37), the field is the world (Matthew 13:38). Some commentators propose that mustard does not grow to be a tree but only a shrub. So, the growth of the mustard seed into a tree must signify something unnatural. Thus the kingdom of God started with meager beginnings (smallest of all seeds) and as it grew in became something “unnatural” or perverted through false doctrine, sinful practices and hypocrisy. The birds of the air are considered to be satanic spirits which have found a home in which to roost (Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:15). Continue reading →