Be Holy Podcast

The Parables
 
Matthew 13:33 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
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.”
Luke 10:30-37 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ...
Matthew 13:44 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:10-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. ...
John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...
Luke 18:1-8 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” ...
Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ...
Luke 11:5-8 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
Mark 4:33-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
Mark 4:14-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, ...
Mark 4:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
Mark 4:10-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

Parables
 
Matthew 13:35 ESV / 29 helpful votes
 
This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 18 helpful votes
 
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 16 helpful votes
 
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Luke 14:15-24 ESV / 16 helpful votes
 
When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ ...
Galatians 4:22-31 ESV / 11 helpful votes
 
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ...
Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 9 helpful votes
 
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ...
2 Timothy 2:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
Luke 10:27 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Jonah 4:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
James 1:23-25 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
2 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Timothy 2:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Matthew 13:10-11 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Jonah 4:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

Do God's Will
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 41 helpful votes
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 Peter 2:15 ESV / 38 helpful votes
 
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Romans 12:2 ESV / 37 helpful votes
 
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 8:28 ESV / 34 helpful votes
 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 34 helpful votes
 
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV / 33 helpful votes
 
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Matthew 6:10 ESV / 31 helpful votes
 
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Psalm 119:105 ESV / 27 helpful votes
 
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Ephesians 5:17 ESV / 26 helpful votes
 
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV / 24 helpful votes
 
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:33 ESV / 24 helpful votes
 
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes
 
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Hebrews 10:36 ESV / 22 helpful votes
 
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
John 3:16 ESV / 22 helpful votes
 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Proverbs 19:21 ESV / 22 helpful votes
 
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV / 20 helpful votes
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Micah 6:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes
 
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 19 helpful votes
 
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Disobedience Brings Destruction
 
Romans 6:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 14:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 8:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes
 
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Ephesians 2:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
Luke 6:46 ESV / 6 helpful votes
 
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 3:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ...
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
2 John 1:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
James 1:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
 

God Blesses People
 
Ephesians 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Malachi 3:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes
 
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
James 1:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Psalm 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes
 
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
James 1:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
 
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.