A Kingdom Divided, Mark 3

KJV Mark 3:23-30

23. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24. And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29. But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

The first step in interpreting a parable is to write your understanding. Pay particular attention to aspects you understand and questions you may have concerning the text. Keep in mind a parable is intended to make an impression upon the people it is presented to as well as those through out the ages.

How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided it cannot stand. This will include the kingdom Satan has claimed. If a house is divided, the house cannot stand. If Satan rises up against himself he cannot stand but will reach an end Has this already happened? Is this the way of Satan? No man can enter into a strong man’s house and steal his goods unless he first ties the strong man and then robs his house. All sins will be forgiven, however those that speak against the Holy Ghost will never receive forgiveness but are in danger of eternal damnation.

Look at the text to identify the key words. In this text some of the key words are, kingdom, divided and house. Use the key words to locate other text utilizing the same words to reveal the spiritual interpretation.

Kingdom

KJV Exodus 19:6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

God originally intended the Israelites to become a kingdom of priests. This plan never materialized. Lack of interest in God, a need to serve idols and other problems separated Israel from God.

KJV 1 Samuel 28:17. And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

KJV 2 Samuel 7:12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

KJV 1 Kings 11:31. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

KJV 2 Kings 19:15

15. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the Cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

The Bible shows, God is in control of all the nations of the earth. He gives them to whom He wishes. History has shown the recipients do not always remember or appreciate the gift God has given them.

KJV Psalms 22:28. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

KJV Psalms 102:22. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

KJV Psalms 103:19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

KJV Jeremiah 1:10. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

The kingdom of God rules over the entire earth.

KJV Daniel 7:18. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

KJV Matthew 5:3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

KJV Matthew 5:10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

KJV Matthew 13:11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

The kingdom of Heaven is promised to God’s followers. The knowledge to understand this is given to His followers.

KJV Deuteronomy 3:21. And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the Lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. 22. Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.

KJV 1 Samuel 10:17. And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; 18. And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

KJV Isaiah 10:10. As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

KJV Ezekiel 29:14. And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. 15. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

KJV Daniel 11:20. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 21. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

God protects His people from the nations opposing Him and His followers.

Kingdom = leadership appointment by God. The kingdom of Heaven is promised as a gift to God’s people. Kingdoms standing against God persecute His followers.

Divided

KJV Genesis 1:4

4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

KJV Genesis 1:7

7. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

KJV Deuteronomy 32:8

8. When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

KJV Joshua 18:10

10. And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

KJV Joshua 23:4

4. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

KJV Daniel 5:28

28. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

God divided the light from the darkness, the waters, nations, the land and kingdoms. The word divided illustrates God’s power.

Divided = God’s power

House

KJV Micah 4:1-2

1. But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

KJV Haggai 2:6-9

6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 8. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. 9. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

KJV Zechariah 1:16-17

6. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 17. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

KJV 2 Corinthians 5:1

1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

KJV Galatians 6:10

10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

House = God’s house, religion, following, faith.

Collect the interpretation of all the key words.

Kingdom = leadership appointment by God. The kingdom of Heaven is promised as a gift to God’s people. Kingdoms standing against God persecute His followers.

Divided = God’s power

House = God’s house, religion, following, faith.

Paraphrase the text substituting the spiritual interpretation for the physical key words.

Jesus spoke to them in a parable. How can Satan cast out Satan? If they persecute God’s people and stand against God’s power, that leadership appointment by God cannot stand. If a religion is against God’s power, that religion cannot stand. If Satan rises up against himself, and stands against God’s power, this will be the end of him. No man can enter a faith and steal his goods, unless he first ties the strong man and then spoils the faith. All sins shall be forgiven, but those who speak against the Holy Ghost will never receive forgiveness, but are in danger of eternal damnation.

This interpretation clearly explains a prophecy. God knows Satan will attempt to control both governments (kingdoms) and religions (house) to persecute God’s followers. This parable also raises some questions. What does the strong man represent and what are the goods being stolen?

Fig Tree Luke 13

KJV Luke 13:6-96. He spake also this parable; a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

In this parable Jesus is telling about a man who had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. It must have taken some time for this tree to grow. When it was mature the man came to inspect for fruit. The fig tree was not producing fruit. He said to his worker, “I have been checking this tree for fruit three years but it will not produce. Cut it down, it is taking up valuable space.” The worker answered, “Lord, give the tree one more year, I will dig around it and fertilize it. If it produces fruit, fine, if not I will cut it down.”

Tree, vineyard and fruit are among the key words this parable contains. Each of these key words will be compared to texts containing the key word to find the spiritual meaning.

TreeKJV Proverbs 11:30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

KJV Isaiah 61:3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

We can easily see trees are used to symbolize people.

Tree = people

Vineyard

KJV Isaiah 1:8. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

KJV Isaiah 5:1. Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5. And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6. And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

A vineyard is used to represent Zion and the house of Israel, God’s people.

Vineyard = God’s people.

Fruit

KJV Proverbs 8:19-20

19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

KJV Proverbs 11:30

30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

KJV Proverbs 18:20

20. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

KJV Jeremiah 17:10

10. I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

KJV Jeremiah 21:14

14. But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

KJV Jeremiah 32:19

19. Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:20

20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:23

23. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

KJV James 1:18

18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Fruit is described as a person’s, “doings,” which we commonly call works or accomplishments. It is the acts and manners of a person. It is how a person treats others.

Christ is the firstfruit of all those that will be raised from the dead to live in Christ’s kingdom. Christ is the only person to live a sinless life to fulfill the law. His sacrifice by Satan and his followers granted salvation for this world. By His sacrifice Christ became redemption for this world.

Fruit = works or a way of life, accomplishments.

It is much easier to paraphrase the text once a chart of the key words with their spiritual meaning is assembled.

Tree = people

Vineyard = God’s people.

Fruit = works or a way of life.

Jesus spoke this parable. A certain man had people planted among God’s people; and he came to see if their works were prospering, they had nothing to show. Then he said to a worker among God’s people, “these three years I have come seeking results from these people, and have found none. Cut them down, why do they take up space?” The worker answered, “Lord, let them alone this year also, I will do what I can. If their works produce results, it is well; if not I will cut them down.