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The Theme of Understanding
The theme of understanding is of major importance in the scriptures. Throughout the Bible this theme is carried in harmony as if one person had written the entire text, and I believe about forty people, in one Person, did.
It appears our job on earth is largely to learn about and to seek God. Witness some of the scriptures like, Luke 12:47 "and that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." It is our job to prepare ourselves.
Jeremiah 9:23, "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."
hwhy-Man ytupx hla:b-yk Ura:b hqdu:w jpsm dox hve hwhy yna yk y:twa edy:w lkvh llhtm:h llhty taz:b-Ma yk Jeremiah 9:24 w:rse:b ryse llhty-la w:trwbg:b rwbg:h llhty-la:w w:tmkx:b Mkx llhty-la hwhy rma hk Jeremiah 9:23
Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
yna-Mg K:ynb xksa K:yhla trwt xkst:w y:l Nhk:m K:aoama:w toam ted:h hta-yk ted:h ylb:m y:me wmdn Hosea 4:6
Hosea 4:14, "I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall."
jbly Nyby-al Me:w wxbzy twsdq:h-Me:w wdrpy twnz:h-Me Mh-yk hnpant yk Mk:ytwlk-le:w hnynzt yk Mk:ytwnb-le dwqpa-al Hosea 4:14
Isaiah 5:13, "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."
Isaiah 27:1, "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish ... Isaiah 27:11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour."
wn:nxy al w:ruy:w wh:ve wn:mxry-al Nk-le awh twnyb-Me al yk h:twa twryam twab Mysn hnrbst h:ryuq sby:b Isaiah 27:11
Yeshua makes the following statement several times in the New Testament and it always refers to understanding. Here we can see the talents refer to understanding.
Matthew 13:10-12, "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
Matthew 25:28-29, "...Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
Mark 4:24, "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 4:25, For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. "
Luke 8:18 "Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that he seemeth to have."
Now we can understand the parable of the ten virgins.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Apparently, the oil refers to understanding of the law and the ways of Gods people, because He says to those who had no oil, "I know you not"
Jeremiah 12:16, "And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people."
Matthew 11:29, "take my yoke upon you and learn of me;..."
This theme of understanding exists throughout the Bible and these are only the most obvious examples.