Parable of the Fig Tree - Part 1
Good day to you, God bless you. Say, welcome to the Shepherd’s Chapel, welcome to this family bible study hour. We’re going to have some specials as you can see, Parable of the Fig Tree.
Jesus told every Christian, all the followers that would follow Him, you must, He didn’t say maybe you should get around to it, He said LEARN the parable of the fig tree. It is necessary for you to understand in order to serve properly as a Christian. That’s how important it is. That is to say, to understand God’s word properly. That’s why Christ was so emphatic that you learn that parable. The fig then becomes a very important thing because it’s used symbolically and says a great deal more than is even written. So we’re going at this time into the parable of the fig tree. It will probably take us about 2 days and we’re going to tackle it. Let’s understand the simplicity in which Christ taught.
Turn with me, with a word of wisdom from our father, in Yeshua Jesus’ precious name let’s go to chapter 7 of the Book of Matthew and let’s begin with verse 15. Now listen to the words of Christ. He says:
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
In other words, they look like a Christian, one of Christ’s followers…
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
In other words one that claims to be a man of God, that is to say a prophet, and is not familiar with our heavenly Father’s word, can only be influenced by the traditions of the world. And the wolf is naturally symbolic of satan himself. So naturally, when they assume traditions, though they would faint if you were to say they were doing the work of satan when they claim to be prophets, ministers, teachers, and evangelists, but if they are teaching traditions of men rather than the words of Christ, they are dangerous. Someone on his or her way to being deceived is one that wants to follow Christ yet respects a symbol and may claim to stand for Christ but doesn’t know anything about what Christ teaches or said. But to be in good standing with the Father who is the judge of all, you must know His word. So beware of false prophets. How do you know them? Listen to the simplicity in which Jesus taught. 16:
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
In other words what Christ is telling you is really this simple: “Do men gather grapes off of a thorn bush?” [No you do not, but Christ is speaking spiritually here.] Christ is making reference to the bramble bush, which is symbolic of satan. Remember back in the Old Testament when the trees wanted a be king [to rule over them] and the thorn bush or bramble bush said, “I’ll be your king, as long as you promise to stay in my shade or shadow.” [meaning the bramble bush wanted them to find protection and rest in him. But Christ is our only rest.] (see Judges 9:8-15) The thing is a thorn bush doesn’t cast a shadow. You see, there’s no protection there. I want to beg, that no one thinks I’m talking down to anyone, but what is Christ talking about here? Well the subject we opened with was about false prophets, ministers, teachers, and evangelists; someone claiming to be teaching God’s word or speaking of His prophecies. Now anyone should be intelligent enough to know that you’re not going to get grapes off of a thorn bush or that you’re not going to get figs off of a thistle. Well how does that apply to people then? Well, if someone that is a one-verse Charlie or never quite gets around to opening God’s word, and that is what every Christian is supposed to absorb, then you’re eating off of a thistle, friend, and a thistle that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. You get grapes from the vine and Christ is the vine.
John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
And those are Christ’s word. Now anyone should be intelligent enough to pick up on that in the simplicity in which He teaches. Some say, “W-W-What do you mean?” I mean test their fruit. Do they teach God’s word or do they not? End of subject. A one-verse Charlie doth not teach God’s word he teaches the traditions of men. God’s word is taught chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse because only God Himself brought that word through the prophets that He sent. Unlike one-verse reverends, a true teacher can keep the subject and object in the proper order clarifying the thought that our Father or Christ wishes to bring forth to your mind. So you test the fruit of a prophet, minister, teacher, or evangelist by whether or not their fruit, which comes forth from them, and test if it is God’s word. It’s that simple. Got it? Okay. 17:
Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
In other words if someone really teaches God’s word it brings forth good fruit, that is to say, people’s mind filled with God’s truth…
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
In other words a corrupt tree that claims to be a tree of prophecy is actually going to be a tree of a bunch of beggars. That’s what it’s going to wind up to be. Cause God won’t support them. Thus they must become beggars. I know I may offend some but we are in the final generation, at the time of the parable of the fig tree. That’s one of the reason’s Christ wanted you to learn it. So you either participating in church or you’re practicing sideshow politics. Shenanigans. Bad fruit. A good tree, that is to say if you teach truth.
You see, what trees are we talking about? Let’s go back to the beginning. There was the tree of life, which is Christ Himself. And there was a tree of good and evil which is satan. And oh how he can seem to be very good but he is from the inside as the ravenous wolf, evil. Which tree will you partake of? Are you intelligent enough to understand when you are hearing God’s word taught chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse rather than some prattling wolf in sheep’s clothing or in a preacher’s robe that never quite gets around to mentioning the Father, the Son, or especially the word? Man doesn’t have all that much to say of importance to you my friend. Anyone that has lived any number of years at all on this earth knows that compared to our Father, man has very few important thoughts concerning the eternity. They all come from our Father, for all wisdom flows from Him. Okay. You got that? It’s real simple. Let’s follow it. 18:
Matt 7: 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Hey, once you spot them mark them. They’re not going to change, most likely.
Matt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
God starts judging at the pulpit. And there will be many that are hewn down. That’s what he’s talking about. Beware of false prophets which appear to be sheep, but they’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, raving. Be very careful. Playing church can be a dangerous thing without the aid of our Father’s blessings, that is to say His word. It’s a very serious thing.
Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Shall know who? False prophets, false preachers, and false teachers. You will know them by their fruit as to whether they are beggars or men of God. It’s that simple. Verse 21:
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
In other words there’s your answer from His word. Is that difficult? This is the tree that you partake of. This is the same tree in as much as the living word is Christ. Then it is the tree of life in the 22nd chapter of Revelation that gives life for the eternity. And your good fruit is right here from the word of God. And what God is saying is that everyone that says “Lord, Lord” is not going to make it. Because there are many that say “Lord, Lord” and have absolutely no conception of what the word of God teaches, in reality, and in the simplicity in which Christ taught. Verse 22:
Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
Oh, they spent years of “bopidee-bopidee-bopidee-bopidee” and probably have not taught one chapter from God’s word. But they sure taught about old aunt Hanna and old Uncle Joe and Billy-Joe from CoKamoe and what a great person they were. Do you know what Christ is going to say to characters like that who claim to be preachers, teachers, and prophets of God’s word?
and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
I can hear them, “Oh yes we held revivals and we’ve chased those devils around the room! And in thy name we have many wonderful works! We’ve built such great, wonderful works in thy name!” Verse 23, Christ speaking:
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
“Get out of my sight!” Are you a fruit inspector? Are you intelligent enough to tell whether someone is teaching God’s word? To teach from God’s word you must read FROM His word. You must convey the thought that God utilizes by way of metaphors, idioms, figures of speech, acrostics, as well as understanding the customs of the time, [one has to clarify mistakes in the translations from the original languages], and to let the word do the teaching in the simplicity that Christ taught it. Aunt Nelly don’t get it done. And that’s no disrespect to Aunt Nelly. It’s just that no one and nothing can replace the good fruit from the word of God. Can you begin to see why Christ said you must LEARN the parable of the fig tree? And this is the basic step. And I know some are going to say, “Well when did he say that?” Well let’s see a bit more about the fig.
Turn with me to Mark chapter 13. Lets go to verse 28 where he made the statement. Christ has just told us here of the coming of the false messiah and how you must be educated in His word. Christ stipulates in verse 6 of that same chapter:
Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many.
They’re going to claim to be a teacher of Christ’s word, but they’re a bunch of fakes and there is going to be many of them. He didn’t say a few, but a lot that would claim to a teach God’s word but never quite get around to doing it. And then He tells of the coming of antichrist and how God’s elect would stand against that spurious messiah rather than the trot of being blasted off into the atmosphere with their fly away doctrine for it is NOT written. And the ignorance of needing to properly translate from the Greek is what causes many to follow the fallacy. He did not say maybe the false christ will come before we gather back to Him. Christ stated in verse 22 of this same chapter:
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,…
The problem is, are you going to listen to them? Some might ask, “Well how do I know?” Well He just told you. You listen to one that produces the vine or the tree of God’s word and teaches you how to deal with it whereby you can understand. Now, concerning the one subject that we’re following now, the fig tree, let’s go to verse 28. Let’s have it on the screen if we may, of the 13th chapter of Mark. Christ continuing in that same vein.
Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree;
He didn’t say maybe. He didn’t say perhaps. He said to learn it.
When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves,
Did it say fruit? No.
ye know that summer is near:
Some might asked, “Well what’s summer?” It’s harvest time, end of the world. [God often speaks in agricultural terms and any farmer knows that you harvest crops in the summer] Now the question at the beginning of this chapter was, when was the end of the world coming and when is Christ returning. He then gives us the seven trumpets which are the seven events that consummate the end of this world age. Are you familiar with them? I pray you are. We just covered the Book of Revelation so that means you should be. You see, you learn a great deal when you listen to the teachings of God and get the real fruit right from the source, the living tree, rather than a bunch of traditions and bed-die bye stories. (sung with a deep voice by PM)“Sweet by-and-by, all you have to do is…” All you have to do is get the fruit from the right tree. There’s only one tree that you get that from and that’s the word of God regardless of the reader or whatever. The only fruit comes from the true Tree of Life, which is to say Christ, the living word, this word. Verse 29:
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,
“These things” are the seven events that consummate the end of this age, and they are consuming rapidly.
know that it is nigh, [even] at the doors.
In other words you’re right at the door of the end of the age. That’s how you tell. What do I mean, how do you tell? By knowing the parable of the fig tree. That’s why we’re teaching it.
Mark 13:30 Verily
That’s truthfully, seriously…
I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Do you see how important it is? When you know the parable of the fig tree and you know when that fig tree is established, you will then know which particular generation will be the final generation. No body knows the instant of Christ’s return, that is to say the year, month, date, and so-forth, but God’s elect will know the season, which is to say the final generation. The parable of the fig tree reveals that final generation. The final generation is not found by some man’s figuring of dates, it is determined from observing signs from Almighty God and from a promise that is true and shall come to pass exactly as it is written during which time the final seven steps, which are the seven seals, the seven plagues, and the seven trumps come to pass. You find each of these things spoken of and documented in this 13th chapter and they consummate the end of this age. The parable of the fig tree basically sets the parameters of that generation.
You will know when we finish this lecture on the parable of the fig tree just how necessary it is that you understand it. When you understand the parable of the fig tree you understand why Eve and Adam put fig leaves over their private parts after they had sinned. It wasn’t some accident that they covered up with fig leaves for it is part of the parable letting you know who the evil one is and his false-ones that come too, those false-ones being the false prophets. They are those that Christ will say to “get out of my sight I never knew you.” And there would be some that would say, “That’s not what the scripture said. He said depart from me.” Have you ever heard Him say“depart” when He was angry? Was Christ ever angry? Yes He was. It’s called righteous indignation.
We’re going to turn to on of the times that He was angry. We are going to continue step-by-step building in your mind how to test the fruit of whether a minister is a true minister, a teacher, or whatever you follow, or to even test a student like yourself and to know what it is you are to read and what it is you are to take fruit from to be better informed of God’s word. Aside from books written by man relating historical events or documentation of travels and so-forth of peoples, when it comes to someone writing a book that supposedly improves upon God’s word, I tell you that I think it’s a big waist of time. Don’t pick man’s books to learn God’s word. I’ll tell you something, some character was going to correct me on the so-called rapture theory and he was so stupid that he dared to use a man’s writing of the end of the world. Now that tells this scholar, a student of the biblical texts, that to do he did is an absolute insult. The person who wrote the book that he was referencing didn’t even have enough sense to pour water out of a boot much less comment on God’s word. And poor innocent fools are sucked in because to those types of books because they cannot understand the simplicity of the actual word of God. [The blind leading the blind.] They say, “Honey go to the tree and you’ll pick the right fruit and you’ll be alright, it’s the word of God.” No. They are just grabbing around in the dark and they grab on to every false doctrine in the world and expect to stumble over the truth as if it were a needle in a haystack when it was right there in front of them all the time. That’s what Christ is telling you. Learn the parable of the fig tree. You know I can really get wrapped up on this subject because people are being deceived in this generation and a child should be able to see it when they understand the teachings of God’s truth.
Chapter 11, verse 11 of the same book of Mark. Learn the parable of the fig tree. Listen and grow in your Father’s word:
Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple:
Do you know what the temple is? It’s God’s house
and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
In another scripture it says he looked angrily. He sighed, which means he snorted when He saw what was going on. They were selling mite infested doves and money changing was happening right in God’s house when God’s word is supposed to be taught there and offerings of the best of your flock were to be presented rather than someone rushing and stopping down and the quick-trip which was set up right at the temple steps where someone would stop and buy some fuzzy, sickly dove and try to offer it to God as a peace offering! He wasn’t happy. Verse 12:
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow,
The next day.
when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Verse 13:
Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree
Fig Tree… Wake up for me.
afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not [yet].
Stop and think. Do you think for one moment Christ did not know the season of figs? That is to say when they ripen and when they don’t ripen? Of course He did. He knew there would be no figs and only leaves on this tree. The reason He utilized it is for the simple reason that He wanted to establish the parable and to point out for us to know when the leaves shoot forth… Verse 14:
Mark 11:14 And Jesus answered and said unto it,
And get it, this is Christ speaking to a tree. Sounds strange? Well listen. It says a great deal more than is written. Can you learn the parable behind it? I hope so. I pray so.
No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard [it].
Now do not cut yourself off from fig jam, which is probably one of the best jams in the world, because He is speaking to the bad fig. I hope if you learn one lesson about a fruit inspector that there are good trees and there are bad trees. And I’ll teach you a little bit of horticulture in a few moments and it will clarify things for you. Listen on. 15:
Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple,
He took a cat of nine-tails and laid it to their backs is what He did. He hit those money tables and you could hear the coins as they rang and spilled. And laying the whip to them, He drove them out of the church of God.
and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
Mite infested, poor substitutes for offering your love to your Father!
Mark 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry [any] vessel through the temple.
He stopped that commerce. Verse 17:
Mark 11:17 And he taught,
You know when He taught, boy, now you’re getting fruit right from the vine. And what did He teach?
saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
You know that holds so true today that people get involved with religion for their own gain and God only knows what else and God only knows for what reason, and what egos, and so forth, yet they never seem to get around to teaching the emotions of our Father and His outreaching love He gives to the heart and the mind of each soul that will love Him. And the guidance that He gives us that keeps us from trouble, that keeps us from the rocky shore and keeps us safe, even in the flesh body. 18:
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard [it],
These are your religious people. You got it? Preachers of the day.
and sought how they might destroy him:
Sweet folks.
for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
The people tested the fruit and they kind of liked His fruit. 19:
Mark 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
What did He do? Verse 20:
Mark 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Boy that’s pretty fast service, overnight. It documents and certifies the importance of the parable. 21:
Mark 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master,
That’s to say teacher.
behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
And this did not say have faith in some man. Have faith in God and His word. Do you know what faith is? 23:
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
That means this nation
Be thou removed,
Now he’s talking about the Kenite nation, the nation of the bad fig.
and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Pretty strong statement, but strong in this sense, he’s talking about the bad fig and its nation. And any individual that knows the truth, the real fruit from the proper tree, understands what he’s saying.
I want to get into the horticulture for just a little bit. We’ll pick this up in the next lecture then so that you totally understand the parable. But you must understand this horticulture. Well why would he use the fig tree? Because of it’s horticulture. You would see the entire picture if you looked. Anytime God uses something as a symbol, the entire life of that insect, animal, plant, or whatever, gives you the most in depth thought of His mind what it is He’s relaying to you. What about the fig tree? I’m going to use two types. I’m going to use the church of Smyrna parallel the Smyrna fig, and it’s a very good fig, it’s the female fig. And then there’s the caprifig, which is the male fig, and it is uneatable, just terrible! You cannot eat them they are so bad. Well why would God create something like that? Well listen. Listen. Number one, you do not plant a fig tree by a seed. You set out a shoot. And that shoot is symbolic of the nation that would be planted of both the good and the bad fig that would consummate the end of the age and signal the generation, that is to say, signal the beginning of the final generation. So it’s very important.
Now many people feel the fig is a non-blossoming plant and that is false. You see, in the end of each fig, there’s a tiny hole. And then inside the fig plant itself, there are many blossoms – inside the fig. Again the Smyrna fig, or the good fig, is the female. The caprifig is the male or the goat fig is what some keepers call it. And it, likewise, has the little hole with the flowers inside, but it’s the male. Now there is a little fig wasp – yes, I said wasp.
So take that as a clue. You must gain every bit of information that you can in your generation because the parable of the fig tree was written to the final generation when the terminology wasp would mean more than a little flying bug. The wasp which is called a fig wasp goes into the little hole at the end of the fig on the caprifig tree that man cannot eat [think of the fig tree Christ cursed] and takes the pollen from the flowering plant from within. The wasp then goes to the Smyrna fig, the female tree, and pollinates the fig whereby the fig can have a continued life. In other words, you can be thankful to the wasp in that both the good and the bad fig trees exist, as God created them.
My dear friend, that is very true still to this day. And that dumb wasp, as some call them, and I certainly call some of them dumb, which offends a great many people but be that as it may, I could care less. So these wasps help support and make both trees possible because of their ignorance of testing fruit. Which is to say think of those that lack understanding of the living word of God and those that do not know one tree from the other. And I speak spiritually now, not of the wasp that does not know the difference between the Smyrna fig and caprifig. I speak of those that don’t know whether they’re hearing the truth or not and don’t understand the simplicity in which Christ taught and don’t know what tree it is coming from. Know this, if what is being taught is coming from the word of God, then you’re practicing good fruit with common sense. Christ’s teachings should flow with the subject and object led by a teacher who teaches you how to understand it and test that fruit for yourself. [Not jumping around from good to bad fruit like a fig wasp]. That’s the only way you will ever find the good mark of a teacher is that he teaches you how to check him or her out. To document what they say as to whether it is true or not. Not from traditions of men or some stupid book about end times written by some nut claiming to be a Christian. Many people say, “Well that’s old Barney. Everybody knows old Barney’s a… (Murray sings in a low voice) I love you, you love me, we all got a family” Now, now, God bless the lady that brought forth the character that teaches love to children. Unfortunately there’s nothing but a bunch of children playing church, that the Barney song would fit quite well to sum up their entire works as far as fruit being produced.
So it is no accident that the church of Smyrna [one of the two of seven churches that Christ found no fault with in Revelation chapter 2], the good fig, teaches who the Kenites are. For the Kenites, as you will find in the next lecture, are the bad, goat figs that is brought forth even unto this day, which helps you better understand what would happen in the final generation whereby you could see those things come to pass that consummate the end of this age. It’s very simple. So simple the way Christ teaches. All you have to do is understand the horticulture of the fig and observe the 7 signs given that you are to watch and then you really enlarge your understanding and knowledge concerning the final generation.
I hope you don’t miss the last part of this lecture because we’re going to nail it, document it, The Parable of the Fig Tree and the generation to which it applies by the actual setting forth of the shoot and where it was to be planted as it is written in God’s word. Don’t ever, ever, ever let some religion tell you it was planted in Rome. So bad. Such vial fruit. To say it’s planted in Rome when God’s word tells you exactly where it is planted. Or San Francisco… They say,“Oh the mountain of 7 Hills. Oh we’re so intelligent, 7 Hills and the number seven, yes 7 hills”… Men folly, ignorance, bliss… on it goes. I hope if you’ve learned any one thing from this lecture, though I may have angered some, I could care less. This is the good tree. If this is being taught, as Jesus would say, It is written. It certainly is, and you know something beloved, that’s exactly how it’s going to come to pass. So you have a choice. You can partake of this tree, the truth, and be informed, or you can listen to fuzzy head’s brains and always wonder. It’s up to you. I’m saying that no man within himself knows. God word is the tree, that’s my point. Surely you can tell when you’re being taught God’s word or man’s word. The last time you attended church or bible study, how many verses was read of God’s word? And I’m not talking about some quarterly that’s the simulation, written by God only knows who – maybe a servant of satan disguised to translate quarterlies and so-forth for a congregation that is biblically illiterate and would never know the difference. How many scriptures did you read from the word of God with understanding? Now I didn’t say how many did you read, period, I said with understanding, how many did you read with understanding because there’s a teacher there that will either explain it to you or whether God through the spirit gives you the knowledge to pick up on it and that you have the tools necessary to take it back Greek, Hebrew Chaldee, whatever the case may be, whereby you can see and understand even the dual meanings in the scriptures. And that you feel that friendship and closeness to our Father by communicating with Him in His word. What am I saying? We’re you taught out of God’s bible or were you taught from some book published and printed by man? Hey friend, if you’re not smart enough to know you can get in trouble with it with this other junk. Coming from God’s word you’re never in trouble. Jesus said that is the tree and that only. Do you know what He’s going to say to many of these others? And some of them are good. I’m not knocking or anything, I’m just saying anytime you get away from the word of God you better have your safety belt on friend. Because you may be in the group that He says to “Get out of my sight, I never knew you, you read that trash!”… Written by, do you know who? I would say the same thing to those that read quarterlies. Do you know the individual that translated it from the Hebrew and Greek? I will even go as far as to say, were they even Christian? Because a Christian that will let a non-Christian do their translating for him is a fool. It’s that simple. I’ll document that. Many years ago the story was started that Christ was married to Mary Magdalena. This is not intended as an insult, but what he did was he put forth a non-Christian translation of the manuscripts. He saw where Mary Magdalena was espoused to Christ. Well now, to a Christian, we know what that means to be espoused to Christ and that it was speaking spiritually. So to a non-Christian translator, they don’t know “come here” from “sick ‘em” regarding properly translating Christian literatures. So take your understanding from the right tree.
I don’t want to digress but I want to nail the point. A child knows when they’re studying God’s word or something else. Which do you want to answer to, somebody else or God? I’ll tell you who you’re going to answer to, God. Think about it.