Metaphor

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When there is an unmooring of the meaning of a symbol the objects of that metaphor within an allegory becomes an idol of our imagination. The truth in instruction of the authors is lost in the sophistry of the adversary of the light.

There are many metaphors within the accepted terminology of the Bible which was a part of the language itself. When people talk about the Bible it is only common sense to have some knowledge of the use of the metaphors built into the Hebrew language and used by people during the different eras in which the Bible was written.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Unlike a simile that states that something is "like" another... the use of metaphor may state or treat things as the same.

A metaphor may be a figure of speech that refers, for rhetorical effect, to one thing by mentioning another thing.

An entire story may be a metaphor or what is called an allegory where the events are actually representing complex relationships and instructions in a dramatic narrative, parable or poem rather than a technical explanation.

A metaphor is a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.

The Hebrew Bible abounds in metaphors and other figurative speech. So there is an importance to the accurate study of scripture to recognize the metaphor and distinguish the allegory by the translator and reader alike for the interpretation of biblical texts. But there is a reason for them and no amount of study will guarantee your understanding if you are not willing to see the truth.

  • 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

But if you unmoor the symbol from the meaning of the author or focus on the object rather than the concept it is meant to represent then instead of clarifying you will confuse, instead of being enlightened you may be mislead and deceived and deluded.

List of Bible metaphors
: Father Dt 32:6; Isa 64:8; Mal 2:10; Eph 4:6
Rock Dt 32:4 See also 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 22:2; Ps 62:2; Ps 78:35
Shepherd Ps 23:1 See also Ps 28:9; Ps 80:1; Eze 34:11-16
Examples of metaphors for Jesus Christ
Bread
Bread of life Jn 6:35-51
Good shepherd Jn 10:11,14
Light of the world Jn 8:12; Jn 9:5
light
lamb
vineyard
hedges
Fortress
fountain
potter
Altars
clay Isaiah 64:8
Stone
Chain
Barn
Arrows
Armor
Water
mountains and the hills
paths
Alpha and Omega
lion's welp
grass Isa. 40:6
wolves Psalm 23:1
vine and branches John 15:5
seed
field
stars
meats
Examples of metaphors for the Holy Spirit
Counsellor Jn 14:16,26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:7
Breath Ge 2:7; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Job 34:14
Wind Jn 3:8
Examples of metaphors for the church
Bride Rev 19:7; Rev 21:2-9; Rev 22:17
Household of God Eph 2:19; 1Ti 3:15
Body of Christ Ro 12:4; 1Co 12:12-27; Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:24
*
  • "Most mistakes in philosophy and logic occur because the human mind is apt to mistake the symbol for the reality." Albert Einstein
  • "When a symbol unmoors itself from what it symbolizes, it loses meaning. It becomes ineffective”  Albert Einstein

Instead the objects and metaphor within an allegory becomes an idol and the instruction is lost to the sophistry of the Satans of the world. The purpose of biblical parables was to actually keep people from understanding the kingdom who would reject the instruction yet pass the message on from generation to generation. There are several reasons for this but first we must understand that the Kingdom of God is revealed not by flesh and blood but by the Spirit of God writing in your hearts and minds.

One of the ways you know people are not getting inspiration from God is that they seem to confuse the metaphor and the parables so that they misinterpret the symbols. One of the ways you know they may be getting inspired is they are able see the pieces and how they fit together within the whole text, meaning and message of the Bible.

The reason they are not getting it is because to know and understand you must go into the dark chambers of your heart and allow the light to be turned on.

There are many things we do not want to see about ourselves but we must. When we try to be doers of the word we will by our nature come into the presence of our sins. They will bubble up in our face. To see and understand and hear God in our hearts we must learn to be quiet in our minds.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

When we are still we can allow ourselves to hear God in our hearts and in our minds.

The Bible uses the words left and right in reference to seats of government and duties of people.

The right hand is the hand that holds a sword, carries the power to wield authority and administer justice while the left hand or the sets on the left side is often for alms or charity and of course mercy. The right and left hand of the law is justice and mercy.

So when the apostles desired the right and left hand seats in the kingdom they were asking for control over these two jobs in government, justice and mercy.

While a government may have both law enforcement and charitable welfare duties in truth every judge or jury has both the duty of ministering or administering justice and mercy.

If a couple walks down the street arm in arm the women might be on the left by custom and in some cultures they did that so that his right hand would be free. But to make things like that rule would unmoor the symbol especially for left handed men.

We must always remember that these thing are representative or symbolic only. The people have their own left and right hand. They have them to use to fulfill all the duties of society imposed by God.

The people have their own duty to God and must use their own left and right hand to perform that duty if they are to remain free in a state of nature.

Every man and woman should attend to justice and mercy in all that they do.

Every family as the first body politic must attend to the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Law includes justice and mercy and faith includes the probity that spurs us into action.

Most governments are instituted by men although God instituted the power of man to create governments. But Church was instituted or established by Christ.

The Church is the Bride of Christ.

Christ is the king and one with God the Father.

So what is the role of the Church in the governing of man?

The Church is one form of government but it cannot exercise authority one over the other but it is to be a Benefactor of the people and provide a Daily ministration.

I have actually heard people suggest that the church, meaning the ministers, are the servants of the people. While the Church should serve the needs of the people in a way that strengthens the people. An “Elder” or head of the family is not the “representative husband” of the Bride of Christ.

The people are the Children of God not the husband of the Church.

The Church has been trusted with a job of Pure Religion in the world.

The Church is not a Sovereign entity but a Sacred entity. It does not make law but it is not of the world.

Are there any questions?


Some Questions

More Questions

To find the answers, we must seek and strive to do what Jesus said the way He said to do it... Including attending to the Weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith which include caring for the needs of our neighbors and the widows and orphans of our society through Pure Religion in matters of health, education, and welfare. We are NOT to provide for the needy of society through the Covetous Practices and the men who call themselves benefactors but who exercise authority one over the other like the socialists do.

The Way of Christ was like neither the way of the world of Rome nor the governments of the gentiles who depend on those fathers of the earth through force, fear and fealty who deliver the people back in bondage again like they were in Egypt. Christ's ministers and true Christians do not depend upon systems of social welfare that force the contributions of the people like the corban of the Pharisees which made the word of God to none effect. Many people have been deceived to go the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitan and out of The Way of Christ and have become workers of iniquity.

The Christian conflict with Rome in the first century Church appointed by Christ was because they would not apply to the fathers of the earth for their free bread but instead relied upon a voluntary network providing a daily ministration to the needy of society through Faith, Hope, and Charity by way of freewill offerings of the people, for the people, and by the people through the perfect law of liberty in Free Assemblies according to the ancient pattern of Tuns or Tens as He commanded.

The modern Christians are in need of repentance.


"Follow me!" —Jesus the Christ.


Allegory | Metaphor | Sophistry | Strong delusion | Golden calf | Red Heifer |
The Allegories of the Sacred Laws by Philo Judaeus | Priests |
Altars | Clay and Stone | Stones | Stoning | Sabbath | Canaan
Breeches | Cloths of service | Wedding garment | Fringes |
Calendars | One purse | Fathers | Peaceful invasion of Canaan | Trees |

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
    Mark 10:42-43 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
    Luke 22:25-26 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.