zophar
Look back at the op. I quoted the Watchtower. The 45th verse is not mentioned, true, but the discussion and application of the virgin’s parable is unmistakable. It is all together.
This year’s convention
by lastmanstanding 39 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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zophar
The only reference I see to Mt 25 is in paragraph 6 where it mentions the Parable of the Talents.
They do not mention the anointed or other sheep at all. They are merely showing Jesus words were encouraging which is the theme of the article.
What am I missing?
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asp59
After 140 years of existen of this organization they finally found that God is not parcial and we all important in his eyes. Haha little to late I think. The past can not be fix with some lines in a magazine.
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lastmanstanding
Zophar
Perhaps you were never deeply involved in WT study etc. and your understanding of ‘watchtowerspeak’ is not too strong. I’ll help you out there,
The “parable of the talents” in WT understanding was always applied to “the anointed” only. As ‘doubtingbro’ pointed out, “ I always thought they used that verse to reinforce the need to obey the GB.“ This is a correct observation.
The WT article at par. 6 is teaching the masses of common JWs that they gain “.... strong encouragement to continue serving Jehovah faithfully!” from this illustration. That “encouragement” can only be possible if they are included in;
“the faithful slaves ..” who “... were faithful over a few things” and whom Christ “will appoint... over many things”.
The focal point of the parable of the talents, in WT world, was the “anointed” (read GB) and the dubs get salvation by doing good to the GB by selling their GB winsome words to the world.
The NOW Watchtower teaching is morphing. The common dubs, not just the “anointed”, are included in the “faithful slaves” in the parable -who will be rewarded.
In line with that change was the talk at the DC that said rank & file dubs are counted worthy by Christ by doing good, not just to the GB (preaching WT crap) , but to any in the congregation.
Perhaps spend some time getting a better understanding of historical WT teaching on this and it will be easier to understand what’s changing.
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Room 215
The dismantling of Franz-era doctrine proceeds apace.
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AverageJoe1
Thanks for the simple explanation LastMan. I get it now. I will see how they develop that talk at our convention then.
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blownaway
Funny but this is the Modus Operandi of the cult. Keep people afraid and thinking the end is close. Its also the boy who cried wolf. How many times can you cry wolf at the door before people don't listen to you.
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zophar
AverageJoe1a day ago said:
I very much doubt what the OP said about Matthew 25:45 as I've just done a search for that scripture in the official outlines and it is not even mentioned once!
Please tell us the title of the talk this was supposedly mentioned in.
I agree with AberageJoe1. Which RC talk are you referencing? The documentation you mention in the WT clearly is not noting a change in doctrine.
I wish you were right, because I think that is a correct application and it refers to Christians in general, but I don't see any shift in lessening their application to the GB or FDS
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Doubting Bro
LMS,
Which talk at the RC? I'm suffering through one right now!
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lastmanstanding
2018 Regional Convention Program
Friday Afternoon
3:20 SYMPOSIUM: What They Risked; How They Were Rewarded
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 1:11-13; 3:27-29)
Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3, 4)
Stephen (Acts 6:11, 12)
““Jehovah appreciates very much, those sacrifices that you make. How do we know? Well, turn with me to Proverbs chapter 19, verse 17. (Pause) It reads “The one showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah, And He will repay him for what he does.” Imagine, what a beautiful thought. Jehovah views the self-sacrificing efforts that we put forth on behalf of our brothers and sisters as actually being done to him. He says, “he will reply him.””
The Scripture at Proverbs does NOT say “actually being done to Him”. It doesn’t even suggest that a good deed done to a needy recipient is the same good deed done to God. They have to really bend that verse to make it say what they really want to say. It only says that when you do a good to a needy that it’s a plus toward God.
The principle of doing a good to a needy being looked upon as the same deed done to God is only found in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 where Jesus says “40 In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
So, in the Watchtower last week.
JESUS GAVE ENCOURAGEMENT
6. How does the parable of the talents provide encouragement? 6 Jesus imitated his Father’s example. The parable of the talents, given in Jesus’ prophecy about the conclusion of the system of things, encourages faithfulness. The master honored each of the faithful slaves with the words: “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:21, 23) What strong encouragement to continue serving Jehovah faithfully!
I say again, “There is no encouragement value to rank & file members unless this applies to them.”
Unless rank & file members are viewed as a “good and faithful slave” with the hope that they will be “appointed” and “enter the joy” because of their positive deeds done to the lowly -viewed as equal to Jesus- then there is no way the final sentence has any application.
What strong encouragement to continue serving Jehovah faithfully!