The term "highway-side" refers to the areas adjacent to major roads or paths, often mentioned in the Bible as places of travel, communication, and significant events. In biblical times, highways were crucial for trade, military movements, and the spread of ideas and religious beliefs. They were often well-trodden paths that connected cities and regions, facilitating the movement of people and goods.

Biblical References:

1. Parable of the Sower: One of the most notable mentions of the highway-side is found in the Parable of the Sower. In Matthew 13:4 , Jesus describes how some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. This imagery of the highway-side represents those who hear the word of God but do not understand it, allowing the evil one to snatch away what was sown in their hearts (Matthew 13:19). The highway-side here symbolizes a place of vulnerability and exposure, where the word is easily lost.

2. The Good Samaritan: In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the highway-side is the setting for a profound lesson on compassion and neighborly love. In Luke 10:30 , Jesus tells of a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers. He was left half-dead by the side of the road, ignored by a priest and a Levite, but helped by a Samaritan. The highway-side in this context is a place of danger and neglect, yet also a place where true mercy and kindness are demonstrated.

3. John the Baptist: The ministry of John the Baptist is associated with the wilderness and the highways. Isaiah 40:3 prophesies, "A voice of one calling: 'Prepare the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.'" This passage, quoted in the Gospels, emphasizes the preparation of the heart and the call to repentance, using the metaphor of making a highway for the Lord.

Symbolism and Themes:

· Accessibility and Exposure: Highways in biblical times were accessible routes, open to all travelers. The highway-side, therefore, symbolizes openness and exposure, where both good and evil can occur. It is a place where the word of God can be heard by many, but also where it can be quickly lost if not received with understanding and faith.

· Opportunity for Ministry: The highway-side is often depicted as a place of opportunity for ministry and service. Just as the Good Samaritan found an opportunity to serve by the roadside, believers are called to be attentive to the needs of others they encounter in their daily paths.

· Preparation and Repentance: The imagery of preparing a highway for the Lord underscores the need for spiritual readiness and repentance. Just as a highway is cleared and straightened for travel, believers are called to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord.

In summary, the highway-side in biblical literature serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual journey, highlighting themes of vulnerability, opportunity, and the call to prepare one's heart for divine encounters.

Blind Bartimeus
... As our Lord went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number of people,
blind Bartimeus, (the son of Timeus) sat by the highway-side begging." It ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/blind bartimeus.htm

Master of Men but Servant of All
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timasus, sat by the highway side begging ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter x master of men.htm

Jesus Restoreth Sight to Bartimaeus
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging ...
/.../the life of jesus christ for the young/jesus restoreth sight to bartimaeus.htm

Bartimaeus
... BARTIMAEUS. Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side
begging.'"Mark 10:46. The narrative of this miracle is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/bartimaeus.htm

The Sower. Mt 13:03
... We find a tall and sickly stalk,. But not the fruitful ear. The beaten path and
highway side. Receive the trust in vain. The watchful birds the spoil divide,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 85 the sower mt.htm

The Promises.
... or he a servant to such a prince; who, besides his exceeding in good conditions,
has gold and silver as common in his palace as stones are by the highway side? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xvii the promises.htm

"And Watch unto Prayer. "
... ask at it from whence, and whither. The heart is a highway side that all
things travel through. If the Christian then be not exact ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi and watch unto.htm

The Blind Beggar
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blind beggar.htm

"Who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that ...
... it gets entry but in few souls, it is scattered rather on the highway side, and
cannot reach into the arable ground of the heart,) but it can do nothing ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvi who walk not.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before
him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the highway side ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the pilgrims progress.htm

Highway-side (1 Occurrence)
Highway-side. High-ways, Highway-side. Hilen . Multi-Version
Concordance Highway-side (1 Occurrence). Mark 10:46 And ...
/h/highway-side.htm - 6k

Timeus (1 Occurrence)
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number
of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging ...
/t/timeus.htm - 6k

Bartimeus (1 Occurrence)
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number
of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging ...
/b/bartimeus.htm - 6k

Sat (222 Occurrences)
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highwayside begging ...
/s/sat.htm - 36k

Begging (18 Occurrences)
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highwayside begging ...
/b/begging.htm - 18k

Hilen (1 Occurrence)

/h/hilen.htm - 7k

High-ways (1 Occurrence)
High-ways. Highways, High-ways. Highway-side . Multi-Version Concordance
High-ways (1 Occurrence). ... (WBS). Highways, High-ways. Highway-side . Reference ...
/h/high-ways.htm - 6k

Highway (27 Occurrences)
... to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highwayside begging ...
/h/highway.htm - 16k

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