INTRODUCTION:  An allegory is a story which uses people, things, and events to portray spiritual truths. Paul used an allegory in Galatians 4:22-31 [22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. [23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. [24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. [25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. [26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. [27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. [28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. [29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. [30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. [31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
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• Agar (Hagar) was a type of Mt. Sinai and the covenant of law by Moses
• The child of Hagar (Ishmael) was born in bondage
• Sarah was a type of the heavenly Jerusalem and the covenant of promise through Abraham
• The child of Sarah (Isaac) was born free and was a type of all the children of promise

Allegories are acceptable to use as long as they avoid two special dangers:

• Allegories must not be used to deny the truth of a literal story. For example, Noah’s ark may be a type of salvation, but the story of Noah and the flood are still factual history.
• Allegories must not be used to teach doctrine which is not plainly taught in other portions of scripture. Throughout Christian history, those who would teach false doctrine have often used allegories to support their doctrine. Allegories can easily be misused to say many contradictory things. Therefore, they must be used for illustration and not for establishing doctrine.

Many years ago, Bible students began to see a connection between the conflict in the book of Esther and the conflict inside each man and woman (Galatians 5:17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
See All...). The entire book makes for a powerful allegory that demonstrates how we can have victory over the flesh and live in the power of the Spirit.

This allegory is based on the three-part nature of man. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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• Our body is the physical shell in which we dwell on earth.
• Our soul is the unseen person and includes our mind (thinking ability), our emotions (feeling ability), and our will (decision-making ability). In essence, the soul is the real person.
• Our spirit is the part of man capable of communicating with God and receiving the life of God. The spirit of a lost man is dead. The spirit of a saved man is made alive by the Spirit of God. At salvation, a person is “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
  See All...). This spiritual birth constitutes the new birth.

1. THE CHARACTERS
1. King Ahasuerus
1. Represents the soul
1. The essence of man (Genesis 2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
   See All...; Mark 8:36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
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2. Where decisions are made - will
3. Where the thinking is done - intellect
4. Where the feeling occurs – emotions
2. Though he is the king, his true act is to choose who has the authority to run the kingdom (Romans 6:16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
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2. Haman
1. Represents the flesh
1. Not specifically the human body, but the fleshly nature of man (Romans 8:3-5 [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
   See All..., 8-9; Romans 13:14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
   See All...; Galatians 5:16-21 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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2. The part of man that rebels against God
2. No good thing found in Haman
1. The flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
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2. The flesh profits nothing (John 6:63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
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3. No good thing in the flesh (Romans 7:18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
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4. Cannot please God (Romans 8:8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
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5. Reaps corruption (Galatians 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
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6. Cannot be trusted (Philippians 3:3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
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3. The hatred of Haman
1. He hated Mordecai (Esther 3:6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
   See All...; Esther 5:9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
   See All...) – a picture of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5-8 [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
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2. He hated the people of God (Esther 3:6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
   See All...) and is called the “Jews’ enemy” (Esther 3:10-13 [10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. [11] And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. [12] Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. [13] And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
   See All...); compare Galatians 4:29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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3. Mordecai
1. Represents the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11 [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
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2. He will not bow to Haman (Esther 3:1-5 [1] After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. [2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. [3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? [4] Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. [5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
   See All...; Esther 5:9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
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1. The flesh and the Spirit are diametrically opposed (John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
   See All...; Romans 8:5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
   See All...; Galatians 3:3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
   See All...; Galatians 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
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2. God Spirit will not give in to the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
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4. Esther
1. Represents the human spirit
2. She is brought up by Mordecai (Esther 2:7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
   See All...; John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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3. She obeys the commands of Mordecai (Esther 2:10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
   See All..., 20; see Romans 8:16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
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4. She received word from Mordecai (Esther 2:22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
   See All...; Esther 4:9And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
   See All...; see 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 [9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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5. She sought answers from Mordecai (Esther 4:5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
   See All...); as in prayer (Romans 8:26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
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5. The Ring
1. A type of authority given to another
1. It had the king’s seal
2. It carried the king’s authority (Genesis 41:40-44 [40] Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. [41] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [42] And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; [43] And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. [44] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
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2. Significant by who it is given to
1. To Haman (Esther 3:10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
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2. To Mordecai (Esther 8:2And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
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2. THE PROMOTION OF ESTHER – a picture of salvation
1. Adopted by Mordecai (Esther 2:7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
   See All...); as we are adopted by God (Romans 8:14-15 [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
   See All...; Galatians 4:4-6 [4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
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2. Wedded to Ahasuerus (Esther 2:16-17 [16] So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
   See All...); as we are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:12-14 [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
   See All...; Ephesians 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
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3. THE PROMOTION OF HAMAN – a picture of surrender to the flesh
1. Promoted above All Princes (Esther 3:1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
   See All...); when the flesh is given charge (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
   See All...; Romans 7:14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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2. Plotted to Destroy Mordecai (Esther 3:5-6 [5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. [6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
   See All...); as the carnal mind is against God (Romans 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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3. Preeminent in the King’s Authority (Esther 3:10-11 [10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. [11] And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
   See All...;); as the flesh is in the carnal believer (Romans 6:12-13 [12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
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4. THE PROMOTION OF MORDECAI – a picture of surrender to the Spirit
1. Esther Listened to Mordecai (Esther 4:5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
   See All...); we must be led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
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2. Esther Died to her Own Desires (Esther 4:14-17 [14] For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? [15] Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, [16] Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. [17] So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
   See All...); we must do the same (Mark 8:35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
   See All...; Romans 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
   See All...; Galatians 5:24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
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3. Esther Crucified the Flesh – Haman (Esther 7:9-10 [9] And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. [10] So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
   See All...; so Romans 6:6-11 [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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4. Esther Lived Unto God (Esther 9:24-25 [24] Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; [25] But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
   See All...; so Romans 6:11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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5. The King Gave the Ring to Mordecai (Esther 8:7-8 [7] Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. [8] Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
   See All...); we must yield to the Spirit (Romans 6:16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
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CONCLUSION: The battle of Galatians 5:17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
See All... can be won if we will surrender ourselves to the Spirit of God.