7/27/2018. How to read a Parable? 1) As a portrait on a wall

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1 How to read a Parable? 1) As a portrait on a wall 1

2 How to read a Parable? 2) As a mirror on a wall How to read a Parable? 3) As a window to see through 2

3 THE PARABLE OF THE Leaven MATTHEW 13:33 told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. 3

4 LUKE 13:20-21 And again said, To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened. Bread is a major fixture in our story Looking at Bread through Scripture will Give us the context for this parable All Parables are about the Kingdom of Heaven 4

5 ABRAHAM AND THE HEAVENLY VISITORS When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on since you have come to your servant. So they said, Do as you have said. 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, Quick! Three measures of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes. Genesis 18:2-6 The Bread of Fellowship with the Lord The Bread of a Feast Prepared 3 Measures of Flour 5

6 THE PASSOVER And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, We shall all be dead. 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. Exodus 12: 17,33-34 The Bread of Deliverance The Bread of Remembrance The Bread of Haste 6

7 MANA IN THE WILDERNESS Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. Exodus 16: 3-4 The Bread of the Lord s Provision The Bread of Testing the Lord s Goodness and Power The Bread of Testing the Faithfulness of Israel 7

8 BREAD OF THE PRESENCE IN THE SANCTUARY And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly. Exodus 25: 29 The Bread of the Lord s Presence with His People The Bread of First Fruits The Bread of the Foretaste of Heaven 8

9 BREAD OF FEEDING OF THE 5,000 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. Matthew 14:19 The Bread of Miracles The Bread of the Power of The Bread of the New Moses 9

10 BREAD OF THE BODY OF CHRIST then said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 34 They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always. 35 said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:32-35 BREAD OF THE BODY OF CHRIST 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:

11 The Bread of Life to the World The Bread of the Flesh of The Bread of the Participation in Christ The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 BREAD OF THE LAST SUPPER 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to, saying, Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?. 26 Now as they were eating, took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:17,

12 The Bread of Forgiveness The Bread of the Sacrifice of Christ The Bread of the Eucharist CONCLUSION The story that the bread tells us: #breadmeaning Running for cover deliverance into the heavenly feast in the presence of God THROUGH the sacrifice of Christ 12

13 MATTHEW 13:33 told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. How to read a Parable? 1) As a portrait on a wall 13

14 THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN READING THE PARABLE AS A PORTRAIT Universal Metaphors of timeless global A Comparison of the Kingdom for All Hearers took and hid in... You can t even tell it is there It would go unnoticed and people would assume nothing with change 3 measures of flour Much too much for a family A Party Sized Amount Abraham s story till it was all leavened Transformation of the whole amount How to read a Parable? As a window to see through 14

15 THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN READING THE PARABLE AS A WINDOW took and hid in... The world around us does not seem to be the kingdom of heaven, fully (things seen/unseen) appeared very humbly 3 measures of flour transforming work is for the life of the world till it was all leavened Nothing will remain untransformed by Christ How to read a Parable? As a mirror on a wall 15

16 THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN READING THE PARABLE AS A MIRROR took and hid in... Christ dwells in the heart of the believer We must submit ourselves to his transforming work in us 3 measures of flour there are a lot of lumps in us that need transformation till it was all leavened Nothing will remain untransformed by Christ in US THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN APPLYING THE PARABLE KNOWING the powerful transformation that brings HOPE for the future in the coming kingdom of Christ SUBMISSION to the transforming work of Christ in our inner being SHARING in the one bread with the body of Christ 16

17 THE PARABLE OF THE Leaven 17