Parables of Jesus Christ Adult Sunday School Class 3 Greg Chao, 6/27/2010 Lessons for last time 1. Actions speak stronger than words. We need to obey God and he sees our hearts. 2. Don t wait to do good. There is limited time. 3. Be prepared. Jesus may come at any time. Lazarus Rich man Character 3 Abraham Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31) Like Lazarus, those whom God helps will be borne after their death into God s presence Like the rich man, the unrepentant will experience irreversible punishment Through Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, God reveals himself and his will so that none who neglect it can legitimately protest their subsequent fate Lazarus Abraham Rich man Lazarus = people who have faith in God; Abraham = spokesman for God; Rich man = those who value riches more than God Only parable with action in the next world. Only parable with character names. Overturns the idea that the rich are blessed. playmates suggesting wedding Playmates suggesting funeral Character 3 Uncooperativ e children The Children in the Marketplace (Mt 11:16-19; LK 7:31-35) The joyful message of forgiveness should be freely celebrated and not dampened by Uncooperative legalistic restrictions. children The solemn message of repentance should not be ignored but taken with full seriousness The truth of both of these principles will be demonstrated by those who implement them. playmates suggesting wedding playmates suggesting funeral Playmates suggesting wedding = Jesus ministry; Playmates suggesting funeral = John the Baptist ministry; uncooperative children = unresponsive Jews Parables Page 1
Complex Three-point Parables Good Servants Character 3 Abraham The Talents (Mt 25:14-30) Like the master, God entrusts all people with a portion of his resources, expecting them to act as good stewards of it. Like the two good servants, God s people will be commended and rewarded when they have faithfully discharged is commission Like the wicked servant, those who fail to use the gifts of God has given them for his service will be punished by separation from God and all things good. Good Servants Wicked Servants = God; good servants = faithful followers; wicked servants = wicked people; Non-allegorical elements include talents or ratio of return Laborers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-6) From the unifying role of the master stems the precious truth that all true disciples are equal in God s eyes. From the earlier group of workers, one earlier group learns that none of God s people will be treated unfairly; no one will be short changed Character 3 From the last group of workers comes the Eleventh Rest Latter group principle that many seemingly less Hour labors of laborers deserving people will be treated generously, due to the sovereign, free choice of God. = God; Earlier Group = Jews; Latter Group = sinners and tax collectors Parables Page 2
Sower Unfruitful seed Character 3 Fruitful seed The Sower (Mark 4:3-9, 13-20) Like the sower, God spreads his word widely among all kinds of people Like the three kinds of unfruitful soil, many will respond to his word with less than saving faith, be it (a) complete lack of positive response due to the enticement of evil, (b) temporary superficiality masquerading as true commitment, or (c) genuine interest and conviction about the truth that simply falls short due to the rigorous demands of discipleship. Like the fruitful soil, the only legitimate response to God s word is the obedience and perseverance which demonstrates true regeneration Sower Fruitful seed unfruitful Seed on seed on seed on Path rocks thorns Sower = God; Unfruitful seed = people who do not follow X; Fruitful seed = people who listen to the word Jesus interprets the parable for the reader showing the level of allegory and lessons. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) From the example of the priest and Priest/Levit e Levite comes the principle that religious status or legalism does not excuse lovelessness. From the Samaritan, one learns that one Samaritan Man priest/ Samaritan must show compassion to those in need In Levite regardless of the religious or ethnic barriers that divide people ditch Character 3 From the man in the ditch emerges the Man in ditch lesson that even one s enemy is one s neighbor Chararcters are generic. Clearly shows the power of teaching lessons through parables Parables Page 3
Banquet giver Invitees who refuse Character 3 Replaceme nt guests The Great Supper (Lk 14:15-24) From the graciousness and severity of the master we learn that God generously and consistently invites all kinds of people into the kingdom but that a day will come when the invitation is rescinded and it is too late to respond From the excuses of the first group of guest stems the principle that all excuses for rejecting God s invitation are exceedingly lame From the helplessness of the second group of guest follows the teaching that God s generosity is not thwarted by the rejection of the establishment, because he extends his invitation even to the dispossessed of this world. Banquet giver Replacement invitees Guest who refuse To come Banquet giver = God; Invitees who reject = those who reject the call of God; Replacement guest = those who accept the call The Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35) Just at the king forgives his servants, so King God s grace is boundless King In the middle section, the second Fellow servant servant underlines the absurdity of grace spurned; one who has been forgiven so much and yet so mistreats his fellow debtor does not deserve to live First servant Character 3 The final section depicts the frightful Fellow servant First servant fate awaiting the unforgiving, as the wicked servant discovers his ruin. King=God; first servant=any person; fellow servants= fellow human beings 6000:1 ratio of two debts (10000 talents (600000 denarii) versus 100 denarii) Parables Page 4
The Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13) All of God s people will be called to give a reckoning of the nature of their service to him. Preparation for that reckoning should debtors involve a prudent use of all our resources, especially in the area of finances Character 3 Such prudence, demonstrating a life of steward true discipleship, will be rewarded with eternal life and joy King=God; steward=wise person; debtors= fellow human beings The unscrupulousness of the steward should not be allegorized. steward debtor The Wicked Tenant (Mt 12:1-12) God is patient and longsuffering in Landlord waiting for his people to bear the fruit which he requires of them, even when they are repeatedly and overtly hostile in their rebellion against him. Landlord (son?) A day will come when God's Original patience is exhausted and those New Original Tenants who have rejected him will be destroyed Tenants tenants Character 3 God's purposes will not thereby New Tenants be thwarted, for he will raise up new leaders who will produce the fruit the original ones failed to,provide. Landlord=God; Original=Israel leaders; New= replacement people; other servant= prophets; son=christ Parables Page 5
Two Point Parables The Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) He who exalt himself will be humbled Pharisee (God/Jesus) He who humbles himself will be exalted Tax Collector Tax Pharisee ccollector Pharisee=anyone who exalts himself; Tax Collector=anyone who humbles himself There is no third unifying figure to judge between two. The Two Builders (Luke 18:9-14) The person who responds to the gospel with Wise obedience will survive God s judgment intact (Storm/flood) The person who refuses to follow Christ in Foolish discipleship, on the other hand, will be Wise Foolish destroyed on that last day Builder Builder Wise builder=anyone who is wise; Tax Collector=anyone who is foolish; Storm=judgment The Unprofitable Servant (Luke 17:7-10) God retains the right to command his followers to live however he chooses God s people should never presume that Slave their obedience to his commands has earned them his favor =God; Servant= followers Servant Parables Page 6
The Seed Growing Secretly (Mk 4:26-29) The kingdom will continue to grow Seed inexorably, though sometimes almost invisibly At the end of the age, the kingdom will have Farmer grown into all its fullness, after which judgment day will immediately follow Farmer=God; Seed= followers Farmer Seed Fig tree/ vinedresser The Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9) God continues for a short while to offer mercy in the hope that Israel s leaders will at last respond properly to him. The threat of imminent judgment hangs over Israel s leaders =God; Fig tree= Israel s leaders Fig tree/vinedresser The Rich Fool (Lk 12:16-21) A purely selfish accumulation of possessions Rich Man is incompatible with true discipleship This incompatibility stems from the God transience of earthly riches and the coming reckoning which all will face before God. Rich man = anyone God Rich Man Parables Page 7
Judge Widow The Unjust Judge (Lk 18:1-8) God will hear and answer the cries of his people against injustice by again sending the Son of man to earth, although the cannot be sure of the timing We must persist in faithful petition for the consummation of the kingdom Judge Widow Judge=God; Widow=followers Householde r Thief The Householder and the Thief (Mt 24:43-44) People must constantly be ready for the possible return of Christ He might come at any time and catch some off guard Householder thief Householder=followers; Thief= Christ Christ is like a thief in that he can come at anytime. Man sleeping Friend needing bread The Friend at Midnight (Lk 11:5-8) God will provide for the needs of his people even more generously and willingly One should practice bold, unabashed forthrightness in prayer, which does not hesitate to request the good gifts which God has promised to his people if they ask for them. Man Sleeping=not God; Friend= followers Man sleeping Friend needing bread Parables Page 8
One Point Parables The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price (Matt 13:44-46) The kingdom of God is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing anything to gain it. The Tower Builder and the Warring King (Lk 14:28-33) Would be disciples must consider the commitment required to follow Christ The Mustard Seed and the Leaven (Lk 13:18-21) The kingdom will eventually attain to significant proportions despite its entirely inauspicious outset. Theology of the Parables: The kingdom and the Christ 1. Teaching about God a. God is sovereign. He commands his servants as he chooses (Lk 17:7-10) and sows his word in whatever soil he selects (Mk 4:3-9) b. God is patient He delays his punishment of evildoers in the hopes that they will at last bear the fruit of obedience to his commands (Mk 12:1-9 pars.) and that he will find faith on earth at the end of the age (Lk 18:1-8). He takes great pains not to destroy evil where good might be destroyed as well (Mt 13:24-30). God gives generously to those who ask him (Lk 11:5-8 18:1-8). c. God is gracious and merciful beyond all expectation - He does not reward on the basis of merit (Mt 20:1-16). He goes to great lengths to seek and to save the lost, extending his concern even to the disenfranchised of society (Lk 15; 7:41-43, 31-35 par.; 14:16-24 Mt 18:23-35). d. God entrusts all people with tasks of stewardship (Mt 21:28-32; 25:14-30; Lk 16:1-9), and he will judge them in accordance with their faithlessness or faithfulness to his charge (Lk 13:6-9 16:19-31; Mt 24:43-25:13 pars.; 13:47-50). 2. Teaching about God s people a. Abandonment - Those who would truly follow Christ must be prepared to abandon whatever might stand in the way of whole-hearted discipleship (Lk 14:28-32; Mt 13:44-46). b. Unworthiness - In so doing they acknowledge their utter unworthiness to earn God's favor (Lk 17:7-10). c. Stewardship - They commit themselves to a life of stewardship (Mt 25:14-30), obeying God's commands, making concern for society', oppressed and afflicted a priority (Lk 10:25-37; 16:19-31), and assiduously avoiding the idolatry which invariably comes with the needless accumulation of possessions (Lk 12:13-21; 16:1-9; Mt 18:23-35). d. Alert - They must not presume to know how long a span of time they have in which to exercise this stewardship, but they must remain alert to the possibility that the end could come at any moment (Mt 24:43-25:30). e. Prayer - They bring their needs to God in prayer, boldly and without shame (Lk 11:5-8; 18:1-8). They look forward to seeing the kingdom grow Parables Page 9
into a powerful force despite its inauspicious beginning and often imperceptible presence (Mk 4:1-34 pars.). f. Behavior - They must not begrudge God's generosity to others nor try to box him into molds of predictable behavior (Lk 15:11-32). They must realize that their disobedience and faithlessness can lead to their forfeiting the privileges which should be theirs (Mt 21:28-32; Mk 12:1-9 pars.; Lk 14:16-24; Mt 22:11-14). g. Persevere - Those who persevere until the end will ultimately be rewarded with eternal fellowship with God and the company of all believers (Mt 13:24-30; Lk 16:19-31; 12:35-48 3. Teaching about those who are not God s people a. Profession of faith not enough - Profession of allegiance to God or Christ is inadequate in and of itself. A visible life yielding the "fruits befitting repentance" must follow (Mk 12:1-9; 4:3-9; Mt 21:28-32; 7:24-27). b. Position/status not enough - Positions of status in organized religion are no substitute for true repentance and deeds of mercy (Lk 18:9-14, 10:25-37). c. Imminence - Now is the day in which to make a full commitment, while judgment is delayed for just a little while longer (Lk 13:6-9; 19:11-27). A day will come when it will be too late to repent, and then those who have spurned God will have no further prospect save that of a fearful, eternal judgment in separation from all things good (Mt 13:24-30, 47-50; 18:23-35; 24:45-25:30). d. All sins can be forgiven - No sin or state of degradation is so vile that God will refuse to forgive the repentant heart (Lk 15:11-32). e. Rebellion/excuses - Persistent rebellion is ultimately nothing but hypocrisy, since it rejects true happiness and denies human sinfulness (Lk 7:31-35 par.). All excuses for remaining outside the kingdom are remarkably flimsy (Lk 14:1624). Parables Page 10