A ten session study on the parables by Dean Brookes Some of the best known and cherished stories are those told by Jesus. Many have heard of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Jesus told everyday stories to convey eternal truth and to insert a portion of God s message into the hearts and minds of people. Parables have been used by many teachers. In the Old Testament a powerful parable is told by Nathan the Prophet to convict King David of his wrong doing (2 Samuel 12:1-7). David was blind to what he had done and it needed a pertinent story to open his eyes to truth. Parables are a method of conveying practical truth. The listeners not only hear a story but are left questioning their beliefs and values or what action they must now take. True parables are life-like; they hold up a mirror to life. Parables are especially powerful because the picture language speaks dynamically to our tendency to think in pictures and not just abstractly. Also much of our own communication is in telling stories. We love stories and the multi-million dollar film industry knows it! Hence Jesus did not merely speak ideas or abstract principles he told stories that grounded gospel truth. Then his listeners were able to make a judgment about a situation, about life and about themselves. The parables are not allegories where the story is to be dissected into its components and whereby the characters, the landscape detail and the events represent something else, as for example in Bunyan s Pilgrim s Progress. They were told in the heat of the moment as a gospel weapon and they were spoken, not written or read. It was necessary that the meaning would be immediately obvious, a single truth that the story illuminated and which leapt out at the hearer. The word parable is from the Greek parabole which means a comparison or analogy. The antecedents of Christ s parables are found in the Old Testament and the Jewish Fathers. No doubt it was in the synagogue that Jesus first heard people talking in parables. A parable in essence is a figurative saying. It is sometimes a simile such as Be wise as serpents and as gentle as doves (Matthew 10:16). It can be a metaphor such as Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:5). What we call parables are expansions of these. All we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) is a simile. Expand it into a picture and you get a similitude like The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7). Expand it into a story by using past tenses and circumstantial details and you get a story-parable such as The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). A similitude is based on some familiar truth or process such as putting a patch on a garment (Matthew 9:16-17) or yeast in dough (Matthew 13:33), whereas the story-parable describes not what people normally do but what one person did. All these are parables in the biblical sense. It is impossible to find the whole Christian faith in any one parable. Jesus told each parable in a particular context to illustrate one aspect of truth, and to illuminate that particular aspect which the need of the moment required. By putting the parables all together we gain unmatched insight into the mind of Jesus, the master teacher. May you find deep insight and spiritual truth as you embark on an exciting ten week journey with selected parables! 1
2
Matthew 13:1-9 (18-23) Parallel passages Mark 4:1-9, Luke 8:4-8 - Sunday 6 th May 1. What is a parable? It may be based on a true event or it may be a fictional story that contains immense truth. What parables outside the Bible do you know? Many of these have come from the stories you read or heard in your childhood. What is a favourite story from your childhood? 2. Why do you think Jesus taught using parables? What do parables accomplish that simple direct speech lacks? _ 3. Since both opposition and support for Jesus was growing, what is significant about the timing of this parable? _ 4. What characterises each of the four types of soil? What happens to the seed in each type of soil? Why? 5. What type of soil might you have been in days past? What has God done to make you more productive? What kind of soil best describes you now? 6. What deep roots help to prevent a believer from falling away? _ 3
7. What worries have the potential to choke your growth in Christ? How can you free yourself from these thorns? _ 8. What new insights has God given you about himself and yourself in the last twelve months? _ 9. How did this parable help the disciples to understand what was happening in their ministry? _ 10. If you could rewrite this parable in modern language to explain it to people who know nothing about farming, what images would you use? _ 11. Why did Jesus have to explain this parable? _ 12. What does this parable teach about taking a risk? About percentage gain? What are the results of not risking? _ 13. What has this parable taught you about faith sharing, its process, challenges and outcomes? _ 4
Matthew 25:31-46 Sunday 13 th May 1. Why did Jesus illustrate his point by referring to sheep and goats? What possible behaviour of these animals helps to makes his point? _ 2. What is your most memorable visit to someone in hospital or prison? What makes it so memorable? _ 3. What coming event is being considered here and what is the purpose of this event? 4. In verses 35-36, Jesus mentions six actions to illustrate the basis on which people are judged. What kind of acts are these? For whom are they done? How do they benefit the doer as well as the receiver? 5. What similarities are there between those who do the acts and those who don t do them? How are they different? What do you make of the concept of unconscious goodness? _ 6. Who, besides those mentioned in the parable, might be considered the least of these? 7. Describe your most vivid memory of someone acting in love to you when you were sick, a stranger, hungry How did you feel? 5
8. What does the parable teach about Christian responsibility? Would you do something for someone anonymously? Would there be limits to this? 9. How do you understand Jesus equating himself with the least of the least? What do you make of the excuse if only we had known? See verses 38-39. _ 10. In which of the six areas Jesus mentioned would you be able to serve most naturally? Which area would create the biggest difficulty for you? _ 11. Of the six areas, is there one where you would like to get more involved? What steps will you take to do this? _ 6
Matthew 25:1-13 Sunday 20 th May 1. If a meeting begins at 7.30 pm do you arrive by 7.15, or at 7.35, or plan to leave your home at 7.30, or hope everyone else will be late? How does your punctuality or otherwise at this life group illustrate this? _ 2. What do you think you missed out on as a child? How did it feel? What do you remember as being special? What have you missed out on lately? Why? 3. To what event in human history does this parable refer? How does it relate to Matthew chapter 24? What does it communicate to Jesus hearers about the first coming of Christ? _ 4. In what way were the ten girls alike? In what way were they different? _ 5. What is the point of this parable? How does it compare with Matthew 24:42? _ 6. What things cannot be borrowed but require personal attention and action? _ 7. What unexpected event has happened in your life in the last six months? To what extent were you ready to handle it? What have you learned through it? _ 7
8. What regrets might you have because you were unprepared for something? What was the outcome? Was it a lost opportunity? What are you in preparation for at the moment? 9. What is the oil that keeps your lamp lit? What do you do to keep sufficient oil in the lamp? What must you do now if the oil is getting low? _ 10. Who are you most like in this parable? Why? _ 11. At the final wedding banquet, where will you be standing? Why? Why is readiness so important in regard to the second coming of Christ? 12. What are you doing to live as if the coming of the bridegroom (even the return of Christ) was imminent? _ 8
Matthew 13:44-46 Sunday 27 th May 1. What needs sorting out in your shed or storeroom? What is likely to be found there trivia, trash or treasure? What would you do with the proceeds from a garage sale? 2. What are the four most valuable things in your life? Why? How does this determine your use of time and energy? 3. What is so valuable to you, that you could not give up? Why? Has this ever been tested? 4. How do you determine priorities in your life and work? Do you strategise for this or do you simply wait to see what happens each day? How do you decide what is most important? 5. Describe a time when you had to choose between two good things. How did you feel? What governed the choice you made? 6. What do the two parables teach about the value of the kingdom of God? With what emotion or energy should it be pursued? What was Jesus trying to get across by telling these two parables? What impact does this have on you? 9
7. In the first parable the finder seems to discover the treasure unexpectedly, almost by accident. In the second parable the person is actively searching. What does this say about the nature of the kingdom of heaven, its manifestation, and the action of God and people? 8. What is your experience of discovering such a treasure your testimony to the saving grace of God in the resurrected crucified Christ? 9. When you discovered the kingdom of God (the influence from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ), what gave you the greatest joy? How has that joy changed, if at all, since that discovery? 10. If Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, the greatest treasure of all, what does it say about how we pattern our life, make daily choices, determine our values and influence our actions? 11. The second parable speaks of the necessary sacrifice to buy the pearl. What second best thing might you have to give up in order to attain the best? How do you understand and respond to the saying Pay now and play later or play now or pay later? 10
Luke 10:25-36 Sunday 3 rd June 1. What was one of your favourite bedtime stories when you were a child? Why did you like it? Who read it or told it to you? Was it a parable type story with metaphorical meaning such as Three Little Pigs? 2. Who would you nominate as Good Samaritan of the year? Why? What are the characteristics of such a person? 3. In what way were the questions that the lawyer asked Jesus a test? What was he testing? 4. How does the answer that Jesus gave shift the burden of the test on to the lawyer? 5. Does the lawyer, in verse 29, consider he has passed the test? Explain your answer. 6. Read Leviticus 21:1-3 and Numbers 19:11-22. Keeping this in mind, read only verses 30-32 of Luke 10 and explain why the priest and the Levite would pass on the other side of the road. At this point of the story do you think the listeners approved of the actions of the priest and the Levite? Why or why not? 11
7. What was Jesus trying to teach by using a Samaritan as an example of loving action? See John 4:7-9. Was Jesus successful with this twist in the plot? In what way? 8. With whom do you identify most in this story? Why? 9. Who have been Good Samaritans in your life? What were the circumstances? 10. To whom have you been a Good Samaritan? What makes a Good Samaritan really good? Is help given to a stranger equal in importance to help for someone we know? 11. What do you notice about the subtle difference between the question by the lawyer, Who is my neighbour? and the question of Jesus, Which of these three do you think was a neighbour? 12. To whom should you express such neighbourly and sacrificial love this week? 12
Luke 14:7-11 Sunday 10 th June 1. If you could have the best seats in the Festival Theatre how would that make you feel? Have you ever been upgraded from Economy Class to Business Class on an aeroplane? How did that feel? How many people did you tell about it? 2. What is your most embarrassing experience? What has been your proudest moment? 3. Read from the beginning of chapter 14 to understand the context in which Jesus told this parable. In what way would the scenario in verses 1-6 create an appropriate setting and perhaps encourage Jesus to tell this parable? 4. Why do the guests actions in verse 7 attract Jesus attention? 5. What is Jesus teaching about honour in this parable? How was his view different from that of others present at the meal? 6. How do things like customs and status get in the way of loving others in your network? 7. What does Jesus perspective teach us about the kingdom of God? 13
8. Jesus is really teaching about humility, a relatively uncommon attribute. Tell of a time when you felt humbled? What other emotion did you feel at the time? 9. Read Philippians 2:1-11. In what way does the teaching of Jesus in the parable find expression in his incarnation and sacrificial death? 10. Read James 2:1-9. What does this teach about how we assess people and what we consider to be important? How does this passage challenge you? 11. Think of a time when you, even unconsciously, tried to exalt yourself. What was the result? 12. What is one area where you need to exercise more humility? Why this area? What will you do about it today? For example, humbly admitting that we are ignorant about something is the first step to gaining knowledge; it is a prerequisite to learning! 13. A characteristic that is common in really successful leaders is humility. They seek the success of a project or organisation above their own recognition. How does our relationship with Christ enable us to lead in such a way that he must increase and I must decrease? See John 3:20-30. 14
Matthew 25:14-30 Sunday 17 th June 1. Who was one of the most talented persons you knew in school? What are they doing now? 2. When you were younger what talents were recognised in you? Are they still apparent? 3. In the parable, who or what is represented by the master, the journey, the talents and the servants? 4. Do you think it was fair to distribute the talents unevenly? How do you feel about the master s treatment of the person with one talent? Is it fair? Why or why not? How would you feel if you were the person to receive one talent? 5. What is the main point that Jesus is making in this parable? How does it compare to other things that he has said about the second coming? (Some commentators consider that in the parable Jesus was being critical of the Jewish orthodox leaders, they being the one talent person who kept things as they were. That is, it is about the first coming of Christ!). 6. Why do you think Jesus thought it was necessary to repeat his point so many times and in so many different ways? Would his reason still apply today? 15
7. How do you perceive yourself are you a five-talent, two-talent or one-talent person? What does that say to you about yourself, your self-esteem and confidence? 8. What are some of your talents (giftedness, strengths, abilities, skills, passions) and how are you developing them? What are you good at? Take time in your life group to affirm what you observe as the talents of the members in the group. 9. What sort of responsibility do you feel towards God regarding the use of your talents? Is the adage true: Use it or lose it? 10. When, if ever, have you discovered that the more you used a talent, the more talents God gave you? How do you feel about this as reward for work well done? 11. If the master returned today, what would he say about how you invested (used) what he had entrusted to you? 12. What will you do with your God-given talents this week to be more prepared for the return of the Master? What can your group do to help you in this regard? 16
From Little Things Big Things Grow Matthew 13:31-32 Parallel passages Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19 Sunday 24 th June 1. What has been your experience of watching something grow, perhaps from a very small beginning into something very large? (It could be a plant, a living organism, a movement, a structure, etc.) 2. What is your favourite story about a person with humble beginnings who made the big time? 3. What do these two parables teach about the kingdom of God/heaven? What impression does such teaching have on you? 4. How do these parables apply to life today? Share examples. What do they convey about the church today compared with the small beginnings when Jesus called his disciples? What would they say to a person planting a new church? 5. How have you experienced the mustard seed effect in your life something small having a great impact on your life? What about in the life of your church? 6. What aspects of Jesus ministry seem small? When have you felt too insignificant to make much impact? What do these parables say to you about significance? 17
7. How do you measure your growth today? What standards become the measure values, character, faith, confidence, capacity, etc.? 8. What is the yeast in your life that makes you grow? 9. Discuss the fact that the mustard seed itself must die for it to become a living plant and that the yeast must get lost in the dough and dispersed through it so that in losing its own identity it can alter the whole character of the dough. What does it say about change and sacrifice? 10. What do these parables say about the purposes of God for the church? 11. How does the kingdom of heaven become evident today? 12. What accountability are you now feeling for yourself? For others? To God? What are you hearing God call you to do as a result? 18
Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-8 Sunday 1 st July 1. What is your understanding and practice in prayer? Is prayer a last resort or is it essentially the means by which you nurture and develop your relationship with God? _ 2. What is the expectation that Jesus has regarding the practice of prayer? See Matthew 6:5-15, Luke 5:12-13. What importance does Jesus place on prayer? _ 3. Does Luke 11:5-6 suggest that God answers prayer because he gets tired of hearing us ask? See also Luke 18:4-5. Why does God answer prayer? _ 4. In what ways have you been like the widow in Luke 18:1-8? When have you really pursued an issue in prayer? What happened? Have you been tempted to give up? 5. What is the relationship between persistence in prayer and faith? To what extent is such persistence an indication that the prayer is offered in sincerity, in earnestness and in real desire? _ 6. Read on to Luke 11:9-11. According to this, how are we to approach prayer? What is the relationship between God s goodness and our prayer? _ 7. About how much time do you invest in prayer each day? Each week? _ 19
8. What method or procedure do you follow in prayer? How do you find it helpful? How do you usually pray? Do you have a set time and place or do you rely on spontaneity? _ 9. What do you use to prepare for prayer read a psalm, a devotional guide, worship CD, etc? _ 10. What concerns occupy most of your prayer time praise, thanks, confession, petition? Should this be reviewed? In which area do you want to grow? _ 11. Some prayers appear not to be answered, at least not in the way we would like. Why do you think that God would decline our request, modify it, or not answer our prayer immediately? _ 12. In what area of your life is it hardest to trust God through prayer? How can you overcome this lack of trust? How important is our attitude when we pray? _ 13. For what will you pray and trust God this week? _ 20
Matthew 18:21-35 Sunday 8 th July 1. What is one of the worse things that happened to you in your younger days? What emotions are still associated with the memory and is there any residual unforgiveness? 2. What is something another person or system could do to you that you would find it hard to forgive? Why? 3. The rabbis of Jesus day taught that if someone offended you twice you should forgive them, but not so if they offended you three times or more. What do you think Peter expected of Jesus when he asked his question? Could Peter have had a special reason for his question? Is there someone that you feel is always offending you and consequently you now feel like withholding forgiveness? 4. What did Jesus mean when he said to forgive seventy-seven (or seventy times seven) times? What does this say about forgiveness in the kingdom of God and the nature of the kingdom? Compare this to the vengeance that is sought seventy times seven in Genesis 4:24. Could Jesus have been glancing back to this when he spoke about infinite forgiveness, and the reverse behaviour expected of people of the new covenant? 5. How does the parable of the unforgiving servant build on Jesus answer? 21
6. What does the parable teach us about why we should forgive others? See verses 32-35. Where does a forgiving attitude come from? 7. What is your sense that God has forgiven you an unpayable debt? How does that speak to you about your attitude toward those who may offend you? 8. Do we forgive others so God will forgive us, or does God forgive us so that we will have a forgiving attitude? Explain your answer. See Matthew 5:7 and 6:12. 9. Based on this parable, and the readings in question 8, is God s forgiveness of us limited or unlimited, conditional or unconditional? Likewise, our forgiveness of others? 10. How many times should we be willing to forgive others? Why? How easy or hard is this? How can we forgive yet not encourage irresponsibility? 11. Who suffers when we do not forgive the offender, the offended, the kingdom of God or all? How important is forgiveness to health and personal wholeness and well-being? Why? 12. To be unforgiving do we break God s law or more likely break God s heart? To what extent is unforgiveness a sin against love and a denial of the work of the cross? 22
13. Who has extended forgiveness to you? To who have you extended forgiveness? What was the result of the forgiving attitude? 14. Who do you need to forgive right now? 15. What is the best way to forgive people who do not know they have wronged you? 16. How should you forgive someone from the distant past who hurt you deeply? 23