Lesson 71-The Parable of the Sower JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE USING MANY PARABLES, OR STORIES. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 13, verses 1-23, The Bible tells us that there were so many people who wanted to hear Jesus, and the crowd was so large, that... Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. [But] Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Standing in the boat, with the people on the shore, Jesus told a story about a man planting seeds in a field. The way people planted in those days was to throw the seed down, scattering it so it didn't all fall in one place. The Bible says-- Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. This parable is about the Word of God, and what happens when four different kinds of people hear the Gospel. Jesus explains the story this way- Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 1. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 2. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 3. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 4. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Lesson 72-The Parable of the Mustard Seed JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE USING MAY PARABLES, OR STORIES. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 13, in verses 31-32, Jesus says--... The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. In the book of Mark, in Chapter 4, we find the same story about the tiny mustard seed. In verses 30-32, Jesus says-- What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade. With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. Sometimes the stories were not very easy to understand. But the Bible tells us that-...when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. V. 33. The book of Luke also tells the story of the tiny mustard seed. Luke says that Jesus asked- What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. Chapter 13, Vs. 18-20. When Jesus was telling this story, he was explaining how the kingdom of God grows and grows, from a tiny seed to a big plant that birds can perch in. There are several lessons in this very short parable. One is that a very small amount of the gospel--the Good News--can have a very big effect, like a tiny seed growing into a big plant. Another might be that the kingdom of heaven is a safe place.
Lesson 73-The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE USING MANY PARABLES, OR STORIES. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 25, in verses 1- Jesus says-- At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten [bridesmaids]* who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. It was dark, so they each had an oil lamp. Jesus says that- Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. Jesus says that some of the bridesmaids took along an extra jar of oil in case their lamp ran out of oil. Sure enough, in verse 5 it says-- The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. The girls all fell asleep, because the groom didn't come until midnight! and- At midnight the cry rang out: Here s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him! The lamps were quickly running out of oil! So the girls--..."woke up and trimmed their lamps. But the girls who had not brought an extra jar of oil were out of oil. Jesus said-- The foolish ones said to the wise, Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out. The foolish girls who had not brought an extra jar of oil asked for oil from the girls who had planned ahead. But -- No, they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves. The foolish girls had to go find a place and buy some oil, but in the parable Jesus says that-- But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The [bridesmaids] who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. Lord, Lord, they said, open the door for us! The foolish girls were not allowed in to the wedding! This is not a true story about a wedding; it is a parable teaching us to be ready, because Jesus is coming back. And, because the foolish [bridesmaids] weren't ready, the Bridegroom said to them--... Truly I tell you, I don t know you. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Vs. 12-13.
Lesson 74-Nicodemus IN THE BOOK OF JOHN, THERE IS A STORY ABOUT a man named Nicodemus. It says- Now there was a...man named Nicodemus...He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Jesus' reply was......no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Vs. 3. Nicodemus didn't understand that! He asked-- How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother s womb to be born! But Jesus answered--...no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Vs. 6-7. Then Jesus explained about the spirit-- You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. But Nicodemus asked-- How can this be?... V. 9. Jesus knew that Nicodemus didn't really want to understand, so he said- You are Israel s teacher,... and do you not understand these things?... I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? V. 11-12. Then Jesus told Nicodemus something even harder to accept. He said-- Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. V. 13-15 Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he was going to have to die on the cross! Then he explained why-- For God so loved the world that he gave his...only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. So Jesus made it clear that Nicodemus would have to believe to have eternal life. And Jesus then explained why people would not want to believe. He said-- This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. Vs. 19-21.
Lesson 75-The Good Samaritan IN THE BOOK OF LUKE, a man asks Jesus an important question. The Bible says-- On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus then asks the man a question- 26 What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it? The man answered Jesus by quoting scripture. He said- 27 He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. That scripture was from Deut. 6:5. The man also quoted another scripture. Love your neighbor as yourself. Lev. 19:18. Jesus told the man that he was right. He said- You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live. But the man then asked Jesus another question....he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Then Jesus told this story-- In reply Jesus said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. The two supposedly good people just passed the injured man and didn't help him at all. Then a man who was not thought of as one of the good people passed by. The Bible says-- But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have. Jesus finished his story and then asked the man another question. He asked-- Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The man knew the answer. The Bible says that-- The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him. That was the right answer, and- Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. Luke 10:25-37
Lesson 76-The Greatest Commandment JESUS TAUGHT THAT ONE COMMANDMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. Both Matthew and Mark record what was said. In Matthew 22 it says-...the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. VS. 34-39 Mark also tells what was said. In Mark 12 it says- One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Well said, teacher, the man replied. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. The man gave the right answer and-- When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Vs. 28-34.
Lesson 78-The Late Laborers IN MATTHEW 20 JESUS TELLS A STORY-A PARABLE- about people working. Jesus said- For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius (about $30) for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right. 5 So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? Because no one has hired us, they answered. He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard. When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first. The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. These who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day. But he answered one of them, I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Vs. 1-16 What do you think Jesus' parable meant?
Lesson 79-Fishers of Men WHEN JESUS LEARNED THAT HIS COUSIN JOHN HAD BEEN PUT IN PRISON, he decided to leave Nazareth and live in Capernaum-...which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill prophecy--tofulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Vs. 13-16 Jesus was the great light. And at Capernaum Jesus chose some men to help him tell the people that he was the Messiah and the gospel--the Good News. So he went down to the lake--the Sea of Galilee--and As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Vs. 18. Jesus first chose Peter and Andrew, two brothers. He said to them- Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. Vs. 19. Another version of the Bible says, "I will make you fishers of men" -(song--"i will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men-if you follow me*)." Peter and Andrew wanted to be fisher of men, and- At once they left their nets and followed him. Vs. 20. Jesus next saw two other brothers. The Bible says that- Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and- Vs. 21. James and John also came with Jesus right then. The Bible says that-... immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Vs. 22. After Jesus chose Peter, Andrew, James and John, the Bible says that- Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demonpossessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Vs. 23-25.
Lesson 80-Jesus Heals Jairus' Daughter MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE ALL TELL THE STORY OF- the healing of a dead girl. In the book of Luke, Chapter 8, the Bible says that-...when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him...vs. 40. People from all over were flocking to Jesus, wanting to be healed. One, a man named Jairus, believed Jesus could heal his daughter, who was very ill. Jairus-...came and fell at Jesus feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. Vs. 41-42 Jesus was being mobbed by the crowd, and he didn't seem to focus on Jairus-- other people wanted to be healed too. The Bible says that-...the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman... came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately... [she was healed]. Vs. 43-44. Jesus didn't even see the woman, but she was healed! Who touched me? Jesus asked... [and] Peter said, Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. But Jesus said, Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me. Vs. 45-46. The woman was frightened, but Jesus said--... Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Vs. 48 Jairus was still waiting, but- While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. Your daughter is dead, he said. Don t bother the teacher anymore. Vs. 49. But Jesus said to Jairus--... Don t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed. Vs. 50. But- When... [Jesus] arrived at the house of Jairus...all the people were wailing and mourning for her. Stop wailing, Jesus said. She is not dead but asleep. Although Jesus had been performing miracles that the people had all seen- They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. Then Jesus-... took her by the hand and said, My child, get up! Although the little girl was dead, the Bible says that Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.