To The Parables…

and Beyond!

Class #34

Quote

I think ideas have to sink very deeply into a person’s soul,into their being,

before they can effect change,and lists rarely sink deeply

into a person’s soul.Donald Miller

This Week’s Research QuestionWhat leader spoke out against Solomon’s sin for marrying

foreign wives?

- Nehemiah, Nehemiah 13:26Note that this is after the captivity

Next Week’s Research QuestionName the kings that hid themselves.

- Five Amorite kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah(Joshua 10:16).

- David hid in a field, to await word from Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:24)- David hid in the strongholds at Horesh

(1 Samuel 23:19, 1 Samuel 26:1)

- Ahaziah was hiding in Samaria when Jehu’s men found him; Jehukilled him (2 Chronicles 22:9)

- Joash son of Ahaziah was hidden when Athaliah killed all of hisbrothers (2 Kings 11:2, 2 Chronicles 22:11)

To study the parables of Christ

The purpose of this class

This will be a long-term study.We may only get to study “some” of the parables.

To dig deeply as we can into the Truth of God,and “get” His message

To learn more about how God Communicates with us

There is an infinite extent to the space that we are looking inthat is defined from our personal experiences.

We can get a fresh look every day!

We can make our own connections and images.We may make our own “parables”.

Communication - God to ManPatriarch Egypt Kings Captivity Return Jesus Apostles ChurchJudges

DirectTruth(DT)

Prophets

NT DT

Parables references?

Now that we see we can go back to DT

DreamsVisions

Miracles

Angels

Law cyclic response of the people

To help those who truly want to understand.

Why did Jesus Use Parables? (review)

Jesus wanted us to see the spirit of the truthrather than legalism.

Jesus wanted to communicate the truthwithout triggering a debate or inciting legalism.

PDE

Jesus wanted to change attitudes about the Kingdom.

Build a Parable: Lessons from the CocoonSome types of butterflies and moths mimic other types of insects,

or even the eye of a predator.

[false prophets]… come to you in sheep’s clothing,but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15

… Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.2 Corinthians 11:14

What are the things that Christ tried to change?

1) what is really important (Goodness as opposed to Legalism)2) understanding of the expectation of the true nature of the

Kingdom (growth/fruit, influence, life)3) understanding of what real relationships are supposed to be like4) understanding that separation from God can occur even with the

“chosen people”5) the attitudes of those who were “followers” of God

ParablesOutline of the Class

I Introduction

II Communication

III Purpose of Parables

IV Parable Structure

IV Parable Organization

V Individual Parable Studies

Building our own Parable: The Emergence of a Butterfly

Response: The Parable of the Sower [explained]Separation: The Parable of the Weeds [explained] and the NetPower: The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast [explained]

also the parable of the Growing SeedValue: The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the PearlIntegration: The Parable of the StoreroomPersistence: The Parables of the Needy Widow

and the Friend at MidnightTradition: The Parable of the Mouth and the Uprooted PlantSigns of the times and Second chances: The Parable or Lesson

of the Fig Tree and the Parable of the Barren Fig TreeAuthority: The Parable of the Two SonsAccepting God: The Renters of the VineyardFair “Payment”: The Parable of the Workers in the VineyardConnection: The Parable of the Vine and the Branches

Parables (1)

Foundation: The Parable of the Wise and Foolish BuildersSelfishness: The Rich FoolThe Cost of Discipleship: The Unprepared BuilderNourishment: The Bread of LifeInfluence: The Salt of the Earth; the Light of the WorldPresence of God: Jesus and FastingFlexibility: New Wine, New ClothFeast Etiquette: How to be a guest; Feast invitations; Feast attendance

Washing hands before eatingFinding the Lost: Lost Coin, Lost Sheep, Lost Son

Parables (2)

Jesus FollowersBread of Life Salt of the EarthLiving WaterVine Branches (wine)Light of the World Light of the WorldShepherd/Gate/Door Sheep

Building a Table of “I am / You are” Metaphors

The nourishment must lead to proper action

Feast, Wedding, Banquet

Enabling enjoyment/nourishment

Food (Bread,Salt, Water, Wine)

Layers of Meaning in the Food Group [PDE/HSL]

The food is proper nourishment,But we must eat properly:(not too much, or too fast -

like manna or quail)And with proper etiquette:

(not pushing other sheep out of the way, as in Ezek 34)

Food (previously studied)Mustard Seed and Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33)Net of Fish (Matthew 13:4-50)Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)

Weeds among wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)Lesson from a fig tree (Matthew 24:32-35)Friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-13)Barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9)Workers in vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)Renters of a vineyard (Matthew 21:33-46)True vine (John 15:1-17)

FoodBread of Life (John 6:31-38)Salt of the Earth (Matthew 5:13-16, Mark 9:50)

Great Physician (Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:29-32)Jesus and Fasting (Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-35)New Wine and New Cloth (Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:21-22, Luke 5:36-39)

How to be a Guest (Luke 14:7-11)Feast Invitations (Luke 14:12-14)Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24)Washing Hands and Processing Food (Matthew 15:1-20)

The “Lost” Parables - especially The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

Next Group: Food as a Parable Subject

A Trio of Thoughts on the Lost

The Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10The Lost Sheep Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:3-7The Lost (Prodigal) Son Luke 15:11-32

Out of order, I know…But I have my reasons (awareness vs number).

The Trigger

Now the tax collectors and sinnerswere all gathering around to hear Jesus.

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15:1-2

The Pharisees did not approveof associating with the common people.

But we are all similar-looking specks in the eyes of God.

These were the “cast-offs”

The Prodigal Son - Skipping the Hard Part

When the story began,the son could have chosen to skip this hard-learned lesson

and just gone direct to “hired hand” status.But, from his original position,

such a choice would have seemed to be nonsense.We all too often fail to recognize

how blessed we areuntil we’ve squandered

what God has given.

PDE

“We don’t know what we’ve got ‘til its gone.”

Do we really learn without burning our hand?

The Prodigal Son - Smart Investing

Father and son were polar opposites in their choices.

The younger son was wholly focused on stuff vs relationships.The father valued relationships over stuff.

If the father had chosento not give the inheritance to the younger son -

would the younger son ever have learned the lesson?The father truly gave up stuff

that would not last in exchangefor a relationship that was priceless.

PDE

The father made the smart investment.

The Prodigal Son - Sinner!

The refusal of the older brotherto recognize the younger brother

except as his father’s son,further reinforces the issue

that there was a relationship to be recognized.This rebel was not an outcast, but “your brother”.We need to be reminded sometimes,

when we are tempted to look down on othersor despise them for their sin or rebellion,

that they are our ‘brothers’ - they are our ‘sisters’.

We must remember that we are all sinners.PDE

Phases of the Parable of the Prodigal Son

RebellionRealizationReturnReaction/Reception

FatherBrother

Recap

Parallel to Zaccheus

On the other hand,we do know of great stories of repentance.

Zaccheus, for instance,promised to stop oppressing people in his tax collection,

and declared that he would givehalf his possessions to the poorand would return four-fold whatever

he might have taken wrongly.

Return: Trying to Climb Up from the Bottom

And in the great parable,the prodigal son promised to be only a servant;

he did not even dare to return to his former position.He knew that he deserved a demotion

instead of expecting to return to prominence.We must make sure we mean it when we say that we are sorry.

George A. Buttrick

The motive for returning seems to be pure.It is not simply the desire of a hungry man to eat.

Reaction (Father): Offense not Counted

The father’s welcome to the repentant sonwas literally reckless,

because he refused to “reckon”or count his sin against him

or demand repayment.Tim Keller

This could also be called “the parable of the loving father”.

Reaction (Father): Apology “Ignored”

The father’s lavish affectionmakes the son’s expression of remorse

far easier.Tim Keller

The father blew on by the apology,as if it was pre-accepted.

Reaction (Father): Overwhelming Joy!

The father’s reaction is not just to take his son back,but to celebrate his great love for him.

But the father declared that it was a time for a great feast!

The father could have accepted his son,but made him live in a shack out in the “back 40”.

Reaction (Brother): Not a loving response

The elder brother’s attitudemay have been part of the reason

that the younger brother left.

This is sort of a parable within a parable.

Never forget that [brotherly] jealousyis what led to the first murder in human history.

R.T. Kendall

There is also sort of a parallel to Joseph;his brothers hated him and made him leave.

Reaction of the Crowd

Think of the people’s reaction,the very first time that they heard this story

(before Jesus started the next part).

Reaction (Brother): He could have gone after him

This is what the elder brother in the parable should have done;this is what a true (loving) elder brother would have done.

He would have said,“Father, my younger brother has been a fool,

and even now his life is in ruins.But I will go look for him and bring him home.And if the inheritance is gone – as I expect –

I’ll bring him back into the family at my expense.”The Prodigal God, Tim Keller

Reaction (Brother): His own rebellion

Careful obedience to God’s lawmay serve as a strategy

for rebelling against God.The Prodigal God, Tim Keller

Like the Pharisees,they opposed Good to be “obedient”.

Reaction (Brother): Superiority

… the older brother was like the hypocrite at prayer:“Thank God I am not like others…”

F. LaGard Smith

He said:“Thank God I am not like my brother”.

He should have said:“Thank God I have a chance to help my brother”

Reaction (Brother): Expectation of Favoritism

R.C. Trench comments that the older brother says'this thy son’

-- he does not say ‘my brother’.

The older brother in the parable thoughtthat he should have been loved more than the younger

because of his continued hard work and obedience.R.T. Kendall

[Here is our problem]

We need to guard against having an older brother mentality.God loves all of His children the same.

R.T. Kendall