articlesforchristians

Jesus Teaches in Parables

• Jesus often taught in parables.
• A parable is an earthy story with a spiritual application
• Through parables Jesus used a “known” to reveal an “unknown”.
• Jesus spoke many parables; three are discussed below.

1. THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

•  Matthew 13:1-9 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
• The interpretation are as follows:
  • Matther 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.
• This parable should cause you to ask a question.
  • What kind of soil are you?
• The lessons of this parable are:
  • The seed is the Word of God
  • The wayside soil represents those who hear the Word but do not understand it
  • The stony soil represents those who hear the Word and receive it for a moment, but
  • when temptation comes, they fall away because they are not grounded in the Word
  • The thorny ground represents those who hear the Word and begin to bear fruit but
  • They allow the cares and pleasures of life grow in their life
  • The good ground represents those who hear the Word, understand it, and obey it.

2. THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

• Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
  seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went
  and sold all that he had, and bought it.
• What price will you pay?
• Although Jesus did not interpret this parable, many scholars believe that it represents
  the search of humanity for the gospel
  • All of life is a search for the very best
    The most valuable thing in the world is the gospel message – God’s plan for
    salvation
• When truth is found, it is worth giving up anything and everything in order to obtain
  it.
  • Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after
    me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever
    will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
    it.

3. THE TALENTS

• Matthew 25:14-25 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
  • What will you do with your life?
• The talents represents how we use what God gives us.
• The man who traveled to a far country represents the Lord, before He left, He distributed His money – five talents, two talents, and one talent
  • Each servant used the talents differently
    • The one who had the most used his talents the most; he invested, and his investment
      paid good dividends.
    • Likewise so did the man with the two talents
    • The one that had one talent was too fearful to take any risk and so did nothing
      • The man who did nothing was called wicked and slothful
      • Matthew 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothfulservant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
    • It is difficult to work in fear, but when we are working for the Lord, we need never fear. Our sole concern should be to please Him.
      • 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.