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.

Jesus Teaches the New Birth

• Jesus received mixed reactions to His Ministry.
• The common people heard Him gladly.
• He came preaching to the poor.
• The “learned” people did not always receive Him.
• Many among the chief rulers also believed on Jesus but would not confess Him for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
  • Mark 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
  • Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
  • Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
  • John 12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

JESUS AND NICODEMUS

• Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night and said to him:
• John 3:1-3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
  • Nicodemus did not come questioning: he came to Jesus with a compliment; but Jesus brought the conversation to a more important matter: how can a person see God’s kingdom and enter into it?
• Ye Must be Born Again
  • Jesus said that the only way a person can see and enter the kingdom is to be born
    again.
  • Nicodemus could only associate it with a natural birth.
    • John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
      • Water and Spirit
        • Being “Born Again” consists of two elements; water and Spirit.
        • Water refers to baptism in water and the Spirit to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

THE PROMISE TO ALL BELIEVERS

• Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.
  • There He made a dramatic and most significant statement.
    • John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
  • Some observations:
    • The promise is to any person
      • The qualifying factor is that a person must thirst
    • Must come to Jesus
      • To receive this promise must believe in Jesus
    • The rivers of living water that will flow out of the believer are the Spirit (The Holy
      Ghost)
      • At that time, the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
        • Jesus has now been glorified, and the Holy Ghost is given.
        • From the Day of Pentecost, even to this day, the promise has been for all who
          believe.

JESUS’ BAPTISM

• The first recorded event in the adult life of Christ is His baptism by John
  • Matthew 3.13-17 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • John was reluctant to baptize Christ, but submitted when Jesus told him that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness.
    • As Jesus came up out of the water, John saw the heavens open up and the Spirit of God
      descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus.
    • He also heard a voice that said:
      • John 1:32-34 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
        like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to
        baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
        descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
        Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

JESUS’ TEMPTATION

• Following His baptism, the Spirit let Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
• It is important to note that Satan’s directed attack against the deity of Jesus.
• The devil first appealed to the natural hunger that Jesus suffered.
• Then he attempted to use the Word of God to justify his temptation.
  • Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • Psalms 91:11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone
• Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. He claimed that he would give them all to him if Jesus would fall down and worship him.
• Jesus quoted the Word of God and the devil left Him
  • Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
• Jesus responded to the enemy with the sword of the Spirit
  • Matthew 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
  • Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
• Jesus entered into His ministry – Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled
  • Isaiah 61:1-2 (KJV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
    • Observe that the Lord Jesus ended the reading of this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21) with the words “year of the LORD.” The first advent, therefore, opened the day of grace, “the acceptable year of the LORD,” but does not fulfill the day of vengeance that will be accomplished when Messiah returns (2 Th 1:7-10). Cp. Isa 34:8; 35:4.
  • Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

THE MIRACULOUS MINISTRY OF JESUS

• He gave sight to the blind
  • Isaiah 35-5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
  • Matthew 9:27-31 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying. Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them. Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying. According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
• He raised the dead
  • John 11:41-44 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
• Lepers were cleansed
  • Matthew 8.2-4 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
• The Lame walked
  • John 5:1-9 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me, Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
• The deaf heard and the mute spoke
  • Mark 7:35-37 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
• In the meantime, John the Baptist had been placed in prison for his condemnation of Herod’s sin. John told Herod that it was unlawful for him to have his brother’s wife.
  • Matthew 14:3-4 (KJV) For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
• While John was still in prison, he sent his disciples to ask if He is the one or do we look for another.
  • Jesus answered
    • Matthew 11:3-6 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

THE HEART OF JESUS’ MINISTRY

• Some of the Jewish people were confused because they expected the Messiah to be born in a palace of noble family and to free them from Roman oppression.
• Jesus came to establish a kingdom not of this world.
  • John 18:16 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
• His Message was not revolution but repentance.
  • Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
• Jesus did not come to align Himself with the called dignitaries of this world but to teach and reach people at their point of greatest need.
• Jesus was tempted and felt what we feel, but yet was without sin.
  • Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
• Jesus never refused anyone; His invitation was:
  • John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)