Lesson 4 : Parables
Opening Prayer
Psalm 119:41–49 (NASB95)
May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your word; 42 So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. 43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances. 44 So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. 46 I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed. 47 I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love. 48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. 49 Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope.
QUESTIONS
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Beginning Discussion
1. Briefly discuss any questions or comments about reading.
REVIEW
i. Narratives
ii. Dialogue
iii. Teaching / preaching
iv. * Parables *
WALK!!!!!!!!!
Parables are “cast along side” comparisons to spiritual realities.
Mark 4:30-34
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” 33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Matthew 13:10–13 (NASB95)
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Literal Historical Grammatical Hermeneutics
Literal Approach = Objective Observation of the Author’s Intent
Always Observe
Observe the type of illustration
1. Real & common life experience
2. Stories & Drama
3. Contrast Characters
4. Many more ETC…
Origen and Augustine - interpreted the parable of the “Good Samaritan” allegorically as follows:
Determine Narrative/ Historical Context
Example : Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Determine Narrative/ Historical Context
Luke 12:13-21
Who , What, When, Why?
Luke 12:13–21 (NASB95)
13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Someone in the crowd said to Him,
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
But He said to him,
“Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Situation
One principle / Main Point
[[ Rule ]] The principal parts and figures of a parable represent certain main realities. Consider only these principal parts and figures when drawing conclusions.
One principle / Main Point
Example: The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
How do I know the main Principle / Main Point?
Example : Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7 )
15:7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
15:32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”
15 Then He said to them,
“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;
for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
…
21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.”
The Main Point
Word of Caution About Parables
Parables often use Exaggerations, hyperboles, to accentuate the point.
15 Then He said to them,
“Beware,
and be on your guard against every form of greed;
for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
…
21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.”
The Main Point
16 And He told them a parable, saying,
“The land of a rich man was very productive.
17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying,
‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do:
I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
The Story
Summarize The Main Point
Options?
1. Death may come for you at any time, fool!
2. Vanity! You collect and die only to give it to your squandering son.
3. Your greed instructs a faulty value system
4. Your life is not the sum of your material wealth.
5. Spiritual wealth far exceeds material wealth.
Cross Reference!
Luke 12:22–23 (NASB95)
22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing….
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Cross Reference!
Luke 16:13–15 (NASB95) “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
NEXT WEEK
1. Study 1 Samuel 3:1-21 OT History & Narrative
2. Read short article : Inspiration & Inerrancy