A Reflection.

 I was watching a history documentary about WWII the other day when I came to a realization. During and after WWII the Nazis and Germans were soundly criticized and severely punished for their attempted genocide of the Jewish people. Today Hamas and Hezbollah are trying to do the same. but now society applauds them and blames Israel. History does seem to repeat itself because we refuse to learn. People just do not realize this is not as simple as the nations around Israel trying to destroy Israel, it is pagans trying to destroy God (YHWH) and anyone who believes in God. This is consistent with what has happened throughout history from the earliest time.

The Parables of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus

 

 

Preface to Parables Study

 

In writing this study I have prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to lead my thoughts and writings. I have endeavored to follow only God’s Word and not man’s (including my) opinions. I have worked to have the Bible be my only rule book and guide and, if my thoughts and writings do not match up to the rest of the Bible, I have removed them.

As we study the Bible, we must always look at how what we study applies to our world and culture. Culturally and philosophically, little has changed from the days of the early church until today. If we are honest, we must say little has changed from the earliest times until now. Mankind has much more technology but our thinking, lusts, desires, temptations, greed, etc. are the same. What can we learn from God’s Word and how can we effectively apply it in today’s world?

This study is not intended for sale. A Bibliography has not been provided and not all quotes have been noted or referenced in the body of the text. I did try to reference but at times was wrapped up in the study and forgot to reference. Hopefully, these are few. My apologies to anyone who is missing.

Each of us is responsible for our interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. The Holy Spirit, the Bible, and You are the priority in interpreting what you read. We must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Thoughts, comments, disagreements, and clarifications to this study are more than welcome.

 

Tony Smith

 

 

 

Introduction

 

According to Merriam Webster “a parable is a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle.”  This is a rather wide definition that can cover folklore, to allegories, to parables in Jewish culture and the Bible. In the Hebrew culture the parable, (mashal), can also have many meanings but, unlike other kinds of stories, the word pictures of a Hebrew parable always reveal the reality of God.

Jesus is Jewish in His ethnic background, religious thought, and practice. “Jesus must be understood as a Jewish theologian. His theology is Jewish to the core.” (Jesus the Jewish Theologian, Brad H. Young Ph.D. p. xxxiv) Parables were not an invention of Jesus, they were part of the Hebrew culture in which Jesus grew up being raised in Second Temple Judaism. Jesus would have heard many parables in the Jewish learning centers (Beit Midrash). The learning centers were part of the synagogues and Jesus would have attended them often. Jesus also taught in the learning centers during His ministry years (John 6:56). With His use of parables Jesus was carrying on a well-established teaching tool of generations of Jewish teachers.

As noted above the parables of Jesus always reveal the reality and character of God in word pictures. God gives us knowledge of Him, but not exhaustive knowledge of Him. The intent of Jesus’ parables was to allow people to learn more about God, why God does what He does, His basic character of love, (especially love for creation), God’s long suffering towards us, and His plans. Further, it is important for us to learn the fact of God’s immutability. God does not change. The parables also bring a greater understanding of the Torah, prophesies and writings.

“My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old” (Psalm 78:1-2).

Due to translation of Hebrew and Aramaic into Greek the original implication and sense of many parables were (unintentionally) made unclear to future listeners and readers. To get a clearer understanding of the intent of an original parable a person must read it in the original Hebrew, or a translation that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew. One must also consider the location and culture in which the parable was told. Jesus did not live outside His culture and culture’s history. Jesus was Jewish through and through.

“The essential difference between fables and parables is God.” (The Parables, Young, p.21) We can look at Aesop’s fables and see valid morality lessons but not in a God centered context. This is true of many fables from many different lands and nations. They have no real central focus. They are a collection of stories, some with morality lessons, some without. This takes us back to the essential difference between fables and parables. “Without God, Gospel and rabbinic parables lose their central focus.” (Parables, Young, p.21)

Quite often a point was made by using two or more parables to tell the same story and teach the same point. The point may be seen directly in the parable. An example is the parables in Luke 1:5-8 and Luke 18:1-8. These are two different stories in two different places in Luke, but they provide the same teaching point, although one not necessarily clear in our culture. In both cases the parables tell us of men who did not act in love in accordance with their culture of sharing, hospitality, justice, and fairness. This is not the way God acts. God acts in love. There is a second lesson here. Faith is persistent. Faith does not give up easily as evidenced by the four friends who cut a hole in the roof of a house so they could lower their sick friend to Jesus. There is also the blind man who kept shouting for Jesus even after he was told to be quiet. Jesus heard and healed him. Faith does not necessarily know cultural decorum.

Parables are still used today in teaching and clarifying. In my career I performed corporate training for all levels of employees. When doing corporate training I would visit the facility one or two days before the training was scheduled. During the visit I would learn the history and culture of the organization and would use that information to develop stories to clarify what I was teaching. The stories I used were not intended to reveal God or make a moral point (although some did do so). They were intended to teach sometimes abstract lessons using word pictures the students were very familiar with through their work and paradigms.

An example of a present-day parable is: Two men, one older and one younger. The older man told the younger man about Christ and led him to Christ. Over time the younger man told man people about Christ and led many to believe in Christ. The older man remained unknown. Who did the greater work for the Lord. Who had the greatest influence for God’s work? Both! Without the older leading the younger to believe in Christ the younger may never have done his work. Both had their critical jobs for God, and both did those jobs. Neither man did more or less than the other in God’s plan.

A second example is: Two young men (Bill and Fred) graduated college and entered the world of business. Both joined well-known corporations, worked very hard, and both rose in their organizations. Fred stayed in the background, helped and taught others and was well known and respected. Bill took advantage of every possible opportunity to get promoted regardless of who it impacted or how it impacted them, rose very high in his organization, made a fortune, and became well known in the financial industry throughout the world. After many years Bill was arrested for illegal business practices and vilified in the media and word-of-mouth. In the eyes of God who was successful, Bill or Fred? In the eyes of the world who was successful.

Both of these stories provide a look at different people, how they reacted to God, the world, and what resulted from their reaction to God. It presents us with the question “What will we choose in life?”

“Truth is always simple.

The Bible is God’s Word to us today.

Accepting the teachings of Jesus will change your life.

Parables teach us about God — and about ourselves.

God is bigger than we think He is.”  (Jamie Buckingham)

Christ taught truth. Truth is simple and clear, except to those who have closed their hearts, minds, ears and eyes. (Isaiah 6:8-10). This is explained in the parable of the Sower and the Seed. When we look at the parables, we see they are often grouped together based on the circumstances, what is happening at that time. The Sower and the Seed is immediately followed by the Wheat and Tares. Both tell us about God, and people’s response to God’s message. As we look at and truly consider what the parable is saying we can see the issue(s) Jesus is addressing.

 

 

The Parables of the Sower and the Seed (4.20.24)

Mt 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 14-20; Lu 8:5-8, 11-15

 

The first parable we will look at is the parable of the Sower and the Seed and then the parable of the Wheat and Tares. The two parables work together. They help us understand other parables and reveal information about Yahweh and the spiritual realm. Parables are memorable. They help us retain what we learn about God. We will look at the Parable of the Sower and Seed first.

The Sower and the Seed is among the first parables Jesus told. This is a very important parable for a few reasons. First, being among the first parable, it provides a pattern for us to understand subsequent parables. Second, Jesus reveals God and the spiritual realm through this parable. Third, the parable brings us face-to-face with our hearts.

Behold, the Sower went out to sow; ⁴as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. ⁶And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ⁷Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. ⁸Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” ⁹And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear ….¹³And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴The Sower sows the word. ¹⁵These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. ¹⁶In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; ¹⁷and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, ¹⁹but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:3-9, 13-20 NASB)

To understand a Biblical parable, we must do our best to put ourselves in the context, location, and culture, where the parable was told. Context is critical. In this case the context is provided by Matthew 12:46-50. Jesus had just finished teaching when His mother and brothers appeared looking for Him so they could speak with Him. Jesus was told this and His reply is a bit surprising: “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (NASB Matthew 12:50) In Israel the first-born son had an obligation, a responsibility, to care for their parents and siblings. By His answer Jesus is showing His true family is all those who DO the will of the Father in Heaven. Those who talk about God or give false worship, (their hearts are not following God and doing God’s will) are not included. (Romans 2:29) After leaving where He was teaching Jesus goes out by the sea and sits. In Second Temple Israel teachers taught from a sitting position.

This parable has three main characters, the Sower, the seed, and the soil. There are some other material parts of the parable: the birds, the rocks, the thorns. A final character is implied, Satan. The problem addressed is not the seed but the soil. Seed will grow in good soil. In the parable there are four kinds of soil: beside the road (hard soil), rocky ground (without much soil), thorny ground, and good soil. Each soil affects seed growth. Remember, it is the soil that affects seed growth, not the seed. In the parable the seed (Word) is scattered indiscriminately. Only some seeds will grow to maturity. The different soils show the hearts of different people. Jesus explains what each different soil shows about the different people so I will not dwell on that. Jesus’ explanation is more than sufficient. I do want to look at the underlying lesson, the state of a person’s heart and how that affects receiving the seed and growth. (Luke 16:15)

As mentioned above each soil says something about the different listeners and different reactions to the Gospel. The soil on the path is packed hard from people walking on it over time. Soil that is walked on multiple times daily can become like concrete where nothing will grow. The seed that fell on the path had very little chance to take root and grow. This is the same with people. Some people have so hardened their hearts over time that they refuse to hear or do anything about the Word of God. We see an example of this with Pharaoh. He had hardened his heart against God over time to the point he would NOT hear or obey God despite the efforts God made to get through to him.

The seed that fell on rocky soil looks good at first but when the listeners are persecuted because they believe God, they leave the Word. There are two very important and related points here. First, they are persecuted and afflicted because of accepting the Word. The second is they have no firm root in the Word of God. They have not grown in their belief. It is like a plant that is not watered or fertilized, it doesn’t grow and soon dies. Note the persecution is directly related to their belief, not the normal problems of life. Since they relate their affliction to the Word the easiest way to stop it is to discard their belief. It is the easiest way, but the worst way. This person has their eyes on acceptance of the world, not God. God is of secondary or lesser importance. Pharaoh is, again, an example. When Pharaoh finally let Israel go, he very quickly regretted it and followed to enslave them again. The result was his death, not Israel’s.

The thorny soil is different from the rocky soil. This soil is when the wealth, cares and philosophy of the world displace our concern for God. In fact, following the Word hardly gets a start, if at all. This is the soil with which most can identify. It is different from rocky soil because it does not involve persecution due to the Word. Thorny soil is often self-centered from the start. A person is more concerned with their well-being, status in the world, comfort, and material things, than they are God. Demas is an example of thorny soil. In Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24 Demas is identified as a fellow worker with Paul. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul said Demas has loved the present world and has forsaken him. He went from working for the Word to abandoning the Word for the world. We are not told the particulars.

Finally, we read about the good soil. This is the person who accepts the Word, grows in the Word, DOES what the Word says, and is fruitful in serving God. These are people who serve God every day, not just worship days. We see many examples of this throughout the Scriptures and life. Moses was such a person. As we read Acts and look at believers around us, we can see many examples. (Acts 9:36-43)

 

²¹And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? ²²For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. ²³If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to….” (Mark 4:21-24a)

This section is an extension of vs. 3-20 and a new, complementary parable, to the Sower and Seed. At the beginning of the story, Jesus speaks of seed being sown. The listeners at that time would have understood this to be the Word of God. Jesus now gives further clarification. His comments re. a lamp on a lampstand made sense to everyone listening to Him. In His time, they did not have electricity, they had lamps that burned olive oil. To provide the greatest amount of light to the largest area the lamps would be placed on a high point in a room. We do the same now with electric lights.

Jesus is expanding on His comment that the seed that fell on good ground would produce 30, 60, or 100 times what was expected. This would be enough to feed many people. (Jesus feeding the 4,000 and 5,000 are great examples). Believers must feed others the Word of God. There was a “mystery” in the Hebraic Scriptures that was revealed by and through Christ. (Eph. 3:3-5, 9) That mystery is Christ, the Messiah, His purpose, and actions. Light reveals what is hidden. Jesus is the light and reveals the mystery. Jesus reveals God and the spiritual realm. Believers MUST share this with all others.

We are told if we have ears we are to listen. Jesus is saying you hear but you do not really hear. We hear but do not understand, we do not comprehend. Finally, we are told to be careful of what we listen to. This can have a double meaning. First, listening to non-Godly things can, over time, lead us away from God. Paul refers to this in Ephesians 5:4; 2 Timothy 2:23; and Titus 3:9. A second meaning can be that we are responsible for what we hear. When we hear the Word of God do we act on it, or just think about it and make no change? James 4:17 tells us if a person knows to do good but does not it, to him it is sin. The Word is active, not passive. Are we like a person given money to invest and does nothing to earn more, or the person who earns more with what he was given? (Matthew 25:14-30) Do we take God’s Word and invest it in other people or keep it to ourselves?

 

REFLECTIONS:

As we look at this parable we learn about God and ourselves. God wants everyone, no exceptions, to believe and do His Word. God does not want anyone, no exceptions, to live in eternity separated from Him. God does not want anyone, no exceptions, to suffer throughout eternity because they rejected Him. When the seed was sown it was broadcast, it went to all parts of the area. The seed was not sown to just the good soil only, but everywhere, allowing all the soil to produce. The same is true with the Word of God. It is sown everywhere giving everyone a chance to respond. (Romans 10:12-13; Galatians 3:28.)

A second thing to note is the responsibility of the individual to respond. What they do with what has been sown is a personal decision. God does require a response but never tells a person how to respond. God treats each the same, there is no preferential treatment for anyone. (Matthew 22:16; Acts 10:34; Romans 10:12-13) Every person has an equal opportunity to accept Christ as their savior or to reject Him. (John 3:16-18)

Third, location, culture and context when the parable was first spoken is important. The modern world is much different from the ancient world. Second Temple Israel was an agrarian culture with a somewhat theocratic government, and they were an occupied nation. Our vocabularies are very different. All of this can make the meaning and point of a parable a bit difficult to determine. That does not mean it cannot be determined but the present-day reader MUST rely on the Holy Spirit to open the parable up for them.

This parable gives us an insight into God, His kingdom, and the reality of our present world. We can see the present reality in the soils, hard, rocky, thorny, and good. As noted, these soils are indicative of the hearts of people. The heart of a person determines how they will react to the seed (Word of God) planted in their hearts. This does not mean a person’s heart cannot be changed by the Word, but the harder the heart the more difficult it may be to change, but all things are possible with God.

This parable should cause us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to take a close, honest, look at our hearts. What kind of heart do we have? What is the state of our heart? Do we truly care about God and put Him first? (Zechariah 7:12) Do we listen to His Holy Spirit and move closer to Him and His Word? Do we need to make changes? As we see things that need to change, we should not be upset, depressed, worried, etc., the Holy Spirit shows us what needs to change because God loves us.

The parable also lets us know what we will face in the world as we work as messengers of God’s Word. Some will not listen, some will listen, but it doesn’t last long. Some will listen, but over time let the world and its priorities take over. Some will listen and become believers and workers for the Lord. Our job is to be Sowers, how people react and when they accept Christ is up to them. God allows every person that privilege. Some plant some water but God always gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

 

To Think About:

What difference does this parable make, to the original listeners, to me?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parable of the Wheat & Tares

Mt 13:24-30, 36-43; Mark 4:2-9; Luk

 

^“24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. ²⁷The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’²⁸And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.³⁰ Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”” (Matthew 13:24-30, NASB)

 

^“36Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” ³⁷And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; ³⁹and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, ⁴²and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.⁴³Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:36-43, NASB)

 

This parable was told after the parable of the Sower and the Seed and seems to be further explanation and warning. The setting for both of these parables would be very familiar to the listeners but not so much for us. Perhaps replacing wheat and tares with business ventures or gardening would be a bit more understandable in our time.

Tares are a species of rye-grass, a weed, the seeds of which are a strong poison. It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears, and only then is the difference evident. Tares are NOT something a person wants growing with their wheat crop. If not removed, tares can get mixed in with the wheat destroying the crop, making the wheat inedible, or harming consumers. Tares grow abundantly in the Syria & Phoenicia areas and were a serious problem for farmers.

In the parable, good seed was sown in good soil and the tares were added later by an enemy who wanted to see the crop fail. It is important to realize the tares were sown by someone who was a malicious enemy of the Sower, wanted their crop to fail, and did not care about who else might be hurt. The tares were sown at night and the enemy immediately left so neither the farmer nor anyone else knew who sowed the tares. This was an intentional and devious act.

Wheat and tares are almost indistinguishable from each other until they ripen. Even then it can be difficult to identify them from each other. This is much the same as false Christians, and false teachers. Ravenous wolves among God’s flock. They look good, sound good, and may even be good to look at, but they are in the flock to destroy what they can. (Matthew 7:15; Luke 10:3; Acts 20:9) Like Judas Iscariot, these people are counterfeit believers and are led by Satan. Paul tells us not to even eat with them. (1 Corinthians 5:11)

John tells us in 2 John 1:10 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; ¹¹for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” Paul states similar in Romans 16:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 5:11. I know this sounds harsh and some would say unloving, but it is to protect the true believers. It is much the same as destroying cancer cells, so they do not spread to more of the body. We must take care not to listen to false teachers, preachers, prophets, etc. ²Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; (Philippians 3:2 NASB)

In Philippians, Paul is speaking about those stating a person must be circumcised to be a believer in and follower of Christ. That was a major problem facing the early church but is not necessarily the major problem today. We have different issues but the same basic problem cause; those who would deceive believers by requiring beliefs and actions other than what the Bible says. They want believers to follow their requirements, not the Scriptures. We must take care to only follow those who follow the Scriptures (John 12:26; 2 Thess. 3:7). Praying and asking the Father to lead us and give us wisdom is the best defense.

 

 

 

REFLECTIONS:

Note that reapers at the end of the age are angels, not people. Separating the good crop from the poisonous crop is a task assigned to angels under God’s direction. The tares are gathered together at the end and thrown into the fire; they are permanently disposed of. In His explanation, Jesus made clear that the Sower of the seed on good soil is the Son of Man and the one who sows the tares is the devil. This is a direct tie to the parable of the Sower and Seed and a further explanation of it.

In the Sower parable, we saw the four kinds of listeners and their reactions to the Word of God based on their hearts. In this parable, Jesus narrows the subject a bit more and gives believers a warning. Even if the soil is good, hearts are open, believe God’s Word and His Son, Satan will continue to try to confuse, deceive and steal believers from God. He tries this in every way possible. This warning also tells us Satan can be defeated through faith in the Lord and His Word. (Mark 4:40; Luke 18:8)

When we look at these two parables, we learn people will make different decisions for or against God. Believers carry God’s message but cannot make people believe in the Lord. The Devil will work to make those who chose to believe, turn from God. Through the parables, Jesus also shows us a way of escape, FAITH in GOD. This parable and the Sower parable are a rather detailed look into God’s plan, what happens, what is going to happen, and how to deal with it.

 

To Think About:

What difference does this parable make, to the original listeners, and to me?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Mt 20:1-16

 

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ²When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so, they went. ⁵Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did the same thing. ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ ⁷They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

⁸“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ ⁹When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. ¹⁰When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, ¹²saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’¹³But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶So the last shall be first, and the first last.” (NASB)

This parable was given after the rich young man was told he needed to sell all he had and give it away to those in need. The disciples questioned Jesus concerning how a rich person could get into heaven and also what would be the disciples reward. Jesus told them their reward and the told this parable as an explanation.

The parable portrays God’s character of grace and love. This was integral to Jewish thought during the time of Jesus. Quite often present-day believers see Judaism in the time of Jesus (and now) to be very legalistic with little to no understand of grace. Many times, people think Jesus is fighting against Judaism. This is far from accurate. Grace is seen throughout the Torah, prophesies, and writings.

Jesus was not fighting against Judaism but rather to reform Judaism where it went astray from God’s Word. He fought against man’s traditions replacing God’s instructions (the Torah). (Mark 7:11) He fought to make God’s love the yardstick against which all hearts and actions are measured. (Matthew 5:24) He emphasized the Shema (Deut. 6:4-5) being implemented in every heart and life. A believer in salvation through Christ by faith builds relationships of love with others, not just other believers. Christ is very clear if we have a problem with another person, we must address that before coming to God. (Matthew 5:24-25)

How does this parable help make this happen? It teaches us about God’s character, how God acts and how we should act in a way consistent with God’s character. From a human point of view the landowner’s payment action may not seem equitable but it is. The laborers hired at the start of the day agreed to work for a denarius. Those who are saved through Christ work for God and have agreed to a certain reward. The laborers hired later in the day agreed to work for what is fair. They were not sure what to expect but received the same reward as those hired at the beginning. This shows God’s love and concern for everyone. The reward is the same regardless of when a person becomes a believer. This is seen very clearly at Jesus’ crucifixion. Two men were crucified with Christ. One did not believe in Jesus as savior, and one did believe in Jesus as savior. Jesus told the one who believed “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 KJV) The man was like the laborer hired at the eleventh hour, he was paid the same as the person saved early in life, he died and spent eternity with the Lord.

 

REFLECTIONS:

This parable is a continuation of the preceding sentence, the last shall be first. It teaches us about the character of God and God’s love. The parable also shows there is no purgatory. The crucified man went to paradise with Jesus immediately after death, he did not suffer for a time in purgatory. This goes along with Hebrews 9:27. This parable, like the Sower & Seed and the Wheat & Tares is fundamental to understanding other parables and having some insight into God’s character of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

“The parable beautifully portrays the grace of God, a concept so integral to thought during the time of Jesus and yet very difficult to grasp.” (Jesus the Jewish Theologian, p129) “The paradox and Irony of the parable are seen in the fact that the landowner is fair. He gives everyone what is just. You have the first are last and the last are first, everyone receives the same wage. All are equal before the Lord.” (Jesus the Jewish Theologian, p131) No one earns salvation, it is not a wage, it is a gift freely given by God. Like the landowner chose to give the same wage to all the workers so God chooses to freely give to everyone who accepts the free gift of salvation through Christ.

 

To Think About:

In your heart and mind do you think the landowner was fair to those who worked all day?

What difference does this parable make?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Mt 18:21-35

For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. ²⁶So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ ²⁷And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ ³⁰ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. ³¹ So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. ³²Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. ³⁵My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (NASB)

Jesus told this parable in response to Peter’s question about how many times a person should forgive. Jesus told Peter a person should forgive up to seventy times seven. Sometimes people think Jesus is giving an upper limit to how many times someone should forgive (490 times). Jesus is not giving a limit to forgiving. As the parable shows forgiveness does not have a limit, nor is money or material things a consideration to forgiveness. “If we have experienced God’s forgiveness, it will be shown in our forgiveness of others. In the parable of the unmerciful servant, Jesus teaches forgiving others is part of our forgiveness.” We are to forgive, period.

In the time of Jesus, a talent was worth about $1,000 in today’s money and a denarius about $0.09 in today’s money. That means the first servant owed about $10,000,000 and the second servant owed about $9.00. This gives some perspective to the relative debts. Before we look at the parable, please keep in mind Matthew 6:9-15 This parable is a clear, real-world example of “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”. (NASB) in the Lord’s Prayer. Many times, we ask God to forgive our sins but do not really think about the second part “as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The word AS makes a huge difference. Have we truly forgiven from our hearts, or do we still hold onto a tiny bit of unforgiveness? If we have not forgiven completely, how can we ask God to forgive us completely? Harboring a tiny bit of unforgiveness can turn into a huge mountain of hate, especially when Satan uses it against us or others. (Notice I said ‘when’ Satan uses it, not ‘if’ he uses it.)

There are five things in this parable we should clearly see. 1. The master’s wonderful clemency and love. 2. The wages of sin, to be a slave. 3. The servant’s unreasonable severity toward his fellow servant, notwithstanding his lord's clemency toward him. 4. The master reproved his servant's cruelty. We do not truly forgive the person who offends or wrongs us if we do not forgive from the heart. Partial forgiveness is really no forgiveness at all. 5. Forgiveness is not just that we have forgiven but is also that we continue to forgive. (Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary)

 

REFLECTIONS:

Forgiveness is an integral part of the Bible. An integral part of Christ’s life and our lives in Christ and an essential part of our physical and spiritual health. Truly forgiving is not easy. It is very difficult to completely forgive without the Holy Spirit’s help. Unforgiveness in one area can breed unforgiveness in other areas ¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. James 1: 19-20 Forgiving is not limited to forgiving others but includes forgiving ourselves.

Finally, read this parable along with Matthew 18:15-17. “¹⁵“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.¹⁶But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. ¹⁷If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” This section shows the importance of forgiving.

 

 

We forgive through the Love of Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We do not go it alone.

 

To Think About:

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

Have we forgiven those who have offended us?

Do we need to forgive others?

What difference does this parable make?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

 

 

 

Parable of the Talents

Mt 25:14-30

¹⁴“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. ¹⁶Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them and gained five more talents. ¹⁷In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

²²“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

²⁴“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ²⁵And I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

²⁶“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ²⁷Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival, I would have received my money back with interest. ²⁸Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

²⁹“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. ³⁰ Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14-30 NASB)

Jesus came for three main reasons. First, Jesus came to atone for the sins of man. Second, Jesus came to restore Judaism back to what YHWH put in place originally. (Acts 3:21) Third, Jesus came to reveal the nature, character, and plans of YHWH. The purpose of the parable was to encourage His disciples to risk everything and give His message away. This is a different approach than what was normal for Second Temple Judaism. The Jew had been brought up knowing they were a special people In Genesis 12:2-3 we are told God blessed Abraham and Abraham was to bless all peoples. Blessing all people had two meanings, one immediate and one in the future. The immediate meaning was that Abraham, and his offspring would bless the world by telling the world about God and being an example of God’s love and Torah (instructions). In Genesis. Due to all the pagan societies around them, felt they needed to closely guard and protect the Word of God given to them. They were so concerned about this they often became somewhat insular and were careful to ensure no changes were made at all.

This parable uses finances to make the point about using what we have effectively. This includes money, talents, skills, etc. Unfortunately, practices that isolate worship to what occurs in church buildings either on Sunday, Sabbath, or other days of the week have robbed believers through the centuries of significant opportunities for exercises that God considers worship. They represent a departure from the Hebrew foundations of Christian faith and the adoption of the dualism of Greco-Roman philosophy that compartmentalize life into spiritual and secular realms.

This parable is not about money but rather effectively using what God has given us. Do we know what gifts we have, and do we use them? Have we asked God how to use the resources we have, money, gifts, abilities, skills, personality, character, etc. Do we seek God’s guidance in how to improve what we have and how we use it?

The gifts are many and varied and each gift has its place in the Church of God. Paul lists nine gifts in 1 Corinthians but does not indicate this is an exhaustive list. Each gift is valuable and is there to further God’s kingdom. No gift is ‘better’ than another. Often, we emphasize the more noticeable gifts like tongues and healing, but healing does not do the job when discerning of spirits is needed. That does not mean one is lesser than the other but rather we must listen and obey the Holy Spirit on when to use which. In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul said to earnestly desire the best or greater gift. The best or greater gift is the one needed at that point in time and space. God gives all His gifts as He sees fit. We must depend on the Holy Spirit for the gifts we have and learning how to use them.

Finally, 1 Corinthians 13 stresses love. Love is the foundation of our faith and greater than any gift. Gifts are used when needed but love is constant. We can and should act in love at all times and circumstances.

 

To Think About:

What difference does this parable make, to the original listeners, to me?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:3-7

 

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. ²Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³So He told them this parable, saying, ⁴“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷I 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. (Luke 15:1-7 NASB)

The scribes and Pharisees were complaining that Jesus, a man who claimed to be from YHWH, was eating with sinners and tax collectors. They thought by eating with tax collectors and sinners He disqualified Himself from being the Son of God. The Son of God would not lower Himself to eat with sinners. The Son of God would eat and socialize with a much better class of people, like them. Jesus responded by telling the story of a shepherd who had 100 sheep and one of them ran off. Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees makes a similar point to his comment to the Sadducees in Matthew 22:29: “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God…” (NIV) This story should have let them know their way of thinking was very wrong. No one was of such a lower class, so sinful, in a despised career, that God should or would ignore them. Jesus came to save everyone who came to Him, not just some who came.

Jesus was telling each of the Pharisees should leave the 99 for the 1 by saying: “What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” Jesus identified both Himself and the Pharisees as shepherds, a despised occupation in their culture. Jesus also assumed some responsibility for the one sheep’s condition…‘if he (the shepherd) loses one’ (Luke 15:3). That is a somewhat different approach than placing all the blame on the sheep for having run off!

Jesus said that a good shepherd would find the sheep and lay it on his shoulders, ‘rejoicing’. That’s not the normal response present neither in the Hebrew culture, nor in ours. Many complain in the face of having to help others in trouble rather than rejoice. Jesus put the sheep on His shoulders. Lost sheep are often paralyzed with fear and the only hope of getting it home would be if someone picked it up and carried it. How often do we do this with the lost sheep we see? How often are we willing to bear another’s burden? Jesus said a good shepherd would do so ‘rejoicing’! A shepherd would not only bear anoyher’s burden but be overjoyed with the opportunity to do so.

God’s joy is based on the return of lost sheep to their true home, the shepherd’s house. Heaven rejoices more over one returning lamb than for the ninety-nine who never leave home. There are not ninety-nine who need no repentance. Everyone needs 'repentance'. We all need to always repent of our debts and transgressions.

God cares much more about each person He created. We are of inestimable worth and value to God. We only have worth and value to Satan in-so-far as he can steal us from God or cause us not to believe in Him or Christ. This parable makes the point that Jesus came to save and love the lost. (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32) No one is beneath God’s caring love. Something the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Jewish leaders did not understand, agree with, or do. The heart of God is thus revealed in this short four-verse parable. Like the scribes and Pharisees, our hearts are also revealed.

Just a bit about leaving the 99 and going after the one lost sheep. I often wondered why the shepherd would leave the 99 alone to go after one lost sheep. Sounds like an uncaring attitude toward the 99 sheep. I learned that shepherds put their sheep into sheepfolds at night or when they had to leave them alone. (Jesus mentioned the sheepfold in John 10:1.) In many cases there could be two shepherds, if one had to leave the other would watch the sheep. The 99 were not left alone but were guarded and taken care of.

 

To Think About:

What difference does this parable make, to the original listeners, to me?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11–32

¹¹And He said, “A man had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. ¹³And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.¹⁴Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. ¹⁷But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ ²⁰So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; ²³and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.²⁶And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. ²⁷And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. ²⁹But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; ³⁰ but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’³¹ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But 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.’” (Luke 15:11–32)

 

This is the third of three connected parables in Luke all looking at restoration of what was lost. The major theme of this parable is not so much the conversion of the sinner, as in the previous two parables of Luke 15, but rather the restoration of a believer into fellowship with the Father.

In telling the story, Jesus identifies Himself with God in His loving attitude toward the lost, symbolized by the younger son (the tax collectors and sinners of Luke 15:1). The elder brother represents the self-righteous. In the first two parables, the owner went out to look for what was lost (Luke 15:1–10), whereas in this story the father waits and watches eagerly for his son’s return. We see a progression through the three parables from the relationship of one in a hundred (Luke 15:1–7), to one in ten (Luke 15:8–10), to one in one (Luke 15:11–32), demonstrating God’s love for each individual and His personal attentiveness toward all humanity. We see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the prodigal son to repentance (Romans 2:4). What a picture of God’s love, condescension, and grace! God’s heart is full of compassion for His children; He stands ready to welcome the returning sinner back home with joyous celebration.

In Luke 15:12, the younger son asks his father for his share of his estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would receive (see Deuteronomy 21:17). In other words, the younger son asked for 1/3 of the estate. Though it was perfectly within his rights to ask, it was not a loving thing to do, as it implied that he wished his father dead. Instead of rebuking his son, the father patiently grants him his request. This is a picture of God letting a sinner go his own way (Deuteronomy 30:19).

The prodigal son begins to reflect on his miserable condition, and “he came to his senses” (Luke 15:17). He realizes that even his father’s servants have it better. His painful circumstances help him to see his father in a new light. Hope begins to dawn in his heart (Psalm 147:11; Isaiah 40:30–31; 1 Timothy 4:10).

The prodigal’s realization is reflective of the sinner’s discovery that, apart from God, there is no hope (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Timothy 2:25–26). When a sinner “comes to his senses,” repentance follows, along with a longing to return to fellowship with God.

The final, tragic character in the Parable of the Prodigal Son is the older son. As the older son comes in from the field, he hears music and dancing. He finds out from one of the servants that his younger brother has come home and that what he hears is the sound of jubilation over his brother’s safe return. The older brother becomes angry and refuses to go into the house.

The older son’s words and actions reveal several things about him: 1) His relationship with his father was based on works and merit. He points out to his father that he has always been obedient as he’s been “slaving away”; thus, he deserves a party—he has earned it. 2) He despises his younger brother as undeserving of the father’s favor. 3) He does not understand grace and has no room for forgiveness. In fact, the demonstration of grace toward his brother makes him angry. His brother does not deserve a party. 4) He has disowned the prodigal as a brother, referring to him as “this son of yours” (verse 30).

 

REFLECTIONS:

What are your reflections when thinking about this parable? Which of these people, if any, do you think were justified in their actions? When we look at this parable, we can see examples throughout history and in our present world. Although we may not have these specific circumstances if we have family similar incidents may have happened. Think about how it played out. Was love, repentance and forgiveness involved?

 

 

To Think About:

What difference does this parable make, to the original listeners, to me?

What does this parable tell us about God and the Spiritual realm?

How does this parable apply to us as believers?

What actions should we take as a result of this parable?

 

 

Parables: 

The Sower                               Mt 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 14-20; Lu 8:5-8, 11-15

The Tares & wheat Mt 13:24-30, 36-43

The good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37

The laborers in the vineyard Mt 20:1-16

The unmerciful servant Mt 18:21-35

The talents Mt 25:14-30

The Lost Sheep Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:3-7

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)

 

 

References:

The Parables, Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation, Brad H. Young Ph.D., Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, 1998

Jesus The Jewish Theologian, Brad H. Young Ph.D., Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody MA. 1995

Holy Bible, New International Version

Holy Bible, New American Standard Version

Holy Bible, The Newer Testament

Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary

https//jamiebuckinghamministries.com/10-parables-of-jesus-2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Tm9dc7cew

https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/parable-of-the-sower/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEqxXEG3qGY

https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/only-angels-can-separate-the-wheat-from-the-tares/

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Wheat--Tare--and-Weeds

https://www.jackhyleslibrary.com/jack-hyles-sermon-sowing-growing-knowing-tares/

https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lxxiii.html

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/things-to-know-about-the-parable-of-the-vineyard.html

https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/20/Matthew-chapter-20.html

https://truthaccordingtoscripture.com/commentaries/spe/matthew-20.php

https://www.christianity.com/jesus/life-of-jesus/parables/what-does-the-unmerciful-servant-teach-us.html

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-parable-of-the-talents.html

https://www.therestorationofhope.com/blog/2011/12/24/the-parable-of-the-lost-sheep

https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-prodigal-son.html