“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan?”… Luke 10:25-37 The Most Important Commandment 25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”…26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”…27 The […]

“What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins?”……These parables, found in Mark 2:18-22, begin with a statement that the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting. The twice-weekly fast was a tradition adopted by the legalistic Pharisees at the time, even […]

“What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price?”……Answer: Jesus had just finished explaining to the disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the “kingdom of heaven.” He expressed truths […]

  “What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree?”……Answer: Jesus told the Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 13:6-9—immediately after reminding His listeners of a tower over the pool of Siloam (John 9:7) which unexpectedly fell and killed eighteen people. The moral of that story is found in Luke 13:3: “Unless you repent, […]

“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Friend in Need (Persistent Neighbor)?”……Answer: Immediately after teaching the disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus told the story of the neighbor who was in need of bread for a visitor (Luke 11:5-10). The disciples had just asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1), […]

“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed?”……Like with all parables, the purpose of the Parable of the Mustard Seed is to teach a concept or “big idea” using elements or details, like birds, weeds, and growth, that are common, easily recognized, and usually representational of something else. While the elements themselves […]

How Should We Read the Words of Jesus? Jesus is the greatest preacher of all time. He told stories and preached sermons the whole world needs to hear. The genius of Jesus is that he often preached one message with two punch lines. If you were confident of your own righteousness, you got law, but if […]