“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), […]
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 […]
“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard?”……Answer: This lengthy parable is found only in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) in response to Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there […]
Aesop’s Fables — Two Examples The Bundle of Sticks An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all […]
Parable #5–7 Parable #5…Luke 7:41-47 …The Moneylender 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver[a] to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, cancelling their debts. …Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”…43 Simon answered, …“I […]
Parable #39 – Matthew 21:33-44…The Wicked Tenants of the Vineyard?”… 1. Let’s sort out the people and things in the parable (then and now): what does the vineyard represent? Who does the vineyard owner represent? The servants the owner sent to the vineyard? The tenants?The son of the vineyard owner?…2. Doesn’t it seem a bit […]