Parables

Question 1

What are the 9 parables that are told during Luke’s travel narrative?

Answer 1

Prayer

• The Friend at Midnight
• The Persistent Widow
• The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Outcasts

• The Lost Sheep
• The Lost Coin
• The Prodigal Son

Money

• The Rich Fool
• The Unrighteous Steward
• The Rich Man and Lazarus

Question 2

Describe the different parable structures from Blomberg

Answer 2

Comes from the Greek word “to throw alongside”

A story with two levels of meaning

Julicher argues that they have one main point and they aren’t allegories

Question 3

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Sower?

Answer 3

Mark

• In between the parable and the explanation is a comment on WHY Jesus teaches in parables
• Jesus interprets this parable allegorically
• Three kinds of soil that reject the seed that is sown
  
  • Hard soil
    
    • Hard for the Word to take root
      
      • Why prayer is so important
  • Shallow soil
    
    • Immediate response to the Word
      
      • Emotional
      • No deep root
  • Cluttered soil
    
    • Concerns for the world choke out the Word
    • No fruit that is produced
  • Good soil
    
    • Ready to receive the Word
    • Produces fruit
• Things to keep in mind
  
  • Whenever the word is being taught there is spiritual conflict taking place
    
    • We need to pray for receptive hearts
  • When people respond to Christ we need to help them go deeper
    
    • Emotionalism can blind us and them
  • We need to help people see the dangers of worldliness
• Jesus explains why He teaches in parables
  
  • Twofold (Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility)
    
    • So that seeing they may not see and hearing they do not hear
    • On the other hand they turn away with their heart

Question 4

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly?

Answer 4

Mark

• The Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly
  
  • It’s up to God to mature the fruit
  • Main point: As the Word of God is being preached, there’s only so much that the preacher or teacher can do
    
    • Opposition will be done
    • Our active approach: Prayer

Question 5

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leven?

Answer 5

Mark

Main point: From a small beginning the Kingdom of God will be so large it will be all invasive

Not to be allegorized

Question 6

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Wheat & Tares?

Answer 6

Matthew

• Parable of the wheat and the tares
  
  • Comparable to the Parable of the sower
    
    • Tells it (to the crowds) and then later interprets it (to the disciples)
  • Parable of the Sower, the seed = the Word
  • Parable of the Wheat and Tares, the seed = the People
  • Main point: Jesus is placing His people all around the world
    
    • This isn’t about the church
  • There will be separation at the end of the ages

Question 7

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Dragnet?

Answer 7

Matthew

Parable of the dragnet

Fisherman draws in the net and there are edible and non-edible fish

Main point: Eternal judgment is coming

Question 8

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure & Pearl of Great Price

Answer 8

Matthew

Main point: The kingdom of God is more precious than anything in all of life

This shouldn’t be allegorized

Don’t want to over-interpret the parable

Question 9

What is the main thought of the Parable of the Kingdom Scribe

Answer 9

Matthew

We should desire to be Kingdom scribes