Parables of Jesus Flashcards
A _______ is a short and simple story of comparison. It is designed to convey a concept
to be understood and/or a principle to be put into practice. In Greek, it means _________” as
in the English word “comparison” or “similitude.” In the Jewish culture of biblical times, things
were explained in _________. Word pictures do not draw attention to technicalities (like the
Jewish law) but to attitudes, concepts, and characteristics. Parables also have an emotional
impact that makes them more meaningful and memorable to those who are soft of heart. Jesus
used parables to teach spiritual truths by means of earthly situations. Hence, by using parables,
Jesus’ teaching remains timeless despite most changes in culture, time, and technology.
parable
word pictures
The Parable of the Sower
The parable concerns a sower who scatters seed, which falls on four different types of
ground. Jesus’ explanation of it highlights four different responses to the gospel. The seed is “_______________.” The hard ground represents someone who is hardened by ____; he hears
but does not understand the Word, and Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull
and preventing the Word from making an impression. The stony ground pictures a man who
professes delight with the Word; however, his heart is not changed, and when trouble arises, his
so-called faith quickly disappears. The thorny ground depicts one who seems to receive the Word,
but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts; the things of this world take his time and
attention away from the Word, and he ends up having no time for it. The good ground portrays
the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word – and then allows the Word to accomplish
its result in his life. The man represented by the “__________” is the only one of the four who is
truly saved, because salvation’s proof is fruit (Matthew 3:7-8; 7:15-20)
the word of the kingdom
sin
good ground
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus spoke the parable of the sower to teach how important the __________ is to
receiving the Gospel and how our salvation is proved by our choices and actions after hearing
the Gospel. In summary, a man’s reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of his
_____________ is more than a superficial, albeit joyful, hearing of the gospel. Someone who
is truly saved will go on to prove it
state of our heart
heart and salvation
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats
Jesus begins the parable by saying it concerns His return in glory to set up His kingdom
(verse 31). The sheep on Jesus’ __________are blessed by God and given an inheritance. The
goats on Jesus’ left are cursed with eternal hell-fire “prepared for the devil and his angels”(verse
41). The reason is given: they had opportunity to minister to the Lord, but they did nothing
(verses 42-43). Jesus then ends the discourse with a contrast: “They will go away to an eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (verse 46)
right hand
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats
The Bible teaches that __________ is by faith through the grace of God and not by our good
works (John 1:12; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:22-24; Ephesians 2:8-10). Jesus Himself makes it
clear in the parable that salvation of the “sheep” is not based on their works – their inheritance
was theirs (verse 34), long before they could ever do any good works! The good works
mentioned in the parable are not the “cause” of salvation but the ______ of salvation. As
Christians we become like Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 2:6-7). The
core message of the parable is that God’s people will love others. Good works will result from
our relationship to the ________. Followers of Christ will treat others with kindness, serving
them as if they were serving Christ Himself. The unregenerate live in the opposite manner.
While ______ can indeed perform acts of kindness and charity, their hearts are not right with
God, and their actions are not the right purpose – to honor and worship God.
salvation
“effect”
Shepherd
“goats”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
In this parable, Jesus is telling us to follow the Samaritans’s example in our own conduct,
that is to show ____________ for those we encounter in our everyday activities. We are to
love others (v.27) regardless of their race or religion, the criterion is need. If they need and we
have the supply, then we are to give generously without expectation of return. Here are some
lessons in this parable: 1) we are to set aside our ______ and show love and compassion for
others; 2) our neighbor is ________ we encounter, we are all creatures of the Creator and we are to
love all of mankind as Jesus has taught us; 3) keeping the law in its entirety with the intent to
save ourselves is an ___________, we need a Savior and this is Jesus
compassion and love
prejudice
impossible task
As a metaphor, the Parable of the Good Samaritan can be interpreted in the following
representations:
___________ - men in their fallen condition of sin
_________ - are Satan attacking man with the intent of destroying their relationship
with God
_________ - mankind without the true understanding of God and his Word
________ - religion in an apostate condition
__________ - legalism that instills prejudice into the hearts of believers.
___________ - is Jesus who provides the way to spiritual health.
The parable is giving us a simple lesson on what it means to be a ________
The injured man
The robbers
The lawyer
The priest
The Levites
The Samaritan
neighbor
