NSS Learning and Teaching
Strategies for the Ethics and
Religious Studies Curriculum
Series:
Elective Part - Christianity (The
Parables about the Kingdom of
God)
The learning and teaching of the
Parables about the Kingdom of
God
天國比喻的學與教
Contents
• Parables about the Kingdom of God:
– The Sower: Mc 4:11-20 / Lc 8:4-15
– The Tenants in the Vineyard: Mc 12: 1-12 / Lc
20:9-19
• The coming of the Kingdom of God
– The Lamp under the Bowl: Mc 4:21-25 / Lc
8:16-18
– The Growing Seed: Mc 4:26-29 / %
– The Mustard Seed: Mc 4:30-34 / Lc 13:18-19
You
ERS Teachers
ChurchSponsored
Schools
Other
Schools
Believer
A
B
Non-Believer
C
D
Introduction
• Parables, not fables
• Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
Parables, not fables
Good parables,
foolish advice
•
•
•
•
•
Finding the lost coin: foolish use of time
Lilies of the Fields: foolish career advice
Good Shepherd: foolish employee
The Sower: Foolish sower
Wicked tenants: Foolish vineyard owner…
Parables, not fables
• audience: humans who have their own
minds fixed, stuck at a certain age
• we see but we don’t see
Parables, not fables
• Fables vs. parables
– fables (and stories): right-brain, giving
answers
– parables: opposite: telling us what we
thought was true actually is not, and we have
to figure out what really is true (parables do
not supply answers)
• Jesus used parables to liberate, rather
than to control
Examples
• Good Samaritan: Jesus wasn’t trying to
convince the lawyer about the definitions
– but to let him see the other side
– but to challenge him
Mc 4:10 VS Mc 4:11-12
• 當耶穌獨自一人的時
候，那些跟從他的人
[those who were
around him NRSV]
• 和十二門徒便問他這
些比喻的意義。SBV
• 耶穌說：「上帝國的
奧祕已經給了你們；
至於外界的人，他們
所聽到的一切都是藉
著比喻。 正像聖經所
說：他們看了又看，
卻看不見，聽了又聽
，卻不明白；不然，
他們回心轉意，上帝
就饒恕他們。」TCV
Mc 4:10 VS Mc 4:11-12
• concealed to the outsiders?
– 「給了你們」：Further instructions for the
disciples
• 奧祕 / 奧義 [secret NRSV] mystery [mss]
– of the Kingdom
Mc 4:10 VS Mc 4:11-12
• common theme: understood /
misunderstood 
– Cf. v. 13 耶穌對他們說：「你們不明白這個比
喻，又怎能明白其他的一切比喻呢？ SBV
– Cf. vv. 20-24 要留心你們所聽的！TCV
Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
• 天主教教理 CCC2816:
• 在新約中，Basileia 一詞可譯為「王權」(
抽象名詞)、「王國」(具體名詞)、「統治
」(行動名詞)。
• In the New Testament, the word basileia
can be translated by "kingship" (abstract
noun), "kingdom" (concrete noun) or
"reign" (action noun).
Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
• 天主的國在我們以前已存在，在降生成人
的聖言內接近我們，藉福音而傳布，在基
督的死和復活中已來到。
• The Kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is
brought near in the Word incarnate, it is
proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel,
and it has come in Christ's death and
Resurrection.
Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
• 天主的國從最後晚餐就已來臨，並在感恩
祭裡臨於我們中間。
• The Kingdom of God has been coming
since the Last Supper and, in the
Eucharist, it is in our midst.
• 最後，天國將在光榮中來臨，那時基督要
將它歸還聖父：
• The kingdom will come in glory when
Christ hands it over to his Father:
Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
• It may even be … that the Kingdom of
God means Christ himself, whom we daily
desire to come, and whose coming we
wish to be manifested quickly to us.
• 『甚至天主的國可指基督本身。我們天天
呼求祂，仰望祂的來臨，急切期待希望的
實現（《論主禱文》）』。
Kingdom? Reign? Kingship?
• For as he is our resurrection, since in him
we rise, so he can also be understood as
the Kingdom of God, for in him we shall
reign.
• 基督是我們的復活，因為我們在祂內復活
；祂也能是天主的國，因為我們將在祂身
上實行統治。
Parables about the Kingdom
of God
• The Sower: Mc 4:11-20 / Mt 13:3-8 / Lc
8:4-15
• The Tenants in the Vineyard: Mc 12: 1-12
/ Mt 21:33-44 / Lc 20:9-19
The coming of the Kingdom
of God
• The Lamp under the Bowl: Mc 4:21-25 /
Mt 5:15 / Lc 8:16-18
• The Growing Seed: Mc 4:26-29
• The Mustard Seed: Mc 4:30-34 / Mt
13:31ff / Lc 13:18-19
Learning and Teaching
• Learning from
religion
• Learning about
religion
•
•
•
•
Text
Context
Jesus
Ethics: Human
Significance
Religion: God and
humanS
The Sower
Mc 4:11-20
Text
• 你們聽：有個撒種的出去撒種。他撒種的時候，
• 有的落在路旁，飛鳥來把它吃了；
• 有的落在石頭地裏，那裏沒有多少土壤，即刻發了芽，因
為所有的土壤不深，太陽一出來，被晒焦了；又因為沒有
根，就乾枯了；
• 有的落在荊棘中，荊棘長起來，把它窒息了，就沒有結實
；
• 有的落在好地裏，就長大成熟，結了果實，
• 有的結三十倍，有的六十倍，有的一百倍。」
Basic structure
• 你們聽：有個撒種的出去撒種。他撒種的時候，
• 有的落在路旁，飛鳥來把它吃了；
• 有的落在石頭地裏，那裏沒有多少土壤，即刻發了芽，因
為所有的土壤不深，太陽一出來，被晒焦了；又因為沒有
根，就乾枯了；
• 有的落在荊棘中，荊棘長起來，把它窒息了，就沒有結實
；
• 有的落在好地裏，就長大成熟，結了果實，
• 有的結三十倍，有的六十倍，有的一百倍。」
Context
• Jewish context: 撒種傳統 4 Ezra 厄斯德拉/
以斯拉四書：
– For as the husbandman sows much seed upon
the ground, and plants many trees, and yet
the thing that is sown good in his season
comes not up, neither does all that is planted
take root: even so is it of them that are sown
in the world they shall not all be saved….
– contrast of effort and harvest (unproportional)
Context
• Jewish context: 撒種傳統 依55:10, 13:
– 雨和雪從天降下，不再返回原處，只有灌溉田
地，使之生長萌芽，償還播種者種子，…松柏
要長起來代替荊棘，桃金娘要生出來代替苧麻
– contrast of effort and harvest (proportional)
Which focus?
• Focus: Seed or (the foolish) sower or soil?
• 30x, 60x, 100x = normal harvest or
exceptional harvest?
• normal loss
Context
• 智慧傳統
• 我兒，從你幼年時起，就應接受教訓；如
此，直到老年，必能尋得智慧。你要親近
她，就如耕田和播種的人，等待她的美果
；因為，你用智慧去工作，用功不久，很
快就可吃她的出產。智慧為不肯受教的人
，是酸苦的；愚昧的人，不會與智慧常久
相處…德訓篇6:18-21
• Focus: soil
Jesus
• Typical: natural process
• Kingdom of God can deal with any losses
• Jesus is optimistic after all Cf. 4 Ezra and 6
Sirach
Learning from religion
• Tendency
– to look for success in immediate results and
statistics
– to be despaired easily with failure (esp.
dealing with people!)
• Taking risks
• Jesus’ own example (being betrayed)
Learning about religion
• Confidence in the God vs. human success
• Types of soils: as a warning for converts
against first enthusiasm, against
dampening of faith by cares of the world /
persecutions
• Hear and accept [understand in Mt]
• Kingdom of God:
– decision of the hearer
The Tenants in the Vineyard
Mc 12: 1-12
• 「有一個人開墾了一個葡萄園，周圍用籬
笆圍著，在園裏挖了一個榨酒池，蓋了一
座守望臺，然後把葡萄園租給佃戶，自己
出外旅行去了。 到了收葡萄的季節，他打
發一個奴僕去向佃戶收他應得的分額。 佃
戶揪著那奴僕，毆打他，叫他空手回去
。 園主又打發另一個奴僕去；他們打破了
他的頭，並且侮辱他。 園主再打發一個奴
僕去，他們把他殺了。他們又同樣地對付
了許多人，有的打，有的殺。園主只剩他
最疼愛的兒子。最後他打發他去見佃戶，
心想：『他們一定會尊敬我的兒子。』可
是那些佃戶彼此商議說：『這個人是園主
的繼承人，來吧，把他殺了，他的產業就
歸我們了！』他們就抓住那兒子，殺了他
，把屍體拋出葡萄園外。」於是耶穌問：
「這樣，葡萄園主要怎麼辦呢？他一定來
殺滅這些佃戶，把葡萄園轉租給別人
。 TCV
Text 惡園戶
的比喻
• Intro
• Wrongdoing:
– Suspense: why
same method?
Why son? Why
not violence?
•
•
•
•
Son
Decision
Violence: shock
Question
Context
• 猶太背景： 我所愛的他挖泥土，清除石頭
；他種植了品種優良的葡萄。他造了一座
高塔做瞭望臺；他挖了一個踩踏葡萄的池
子。他期待葡萄的成熟，不料，一顆顆葡
萄又酸又澀。猶大人民就是[上主]細心栽培
的葡萄樹。賽/依5:2, 7代表以色列
• Expectation of the audience
Context
• Cf. Gospel of Thomas: only two servant
missions
• 另一個奴僕去；他們打破了他的頭: John
the Baptist?
• 屍體拋出葡萄園外: Crucifixion
Context
• Historical research shows: both tenants
and owners are responsible in something
(preparation of land, sending agent to
collect rent), intimidation by force not
uncommon, seizure of property in the
owner’s absence (if no protection or not
local): realities of the day: legal right ≠
prevention of violence, authorities not
helpful (attitude of the owner)
Jesus
• Shifted focus: man and vineyard  owner
and tenants
• Rhetorical question: 於是耶穌問：「這樣
，葡萄園主要怎麼辦呢？他一定來殺滅這
些佃戶，把葡萄園轉租給別人…
• When should God step in?
• Sending son instead of servants is to
reinforce legal rights.
Jesus
• It’s up to the tenants to stop the violence
cycle.
• Example of overcoming evil with good:
policy of non-violence
• continue to appeal to the “what it should
be”
• disobedience and rejection do not affect
God’s relationship with people.
Learning from religion
• Social and legal structures too weak
• People do suffer, can only hope for an end
• How violence can breeds and escalates in
such a weak environment
• Never ignore the warning signals
Learning about
religion
• God identifies with the poor and the
weaker members
• Kingdom of God contrast with humans:
– violence and vengeance
– God would go to the intolerable limits to love
• Humans do have a choice: can choose
otherwise. Tenants could have turned
around.
The Lamp under the Bowl
Mc 4:21-25
Text
• 耶穌又對他們說：「人拿燈來，豈是要放
在斗底下，床底下，不放在燈臺上嗎？因
為掩藏的事，沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事
，沒有不露出來的。有耳可聽的，就應當
聽！」又說：「你們所聽的要留心。你們
用甚麼量器量給人，也必用甚麼量器量給
你們，並且要多給你們。因為有的，還要
給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。」
TCV
Text
• Mc: 有誰點了燈，拿
來放在斗底或床下？
他豈不是要把它放在
燈臺上嗎？任何隱藏
的事總會被張揚出來
；任何掩蓋的事也會
被揭露出來。有耳朵
的，都聽吧！TCV
• Mt : 沒有人點亮了燈
去放在斗底下，一定
是放在燈臺上，好照
亮全家的人。同樣，
你們的光也該照在人
面前…TCV
• 只一句
bushel 斗
• A bushel is a US unit of dry
volume, equivalent in each of these
systems to 8 gallons. It is used for
volumes of dry commodities (not
liquids), most often in agriculture. ]
• 中國市制容量單位（十升為一斗。
量糧食的器具。
• bushel (7) > basket (5) > bowl (1)
(NIV)
Context
• 猶太色彩：「你已經受法律的薰陶，知道
上帝的旨意，也能夠辨別是非。你自以為
是瞎子的嚮導，是在黑暗中之人的亮光…」
羅2:18-19
Learning from religion
• Mc: 有誰點了燈，拿來放在斗底或床下？他豈不
是要把它放在燈臺上嗎？任何隱藏的事總會被張
揚出來；任何掩蓋的事也會被揭露出來。有耳朵
的，都聽吧！TCV
• not esoteric wisdom
• calls for judgement
Learning about religion
• Cf. Gnostic Gospel of Thomas (!): There is
a light within a man of light and it
illumines the whole world.
The Growing Seed
Mc 4:26-29
Text
• Human  nature  human
• Scattering seed  daily business 
sprouting and growing  harvest quickly
Context
• Sirach imagery of sowing (德訓篇： 親近
智慧，就如耕田和播種的人，等待她的美
果）
Jesus
• 應用於：所以，弟兄姊妹們，你們要忍耐
，等到主再來。看吧，農夫多麼耐心地等
待著田裏寶貴的產物，耐心地盼望著春霖
秋雨。雅5:7 TCV
Learning from religion
• The wise man is like a farmer: taking
action quickly when the harvest comes
• Waiting: the virtue of patience?
• Contrast between working and waiting
• Especially for those who are “energydeficient”
Learning about religion
• Contrasting the perception that God does
not care (IV Ezra: pessimistic)
• Referring to Christ’s own ministry
The Mustard Seed
Mc 4:30-34
Small Groups?
Learning from
Learning about
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• 創造的互動
• 教會的成長
• 天國仍在來，不要少看自
己，期待中
• 上帝創造及影響
信心
內在力量
Mother Teresa’s example
Element of surprise
奇妙成長：創造主
小眾不用怕
司徒華（成功不必有我）
不小看自己或他人
Learning and Teaching
• Learning from
religion
• Learning about
religion
•
•
•
•
Text
Context
Jesus
Ethics: Human
Significance
Religion: God and
humanS
Text
• 太/瑪13:31-32
• 天國好比一粒
芥菜種子，人
把它種在田裏
。這種子比其
他一切的種子
都小，等它長
起來卻比任何
蔬菜都大；它
成為一棵樹，
連飛鳥也在它
的枝子上搭窩
。
• 可/谷4:30-32
• 上帝的國好像一粒芥菜種，種在地裏
的時候，雖比地上的百種都小，但種
上以後，就長起來，比各樣的菜都大
，又長出大枝來，甚至天上的飛鳥可
以宿在它的蔭下。 CUV
• [天主的國]好像一粒芥子，種在地裏
的時候，比地上的一切種子都小；當
下種之後，生長起來，比一切蔬菜都
大；並且長出大枝，以致天上的飛鳥
能棲息在它的蔭下。SBV
Text
• Issues of size: not proportionate
芥（菜/種）子 Mustard seed
• plant species in the
genera Brassica and Sinapis
• small mustard seeds are
used as a spice …turned into
the condiment
• pressed to make mustard oil,
• edible leaves can be eaten
as mustard greens.
Context
• Mustard seed bush – impossible for birds
Context
• 結/則 Ezek 17:22-24
• [上主說]：我要折斷香柏樹的尖端，折下它
幼嫩的枝子；我要把它種在高山上，在以
色列最高的山峰。它將茁壯生長，結果子
，成為一棵雄偉的香柏木。各種鳥兒飛來
築巢，在樹蔭下找歸宿。田野裏所有的樹
木都會知道：我─上主砍倒大樹，使小樹長
高；我使綠樹枯乾，使枯木茂盛。TCV
Context
• 達/但Dan 4:10-12, 17
• 我在熟睡中看見一個異象：在大地的中心有棵大
樹，它越長越高，直到頂天；世上所有的人都看
得見。它的葉子美麗，樹上結滿果子，足夠全世
界的人食用。野獸在它蔭下歇息；飛鳥在枝上築
巢，各種生物都吃它的果子。
• [上帝]有權把國權賜給他所選擇的人，即使是微
不足道的人也可以使他掌權。TCV
• 小VS大, 人VS 天
Jesus
• 小VS大, 人VS 天
• Jesus’ parable challenges the (OT)
expectation of greatness that would come
with the Messiah
• (Messianic) cedars do not grow in Israel
but mustard bushes would grow locally
• Yet they can still shelter birds!
Learning from religion
• No need to be a cedar: be a mustard
bush!
• Imperial power vs. oppressed people
Learning about religion
• Kingdom of God: not grandiose
• Being God’s people is not about being
“great” or being with the “great”
Points to ponder
• Nationalism / civics: Israelites Cf. Chinese
• Personal spirituality  privatization of
religion: Israelites = chosen people 
churchy people
• Image of the world  us/them,
righteous/wicked, secular/religious,
Universalism