12-2-2009, COTR Texarkana
Title: The Parables of Jesus, pt-6
Purpose: Explain the parables Jesus taught and provoke people to apply their meaning to
everyday life.
Spiritual Truth: Truth should be applied not just understood.
Text: Lu 12:13-21; Lu 13:6-9; Lu 14:7-14; Lu 14:15-24
Topic: Jesus, Parables, Stories, Teaching Technique
Series: The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Series Purpose: Proclaim the Biblical Jesus and provoke people to follow Him and His teachings.
The Parables of Jesus, pt-6
I.
Introduction
A. Review
1. Series: The Life and Teachings of Jesus
2. Last 5 weeks: The Parables of Jesus
3. Definition of a parable: a short story or illustration easily understood
by the hearers to illustrate a spiritual truth. A parable, like an illustration,
makes a comparison between a known truth and an unknown truth.
B. Tonight: The Parables of Jesus, pt-6
1. The parable of the rich fool
2. The parable of the barren fig tree
3. The parable of the ambitious guest
4. The parable of the great supper
C. Purpose: Explain the parables Jesus taught and provoke people to apply
their meaning to everyday life.
II.
The parable of the rich fool
A. Luke 12:13-21 (NIV)
13
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the
inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an
arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man
produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place
to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my
barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19
And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you
have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up
things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
1. People often called upon rabbis to settle legal disputes. The eldest
son would always receive double what any of the other sons would
receive. The proportion of inheritance was thus fixed, and the plaintiff in
this case has every legal right to receive his share of the inheritance.[1]
2. The main spiritual truth illustrated by the parable is that a person’s
relationship with God is more important than money and possessions.
3. Definition of covetousness: a strong desire to have what belongs to
someone else.
a. Definition of greed: a selfish and excessive desire for more of
something than is needed.
b. Definition of envy: to resent what someone else has and want
it for yourself.
4. Exodus 20:17 (NKJV) [Context: one of the 10 commandments]
17
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox,
nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
5. The image in the parable here is that of a wealthy landowner, part of
the extremely small leisured class (generally estimated at less than 1
percent), who need not labor in his own fields…The lifestyles of the rich
and famous provided natural models for popular envy.[2]
6. Jesus states that the sin is not how he gained his income but simply
that he hoarded it rather than giving generously;[3]
7. Instead of asking God what to do with the possessions entrusted to
him he was living for himself with no regard for the eternal
consequences of his choices.
8. The opposite of the illusion of ownership is stewardship, i.e.
managing what I have for God as He dictates. Our great challenge is
shifting ownership of what we have to God.
9. Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 (NLT)
18
I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to
others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my
successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I
have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!
10.
Application:
a. My relationship with God is more important than money and
possessions.
b. Greed and covetousness can destroy my life.
III.
The parable of the barren fig tree
A. Luke 13:6-9 (NCV)
6
Jesus told this story: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came
looking for some fruit on the tree, but he found none. 7 So the man said to his
gardener, ‘I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never
find any. Cut it down. Why should it waste the ground?’ 8 But the servant
answered, ‘Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up
the dirt around it and put on some fertilizer. 9 If the tree produces fruit next year,
good. But if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
1. Context vs. 5…universal seriousness and judgment of sin. Jesus told
the crowd “unless you repent you will all likewise perish”.
2. Definition of repentance: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to
changing one’s life; to change one’s mind regarding sin.
a. The parable’s immediate application is to Israel. The nation
had failed to produce spiritual fruit, but God gives the people one
more opportunity in their attitude toward Jesus.[4]
3. This parable is about God’s limited mercy that hinges on repentance
to stop judgment, i.e. one more year for fruit or cut it down.
a. Definition of mercy: God’s compassionate treatment of those
deserving judgment.
b. Nehemiah 9:17 (NKJV) [Context: a prayer of repentance for
the nations sin]
17
They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your
wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks,
And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their
bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and
merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not
forsake them.
4. Application: God in His mercy will give people who sin another
chance but without repentance judgment will come.
IV.
The parable of the ambitious guest
A. Luke 14:7-14 (NKJV)
7
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose
the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding
feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be
invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give
place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But
when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who
invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have
glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then
He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do
not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they
also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the
poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they
cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
1. Context: Jesus is eating at a ruler of the Pharisees house on the
Sabbath. He confronts them about their hypocrisy and lack of mercy for
questioning His healing of the sick on the Sabbath.
2. Well-known teachers customarily lectured or participated in
dialogues at banquets.
3. Social status was important in antiquity and was made obvious by
the seating of dinner guests at banquets…seating by rank is well attested
in Palestinian Jewish society,[5]
4. The closer a person was to the host, the greater was that guest’s
position of honor. As people entered the room in the Pharisee’s house
where the table was spread, they must have scrambled for seats at the
head of the table.[6]
a. Luke 11:43-44 (NKJV)
43
Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the
synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! …
5. The main spiritual truth is in vs. 11:
a. Luke 14:11 (NCV)
11
All who make themselves great will be made humble, but those
who make themselves humble will be made great.”
b. Definition of humble: the opposite of pride; a view of self that
embraces total dependence on God and gives no hint of superiority
over others or arrogance; embraces an attitude of submission to
God and man.
c. The spiritual principle is clear. Don’t push for glory. Let God
honor you.[7]
6. Jesus spoke to His host, telling him that if he would invite the
outcasts of society (the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind)—people
who could never repay him for his generosity—this would show that he
was ministering to them for the Lord’s sake and not his own (cf. Matt.
6:1-18; James 1:26-27). He would be laying up for himself treasures in
heaven (Matt. 6:20) and would be becoming rich toward God (Luke
12:21)….Jesus’ stated that the repayment would not come at the present
time but at the resurrection of the righteous.[8]
a. The Lord’s concern is more than the guest list at a social
occasion; He teaches the principle of unselfish motives in
performing deeds of kindness.[9]
7. Matthew 25:31-40 (NLT)
31
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be
gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right
hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his
right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom
prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and
you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and
you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me
clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you
visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we
ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to
drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you
clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of
the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
8. We should do good to those who cannot give us anything in return,
and leave the whole question of recognition and reward to God.[10]
9.
V.
Application:
a. I should guard my heart against pride. It will lead to my
downfall.
i.
How do I recognize pride in my life?
ii. How do I develop humility?
b. God wants me to care for needy, hurting people.
The parable of the great supper
A. Luke 14:15-24 (The Message)
15
That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who
gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!” 16 Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was
once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. 17 When it was time
for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the
food’s on the table.’ 18 “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making
excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over.
Send my regrets.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really
need to check them out. Send my regrets.’ 20 “And yet another said, ‘I just got
married and need to get home to my wife.’ 21 “The servant went back and told the
master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get
out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square
meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and
bring them here.’ 22 “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you
commanded—and there’s still room.’ 23 “The master said, ‘Then go to the country
roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! 24 Let me tell you,
not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner
party.’ ”
1. Context: immediately follows the prior parable addressing the
Pharisees.
2. A host would issue an invitation in advance, and then would send
notice when the meal was ready. Evidently the guests in this parable had
accepted the advance invitation.
3. Israel had accepted God’s invitation to the kingdom, given through
the prophets. The arrival of Jesus signals the arrival of the kingdom, but
in its rejection of Him the nation is declining God’s offer of grace.
However, God’s purpose will not be thwarted, so He will send His
gracious invitation to the Gentiles.[11]
4. One of the diners expressed a blessing on everyone who would eat .
. . in the kingdom. This person was assuming that he and the other
people present would all be present in the kingdom. Jesus took the
opportunity to use the feast motif to explain that many of the people
there would not be present in God’s kingdom. In their places would be
many outcasts and Gentiles.[12]
5. The excuses seemed good to those who gave them, but they were
inadequate for refusing Jesus’ kingdom offer.
a. Nothing was so important as accepting His offer of the
kingdom, for one’s entire destiny rests on his response to that
offer.[13]
6. Application: Nothing in life is more important than the being a part
of the KOG.
VI.
Conclusion
A. Summary
1. The parable of the rich fool
a. Application:
i.
My relationship with God is more important than
money and possessions.
ii. Greed and covetousness can destroy my life.
2. The parable of the barren fig tree
a. Application: God in His mercy will give people who sin
another chance but without repentance judgment will come.
3. The parable of the ambitious guest
a. Application:
i.
I should guard my heart against pride. It will lead to
my downfall.
ii. God wants me to care for needy, hurting people.
4. The parable of the great supper
a. Application:
i.
Nothing in life is more important than the being a part
of the KOG.
VII.
Response
A. Commitment
B. Prayer
6
[1]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New
Testament (Lk 12:13). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[2]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New
Testament (Lk 12:16). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[3]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New
Testament (Lk 12:21). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[4]Spirit filled life study Bible. 1997, c1991 (electronic ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New
Testament (Lk 14:7). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[6]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible
knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:242). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7]Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The
Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (665). Wheaton: Victor Books.
[8]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible
knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:242-243). Wheaton, IL: Victor
Books.
[9]Spirit filled life study Bible. 1997, c1991 (electronic ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[10]Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new
Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Lk 14:12).
Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.
[11]Spirit filled life study Bible. 1997, c1991 (electronic ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[12]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible
knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:243). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[13]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible
knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:243). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.