PARABLE 1 - NEW CLOTH PATCH ON AN OLD COAT
Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is make worse.
PARABLE 2 – NEW WINE IN OLD WINESKINS
Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
PARABLE 3 – LAMP ON A STAND
Matthew 5:14-15 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
PARABLE 4 – WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS
Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded on a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Discussion Questions – Parables 1 - 4
PARABLES 1 & 2 — MATTHEW 9:16-17
1. These are the first of Jesus’ parables. They are among the few that are in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Jesus told them around the same time as the Sermon on the Mount and the calling of his first apostles. What is the point he is making with a story about an old coat and an old wineskin?
The metaphors were drawn from the existing culture in the time of Jesus. Wineskins would stretch with new wine being put in as it continued to ferment, and then they would harden. If new wine was put into a hardened wineskin, the continued fermentation risked bursting the skin. Similarly, new cloth would be expected to shrink considerably, so using it to patch already-shrunken cloth would be asking for problems. The point, of course, is that Jesus has a new message, “The Gospel,” and if you try to fit it into the old Jewish religion, law, system of animal sacrifices, and so on, it isn’t going to fit.
2. The people in Jesus’ audience were some disciples of John the Baptist (and perhaps some Pharisees). The parable had a special meaning for them. What was it? And what is the message for us today?
These two parables illustrate the fact that you can’t mix old religious customs with new faith in Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the law; therefore, there is no longer any need to continue with the old customs. Jesus cannot be added to a works-based religion. In the case of the Pharisees, they were consumed with their own self-righteousness, and faith in Jesus cannot be combined with self-righteous practices.
As for us today when we come to Jesus we must completely replace the old human way of life with the new godly way of life. Because God's "new" way is righteous and spiritually strong, it cannot be combined with the "old" wicked and weak human way of life. They are incompatible. His new way must completely replace our old worldly ways so that we walk in newness of life.
3. In what ways does following Christ require us to replace old habits with new ones? Why do we resist making these changes?
None of us likes to give up something familiar or comfortable. This is even truer when this “something” has been the controlling point for our view of reality, morality, and religion. So we have a tendency to plug in a new good experience or teaching into our old religious context and make it fit. Jesus’ point here is that what he brings cannot be made to fit in the old order and old forms of religion with which the Jews were familiar. To do that would be destructive to both the old and the new. What Jesus brings is new, fresh, and transformational. It will rip apart anything that tries to force it into another way of doing, perceiving and experiencing. Becoming a Christ follower—a Christian—is a whole new life, not just another religion to be thrown into the world mix of faiths. This is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago.
PARABLE 3 — MATTHEW 5:14-15 — LAMP ON A STAND
1. Jesus often refers to himself (or is referred to) as the “Light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5, 1:9, 3:19, 12:35). What does He mean, then, by saying to mere men in this verse, “you are the light of the world”?
One must interpret this as meaning that Jesus’ disciples, including us today, shine with His light by virtue of His Spirit dwelling in them (and us). We must never forget where the light comes from. It doesn’t come from you. You are not the source. You are not the generator. It's the Holy Ghost inside you that generates that light. When you receive God's Spirit you literally shine with God's love. And that light that shines within you can be seen bby a dark word. So let your light shine!
2. Jesus uses two illustrations in this short parable (city on a hill and light in a house). How might these apply to us? (Matthew 5:16)
Many Judean cities were founded on the summits or sides of mountains, and travelers could see them from far away. Perhaps Jesus pointed to such a city, telling His disciples that they were like it. The city built on an important location can be seen by many eyes over a wide area, representing a disciple’s far-ranging and widespread exposure to others.
Jesus’ illustration of a shining lamp illuminating the home suggests a disciple’s more intimate influence. A Christian’s actions cannot be hidden from the eyes of either our families or the world at large. This being the case, one should live a righteous, holy, humble, and pure life, letting “your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
PARABLE 4 — LUKE 6:47-49 — WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS
1. This parable is the end of the Sermon on the Mount. What is Jesus’ final message which he illustrates with the parable of building a house (Luke 6:46-47)?
Here’s the Lord speaking to the most religious people possible, the people in the right religion, Judaism. Jesus says, “The problem is you call me Lord but you don’t do what I say.” That’s the problem. I’m not looking for your curiosity, I’m not looking for your fascination. I’m not looking for your admiration. I’m telling you what it is to be a true follower. But He says it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do what I say.
2. Jesus says we are to do what he says. What did he just finish saying that we should do?
He doesn’t say, “listen to what I say” or “agree with what I say.” He says, “do what I say.” What Jesus is saying is, you have to recognize your sin, see that you are prisoners, blind and oppressed, that you are the poor, that you are the hungry, that you are starving spiritually, that you are sad over yourselves and others who are alienated from God. Jesus says, “I’m telling you, you’ve got to look at yourself and see yourself as a sinner, then you’ve got to look at me and see me as your Lord and cry out to God for mercy.”
3. How does the parable illustrate what Jesus says we should do?
Jesus gives us a memorable illustration here. “The one who comes to Me hears My words and acts upon them,” that’s obedience. But then he goes on and says, “I’ll show you who he’s like. He’s like a man building a house who dug deep,” meaning that you should really get down to the realities of your own life—and also dig down deep into the truth of God, “and lay a foundation upon the Rock.”
4. What is the rock or the foundation upon which you should build your house? (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Rock is an Old Testament term for God, isn’t it? And foundation is a New Testament term for Christ used a number of times, e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:11.
So what you have here is the message of Christ which is about God as the rock, about Christ as the foundation, and the gospel. So whoever builds his life on the gospel, on the great cornerstone of the gospel from Matthew 16, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” That’s the rock bed, cornerstone foundation. When you go down and you build your life on God in Christ and the gospel, storms of judgment can never move your house. That’s somebody who just doesn’t admire Jesus, but who embraces Him as Lord and Savior.
5. What is the main message in this parable? How can you apply it to your life today?
Discuss this question among yourselves, but remember, the key thing here is not to admire Christ, it’s to obey Christ. What was “the gospel message” Jesus brought?
That Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin so that through faith in Him we might become the children of God.
That He has broken the enslaving power of sin, and set the captives free to live in everlasting fellowship with our Creator!
That even though a day of Judgment is coming, we can be totally free of fear on that day!
That the kingdom of God is accessible through faith in Him, not as a result of our own merit!
That we no longer have to be at enmity with God, we are free to approach Him!
Good News indeed!
No comments:
Post a Comment