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Lesson #13 Let me tell you a story . . .

(Matthew 13: 1 53)

In Lesson #12 those closest to Jesus begin to doubt him: John the Baptist; the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum; and even Jesus own family. In Lesson #12 Jesus takes on a decidedly sharper edge, antagonizing the religious leaders by picking grain and healing on the Sabbath, and then engaging them in a heated dialectic argument; by ridiculing the religious leaders when they accuse him of driving out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons; and by targeting the crowds with scathing criticism when they ask for a sign from him, a sign that would validate his authority. Lesson #12 closes in tension and frustration when Jesus refuses to acknowledge his mother and brothers who have come to see him, saying that his disciples are his mother and brothers.

Lesson #13 offers a much-needed reprieve, a chance for the reader to take a deep breath as the tension and urgency, so prominent in Lessons 11 & 12, dissipate. In Lesson 13 we move into Great Discourse #3, Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven, a series of stories that both surprise and delight.

The Gospel according to Matthews overall mirrored chiastic structure


A Narrative: Jesus as Messiah, Son of God (1-4) Minor discourse: John the Baptist identifies the authority of Jesus (3:7-12) B Great Discourse #1: Demands of true discipleship (5-7) C Narrative: The supernatural authority of Jesus (8-9) D Great Discourse #2: Charge and authority of disciples (10) E Narrative: Jews reject Jesus (11-12) F Great Discourse #3: Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (13) E Narrative: Disciples accept Jesus (14-17) D Great Discourse #4: Charge and authority of church (18) C Narrative: Authority and invitation (19-22) B Great Discourse #5: Judgment on false discipleship (23-25) Narrative: Jesus as Messiah, suffering and vindicated (26-28) Minor discourse: Jesus identifies the authority of the church (28:18-20)

This section displays an elegant 3-part structure:


1.
Parable of the Sower Why teach in parables? Explanation of the Parable of the Sower

2.

Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Mustard Seed Parable of the Yeast Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Buried Treasure Parable of the Pearls of Great Price Parable of the Net Conclusion: Treasures Old and New

3.

And we learned that Jesus teaching methods consist of:

1) Expository teaching (with the outstanding example of the Sermon on the Mount); 2) Dialectic teaching (with the examples of Jesus engaging the religious leaders on the topic of working on the Sabbath); and 3) Teaching through Parables

The word parable is a compound of two Greek words: para = along side (as in paramedic or paralegal) and bollo = the verb to throw.

A parable is a succinct, didactic story thrown alongside a common, ordinary truth to illuminate that truth in a striking and memorable fashion. Parables are meant to illuminate, not to hide or obscure.

Jesus did not invent the parable as a teaching device. Parables are a type of mashalim, a form of comparison used in the Old Testament, such as Nathans story of the ewe-lamb in 2 Samuel 12: 1-7 and the story told by the woman of Tekoa in 2 Samuel 14: 1-13. Indeed, Greek rhetoricians used the term to describe a brief fictional narrative used for comparison, much like an extended metaphor. Although Jesus did not invent the parable, he was a master at using it. Jesus parables are clever and memorable, often delighting his audience with surprise and insight.

1.

Parable of the Sower Why teach in parables? Explanation of the Parable of the Sower Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Mustard Seed Parable of the Yeast Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Buried Treasure Parable of the Pearls of Great Price Parable of the Net Conclusion: Treasures Old and New

2.

3.

Parable of the Sower (fresco). Sts. Konstantine and Helen Orthodox Church, Cluj, Romania.

Northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Capernaum.


Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

1. Some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it (13: 4); 2. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil . . . and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots (13: 5-6); 3. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it (13: 7); 4. But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold (13: 8).

Why teach in parables

1.

Some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it (13: 4).
The person who hears the word and doesnt understand it; the evil one comes and takes it away.

2.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil . . . and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots (13: 5-6).
The person who hears the word, accepts it at once with joy, but has no root and it lasts only a short time.

3.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it (13: 7).
The person who hears the word, but worldly concerns choke it off.

4.

But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold (13: 8).
The person who hears the word, understands it and produces fruit.

1.

Parable of the Sower Why teach in parables? Explanation of the Parable of the Sower Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Mustard Seed Parable of the Yeast Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Buried Treasure Parable of the Pearls of Great Price Parable of the Net Conclusion: Treasures Old and New

2.

3.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .


1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Man who sowed good seed Son of Man His field the world Good seed children of the kingdom Weeds children of the evil one The enemy the devil The harvester the end of the age The harvesters the angels

During spring and fall the Sea of Galilee is a way station for the migration of over 500 million birds from more than 400 species; it is a Mecca for Ornithologists!

Yeast is always a negative image in Scripture: For seven days no leaven may be found in your houses; for
anyone, a resident alien or a native, who eats leavened food will be cut off from the community of Israel. You shall eat nothing leavened; wherever you dwell you may eat only unleavened bread (Exodus 12: 19-20). Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16: 11). Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened (1 Corinthians 5: 6-7)

1.

Parable of the Sower Why teach in parables? Explanation of the Parable of the Sower Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Mustard Seed Parable of the Yeast Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Buried Treasure Parable of the Pearls of Great Price Parable of the Net Conclusion: Treasures Old and New

2.

3.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .

1.

Parable of the Sower Why teach in parables? Explanation of the Parable of the Sower

ONE INSERT

2.

Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Mustard Seed TWO INSERTS Parable of the Yeast Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat Parable of the Buried Treasure Parable of the Pearls of Great Price Parable of the Net Conclusion: Treasures Old and New THREE INSERTS

3.

1. Why does Jesus teach in parables? 2. If Jesus is fluent in expository and didactic teaching, as well as in parables, under what circumstances do you think he would choose to use parables? 3. Why does Jesus not use parables when teaching his inner-circle of disciples? 4. What do birds represent in Jesus parables? 5. What does Jesus mean when he says that a good teacher brings from his storeroom both the new and the old?

Copyright 2014 by William C. Creasy


All rights reserved. No part of this courseaudio, video, photography, maps, timelines or other mediamay be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval devices without permission in writing or a licensing agreement from the copyright holder.

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