Discipleship 8
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Parables for living
Parables for living
This week we will be continuing our study on discipleship. Last week we looked at two of Jesus’ parables known as the agrarian parables. Teachings that referred to everyday happenings that people in the farming community would have associated with. Today we will focus on parables that were designed to prepare Jesus’ disciples for life formation and then to teach others.
We will begin with Matthew 18.1-4 the command to become as little children that is given in response to the question.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Become like little children; children are dependent on their parents. they look to their parents for all of their needs ; for food, shelter, love, support, protection. A small child cannot do anything on their own. they must put their trust in their parent or someone in that position. Their dependence is complete. We have become great grand parents again and we marvel how dependent an infant is upon their parents. A child’s duty is to learn, The wonder and excitement of new found things, new abilities. If they are being properly taught there is no need to unlearn. As opposed to we adults that have to unlearn bad behaviors.
As Christians we need to come to faith in Jesus in that same way. Humble, childlike, dependent, and trusting. Accept Jesus by faith, in humility, we cannot do anything on our own. This is difficult for us, we want to be in charge, we want to be independent, we don’t like to be told what to do. As Christians we need to depend upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom and strength. Trust God that no matter what happens in our lives, He is in control, nothing happens to us that He does not know. While we struggle to understand we need to trust that He has our best interests at heart. complete trust like a baby.
Paul writes in I Corinthians 3.2
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
We need to grow up as Christians, To eat solid food, not stay on a diet of milk. that doesn’t mean that we stop trusting as a little child.
And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
We have a responsibility to train up a child in the way he should go.
Jesus condemns the one who causes a little one to sin.
Have you noticed how many crimes against children are reported in the newspaper. At one time it was rare, now it seems that someone is charged almost daily with the corruption of the morals of a child. How many children are exposed to activities that they should not have knowledge of. Children should be allowed to have the innocence of childhood and not be exposed to adult sinfulness.
A second parable that I would like us to look at is one on forgiveness in Matt.18.21-35
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
This parable is in response to the question of how many times should one for give?
The Rabbinic answer would have been 3 times. The Prophet Amos list 8 different prophesies, the words of God in which God states “For three transgressions and for four I will not revoke punishment.”
When Peter suggests seven he is being generous. He probably thinks that he will look good to Jesus by being so generous. Jesus replies, not 7 but 77. The King James goes further saying 70 times 7 or 490 times. I chuckle at that, I would probably lose count and have to start over.
Physical therapy, if you lose count you have to start over again.
This parable shows how important forgiveness is in the life of the Christian. We need to repent of our sins so that we can receive forgiveness from God.
Some times we struggle to receive forgiveness. I have heard people say that my sin is so great God cannot forgive me. that is not true. 1 John 1.9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Notice the word just in that verse. God is just, we can expect justice from him. If we go before an earthly judge there is room for personal biases other influences, that would affect the judges decision. With God as our judge we can expect perfect fairness, and justice. We will get what we deserve.
Think of the contrast between God’s infinite love and mercy and man’s stingy behavior that he tries to justify.
In God’s sight sin is sin and we are all guilty. We need to receive forgiveness so we can approach the throne of God. When we are forgiven we need to remember to forgive others who may have wronged us. Matt.5.7
Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
This verse addresses mercy. With mercy we are forgiven and don’t receive the punishment we deserve.
This reminds us of the importance of being merciful or forgiving others in order that we might receive mercy. We state this regularly when we recite the Lord’s Prayer; forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
One example of forgiveness is the story that Corrie Ten Boom told of speaking at a conference about her experiences in a german concentration camp because of her families efforts to rescue Jewish families from the death camps. After she had finished speaking several people remained to talk with her. Finally it was down to one man. Corrie recognized him as one of the most brutal guards from her prison camp. He stated that he had become a Christian and knew that God had forgiven him, but he asked her to forgive him for what he had done to her. Corrie said that was the hardest thing she was ever asked to do. She could not, on her own strength, but as she prayed the Holy Spirit worked in her spirit and she was able to forgive him, but she said it was not on her own strength , but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in her.
Humility, childlike faith, forgiveness.
Lets move on to another parable in Matthew 25.1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
This parable tells us of the importance of being prepared. We can be at the right place at the right time, but we need to be prepared. The ten virgins were all waiting for the bridegroom, but only five had thought to have an extra supply of oil so that they would not run out.
Jesus’ parables were all given for the purpose of preparation. We need to prepare for what God will ask us to do by reading His Word, praying and seeking his will for our lives.
2 Peter 3:10–14 (NIV)
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Peter tells us to be prepared. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. We should live holy and godly lives while we wait for the Lord’s return. Make every effort to be spotless, blameless, and at peace with one another. In other words be prepared. The Boy Scouts motto “be prepared.”
Fable of three apprentice demons; 1 tell people there is no God, will not deceive many. 2. tell them there is no hell, you will not deceive anyone that way. 3. I will tell them that there is no hurry. Satan replied , go ! you will deceive many that way.
The fourth parable that we will look at is found in Matthew 25.14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
We often get confused with this parable by thinking of the money side of the teaching. Our finances and our possessions are an important part of the wise use of the talents that we receive, but it goes much farther. Some have the ability to teach, some have musical abilities, others can serve as carpenters, builders, clean up persons. This makes me think of people who respond to disasters. Teams of workers go to areas that are devastated by fire, flood, tornadoes to help cleanup and rebuild. they are often the unsung heroes in their labors for others. Barnabas was recognized as an encourage r to the Apostle Paul as well as to others. This is a talent that is often overlooked in the church. Paul wrote in Titus 2.3-5
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
I don’t care who it is, everyone needs encouragement, at some point in their life. Someone to say I know what you are going through. Someone to lend a helping hand.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Speaking to one another in psalms, and songs from the Spirit. To share a word that might be just what someone needs at that moment.
Yes we should also look at how we use our financial talents. Most of us have been blessed financially. We have enough to meet our needs, some even have extra. Which can be shared. Wise investments can return even more while it would seem that the person who buries his talent will be the one who doesn’t have enough.
There is joy and satisfaction in being able to give money or time, the use of talents that God has given us. To see them being used or enjoyed by the ones who receive the benefit from them.
In summary; we need to approach God as little children; dependent, trusting , humble.
We need forgiveness that only God can give, but in receiving forgiveness we must also forgive.
We need to be prepared for life by reading the Word and praying. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior it is not the end but the beginning of a new life in Him.
We need to use the talents that He has given us for His glory not ours. In serving Him we will be blessed.