Sunday, August 4, 2024 AM
THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS: The Master Teacher
Mike Teel, Pastor
Focal Passage:
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” —Luke 10:30-36
WHAT IS A
?
1. THE
–The word “parable” comes from the Greek word “parabole’”, which literally means a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to or to compare.
–A definition I have heard is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning” but really a parable is more than that.
–The dictionary defines a parable as “A short figurative story, designed to convey some truth or moral lesson.” Or “A brief story using events or facts of everyday life to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth.”
2. DIFFERENT
AND FORMS
–But parables come in many different styles and forms.
–The point is that Jesus used parable as a form of teaching and communicating truths about life, living and the Kingdom of God.
–Throughout the gospels there are over 30 parables of Jesus recorded in some style or another.
WHY DID JESUS
IN PARABLES?
Mark 4:10-13
10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
–His parables were designed to test His hearers, not an intelligence test but rather a spiritual responsive understanding.
–They were designed to get a response and move people from the carnal thinking to the spiritual.
–Notice Jesus’ response: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? He was simply saying as you ask you will learn the principles of the kingdom of God!
–So, how will we learn what the parables are teaching us? We will explore them together and ask pertinent questions and depend upon the Holy Spirit to teach us.
THE
OF THE PARABLE
Luke 10:25-29
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
–Now let’s look at the set up by Jesus for the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
1. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE
–The Jewish style of teaching was all about the questions that were asked.
–But in the form of a true Pharisee this young man wanted to justify himself and his righteousness.
2. A NATURAL SPONTANEOUS
–Note that when Jesus taught with parables it was always natural and spontaneous.
–He always had an answer. Recall Jesus had spent 30 years preparing Himself for His public and private ministry.
–On the other hand, there are times when we should have answers to some questions. Has anyone ever asked you:
-Why are you a Christian?
-Why do you believe in God and worship Him?
-How do you know you are truly a believer?
–You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to answer these questions – all the books of the Bible or all the Apostles’ names.
–Whether you have been a Christian for one day or 40 years you should know why you became a Christian in the first place.
–Why do so many people fall away from the faith?
3. TO GET LEARNERS TO
FOR THEMSELVES
–Notice the continued dialog that allows Jesus to fully understand what the seeker was really interested in and to challenge him to think for himself. (He had been told what to believe all his life.)
–In Luke 10:25 the expert in the law asked this very important question: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
–Instead of just telling him, Jesus explored his understanding by swinging the question back to him to discover his thoughts on the topic.
–Seeking to justify himself, the seeker asks another question in verse 29: “And who is my neighbor?”
–What an interesting question and what an interesting answer Jesus gives.
–We will look at the actual parable next week as we continue the teachings of Jesus.
LIVE IT OUT
—But today—what questions have you come with?
—When is the last time you recalled why you were saved and how fresh is your salvation to you today?
—Have you all these years been attempting to prove you deserve to go to heaven because of your works and correct answers?
—Who are your neighbors, and do you love them?