Parables of Jesus - Lesson 6

The Parables of Jesus

Lesson 6 

·         Background

o   Today’s Parables come from the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.   Jesus was making his journey to Jerusalem to be crucified and he was teaching in parables along the way.    

·         Parables of Wisdom and Folly.

o   Five Foolish Women and their Friends. (Matthew 25: 1 – 13)

§  Wisdom – the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships, insight, good sense.

§  Fool – a person lacking in judgment  or prudence, one lacking in common powers of understanding

§  Ten was an important number in Judaism.  You needed 10 people to start a synagogue, to have a Passover meal, and a wedding.

§  A Jewish wedding involved 3 parts:    a) the Engagement: the fathers made an agreement between the children to be married and the children were to have no contact.   b) Betrothal: 1 year before the marriage, the vows were spoken and there was no physical contact between the children.    c) Wedding Feast –involved the whole community and lasted 7 days.  The groom and his party went to the bride’s home and she was expected to be ready.  A parade route was made to the groom’s house which hosted the wedding feast.   At the end of the week the groomsman took the brides and grooms hands and bought them together which signaled the wedding could now be consummated.

§  Torch – A long stick with wire mesh and a cloth.  The cloth was soaked in olive oil and then lit.

§  Midnight – Most people would be sleeping.   Jesus will be coming at an unlikely hour.   The disciples expected Jesus’s return shortly after his resurrection or during their lifetime.

§  The Foolish Women– They knew the bridegroom was returning, but they were unprepared.  They looked ready, as they were dressed properly but they did not bring any fuel for their torches.   Just because we go to church does not mean that we are saved.   There are also those who profess to know Jesus but do not live it.  It takes a faith relationship with God.

§  The Wise woman – They took oil for their lamps in case the bridegroom was delayed.

§  Both groups of women fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom.  Both groups were invited to the banquet and both groups accepted the invitation by waiting for the bridegrooms return.  They both were waiting to participate in the Wedding procession.

§  Jesus is the bridegroom.  The banquet is the Marriage Supper that we will share in heaven with Jesus.    There will be people who have heard the invitation to Jesus, they say they believe in Jesus, but they do not have a relationship with him and are not ready for Jesus in their lives.  Be renewed in your nature and be washed from your sins through God’s gift of grace.   Be reconciled to God and to live your life for God, by moving from darkness to the light.

§  Related Readings

·         Luke 12: 35 – 40, I Thessalonians 5:6, Revelations 19:9, Matthew 24: 42 – 44, Mark 13:35

o   The Rich Fool. (Luke 12: 13 - 21)

§  Folly – lack of good sense or normal providence or foresight.   This parable talks about the folly of being pre-occupied with riches.

§  During Jewish times, it was typical to bring such problems to a judge or rabbi.

§  Jesus was rudely interrupted while teaching.   Jesus was not a judge in Israel and Jesus pointed out that the man’s demand was out of line, that the courts would settle such matters.  Jesus used this opportunity to warn against an attitude about being pre-occupied about material possessions.  Society currently wishes us to measure a person by his worth and possessions.

§  The rich man could have distributed his abundance to the poor and needy.

§  Jesus put his finger on the questioner’s heart.  When we bring things to God in prayer, he often does the same by showing us how we need to change and grow in our attitude to the problem.

§  Jesus challenges us to think beyond earth bound goals and to use what we have been given for God’s kingdom.   Faith, service, and obedience are the way to become rich toward God.

§  The rich man in the story died before he could begin to use what was stored in his big barns.   Planning for retirement, preparing for life before death is wise, but neglecting life after death is disastrous.

§  Possessions are perishable goods while the soul is intended to dwell with God forever.  Serving God first should be first and foremost in our lives.  God blesses us with the possessions we do have and receive.  We should thank God for his blessings and not be absorbed by materialism.  Materialism can make us insensitive to others, just as sin can make us insensitive to the Holy Sprits work within us.

§  Related Readings

·         Ecclesiastes 8: 15, Job 31: 24 – 28, Psalm 62:10 Jeremiah 17:11, Luke 11: 39 – 40, Luke 12: 32 – 34, Psalm 14: 1, Psalm 53: 1

·         Questions to Ponder/Life Lessons.

o   Be righteous, be ready, and be responsible.

o   Some things cannot wait for the last minute.  Are we ready for Christ’s return?   We cannot get by on another’s faith (My mother was Godly and I learned a lot from her.

o   Lost opportunities cannot be regained.   The time to buy oil was passed in the parable.  Are we saved or unsaved?  Do we think that we will have another day to turn towards Jesus Christ?  The LORD will return without warning.  Each person is responsible for his own salvation.

o   Do we possess any signs of greed in our lives?

o   Why is it difficult for us to accept the fact that our life and things are only temporary?

o   Do we seek worldly wisdom from God instead of the kind of wisdom many people may practice today that is not Godly?

o   When we are blessed with things, do we see them as a gift from God?  The Rich Fool in the parable could have suffered a blight or drought instead of a rich harvest.