The Parables of Jesus
Lesson 8
·
Background
o
Today’s Parables come from the Gospel of Luke.
o
Jesus was teaching along his way to Jerusalem
where he would eventually be crucified.
o
Jesus had just sent out 72 disciples ahead of
him, 36 groups of 2 people, to help spread the message to the towns he would be
teaching in.
o
Parables help answer questions and deal with
attitudes.
·
Parables
of A Christian Life.
o
The Good
Samaritan. (Luke 10: 25 – 37)
§
An expert of the law stood up to test Jesus on
what he must do to have eternal life.
He was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He correctly understood total devotion to God
and love for one’s neighbor. This man
of the law was self-righteous and he was also trying to justify himself.
§
The road between Jerusalem and Jericho was steep
and treacherous because robbers had many places to hide. The road was nicknamed “The Way of the
Blood”. It was considered by Jewish law
that anyone who touched a dead man was considered unclean. The Priest and Levite were leaving
Jerusalem, as they had completed their duties and returning home. They had just worshiped God (Love God) but
they did not help the wounded man (Love your neighbor). The priest would have been familiar with the
Jewish law which commanded that you help your enemy’s donkey if he was lost or
overturned. The Levite was a spiritual
leader for the nation of Israel and he was also familiar of the Jewish laws.
§
There was a deep hatred between Jews and
Samaritans. The Jews saw themselves as
pure descendants of Abraham, while the Samaritans where a mixed race produced
when the Jews from the northern kingdom of Israel inter-married with other
people after Israel’s exile to Babylon.
Notice how the Jewish leader answered Jesus’s question, ‘Which of the 3
men was a neighbor?”. The Jewish leader
had mentioned early in the parable to “love your neighbor”, but the Jewish
leader answered Jesus by saying, “the one who showed mercy”. He could not say the Samaritan. Jesus was telling this parable in reply to
the expert of the Law’s question, ‘Who is my neighbor?’.
§
We can see 3 different Attitudes displayed in
this parable.
·
The Robber – What is yours is mine and I am
going to take it.
·
The Priest/Levite – What is mine is mine and I am
going to keep it.
·
The Samaritan – What is mine is yours and I am
going to share it.
§
Related Readings
·
Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:16,
Luke 18:18, Leviticus 21:1-3.
o
Persistence
in not Giving Up. (Luke 11:5-13 and Luke 18:1-8)
§
Both readings talk about the importance of
prayer.
§
The expression “wear me out” literally translates
to “hit me under the eye”. It appeared
to be in the best interest of the judge to give the woman her results because
of her persistence. The unjust judge
acted upon his own selfish nature. His
character is used to show us the contrast between God’s character and the
unjust judge. God is a just and
righteous judge. God has compassion for
us because of his love for us. The
character of God is our motivation not to lose heart and to press on in prayer
for Jesus’s coming and the establishment of justice on earth.
§
Persistence or boldness in prayer overcomes our
insensitivity, not God’s. To practice
persistence helps to change our hearts and minds and it helps to express our
intensity of our need. Persistence
helps us to recognize God’s work.
§
Even though fathers can make mistakes, they
treat their children well. The most
important gift God has given us is his Holy Spirit to those who believe in the
death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ.
§
We are encouraged and commanded to approach God
in prayer with confidence in asking, seeking, and knocking. God desires to hear our prayers and
petitions and to open them to him. God
loves us and wants us to share and open our hearts to him. Continued payer is expected in order to gain
results
§
Jesus’s second coming would occur later in times
and he wished for his disciples not to lose heart and pray unceasingly. Jesus was warning that there will be much
injustice in this world and we need to continually pray in faith. Jesus is the righteous judge.
§
We cannot take both readings out of context and
believe we will receive everything we pray for.
The Lord’s Prayer is an example of how we can pray to God and Jesus gave
this example to his apostles as well.
It is important that we pray in the will of God (John 6:40, Romans
12:12, James 1:5, Philippians 4:6-8, Peter 3:9). If our confidence is in God’s desire to
answer our prayer, then we should continue this prayer. If our prayer weakens, then we should drop
that prayer (James 5:16).
§
Related Readings
·
Matthew 7:7-8, Hebrews 4:16, Romans 12:12,
Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, I Thessalonians 5:17
·
Questions
to Ponder/Life Lessons.
o
The Good Samaritan teaches us 3 principles.
§
Lack of love is often easy to justify even
though it is never right.
§
Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or
social background that is in need.
§
Love means acting to meet the people’s needs.
o
What natural inclinations make it easier for us
to act like the Priest of Levite rather than the Good Samaritan?
o
How does it feel when someone has mercy upon
you? How do you feel when you face
trouble because of your actions and how does mercy feel then?
o
In what ways of our life can we be like the Good
Samaritan? Is this something that God
expects from us?
o
The movie – ‘Bucket List’
§
Have you seen joy in your life?
§
Have you given others joy in their life?
o
How we love people shows our relationship with
God. “Fruits” is a result of our actions
because of our love for God. “Works” is
what we think we must do to get into heaven.
o
Love means moving towards others, it is not
convenience.
o
Asking for things we need is not
unreasonable. Asking for a better life is
not unreasonable. Remember to combine
your prayer activities with your spiritual growth. Through spiritual growth we are able to know
what things we should pray for.
o
How do we respond when we do not see our prayers
getting answered?
o
How can we be assured that what we are praying
for is within the will of God?
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