The Parables of Jesus
Lesson 15
·
Smaller
and Shorter Parables of Jesus
o
The Watchful
Servants. (Luke 12: 35 - 40)
§
This parable is found in the Gospel of Luke and it
was one of several parables that Jesus used to tell about his seconding coming
and the future events.
§
The theme of this parable is the return of Jesus
Christ to Earth and that we need to be ready for his return.
§
During Biblical times, servants wore long
flowing robes that went down to their feet.
The robe was gathered up, tied, and tucked under their belts so it would
not be a hindrance while working and serving their Master. This is where the phrase ‘Gird your loins’
comes from. When evening came they
would sleep in their robe and untuck it from the belt, so their feet would keep
warm during the cold nights.
§
Jesus also mentions to “keep your lamps burning”. This was in reference to the Master possibly
returning when it would be dark or evening.
The servant would be prepared by not falling asleep and having a light
when his Master knocked at the door to be let in.
§
Jesus’s reference to “the thief is comes at an
unknown hour” warns us to be ready. If
we fail to be ready we could suffer eternal separation from God. There is a heaven to gain and a Hell to shun.
§
Jesus’s return at an unexpected time is not a
trap or trick by God to catch us off guard.
God has delayed Jesus’s return so more people will have the opportunity
to be saved. God’s will is that none
should perish.
§
All our plans for the future should be
influenced by our knowledge of Jesus’s unexpected return. We should live our lives each day as it is
our last. We should be heavenly minded,
not earthly minded.
§
Jesus does promise a reward to those who are
ready for his return. “It will be good”
translates to “Blessed”. Jesus will
treat us as honored guests by welcoming us into heaven, filling us with
everlasting joy, and he will secure our everlasting well-being.
§
Related Readings
·
Matthew 24:42-46, Matthew 25:13, I Thessalonians
5:1-3, 2 Peter 3:8-13, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15, I John 3:2-3 (Live
pure and holy lives), Mark 10:45, Matthew 24:37-39
o
The Unfruitful
Fig Tree (Luke 13: 1 - 9)
§
This parable can also be found in the Gospel of
Luke and it was told shortly after the parable we just looked at.
§
In the Old Testament a fruitful tree was often
used as a symbol of Godly living.
§
The theme of this parable is that God is patient
with sinners, but his patience should not be abused. Jesus is warning that God would not tolerate
our lack of productivity forever.
§
Jesus used this parable to correct the people’s
thinking about sinning and to emphasize that we are all sinners and we all need
to repent. Jesus used the example of
Pilate’s killing of innocent Galileans who were offering sacrifices to
illustrate the point he was making. The
crowd assumed the Galileans were killed because of God’s judgment against them
for being wicked. He reminded the crowd
that they we are also all sinners as well and that they need to repent of their
sin otherwise, they too could perish.
Jesus wanted the crowd to examine their own hearts, not the hearts of
others. God is the ultimate judge of
the heart.
§
Repent means to have a change in mind about the
wrong we are guilty of. We need to
acknowledge we are sinners, to turn away from our sins, and to turn to God.
§
Jesus also used this parable to challenge the
Jews. The Jews assumed God would forgive
them without repentance, as they were God’s chosen people. Jesus could see in their hearts that there
was no evidence that their lives had changed, or they did not love God, or else
they were living as they pleased.
§
The fig tree deserved to be cut down as it was
not fruitful. A plea from a man,
possibly the gardener, asking the Owner to wait another year for the tree to
bear fruit, saved the tree temporarily.
Failure to produce fruit the following year would mean the tree would be
cut down.
§
God is represented as the owner of the fig
tree. Jesus is the man who cared for the
tree and pleaded for the owner to wait another year. The fig tree can be represented by either the
nation of Israel or an individual person.
The significance of the 3 year period refers to both the time span of
John the Baptist’s teaching and the length of time of Jesus’s teaching as well.
§
Can we see from this parable how God is patient
with us and he wishes that none shall perish?
We can see that we also have an intercessor between us and God through
Jesus Christ. The delay in God’s
judgment and our failure to respond to his waiting leaves no one who fails to
do so without any excuse.
§
Related Readings
·
Isaiah 55:6-7, Romans 3:23, Job 4:7, Job 22:5,
John 9:2, Acts 17:30, Luke 3:7-9, John 3:1-12.
·
Questions
to Ponder/Life Lessons.
o
Borrowed time is not permanent. God’s patience does have a limit.
o
Are we eagerly awaiting the return of our Master
and are we ready for him?
o
Do we understand the return of Jesus could occur
at any moment?
o
Are we sincere instead of hypocritical? Are we ready to witness or are we
fearful? Do we trust or do we
worry? Are we generous or are we
greedy? Are we diligent or are we lazy?
o
Have we judged others without looking at our own
lives? Do we repent of our sins?
o
Have we been enjoying God’s grace without
sharing it with others?
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