Jesus' Parables:
Grace & Judgment (Part 2)

By Neil Earle

The word Parable comes from a Greek word meaning ____________ . Jesus spoke about 51 parables when John's Gospel is included (John 4:35). Gordon Fee sees the parables as primarily a ____________ for confronting people with the ____________ of ____________ . Jesus expected a response but knew that by not responding His opponents were ____________ and ____________ themselves (Matthew 13:15). According to Matthew ____________ the Pharisees knew he was talking about them.

James Montgomery Boice saw 5 categories of parables. These include ____________ parables, ____________ themes, ____________ vs. ____________ ; the Christian life or ____________ ; and ____________ . Joachim Jeremias sees Ten Themes in the Parables enshrining life-and-death lessons Jesus wanted us to learn which help illustrate our Christian journey:

  1. "Now is the Hour" – The Bridegroom is here (Mark 2:19); the fields are already white to harvest, not several months in the future (John 4:35).

  2. God's Extravagant Mercy – The two debtors – 10,000 talents was the highest number in the Greek (Luke 7:41-43); Publicans and harlots enter the Kingdom ahead of the smug, self-righteous Pharisees (Matthew 21:28).

  3. Blessed Assurance – The Sower seems to lose lots of seed but the ultimate return is staggering (Mark 4:3-8); the Publican's repentance assures his justification (Luke 18:14).

  4. The Impending Catastrophe – The Rich Fool sleeps on a Volcano (Luke 12:16); When the tower fell, both guilty and innocent were caught in the trap (Luke 13:15).

  5. For Some It's Too Late – The Wedding Garment is necessary (Matthew 22:12); the Rich Man versus Lazarus (Luke 16:31).

  6. The Call to Dramatic, Unexpected Change – The Unjust but Dynamic Steward (Luke 16:1-8); the child-like attitude, an acted parable (Matthew 18:4).

  7. Discipleship starts NOW – Learning to forgive is an absolute (Matthew 18:23-25); go and do likewise (Luke ____________ ).

  8. Hard testing – Peter's own Gethsemane (Mark 14:27-31); the stone rejected (Mark 8:31); the kernel that dies (John ____________ ).

  9. All's Well that Ends Well – The budding tree (Luke 21:29-33); the coming Great Reversal when the lowly get the chief spot (Luke ____________ ).

  10. Coming Home – The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:24); Jesus serves at the Banquet (Luke 12:37).

Though judgment is a prominent feature of the parables, George Herbert's "Love 3" shows, Yes, God will forgive us. What better news can there be than that! Go and do likewise.