The God of Righteousness

8/8/2019 The God of Righteousness

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Gemane G. GettehGemane G. Getteh

NTRODUCTION TONTRODUCTION TONDUCTIVE STUDY OFNDUCTIVE STUDY OFHE PARABLESHE PARABLES


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VNowhere else in the worlds literature has suchimmortality been conferred on anonymity.

V Geriant V. Jones, The Art and Truth of the Parables(London: SPCK, 1964), 124.

VNext to Revelation, the parables are the

most misinterpreted portions of scripture.V the wounded man stands for Adam; Jerusalem, the

heavenly city from which he has fallen; the thieves,the devil who strips Adam of his immortality andleads him to sin; the priest and Levite, the Old

Testament Law and ministry which was unable tocleanse and save anyone; the good Samaritan whobinds the wounds, Christ who forgives sin; oil andwine; hope and stimulus to work, the animal, theincarnation; the inn, the church; and the innkeeper,the apostle Paul. Augustines (AD 350-430) (Hom.31.)

IntroductionIntroduction


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The number of JesusThe number of Jesus

parables varies between 45 parables varies between 45

and 60 depending how oneand 60 depending how one

classifies a parable, and theclassifies a parable, and therepresent about one-third ofrepresent about one-third of

His teaching. Therefore, it His teaching. Therefore, it

behooves us to study thembehooves us to study themdiligently and above alldiligently and above all

respond to him through them.respond to him through them.V

The Nature of Jesus ParablesThe Nature of Jesus Parables

Their ImportanceTheir Importance


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V The term parable (mashal[OT],parabole [NT])

is used several ways in Scripture and inJewish intertestamental literature. It can refer to

Va proverb (1 Sam 24:13),

Va satire or taunt (Ps 44:11),

Va riddle (Ps 49:4),Va figurative saying (Mark 7:14-17),

Van extended simile (Matt 13:33),

Vstory parable (Matt 25:1-13),

Van example parable (Matt 18:23-25),Vand even an allegory (Judges 9:7-20;

Mark 4:3-9, 13-20).V See Robert H. Stein, A Basic Guide to Interpreti

the Bible: Playing by the Rules (Grand RapidBaker, 1994), 137.


The MeaningThe Meaning


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Their ClassificationsTheir Classifications

V simple simile (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:20-21);

V simple metaphor (Matt 7:6);

V extended simile (Matt 20:1-16);

V extended metaphor (Luke 15:11-32),and

V examples stories (Luke 10:30-37;12:17-21; 16:19-31; 18:9-14).

VV

Th N f J P bl


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Their RealismTheir Realism

V first century Palestinian characters, settings,and ideas.

V Stock images from the Semitic world crowdthese storiesimages of farmers, fisherman,crops, fish, water, pearls, wheat, treasures,

workers, landowners, masters, slaves,peasants, young maidens, sons, and kingsand as such the characters, includingLazarus in Luke 16 (the only characterexplicitly named), function as universal types.

V They also evidence plot development, conflict,foil, and suspense.V Cf. Leland Ryken, Words of Life: A Literary

Introduction to the New Testament(GrandRapids: Baker, 1987), 63.

V


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A Survey of Jesus ParablesA Survey of Jesus Parables

Markan Parables Mark Matthew LukeThe Bridegrooms

Friends

2:19-20 9:15 5:33-39

Unshrunk Cloth2:21 9:16 5:36

New Wine 2:22 9:17 5:37-39Binding the StrongMan

3:20-29 12:22-32 11:14-23Soils 4:1-20 13:1-23 8:4-18The Lamp 4:21-25Seed GrowingSecretly

4:26-29Mustard Seed 4:30-32 13:31-32 13:18-19Wicked Tenants 12:1-12 21:33-46 20:9-19Budding Fig Tree 13:28-32 24:32-36 21:29-33

DoorkeepersWatch

13:34-36 12:35-38


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Matthean Parables MatthewGood and Bad Fruit 7:15-20

Wheat and Tares13:24-30, 36-43

Dragnet 13:47-50Hidden Treasure 13:44Merchant and FinePearls

13:45-46Wicked Slave 18:21-35Laborers in theVineyard

20:1-16The Two Sons 21:28-32The Wise and

Foolish Maidens

25:1-13The Sheep and

Goats

25:31-46


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Lukan Parables LukeThe Two Debtors 7:40-50

The Good Samaritan10:25-37

The Friend at Midnight 11:5-8 (cf. 9-13)The Rich Fool 12:13-21Barren Fig Tree 13:6-9The Tower Builder 14:28-30The Warrior King 14:31-33The Lost Sheep 15:1-7The Lost Coin 15:8-10The Prodigal Son (two sons) 15:11-32

The Unjust Steward16:1-13

The Rich Man and Lazarus 16:19-31The Lowly Servant 17:7-10The Unjust Judge 18:1-8The Pharisee and the Tax Collector 18:9-14


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Parallels in Matt/Luke Matthew LukeWise and FoolishBuilders

7:24-27 6:46-49The Narrow Door/Gate 7:13-14 13:23-27Leaven 13:33 13:20-21The Lost Sheep 18:12-14 15:1-7The Wedding Banquet 22:1-14 14:15-24The Thief in the Night 24:42-44 12:39-40Faithful and Unfaithful

Steward

24:45-51 12:42-46The Talents 25:14-30 19:12-27


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JohannineParables

JohnThe Good

Shepherd

10:1-18 (cf. Matt18:12-14; Luke15:1-7)The True

Vine

15:1-8


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GUIDELINES FORGUIDELINES FOR

INTERPRETINGINTERPRETINGTHETHE PARABLESPARABLES


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V

note the literary setting of the parablenote the literary setting of the parablein the gospelin the gospel

V note the wording, structure, generalnote the wording, structure, general progression, plot progress, and progression, plot progress, and

suspensesuspenseV read the parables in their originalread the parables in their original

historical situation firsthistorical situation first

V note the main characters/things in thenote the main characters/things in the

parable and any parallels and or parable and any parallels and orcontrasts between themcontrasts between them

V

V

Guidelines for Interpreting ParablesGuidelines for Interpreting Parables


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Guidelines for Interpreting ParablesGuidelines for Interpreting Parables

V recognize that there are two audiencesrecognize that there are two audiences

being addressed by the parablesbeing addressed by the parablesV avoid over-allegorizing and noteavoid over-allegorizing and note

carefully what occurs at the end of acarefully what occurs at the end of aparable as a (the) clue to the meaningparable as a (the) clue to the meaning

of the parableof the parableV seek to place the teaching of theseek to place the teaching of the

parable in the overall ministry of Jesusparable in the overall ministry of Jesusand his teaching as a wholeand his teaching as a whole

V through continued prayer, meditation,through continued prayer, meditation,and seeking, discern the meaning ofand seeking, discern the meaning ofthe parable for the original hearers andthe parable for the original hearers andits significance for youits significance for you


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A Look at Some ParablesA Look at Some ParablesThe Parable of the SoilsMark 4:1-34(pars. Matt 13:1-9; 18-23; Luke 8:4-18)


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TheSabbath

Controve

rsy

P a r a b l e s : G r o w th o f K i n g d o mF u r th e r M i n is t r y

So

ils

Lamp

ona

Sta

nd

Grow

ing

See

d

Musta

rdS

eed

NoHonor

E a r ly a n d L a t e r G a l il e a n M i n is t r y

M i ra c l e s , T e a c h i n g a n d R i s in g O p p o s i t io n

L e t s k i l l h i m ( 3 : 6 )H e s p o s se s s e d b y

B e e lz e b u b 3 : 2 2

2 : 1 3 : 3 5 4 : 3 5 6 :6 a

P e o p l e A r e n t L i s te n i n g ( 1 : 4 5 )L e a d e r s A r e n t L i s te n i n g

O n l y T r u e F a m i ly L i s t e n s ( 3 :3 1 - 3 4 )

J e s u s h a s s a i d : l i s te n

( 4 : 3 , 9 , 1 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 3 3 )

A v o i c e o f o n e

c a l l in g o u t

T h e t im e h a s c o m e !

4 :1 4 :2 1 4 : 2 6 4 : 3 0

T h e S o n o f M a n

m u s t s u f f e r . . .

T r u eF a m i l y


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The Parable

(4:1-9)

The Interpretation(4:13-20)

Path R ocky Soil T horns G ood Soil4:3-4 4:5-6 4:7 4:8-9

Hard Soil

Birds Ate S eed

Not M uch Soil

Sprang U p

Sun Withered It

Seed Grew Up

Thorns C hoked I t

Purpose Statement

Seed Grew : Crop Produced

H a rd H ea rt Fearfu l H eart W orrisom e H eart G ood H eart

Satan Takes Aw ay M ostly External

Trouble or Persecution

Person Quickly Falls Aw ay

Mostly Internal

Worries/Wealth

Contrary Desires

W ord Is Choked Out

30x

60x

100x

4:15 4:16-17 4:18-19 4:20

so tha t[I [na]... (M ark 4 :12 )

The Sower

The Seed

God, Jesus and All Those Wh o Preach the Message

The Word (cf. the secret , [4:11]; the word of the k ingdom [M t]; the w ord of G od [Lk])

Charac te

r s/Thing

s&

WhatT h

eyS

t and

For


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Historical DetailsHistorical Details

VIn Palestinian culture in the time ofJesus sowing probably preceded

plowing

V there were paths that were trampled

down and hard;V there was rocky soil where limestone

lay immediately beneath a layer oftopsoil;

V there was soil overgrown by weedsand thorns (very common),

Vand thankfully, there was good soil


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General Progression,General Progression,

Plot Conflict, & SuspensePlot Conflict, & Suspense

VOpening/ClosingVNotice that the parable opens with the

command to listen and see (4:3a)and ends with an interesting and

closely related idea: He who hasears, let him hear.

VSuspenseVAfter the seed is planted, then comes

the waitVWill there be a harvest?

VProgress and Plot ConflictVno well developed plot

V


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End StressEnd Stress

V tells us that what comes at the end of aparable is often very significant to themeaning of the parable as a whole

V it provides a lens through which to correctlyview the parable

V In this parable the end stress is He who hasears to hear, let him hear!

VComing only from the lips of Jesus inScripture, it always relates to our

need to be careful how we listen toJesus (Matt 11:15; 13:9;, 43; Mark4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Rev 2:7, 11,17, 29).

V

V


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Unclear Statements or ExaggerationUnclear Statements or Exaggeration

V

Crops totaling thirty or sixty or onehundred times what was sown werenot uncommon, but one hundredrepresents a very good crop indeed.

VThe point is: some people reallyexperience the blessing of the

kingdom.

V

V

V

V


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Statement of General Theme and VariationsStatement of General Theme and Variations

V major theme: how a person listens and responds

to the message of the kingdom (i.e., theword).

V Variations:

VGod sows his seed of the kingdom amonga variety of people

V the parable has much to say about theresponse to the message of thekingdom.

V hard (or indifferent) hearts,

V superficial and fearful heartsV or worrisome and distracted hearts

evidence less than saving faith in thegospel. They will not participate in thekingdom

V the fact that at no time is the quality of the


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Desired Response (Then and Now)Desired Response (Then and Now)

V Jesus wanted the religious leaders, the crowd,

his followers, family, and the Twelve tolisten very closely to what he was saying.

VWhat does this mean for us? It certainlyentails coming to him through the Bible

with humble and contrite hearts andaccepting whatever it is he wants to tell us.

V

V


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A Look at Some ParablesA Look at Some ParablesThe Parable of the TenantsMatthew 21:33-

44 (pars. Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)


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Initial Setting 3 Parables 4 Questions 7 Woes Olivet Discourse

Woe!

Woe!

Woe!

Woe!

Woe!

Woe!

Woe!

CertainJudg

ment

Certainty of Judgment Reason for Judgment:Unfaithfulness,Treachery, Hypocrisy Extent of Judgment

Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and Ensuing Conflict

21:1 21:28 22:15 23:1 24:1

Trium

phal

Entry

Templ

eC

leansing

Fig

T

ree

Curs

ed

Autho

rity

Quest

ione

d

TwoSo

ns:Dis

obedie

nce

Wick

edT

enants

:Tre

ache

ry

Wedd

ing

Banquet:Hyp

ocrisy

Exp

osed Wh

oseson

isthe

Christ

?

The Son of Man will

be betrayed (20:17)

Great Tribulation

Second Advent

Final Judgment

Eternal State

Jerusalem will

be destroyed!


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Characters/Things andCharacters/Things and

What They Stand ForWhat They Stand For

VMany of the various characters in theParable of the Tenants stand forspecific, real life personages.

VThe landowner is God;V the vineyard, Israel;

V the tenants, the religious leaders;

V

the servants, the prophets;V the son, Christ.

V

V


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Historical DetailsHistorical Details

V general attitudes and practices of landowners

in ancient Israel and the meaning of thewall, winepress, and watchtower.V the business practices of landowners and how

they rented out their vineyards.

V the general tendencies of tenants in thissituation

V why does Matthew change the order of theevents in 21:39 (cf. Mark 12:8; Luke20:15)? This question, of course,

presupposes Markan priority. Markan priority refers to the literary relationship

between the three synoptic gospels, i.e.,Matthew, Mark, and Luke

V


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Setting

In

t enseC

onflict

Q&A

J e

su

sR

esp o

ns

e

TheLeadersResponse

He planted a vineyard

Wall

Winepress

Watchtower

Servants Sent

More Servants Sent

Son Sent

Beat, Killed, Stoned

Beat, Killed, Stoned

Threw him out; killed him

Q: What will the landowner do?

A: He will bring those wretches...

The Landowner

The Tenants

The Indictment

Have You Never Read?

The Text : Psalm 118:22-23

The Verdict : The Kingdom will be taken...

The Allusions : Isa 8:14; Dan 2:34-35, 44

They knew...

So they tried to arrest him

But they were afraid...

Cl imax

21:33

21:35

21:40

21:42

21:45

G

en eral

P rogre

ssion,

Gen e

r al

Progre

ssion,

Plo

tConf

lict,S

u

spense

Plo

tConf l

ic t,Su

spen

se


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Unclear Statements orUnclear Statements or

ExaggerationExaggeration

What is the meaning of theWhat is the meaning of the

expressions about stones inexpressions about stones in21:44? This is an important21:44? This is an important

passage, yet the imagery seemspassage, yet the imagery seems

a bit confusing at first.a bit confusing at first.


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End StressEnd Stress

V The climax to this story occurs in 21:39

V We note the irony in 21:41 when the religiousauthorities indict themselves: he [thelandowner] will bring those wretches to awretched end!

V

The principle ofend stress, for the parableproper, falls on verse 40 and the rhetoricalquestion Jesus asks

V Therefore, this parable is about the judgmentof the religious leaders for being

treacherous tenants, cruel and abusive,and for their ultimate failure to receive theson and humbly submit to his authority

V

V


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StatementStatement of General Theme and Variationsof General Theme and Variations

V

Theme: God will judge those leaders in hiskingdom who are faithless toward him andtreacherous toward his people.

V the parable includes the following truths:V God is incredibly gracious as exemplified in his

care for the vineyard and patient as evidencedin his repeatedly sending servants even thoughthey were brutally treated. But, there will comea time when his patience will run out and

judgment will fall;

V

(2) ones response to Christ is key to onesparticipation in the kingdom;

V (3) God will raise up new leaders to shepherdhis people when existing leaders abandonhim.

V


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Desired Response (Then and Now)Desired Response (Then and Now)

V The parable speaks directly to leaders whoshepherd Gods people.

VAs leaders we must strive to stayclose to the Lord and seek his willahead of our own popularity and

prestige.VWe must carefully guard our hearts in

respect to our love for Christ andhis people and treat them as hecommands us to.

V But the parable also speaks to those in thebody who are not leaders per se. Theytoo must remember that their response toChrist is key to their participation in his

kingdom.

Summary of the Theology of the Parables: TheSummary of the Theology of the Parables: The


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Kingdom of GodKingdom of God

The Purpose of the ParablesA Look at MatthewThe Purpose of the ParablesA Look at Matthew

13:13; Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:1013:13; Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:10

Matthew Mark Luke

13:10 Then the disciples cameto him and said, Why doou speak to them in

parables? 13:11 He replied,

You have been given theopportunity to know thesecrets of the kingdom ofheaven, but they havenot:13 For this reason Ispeak to them in parables:although they see they do notsee, and although they hearthey do not hear nor do theyunderstand.

4:10 When he was alone, thosearound him with the twelveasked him about the parables.4:11 He said to them, The

secret of the kingdom of Godhas been given to you. But tothose outside, everything isin parables,4:12 so that although they look they

may look but not see,and althoughthey hear they may hear but not

understand,so they may not repentand be forgiven.

8:9 Then his disciples askedhim what this parable meant.8:10 He said, You have beengiven the opportunity to

know the secrets of thekingdom of God, but forothers they are in parables, sothat although they see theymay not see, and althoughthey hear they may notunderstand.



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VThe God Who Summons

V The parables teach that God is sovereignin his world and in the salvation of

men. He summons people to believe ashe graciously sows his kingdom seed,working patiently with people to movethem toward response, bearing withthem in their sin, misery, and

waywardness, and evidencingunexpected and extreme grace. In theend, however, he will judge menaccording to their response to hismessiah and their faithfulness with the

talents he has given them.



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VThe Proper Response to GodsSummonsV The proper response to the gospel in

the parables is total. These storiescall forth total faith leading to a totalcommitment of oneself to God. Anyattitude, activity or possession mustbe set aside in the interests of the

kingdom. In this way there is joyfulparticipation and an expectant hopethat the kingdom will grow andmore and more people will come toshare in its fruit.

V



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VThe Fate of Those Who Do NotRespond Properly

V All men are commanded to respond to

God by producing the fruit of thekingdom. For those who reject Godsking and his kingdom there will come aday of great distress and irrevocablesuffering. The stress in the parables is

on Gods justice in bringing about hiswrath, mans stubborn refusal tosubmit to his kingship and therefore hisrightful condemnation, and continuedhope for people to repent.

V


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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:


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LESSON REVIEW:LESSON REVIEW:

V Nature of the Parables, Survey of the Parables

and Principles for Interpreting the ParablesV The Parables

VLiterary Context

VCharacter/Things and What They Stand

ForVHistorical Details

VGeneral Progression, Plot Conflict, andSuspense

V

End StressVUnclear Statements or Exaggeration

VStatement of General Theme andVariations

VDesired Response (Then and Now)

V Theolo of the Parables


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ASSIGNMENTASSIGNMENT


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The God of Righteousness

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