Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 31 May 2020
Subject: The Parables of the Lord Jesus

INTRODUCTION

1. The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Information

b) Instruction

c) Inspiration

2. The methods of Teaching employed

a) Signs and wonders

b) Teaching/ explaining

c) Challenges

d) Aphorism

e) Parables

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

1. Our Focus for the next few weeks

2. Many deep lessons may be learned along the way

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
(Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8)

1. Basic guidelines on reading and interpreting Parables

a) Check if the Lord Jesus explained the parable
If He did, the explanation He gave is the correct one

b) Check the Context in which the Parables were taught

c) Every Parable has a central point

d) Never allegorize the Parables of Jesus

e) Parables are highly illustrative

2. The Parable of the Sower
(Found in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke)

3. Sketching the Outline of the Parable

a) The Sower

b) The seed

c) Harvest

i) Failure in 3 segments

ii) Success in 1 segment

4. The query of the Disciples

a) “Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10)

b) The Disciples wanted to know

5. The Explanation of Jesus as to why He spoke in parables

a) Jesus distinguished

i) His Disciples

ii) The Multitudes

b) To the Disciples

i) It was given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven (Matthew 13:11a)

ii) Whoever has, to him more will be given (Matthew 13:12a)

iii) Whoever does not have, even what he has
will be taken away (Matthew 13:12b)

iv) The disciples are blessed indeed (Matthew 13:16)

v) Their ears hear and their eyes see (Matthew 13:16)

c) To the Multitudes

i) To them this was not given (Matthew 13:11b)

ii) Parables would be the main method (Matthew 13:13a)

iii) Hearing and seeing, but no understanding (Matthew 13:13b)

iv) The prophecy of Isaiah applies (Matthew 13:14-15
Isaiah 6:9-10)

6. The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower

a) The first type of ground (wayside; Matthew 13:4)

i) The seed is the word of God

ii) It is not understood

iii) The Evil One snatches the word from the heart (Matthew 13:19)

b) The second type of ground (stony; b)

i) The word of God is heard

ii) There is initial joy

iii) No roots

iv) Endures for awhile

v) Tribulation or persecution comes

vi) He is stumbled (Matthew 13:20-21)

c) The third type of ground (thorny; Matthew 13:7)

i) The word of God is received

ii) The cares of the world

iii) The deceitfulness of riches chokes the word

iv) He is unfruitful (Matthew 13:22)

d) The fourth type of ground (good; Matthew 13:8)

i) He hears the word
ii) He understands it

iii) He bears fruit, a hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold (Matthew 13:23)

THE CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF US

1. How are we receiving the Word of God?

2. What kind of a heart do we have?

3. What kind of fruit would we bear?