1. + Revealing The “Kingdom Of Heaven” The Parables of Jesus According to the Gospel Luke “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables…”(Luke 8:10) Recommend viewing in Slideshow

2. + Overview What is the ‘Kingdom of God or Heaven” What are Parables Understanding Parables People Associated with the Parables – Apostles, Disciples and Followers – Priest – Pharisees – Saducees – Scribes Who was Luke Topical Index of the Parables in Luke

3. + The Kingdom of God Daniel 2:44 - And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Matthew 3:1-2 - In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:16-17 - The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Entrance into God’s Kingdom is based on “Repentance”

4. + What are Parables In the Greek it means “ Placing beside” or to compare. Fable Vs Parable Fables are knowingly untrue, unrealistic fantasy stories that illustrate previously discovered human wisdom. Parables are true or realistic stories that illustrate a deep spiritual truth not previously understood by man. Myth Vs Parable Myths are fantasy/untrue stories that are accepted as reality/truth themselves. Parables clearly divide between the story and the spiritual lesson being taught. Proverb Vs Parable A short saying to be taken literally itself to teach some obvious human wisdom. Parables are longer, more illustrative and teach a hidden truth.

5. + Understanding Parables Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables To reveal hidden truths (Luke 8:9-10) Spiritual ignorance was prevalent since God had not spoken to the people in over 400 years (since Malachi) When studying a parable always look at the verses before and after to keep it in perspective and context of what was happening at the time. Look for the: The Setting and evaluate the audience Jesus was addressing The Literal, Figurative and Spiritual Meaning A way to Assign Relevance for Today

6. + Audience - The Priests The High Priest stood at the top of an elaborate hierarchy of temple personnel. – Aaron was the first High Priest. More than 80 priest succeeded him ending with Phannias in 70 A.D. Directly beneath the High Priest were the chief priests – An exclusive group of about 200 highborn Jews. The priest represented the people before God, and offered the various sacrifices prescribed in the law. Is there a Spiritual Need for this order of Priest Today?

7. + Audience - The Pharisees Pharisee in Hebrew means “the separated ones”. They were also known as Chasidim, which means loyal to God, or loved of God – This is extremely ironic because they had made themselves the most bitter and deadly opponents of Jesus Christ Pharisees are the spiritual fathers of modern Judaism. They believed in an Oral Law that God gave to Moses at Sinai along with the Torah. The Pharisees believed that God gave Moses the knowledge of what these laws meant and how they should be applied. The Pharisees maintained that an after-life existed and that God punished the wicked and rewarded the righteous in the world to come. They also believed in a messiah who would herald an era of world peace. Pharisees were in a sense blue-collar Jews who adhered to the tenets developed after the destruction of the Temple; that is, such things as individual prayer and assembly in synagogues

8. + Audience - The Sadducees The Sadducees were elitists who wanted to maintain the priestly caste. The Sadducees rejected the idea of the Oral Law and insisted on a literal interpretation of the Written Law They did not believe in an after-life, since it is not mentioned in the Torah. The main focus of Sadducee life was rituals associated with the Temple. The Pharisees and Sadducees served in the Great Sanhedrin, a kind of Jewish Supreme Court made up of 71 members whose responsibility was to interpret civil and religious laws

9. + Audience - The Scribes Scribes were experts in the writing of the Torah scrolls The Scribes in the New Testament are also referred to as “Lawyers" who were the legal jurists of their day. “Teachers of the law" or "rabbis “ who studied the law and explained their interpretation to pupils and to all by whom they were consulted. They were mostly Pharisees and sometimes associated with the Chief Priests who were Jesus’ most watchful and determined opponents. Jesus did not condemn all Scribes and in fact they were not all bad. Nicodemus and Gamaliel were scribes The young ruler who came to Jesus asking questions was no doubt a Scribe and Jesus said to him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God," (Mark 12:32-34) and

10. + Audience - Apostles, Disciples & Followers Apostles comes from the Greek word apostolos, or delegate. (Luke 6:14-16) Disciples comes from the Latin discipulus, or pupil. While the 12 Apostles were disciples, not all disciples (over 70) are apostles. Followers are believers of Jesus and commit to “follow”

11. + Who was Luke? Second Generation Follower He was a Physician, thought to be a Gentile, but no one knows for sure Well Educated – Wrote in classical and biblical Greek Travelled with Apostle Paul and also wrote the Book of Acts

12. + Topical Index (Luke) The Garment & Wineskins (5:36) The Garment & Wineskins The Sower, Soil and Seed (8:4) The Sower, Soil and Seed The Revealed Light (8:16) The Revealed Light The Good Samaritan (10:25) The Good Samaritan The Rich Fool (12:13) The Rich Fool The Barren Fig Tree (13:6) The Barren Fig Tree The Mustard Seed (13:18) The Mustard Seed The Leaven (13:20) The Leaven The Great Supper (14:15) The Great Supper The Lost Sheep (15:1) The Lost Sheep The Lost Coin (15:8) The Lost Coin The Lost Son (15:11) The Lost Son The Unjust Stewart (16:1) The Unjust Stewart The Persistent Widow (18:1) The Persistent Widow The Pharisee & Tax Collector (18:9) The Pharisee & Tax Collector The Ten Servants (19:11) The Ten Servants The Wicked Vinedressers (20:9) The Wicked Vinedressers

13. + Parable of the Wineskins Luke 5:36-39 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What are wine skins What is Jesus comparing Discuss the “Old” versus the “New” Return to Index Return to Index

14. + The Sower, Soil and Seed Luke 8:4-8 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What is the one variable in this parable Discuss “Hearing” and “Understanding” Return to Index Return to Index

15. + The Revealed Light Luke 8:16-18 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? How does this parable speak against “self- centered” ministry? Discuss “take heed how you hear” What is meant by “what he seems to have” will be taken away Return to Index Return to Index

16. + The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What as the relationship between Jews and Samaritans? Do we view certain classes of people today as a form of Samaritans? Discuss the transaction between the lawyer (legal expert of the law) and Jesus (Truth expert of the Law) Based on this parable, how do we “inherit life”? Return to Index Return to Index

17. + The Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? How does Jesus response in verse 14-15 answer the question asked in verse 13 Discuss Greed and placing “goods” before “God” Read Proverbs 30:8-9 in relationship to greed Count the number of “I’s” in v. 17-19 Return to Index Return to Index

18. + Parable of the Barren Tree Luke 13:1-9 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What was Jesus’ view on tragedies? Discuss “Repent or perish” What happens if we are not bearing fruit after a reasonable period of time? Return to Index Return to Index

19. + Parable of the Mustard Seed Luke 13:18-19 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What is the significance of “the birds nesting in this tree”. What does birds typically represent in biblical context? How is this significant to the “Kingdom of God” Return to Index Return to Index

20. + The Leaven Luke 13:20-21 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? What is the significance of “the leaven”. What does leaven typically represent in biblical context? How is this significant to the “Kingdom of God” Return to Index Return to Index

21. + The Great Supper Luke 14:15-24 What is the Setting? Who is the Audience? Who does this “certain man” represent? Who is the Servant? Compare this parable with Acts 1:7-8 Return to Index Return to Index

22. + The Lost Sheep Luke 15:1-7 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? What is the relevance that the 99 are still in the wilderness? How does this apply to “Repentance” and the audience he is speaking to? Return to Index Return to Index

23. + The Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? What is the significance of 10 silver coins (hint: look up the word “Dowry”)? Discuss “Rejoicing” Return to Index Return to Index

24. + The Lost Son Luke 15:11-32 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? Based on the audience is this parable more about the youngest or oldest son? Notice how the value of each item in these lost series of parables increases Return to Index Return to Index

25. + The Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-13 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? Are we wasting our Master’s possessions? Are we ready to “Give an account of our Stewardship” Discuss 16:8-9 “acting shrewdly with earthy wealth” Return to Index Return to Index

26. + The Persistent Widow Luke 18:1-8 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? Compare “Persistency and Faith ” What is meant by “will he really find faith on the earth” Return to Index Return to Index

27. + The Pharisee &Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? What is meant by “the Pharisee prayed with himself” Discuss “humility” Return to Index Return to Index

28. + The Ten Servants Luke 19:11-27 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? What was the misperception of the Kingdom of God? What is a Mina… Relate that to the gifts God has given us and our level of stewardship. Are we “doing business” until the master returns? Compare the servants answers in verses 16, 18 and 20. Why was the king so hard on the third servant? Why did he not show “mercy, compassion or love/” Return to Index Return to Index

29. + The Wicked Vinedressers Luke 20:9-19 What is the Setting Who is the Audience? Who is the man, the farmers, the servants, the heir? What is the vineyard? What does the term “broken” mean in v.18? How is the word “fall” used differently in v.18? Return to Index Return to Index

30. + Scripture Cross-References (Matthew) Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2 Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17 Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19 Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven Matthew 7:21 Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven Matthew 8:11 Return to Index Return to Index

31. + Scripture Cross-References (Matthew) Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand Matthew 10:7 Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11 Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force Matthew 11:12 Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given Matthew 13:11 Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Matthew 13:24 Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field Matthew 13:31 Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matthew 13:33 Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field Matthew 13:44 Return to Index Return to Index

32. + Scripture Cross-References (Matthew) Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls Matthew 13:45 Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Matthew 13:47 Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Matthew 13:52 Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Matthew 16:19 Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18:1 Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heavenMatthew 18:4 Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. Matthew 18:23 Return to Index Return to Index

33. + Scripture Cross-References (Matthew) Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it Matthew 19:12 Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14 Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:23 Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard Matthew 20:1 Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, Matthew 22:2 Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Matthew 23:13 Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom Matthew 25:1 Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. Matthew 25:14 Return to Index Return to Index