An Introduction To The Parables Of The Kingdom Series

An Introduction to the Parables of the Kindgom

(Note: Much of this Outline has been borrowed from

Charles A. Ratz’s Outline Studies in the Four Gospels)

Scripture: Matt. 13:1-3a

1“That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables…”

Introduction

Each of the four gospels has a unique aspect in the way in which they present Christ. The Holy Spirit inspiring these men has a unique purpose in doing so.

Matthew:

• Presents Christ as the King

• He is “David’s Righteous Branch” as prophesied by Jeremiah in Jer.23:5 & 33:15

Mark:

• Presents Christ as the Suffering Servant

• He is Jehovah’s “Servant the Branch” in Zech 3:8

Luke

• Presented as the Son of Man

• He is“the man whose name is The Branch Zech 6:12

John

• Presents Christ as the Son of God

• As prophesied by Isa 4:2.. “The Branch of the Lord”

We need to keep in mind how the Holy Spirit is portraying Christ in the Gospel of Matthew – He is the King of Righteousness.

Thus:

Chapter 1 The King Comes - His genealogy

Chapter 3 The King Herald – John the Baptist

The King Anointed – baptism

Chapter 4 The King Tested –temptation

Chapter 5-7 The Principles of the Kingdom

Chapt. 8 & 9 The Power of the Kingdom

- Miracle Power

- Power to forgive sin

Chapt . 10 The Commissioning of the twelve

Chapt . 11&12 The Rejection of the King and the Kingdom

- Christ reproaching cities who did not repent

- Close of 12 severs relations refusing to see his own

Chapt. 13

By the time we come to chapter 13 we now have Christ teaching the Mysteries of the Kingdom

This chapter has in it 7 parables. The Kingdom has been rejected. The king will leave the earth. During his absence we have the mysteries of the Kingdom which were hidden from the foundation of the world, but are now being fulfilled throughout this age or dispensation.

Over the next several weeks I want us to examine the parables themselves. Each as it were a snapshot of the Kingdom. However, I want us to first have an overview or if you would have a look at the “BIG” picture so we can then properly understand each of the individual “close-ups” or snapshots as it were.

So today I want us to notice several things from this chapter

1. FIRST --- He spake in Parables. (13:3)

a) Definition -- - A Parable is an earthly story with a hea¬venly meaning. It is to use some familiar thing of earth and to placed it beside of some mysterious thing of heaven, so that the understanding of the familiar things of earth may help us to understand the mysterious things of heaven.

b) When speaking in parables Jesus used the most common things that people of his day would recognize right away.

2. SECOND --- "Why do you speak to them in parables". 13:10.

a) The purpose of the parable is that of revelation by illustration.

i. The method is always intended to aid, and never to hinder understanding.

ii. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says -- - "The parable is an aid not a hindrance. It veils truth, not that men may grasp it, but that it shall not escape them. There is a sense in which the sun is hidden by the piece of smoked glass which the boy holds before his eyes, and yet with¬out such an instrument he could not look upon the sun at all. Essential light unveiled blinds. Its veiling is the opportunity of vision.

b) The answer to the question is given in verse 11. “ To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted And Vs. 12 continues “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

i. “Multitudes had followed Jesus and heard him, but Jesus declared that it was given to his disciples to know the mysteries. Why? We ask. It was because of some¬thing they already possessed. But those "who have not" He declared it was not given to them to know. These men lacked what the disciples possessed, the possession of which created in them a capacity for re¬ceiving the mysteries of the Kingdom. It was not there-fore possible for them to grasp these mysteries, and even what understanding they did possess, they were in danger of losing.”