The Parables: Part 9 When a Little Means a Lot

The Parables

Part 9: When A Little Means A Lot

Matthew 13:31-33; Luke 13:18-21

What is a parable?

A parable is an story with a meaning!

Why did Jesus teach in parables?

1) The message in parables is .

2) This storytelling approach promotes practicing rather than adhering to .

45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45

3) Parables are easily , the characters bold, and the symbolism in meaning!

Why did Jesus let some people wonder about the meaning of His parables?

1) along a hard, beaten path where it was eaten by birds, 2) on rocky soil where it sprang up fast and, with only shallow roots, the plant burned up when the sun scorched it, 3) among thorns where it grew up, but was ultimately chocked out by the thorny weeds, and 4) in good soil where it ultimately produced a healthy, vibrant crop of good fruit!”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;

    they hardly hear with their ears,

    and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

    hear with their ears,

    understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17

7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sower?

• The hard ground represents someone who is hardened by sin; they hear it, but it can’t take root because they’re .
• The stony ground illustrates someone who initially gets excited about the Word, but their heart isn’t truly, authentically .
• The thorny ground depicts someone who appears to receive the Word, but whose heart is filled, not with thoughts and values, but with thoughts and values.
• The good ground portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word—and then allows the Word to their life.

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

A person’s willingness to receive the Word is determined by the of their heart.

What is the condition of your heart, your soil?

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

What is the point of the parable of the mustard seed? It is that the kingdom of God had beginnings.

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33

What does the Parable of the Leaven or Yeast teach us?

1) The kingdom of God had small beginnings, but it is .

2) The kingdom of God exerts its influence from , not from .

3) The impact of the kingdom of God will be for all to see!

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

4) The impact of the kingdom of God in your life will be over time!

Today’s Song List:

Here For You

Firm Foundation (He Won’t)

Nothing But The Blood

Gratitude

What A Beautiful Name