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Section 3: Jesus: Teacher of principles and of parables.
In the last study, we looked at Jesus the healer. But people didn't come just to be healed by him; they also wanted to listen to him. Large crowds from all over the country would come to hear what he had to say. He talked about: God's Kingdom, prayer, wise and foolish lifestyles, love and forgiveness, and also himself.
Not everyone liked Jesus' teaching. He was outspoken against the religious leaders who were hypocrites. He had enemies who tried to trick him with questions, but he always managed to give wise answers. Even when the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus, they found it hard because the crowds wanted to listen to his teaching, "not wanting to miss a single word" (Luke 19:48). In this study, we will discuss two of the best known parables (stories which teach biblical truth) that Jesus told.
A. The Good Samaritan
What would you say are the most important things in life?
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Many people went to Jesus with their important questions. For one man, his concern focused on what would happen to him after his death. He asked Jesus how he could "receive eternal life." Jesus got the man to answer it himself, from the Scriptures (Luke 10:27).
Read Luke 10:25-28
- What did the man say were the two most important things in life? (10:27)
- What do you think of the man's answers?
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Jesus was then asked, "Who is my neighbor?" He answered by telling the story of the good Samaritan.
Read Luke 10:29-37
- What did the priest and Levite do that was wrong? (10:31,32)
- Did they disobey the principle "I never do anyone any harm"?
- Did they break the Law?
- Due to their religious and cultural upbringing, Jews looked upon the Samaritans (Gentiles) with contempt. How did the Samaritan in this parable show love?
- How would you answer the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus acts as a good Samaritan towards us. He sees our needs and failures, and instead of passing by, he reaches out to help.
B. The lost son
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
This is a simple story, yet one of the greatest in the world of literature. It takes the problems that often arise between people to illustrate how men and women react toward God.
Read Luke 15:11-32
- What do you think the younger son was thinking as he left home? (15:12,13)
- Where did he go? (15:13)
- How do you think the father felt when his son had gone?
- Things went fine for a while. What happened when things got bad? (15:14-16)
- The son changed his mind. Why? (15:17)
- How did he show that his attitude had changed? (15:18-20)
- What was the father's attitude? (15:20, 22-24)
- In what ways do you think this story is a picture of our relationship with God?
This story shows us that God still offers His love in spite of our willful selfishness. It also shows us that we can come back to God, no matter how far we have wandered from Him.
TO THINK ABOUT
What do you identify with more: the attitude of the son as he left home or his attitude when he decided to return?
Can you believe that God would accept you as completely as the father accepted his son?
You may be at a point in your life where you know that you need God, and want to return to Him. Perhaps you would like to pray:
Dear Father, I admit I have wandered away from You, and I have sinned against You. I have not loved You or other people as I should. I realize that my sin deserves the death sentence and hell. I want to come back to You now, just as the lost son came back to his father. Please forgive me for all of my sins. Come into my life, so that I can be transformed into the person You want me to be and spend eternity in Heaven with You, God. Amen.
Did you pray this prayer:
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