86. Parable of the farmer scattering seed (Mark 4:1-9; Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-8)
It says that people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, all gathering to where He was beside the lake. How did the crowd know where Jesus was from day to day?
What sacrifices might have been entailed for the people as they traveled from their respective towns to find Jesus?
What was the advantage of teaching from the boat rather than from the shore?
A parable is a short, allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. A parable conveys its meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy and the like. Why do you think that Jesus used parables to teach?
Who do you think the farmer stands for?
How likely is it that a farmer would simply toss his seed about, throwing it on a rocky path or into the thorns? What was Jesus saying about this particular farmer?
How is the truth of God and His call on our lives trampled?
What does the lack of moisture in godless living indicate? What does the lack of a root mean to us? What is spiritual “rootlessness”?
What are the birds that devour the spiritual seed in our lives?
What weeds might we allow to grow and choke out the truth in our lives?
What do we learn about God’s expectations that different seed that produced different amounts is all declared to have fallen in good soil?
How may we ensure that we are good soil for the seed of the Word of God to fall into?
What do we learn from the expectation of the farmer that the seed produce? What does God expect us to produce?
87. Explanation of the farmer scattering seed (Mark 4:10-20; Matthew 13:10-23; Luke 8:9-15)
Why did the disciples wait until they were alone with Jesus to ask their questions?
Why was the opportunity of the Kingdom given to some and not others? Is that still true?
Jesus said “For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” We refer to that as the Law of light. God offers each of us a certain amount of light or enlightenment. When we obey it we get more. When we refuse it, we not only do not receive any more – we actually lose some of our ability to perceive more and our minds become “darkened.” In other words “use it or lose it”. Examine and comment on the following passages that bring more understanding on the matter: a) Proverbs 1:25-28; b) Proverbs 6:23; c) Matthew 25:28-30; d) Luke 8:16; e) Luke 12:47-48; f) Romans 1:21-22; g) 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Why is it that some people can listen very carefully without comprehension? What keeps them from understanding?
Isaiah’s prophecy seems to imply that this is a deliberate act! Why would anyone refuse the saving, healing touch of God?
Jesus said, “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.” Compare that to Hebrews 11:39-40 and explain what it was these prophets and righteous people longed to see but died without seeing.
I don’t know about you but I find it interesting that Jesus compared demonic forces to crows and blackbirds fluttering down to pick at the seed of the Word, keeping folks from getting saved. Compare that concept to the following passages and comment. a)Ephesians 2:2; b) Ephesians 6:12; c) Daniel 10:12-13; e) 2 Corinthians 4:4
Why would a person receive the Word with joy but fail to allow it to take root in their lives? What would be the motivation for their joy?
Why is it that either poverty or wealth, worry or pleasures can be equally dangerous? What is similar between them? What is different? Is one better at choking out the Word than the other?
What are the requisite virtues necessary to receive the Word with results? What should we do to inculcate these virtues? What does this imply for parents?
88. Parable of the lamp (Luke 8:16-18; Mark 4:21-25)
In what way is the parable of the lamp related to the previous discussion of the sower?
What does the light represent? The lamp? The lampstand? (cp Revelations 1:20)
What would motivate someone to hide the light? (John 3:19-20)
What would happen if we were to put an old-style oil lamp under a bed or a basket? In what way is stuffing the Word of God dangerous?
How can we “raise a lampstand” so that others can see better?
Why did Jesus include the warning about hidden things coming to light?
Here, Jesus repeats the warning of the Law of Light that we saw in section 87. When the Bible keeps repeating a principle it is commonly held to be of extreme importance – to be a foundational principle. Why is the Law of Light such a basic and critical concept to understand?
Give some examples of ways in which a lack of the proper response to enlightenment would corrupt a person.
What does 1 John 1:6-7 teach us on the matter?
How about Romans 1:18-21? Are spiritually blind people innocent victims?
In view of the recent conversation Jesus had about seed, what is the seed in this parable likely to be? (Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11)
Why do you think Jesus pointed out the farmer’s ignorance of the process by which the seed grows?
What was the point of saying that the growth continues even while the farmer was asleep?
“First the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain…” In what ways are our spiritual growth also gradual.
In view of the eventual harvest and keeping in mind the parable of the sower, what kind of soil must this farmer have planted in? What is the value of soil in the process of growing vegetables? What is the soil and its value in our spiritual lives?
Do you think there’s a reason Jesus keeps using, not just any old vegetable, but grain as a metaphor? What would His reason be? What would grain mean to the people of that day?
The parable of the sower emphasized human responsibility whereas this one deemphasizes it. Where is the point of balance between these two views?
What does this parable have to say to those who accept the responsibility of sowing the Word of God in the hearts of others?
90. Parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
Who do you think the enemy who sows weeds is?
What are the weeds he sows? (cp. Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14)
In the parable of the sower (see explanation in section 87) the thorny weeds managed to choke out the seeds. Here the good wheat seems to be able to manage though surrounded by the weeds. What made the difference?
Isn't it interesting that they were unable to differentiate the wheat from the weeds until the fruit was produced? What lessons do we learn from this? (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:44)
Consider Galatians 5:19-23 and list the fruit of the Spirit vs. the fruit of the flesh. Do a careful inventory of your life and determine which of these seem to prevail in your life.
Are believers totally without weeds? At what point can a determination be made as to a person’s spiritual life?
Jesus often depicted Judgment Day in a very bare and non-nonsense manner. In Matthew 12:47, He compared it to fishermen who gather the good fish into vessels but cast away the bad. He spoke of the reward of the “good and faithful” while the “unprofitable servant” would be cast into “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30). Wicked people were compared to goats (Matthew 25:32-33) to whom He would say, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.” What are the conditions one must meet to be healthy wheat, a good fish, a profitable servant, or a sheep?
Does Jesus leave any room for agreement with those who teach that “all paths lead to the truth” and that eventually all people will end up in heaven?
What is “harvest time”?
Can any eschatological implications be drawn from the fact that the weeds are gathered, tied and thrown into the fire before the wheat is gathered into the barn?
91. Parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-34; Matthew 13:31-32)
In what way is the kingdom of God similar to the growth of the mustard plant?
Why is growth a critical sign of salvation?
Compare this parable to Matthew 17:20. What do you learn?
As you can see in the photograph, mustard can grow to a height of ten feet or more. However, birds do not ordinarily make nests in its branches. This is a reference to Daniel 4:12, 20-21. There the Lord was discussing Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Here He is speaking of His own kingdom. What differences do we see between the two?
Why did Jesus choose to use parables with the crowd but not His disciples?
What would some people criticize about this approach?
What encouragement can we take from the fact that Jesus always explained everything to His own disciples?
There was another occasion when Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven back to back (Luke 13:18-21). What are the useful similarities between these two metaphors?
To be truly useful, there must also be certain differences between these two metaphors. Otherwise, why tell two when one says it all? What are those differences?
“Three full measures” represents about fifty pounds of flour. That’s a lot of flour – far more than a woman would be making for just her own household. She must have been making bread for many people. What does this tell about God’s purpose for the “yeast of the Word”?
What do these two parables have to say to our modern cult of “bigness”?
Compare these two parables to the following two passages. What do you learn?
Matthew 10:42
Luke 16:10
The rabbinical writers, Paul (1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9) and even Jesus elsewhere (Matthew 16:6, 11-12 cp Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1) used leaven as a symbol of evil. Yet here, Jesus uses the same symbol to refer to the kingdom of God. Why do you think He did so?
What would be the good kind yeast in our lives?
What would be the bad kind of yeast to which Paul alluded?
The prophet to whom Matthew referred was Asaph in the book of Psalms. Read Psalm 78:2-7. What do we learn about Jesus’ role from that passage?
What do we learn about the purpose of salvation by grace according to Psalm 78:7-8 cp Ephesians 2:10?
93. Explanation of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:36-43)
Again the disciples waited till the crowds were gone before they went and asked the Master for explanatory help. What are the advantages of getting alone with God and asking for help directly from Him in understanding the Word, as opposed to public, corporate study?
Do these advantages preclude public, corporate study? What are the advantages there?
In what ways can the devil plant his people among us? For one way consider 2 Peter 2:1 and Acts 20:29-31.
What should we do about it? How can we ensure that we continue growing in spite of the “weeds” in the congregation?
Should our approach to “weeds” in the congregation differ from our approach to “weeds” out in the world?
What do you think Jesus meant about the reapers being angels? What is the eschatological role of angels? (Matthew 13:39, 49; 24:30-31; Revelation 14:14-20 cp Joel 3:13; Revelation 15:6; 16:1-12)
What do you think the definition of “lawbreakers” means in the “age of grace”?
Why do you think God uses angels to gather up the wicked and the good? Why doesn’t Yahweh just zap people to their respective places?
How do you think the holy angels will feel as they throw living souls into the fiery furnace?
What does Psalm 149:6-9 have to say about our role and attitudes?
94. Parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44) & 95. Parable of the pearl merchant (Matthew 13:45-46)
These two short parables, like the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven, share common themes and are best considered together. What are the common themes?
What contrasts or differences can be found between the two?
The principle concept evoked by the mustard seed and leaven seem to be growth and development. What would you say is the principle theme of the hidden treasure and the pearl merchant?
Why would the kingdom of heaven be considered “hidden”? Why must it be sought?
What must be sold in order to obtain the kingdom of heaven?
What does Paul have to tell us on the matter?
Philippians 3:8-9
2 Corinthians 4:7
Colossians 2:1-3
Is the kingdom of heaven solely salvation (Matthew 18:3) or is it more than that?
The last two parables were very upbeat. However, there is a certain sternness about this one. What is the proper balance between joy and fear that the talmidim should maintain?
The parables of the mustard seed and leaven spoke of growth. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl spoke of value. Now Jesus tells a parable that describes how we get into the kingdom of heaven. Some are “good” fish and some are “bad” fish. What defines us as “good” or “bad” enough to either enter or be cast out of the kingdom of heaven?
The idea of some fishermen separating their fish out is positively unremarkable – even bucolic. The juxtaposition of some fishermen squatting by the side of the lake, laughing, joking, and tossing fish with the image of the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth is jarring to say the least. What do you think Jesus was trying to say?
“When it was full…” Jesus said. Compare that to Galatians 4:4-5. Jesus was always very concerned about the issue of time. Yet, when asked when the end of the age would take place, He replied that no one except the Father knows the day and hour. Yet, here we see that it will be when the “nets” are full. What do you think that means?
What does the idea of weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell do for those who believe in the destruction of the spirits there? What does it do for the false doctrine of “soul sleep”?
The parable of the fishing net is meant to tell us the consequences of our actions. How is it fair to suffer these consequences if we are compelled by our yetzer hara to sin? Is God fair in condemning us for what is, in the end, our very nature?
What role should the consequences of sin have in our personal testimony to others? Should we go around telling everyone they’re going to go to hell if they don’t behave?
In what way would an expert in the law be trained especially for the kingdom of heaven?
What did Jesus mean about bringing new and old treasures from our treasury? What are these treasures? What is the treasury?
