THE PARABLES OF JESUS By Ashby L. Camp Copyright © 2010 (reformatted 2014, modified through 2019) by Ashby L. Camp. All rights reserved.
Contents INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 2 I. General comments on the parables ........................................................................... 2 II. Background on the kingdom of God ........................................................................ 4 THE PARABLES.......................................................................................................... 18 I. Jesus Brings the Kingdom ...................................................................................... 18 A. The Bridegroom in their midst (Mat. 9:14-15; Mk. 2:18-20; Lk. 5:33-35) ......... 19 B. The children playing (Mat. 11:16-19; Lk. 7:31-35) ............................................ 23 C. The unshrunk cloth & new wine (Mat. 9:16-17; Mk. 2:21-22; Lk. 5:36-39) ....... 23 D. The binding of the strong man (Mat. 12:24-29; Mk. 3:22-27; Lk. 11:15-22) ...... 24 II. The Kingdom En Route to the Consummation ...................................................... 26 A. The growing seed (Mk. 4:26-29) ....................................................................... 26 B. The mustard seed (Mat. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32; Lk. 13:18-19).......................... 28 C. The leaven (Mat. 13:33; Lk. 13:20-21) .............................................................. 30 D. The wheat and the weeds (Mat. 13:24-30, 36-43) .............................................. 31 III. Consummation of the Kingdom ........................................................................... 33 A. The net (Mat. 13:47-50) .................................................................................... 33 B. Workers in the vineyard (Mat. 20:1-16)............................................................. 34 C. The faithful or unfaithful servant (Mat. 24:45-51; Lk. 12:42-46) ....................... 38 D. The ten virgins (Mat. 25:1-13) .......................................................................... 42 E. The talents and the minas (Mat. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-27) ................................... 44 F. The sheep and the goats (Mat. 25:31-46) ........................................................... 49 IV. The Kingdom Is Good News for the Needy ......................................................... 51 A. The two debtors (Lk. 7:41-43)........................................................................... 52 B. The Lost Sheep (Lk. 15:1-7).............................................................................. 55 C. The Lost Coin (Lk. 15:8-10).............................................................................. 56 D. The Lost Son (Lk. 15:11-32) ............................................................................. 57 E. Pharisee and tax collector (Lk. 18:9-14) ............................................................ 62 V. The Kingdom Is Bad News for the Establishment ................................................. 63 A. The two sons (Mat. 21:28-32) ........................................................................... 63 B. The wicked tenants (Mat. 21:33-46; Mk. 12:1-12; Lk. 20:9-19)......................... 65 C. The wedding banquet and the feast (Mat. 22:1-14; Lk. 14:16-24) ...................... 68 VI. The Call to a Kingdom Decision .......................................................................... 72 A. The narrow gate and way (Mat. 7:13-14)........................................................... 72 B. The narrow door (Lk. 13:23-28) ........................................................................ 73 C. The two houses (Mat. 7:24-27; Lk. 6:47-49)...................................................... 74 D. The sower (Mat. 13:1-9, 18-23; Mk. 4:1-9, 13-20; Lk. 8:4-8, 11-15) ................. 76 E. The treasure and the pearl (Mat. 13:44-46) ........................................................ 77 F. The barren fig tree (Lk. 13:6-9) ......................................................................... 78 G. The tower-builder and the king going to war (Lk. 14:28-33) ............................. 79
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