Jesus' Parables and the Kingdom of God

Jesus' Parables

• Jesus was a master teacher who used short stories called parables to teach.
• Parables were not meant to make everything clear, but to provoke the imagination and invite people to see what God is doing in the world from a new perspective.

The Kingdom of God

• Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God was arriving on Earth as it is in Heaven.
• In Jesus' day, the Israelites were ruled by the Roman Empire, but their Scriptures promised that one day their God would come to rule his people as king.
• Many Israelites wanted to revolt against Rome and fight for their freedom, but Jesus' message was different.
• Jesus said that his mission, healing the sick, and inviting people to follow him was the arrival of God's Kingdom.

Examples of Parables

• The Kingdom of God is like a merchant who found the ultimate pearl and sold everything to buy it.
• The Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that a farmer planted, which grew into a huge tree with birds perching in its branches.
• The Kingdom of God is like yeast hidden in a lump of dough, which changes everything.
• The business owner who hired workers throughout the day and paid them all the same wage, showing that money and status are irrelevant to God.

Upside-Down Values

• Jesus taught that the least important people in the world are actually the most important to God, especially the poor and those of low status.

Warning and Criticism

• Jesus stood in the tradition of Israel's prophets who told parables to criticize Israel's leaders.
• Jesus warned the leaders of his day that if they didn't accept his offer of God's Kingdom, they were headed for destruction.
• The parable of the landowner who built a wonderful vineyard, appointed managers, and sent servants to collect the fruit, but they killed the servants and the son, was a warning to the leaders.

Purpose of Parables

• Through parables, Jesus made bold claims that revealed truth to open-minded people.
• Parables concealed his message from those who were against him, buying time for his mission.
• Jesus was preparing his closest followers for the greatest surprise yet: his death and resurrection.

Jesus' Parables

• Jesus used short stories called parables to teach, which provoked the imagination and invited people to see what God is doing in the world from a new perspective.
• Parables were not meant to make everything clear, but to inspire thought and encourage a new perspective.

The Kingdom of God

• Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God was arriving on Earth as it is in Heaven.
• The Israelites were ruled by the Roman Empire, but their Scriptures promised that one day their God would come to rule his people as king.
• Jesus' message was different from the Israelites' desire to revolt against Rome, instead, he emphasized his mission, healing the sick, and inviting people to follow him as the arrival of God's Kingdom.

Examples of Parables

• The Kingdom of God is like a merchant who found the ultimate pearl and sold everything to buy it.
• The Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that a farmer planted, which grew into a huge tree with birds perching in its branches.
• The Kingdom of God is like yeast hidden in a lump of dough, which changes everything.
• The business owner who hired workers throughout the day and paid them all the same wage, showing that money and status are irrelevant to God.

Upside-Down Values

• Jesus taught that the least important people in the world are actually the most important to God, especially the poor and those of low status.

Warning and Criticism

• Jesus stood in the tradition of Israel's prophets who told parables to criticize Israel's leaders.
• Jesus warned the leaders of his day that if they didn't accept his offer of God's Kingdom, they were headed for destruction.
• The parable of the landowner who built a wonderful vineyard, appointed managers, and sent servants to collect the fruit, but they killed the servants and the son, was a warning to the leaders.

Purpose of Parables

• Through parables, Jesus made bold claims that revealed truth to open-minded people.
• Parables concealed his message from those who were against him, buying time for his mission.
• Jesus was preparing his closest followers for the greatest surprise yet: his death and resurrection.