GOSPEL
LECTURE 11
THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF JESUS

1. To present the chief characteristics Christ's teaching method
2. To define and describe Christ's use of parables.
3. To acquaint  the student with Christ's parables contained in Luke 15.

Content of Lecture

I. The Nature of Christ's Teaching Method

A. One of the principle fetes of Christ's teaching was the authority with which he taught Matthew 7:29 stated that, "He light as ore who hi Anthony and not as their teachers of the law".

B. Another principle feature of Christ's method was His love for people. One page 85 of Stewart's ted, the author sued that, "from his roving spirit, the spirits of his pupils were continually catching fine". This love was exemplified in John 8:1-11 end Matthew 23:27-29.

C. Figurative language was another important characteristic of Christ's teaching. Jesus often made use of metaphors (Matthew 16:11), hyperboles (Matthew 7:3), Id parables (see NlV Study Bible, pp. 1570 -1571 for exhaustive list.)

II. Christ's Use of Parables

A. The word parable comes from the Greek word parabole which means "to cast along side" Gundry defines parable as an "extended figure of speech often in story form", p. 138. A common definition is that a parable is "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. '

B. Christ used parables for two reasons:

• to illustrate saints truths, and
• to obscure truth Mom those whose heads were hard and unyielding. (Matthew 13:11)

Luke 15 contains three parables which all have a similar meaning. In each parable there is something lost, a seeker attempting to find that which is lost, and a celebration when that which is lost is discovered. Christ was illustrating God's attitude toward sinners (the lost) when they come to Him and are ' found'. The elder son in the final parable most probably represents the religious establishment mentioned in verse 2. the scribes and Pharisees resented the attention which Christ gave to sinners.

A. The Lost Sheep vs. 3 7 (TN2)
B. The Lost Coin vs. 8-10 (TN3)
C. The Lost Son vs. 11-32 (TN4) (TN5)

IV. Themes of Other Parables Christ Taught:

A. Forgiveness

1. Luke 7:4143
2. Matthew 18:23-24

B. Generosity

1. Luke 12:16-22

C. Humility

1. Luke 14:7-14
2. Luke 14:16-24

D. Judgment

1. Matthew 25:3146
2. Luke 13:6-9
3. Luke 16:19-31

E. The kingdom

1. Matthew 13:3-8, 1~23; Mark 4:3-8, 14-20; Luke 8:5-8, 1 1-15
2. Matthew 13:2430, 36 43
3. Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
4. Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21
5. Matthew 13:44
6. Matthew 13:4546
7. Matthew 13:47-50
8. Matthew 13:52
9. Matthew 20:1-16
10. Matthew 22:2-14
11. Mark 4:26-29

F. The Law

1. Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36
2. Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-38

G. The Lord's Return

1. Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
2. Matthew 25:1-13
3. Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40
4. Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:2~29; Luke 21:29-31

H. Mercy

1. Luke 10:30-37

I. Prayer

1. Luke 11:5-8

Assignments

RESOURCES

• Hester, H.I., The Heart of the New Testament, Liberty: The Quality Press, Inc., 1963. pp. 147-148
• Gundry, Robert, Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1981. pp. 138-142
• Stewart, James, The Life and Teaching of Christ, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1984. pp 77-85