The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables

TASK: Form a pair or small group. Each group will have a parable to search for ‘actions’, ‘symbols’ and ‘meaning’. Each pair
is to analyse their parable using the table below. Your teacher will compile all of the groups’ answers and make this
document available to you.

1. The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Matthew 24:45-51)

2. The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)
3. The Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8)
4. A Story about Ten Girls (Matthew 25:1-13)
5. The Shepherd, the Thief, and the Doorkeeper (John 10:1-18) - example: do together
6. The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

PARABLE Summary of people and Symbols and Reference to Jewish Social Jesus’ message in 1-2
events of the parable what they code? sentences
mean Purity/Honour/Women (Challenge: 10 words or less!)
Example:
 The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables
Modern Old symbol –
Version: New symbol –

Old symbol –
New symbol –

Old symbol –
New symbol –

Your turn:

Modern Old symbol –

Version: New symbol –

Old symbol –
New symbol –

Old symbol –
New symbol –
The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables

1. Matthew 24:45-51: Good Servants and Bad Servants

45“Who is the wise and trusted servant? The master trusts one servant to give the other servants their food at the
right time. Who is the one the master trusts to do that work? 46 When the master comes and finds that servant
doing the work he gave him, it will be a day of blessing for that servant. 47 I can tell you without a doubt, the
master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns.

48“But what will happen if that servant is evil and thinks his master will not come back soon? 49 He will begin to
beat the other servants. He will eat and drink with others who are drunk. 50 Then the master will come when the
servant is not ready, at a time when the servant is not expecting him. 51 Then the master will punish that servant.
He will send him away to be with the hypocrites, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.

2. Luke 12:16-21: The Rich Fool

16Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of
food. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’

18“Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat
and good things together in my new barns. 19 Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have
saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’

“But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for
20

yourself? Who will get those things now?’

21 “This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich.”
The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables
3. Luke 18:1-8: God Will Answer His People

18 Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. He used this story to teach
them: 2 “Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. He also did not care what people thought
about him. 3 In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died. She came many times to this judge
and said, ‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!’ 4 But the judge did not want to help
the woman. After a long time, the judge thought to himself, ‘I don’t care about God. And I don’t care about what
people think. 5 But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I
don’t give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.’”

6The Lord said, “Listen, there is meaning in what the bad judge said. 7 God’s people shout to him night and day,
and he will always give them what is right. He will not be slow to answer them. 8 I tell you, God will help his people
quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?”

4. Matthew 25:1-13: A Story About Ten Girls

25 “At that time God’s kingdom will be like ten girls who went to wait for the bridegroom. They took their lamps
with them.2 Five of the girls were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish girls took their lamps with them, but
they did not take extra oil for the lamps. 4 The wise girls took their lamps and more oil in jars. 5 When the
bridegroom was very late, the girls could not keep their eyes open, and they all fell asleep.

6 “At midnight someone announced, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come and meet him!’

7“Then all the girls woke up. They made their lamps ready. 8 But the foolish girls said to the wise girls, ‘Give us
some of your oil. The oil in our lamps is all gone.’

9
“The wise girls answered, ‘No! The oil we have might not be enough for all of us. But go to those who sell oil and
buy some for yourselves.’ 10 So the foolish girls went to buy oil. While they were gone, the bridegroom came. The
girls who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Then the door was closed and locked.
The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables
11 “Later, the other girls came. They said, ‘Sir, sir! Open the door to let us in.’

12“But the bridegroom answered, ‘Certainly not! I don’t even know you.’ 13 “So always be ready. You don’t know
the day or the time when the Son of Man will come.

5. John 10:1-18: The Shepherd and His Sheep

10 Jesus said, “It is certainly true that when a man enters the sheep pen, he should use the gate. If he climbs in
some other way, he is a robber. He is trying to steal the sheep. 2 But the man who takes care of the sheep enters
through the gate. He is the shepherd. 3 The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the
sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. 4 He
brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know
his voice. 5 But sheep will never follow someone they don’t know. They will run away from him, because they don’t
know his voice.”

6 Jesus told the people this story, but they did not understand what it meant.

7So Jesus said again, “I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who came before me were thieves and
robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will be
able to come in and go out. They will find everything they need. 10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I
came to give life—life that is full and good.

11“I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 The worker who is paid to keep
the sheep is different from the shepherd. The paid worker does not own the sheep. So when he sees a wolf
coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man
runs away because he is only a paid worker. He does not really care for the sheep.

“I am the shepherd who cares for the sheep. I know my sheep just as the Father knows me. And my sheep
14-15

know me just as I know the Father. I give my life for these sheep. 16 I have other sheep too. They are not in this
flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one
The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables
shepherd.[a] 17 The Father loves me because I give my life. I give my life so that I can get it back again. 18 No one
takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get
it back again. This is what the Father told me.”

6. Matthew 25:31-46: The Son of Man Will Judge All People

31“The Son of Man will come again with divine greatness, and all his angels will come with him. He will sit as king
on his great and glorious throne. 32 All the people of the world will be gathered before him. Then he will separate
everyone into two groups. It will be like a shepherd separating his sheep from his goats. 33 He will put the sheep on
his right and the goats on his left.

34“Then the king will say to the godly people on his right, ‘Come, my Father has great blessings for you. The
kingdom he promised is now yours. It has been prepared for you since the world was made. 35 It is yours because
when I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no
place to stay, you welcomed me into your home. 36 When I was without clothes, you gave me something to wear.
When I was sick, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’

37“Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our
home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in
prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here,[a] you also did for me.’

41“Then the king will say to the evil people on his left, ‘Get away from me. God has already decided that you will
be punished. Go into the fire that burns forever—the fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 You
must go away because when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me nothing
to drink. 43 When I had no place to stay, you did not welcome me into your home. When I was without clothes, you
gave me nothing to wear. When I was sick and in prison, you did not care for me.’
The Meaning of Jesus’ Parables
44“Then those people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty? When did we see you without a
place to stay? Or when did we see you without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see any of this and not
help you?’ 45 “The king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you refused to do for any of my people here, you
refused to do for me. 46 “Then these evil people will go away to be punished forever. But the godly people will go
and enjoy eternal life.”