PARABLES

“Understanding the Parables of Jesus”

introduction
- This month we are going to study the parables of Jesus. I think most of Jesus powerful
teachings are in parables.
- During the days of Jesus parables is a common way of communicating certain truths by a
philosopher or a teacher.
- So what is a Parable...
Parable in greek is Paraballo which means to “lay by the side” to "compare” and so a "likeness,
similitude”.

- That is why Jesus always used the phrase “The kingdom of God is like” every time he would
tell a parable.
- The disciples ask Jesus why he used parables and he gave two major purpose of the parables.
Matthew 13:10-11 NIV
[10] The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" [11]
He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but
not to them.

- There are two major purpose why Jesus used parables,

1. To reveal the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God
2. To hide the knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

- Me Kingdom of heaven daw na nag eexist, at iilan lang daw ang nakakaalam nito, at kailan ng
special knowledge para makita ito.
- Ang “Parable” o talinghaga ay magbibigay ng knowledge sa atin kung ano raw ang ang
Kingdom of Heaven or ano ang nature or characteristic nito pati na ang mga taong nandito.
- Now bakit to reveal or Hide? Hindi ito intentional na itinago pero hindi ito maiintindihan ng
mga taong me matigas ang puso pero para sa mga me humble heart mas madali nila itong
naiintindihan.

Matthew 13:13-16 NIV

[13] This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing,
they do not hear or understand. [14] In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be
ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. [15] For
this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed
their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their
hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' [16] But blessed are your eyes because they see, and
your ears because they hear.
- So every time you will read or hear a parable of Jesus you must have a humble heart to be able
to see the truths or the secrets of the kingdom of God.

- The firs parable that we will study will shows the truth and reality of what we are saying. So
let us look on this parable...

Topic 1: Parable of the Sower

Theme: Your growth and fruitfulness in Christ depends on the status of your Heart!

Matthew 13:3-9 NIV

[3] Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] As he was
scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Some fell on rocky
places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. [6] But when
the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [7] Other seed
fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil, where it
produced a crop---a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. [9] He who has ears, let him hear."

- Usually parables are not meant to be explained but letting the hearer see the truth that the teacher is
conveying.
- It is usually an explanation in itself of what has already been taught. The parables helps the hearer to
understand what was already being taught.
- Sometimes it is meant to correct or rebuke certain hearer but most of the time it is to give clarity to
what it is already being taught.
- But this time Jesus explained this parable.

- We need to take note three major subject in this parable

1. The Sower - This is Jesus or anyone who preach the gospel and the word of God
2. The Seed - This is the gospel and the word of God
3. The Soil - This is the heart of the hearer.

- This parable actually reveals the different kind of heart of people who hears the words of God and we
will look at it one by one.
- To understand this different kind of soil we need to see the picture of the field and how the sower do
their sowing.
- This is a picture of one village in Nazareth. As you can see the path, the rocky side, the soil
with thorns and thistle and the good soil where the seed grow
- Unlike today a farmer would plant his seed in a nursery and when it is ready to be planted he
will plant it by hand one by one. During the time of Jesus the sower would just scatter the seed
on His field, that is why some seeds falls on different areas of this field.

- Now let us look on this different soils that the seed fell and what kind of heart it is, and the
explanation of Jesus.

A. The Hard heart

Matthew 13:4 NIV

[4] As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Matthew 13:19 NIV

[19] When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one
comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

- The message of the kingdom is not just about repentance and holiness but fruitfulness and life
in abundance.
- It is a message of the the rule and reign of God. That under his lordship life can be fruitful and
productive.
- How many times you heard the message of the kingdom and how did you respond to it?
- What hinders us to experience this life of fruitfulness?
- The devil snatches the things we hears and unknowingly we have been robbed for so many
times with the best things that we would ever received in life.
- Na one two three ka na pala di mo pa alam. Huli na nung malamam mo at nasabi mo na lang
sa sarili mo ang bopol mo.
- Ang palusot natin nahypnothize ka.
- Laging nasa huli ang pagsisi.

- Kasi nung nakikinig ka Panay ang text mo, panay ang sulyap mo sa crush mo, nag CR ka lagi.
- Nagmamadali ka kasi me date ka pa, ni Hindi ka nag sulat ng mga natutunan mo, tulog ka
habang nagpepreach, imbis na makinig panay ang titig kay pastor kasi ang guwapo niya.
- Ang pinakamagandang bagay na natatanggap natin ay Hindi mga bagay na material kundi
mga bagay na napakinggan natin at natutunan.
- Ang mga bagay na materyal ay nauubos, nasisira at nawawala ngunit ang mga bagay na
natutunan natin sa bawat mensahe ay nakakapagpabago ng buhay patungo sa isang
mabungang buhay.

- How to avoid to have this heart? Makinig kang mabuti now, mag take note ka habang
nagtatalk si ptr. Tanungin mo ang sarili mo pagkatapos mong makinig ano natutunan mo.
- Iwasan mag facebook, or makipag kwentuahn ng walang kwenta or manood ng video or
movie after ng worship service.
- Next...

B. The Stony Heart

Matthew 13:5 NIV
[5] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the
soil was shallow.

Matthew 13:20-21 NIV

[20] The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and
at once receives it with joy. [21] But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

- The message of the kingdom of God excites many people because it is the message that every
one wants to hear, a message of love, forgiveness, hope, abundant life and salvation, but it is
also a message of repentance, obedience, surrender, sacrifices and self denial in which the part
most of us don't want.
- Who would reject such message? What makes our heart rocky is the unwillingness to accept
fully the latter part of the message.
- Nung tinanggap mo ung mensahe sobrang init mo, me paiyak iyak ka pa at talon ka ng talon
sa tuwa, pero nung turuan ka ng sumunod sa Diyos malamig ka pa sa bangkay, si pastor na
pinapaiyak mo, at di ka na makita sa church o cell group.
- The life and fruitfulness of the tree lies on how deep is root of the tree and fertile is the soil.
- If you will just remove the rocks you expose the soil and let the tree become rooted and
becomes fruitful.
- Persecution and and troubles will definitely come sa lahat ng Christian now depende na lang
how you will response to it. Let us remember what apostle James said about persecution and
troubles.

James 1:2-4 NIV

[2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you
know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- Malalaman mo yong stony heart kasi tuwing me trials and persecution nawawala sa church.
- So paano natin malalaman na hindi ka stony heart? Di ka matitinag at mawawala kahit gaano
pa kabigat ang trials and persecution

- Next...
3. Thorny heart

Matthew 13:7 NIV

[7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Matthew 13:22 NIV

[22] The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word,
but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

- Lot of Christians are survivors, out patients, or in ICU and some are on A Coma state.
- Ayaw nilang mawala sa Diyos kasi alam nila it is the right thing to do, but also they cannot
trust him 100%
- Gusto kasi nilang maligtas at pumunta ng Langit, pero gusto rin nilang maranasan na ang
langit dito sa lupa.
- What hinders you to experience fruitfulness of Life in God? Is it your family? Your
ambitions? Pre marital sex? Lust? Desire for earth and material things? Mga kaibigan mo?
trabaho?
- If you long for the things of this world it will choke you and will not allow you to experience
a flourishing life, and eventually kill you.
- You may appear healthy and growing but the question is are you bearing fruit?
- Kasi at the end of the day Jesus will only look for one thing fruits of you being a disciple!
- How would you know you have this heart? Pag most of the time ang worries and priorities of
ay mga bagay na hindi naman related sa pinagagawa ni Lord sa Iyo.
- Or yong career, business or family mo na nagiging hindrance para hindi ka makapagserve kay
God.
- How I would avoid this kind of Heart? Make the great commission and the great
commandment your priority dapat connected lahat ng ginagawa natin dyan.

- Next...
D. The Good soil

Matthew 13:8 NIV

[8] Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop---a hundred, sixty or thirty times
what was sown.

Matthew 13:23 NIV

[23] But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and
understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

- The one who received the word and carefully obey what God wants him to do will become
healthy and fruitful.
- Good soil are those who heard the word and takes root in their heart.
- Usually nagsusulat sila habang nagprepreach si pastor, nagdedevotion sila araw araw, laging
iniisip Kung paano niya ipapamuhay ang Salita ng Diyos.
- Usually pag nasaktan ka at di ka natahimik nung marinig mo salita ng Diyos lalago yan at
mamumunga sa buhay mo.
- I don't know any Christian who are living a flourishing and victorious Christian life that do
not know or memorize any scriptures.
- How many scriptures have you memorized or at least know by heart?
- Ito yong mga taong me ka one on one or disciple.
- Me dream sila na mafulfill yong calling and great commission ni Jesus sa kanila.

Challenge
- we need to take note the warning of Jesus sa parable na ito.
Matthew 13:9
He who has ears, let him hear."

- The call of God is if you want a life that is fruitful, flourishing, productive, meaningful, and
victorious you will open up your heart to his words and let him take in charge of your life.
- If you were able to listen to what God is saying to you now you will accept this and allow him
to take in charge with your life.

Huwag mong sayangin yong pagod at effort mo sa pagpunta rito kung di ka rin lang
makikinig at mamumunga! Pabago na natin ang Puso natin kay Jesus!

- Only God can change your heart, the best way to ensure na good soil ang heart mo just
humble yourself and ask him to change your heart!

Topic 2: Parable of the Weeds

Topic 3: Parable Mustard Seed and the Yeast
Topic 4: Parable of the Hidden Treasures and the Pearl