2.2 The Parables Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are Parables?
Powerful stories which Jesus used to explain the ideas of the kingdom of God
What did Jesus tell the religious leaders in Jerusalem?
The Parable of the Tenants
What is a Tenant?
Residents or renters of a property
Who did the owner of the vineyard represent?
God
Who did the Tenants represent?
Jewish religious leaders
Who did the servants represent?
Prophets
Who did the Son represent?
Jesus
What did the vineyard represent?
The kingdom of God
Who did the new tenants represent?
Gentiles
What happens during the Parable of the Tenants?
A man rents his vineyard to tenants
When he sent servants to collect a share of the harvest they are all attacked or murdered by the tenants
The man’s son is sent and killed
What was the Parable of the Tenant a warning for?
To the religious leaders that they should submit to the will of God
What is Jesus saying in the Parable of the Tenants?
That the kingdom that is offered to, and rejected by Israel would be taken from them and given to gentiles
What does the Parable of the Tenants show Christians today?
That God sent Jesus to save humanity
Reveals that there is persecution for those who would share the message of God, even today
Jesus calls his disciples not to make the same mistake
—> accept his message and stand up for their belief, rather than reject him and endure judgement
Significance of the Parable of the Tenants for Christians today
Reminds them that obedience to God’s will will be rewarded
- Jesus was rejected but he is ‘the cornerstone’ on which the Christian faith is built
—> “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”
Who was the Parable of the Sower told to?
A gathering of ordinary people
Overall summary of the Parable of the Sower
A man sows seed in a field
As he scatters it, it falls in different places and grows with differing amounts of success
—> seed represents God’s message
—> each area represents a different response to the message
What do the seeds in the Parable of the Sower represent?
God’s message
What does each area in the Parable of the Sower represent?
A different response to the message
Where the seed falls (the footpath)
The people who hear the message but do not listen
Satan carries off the word before the hearer responds
(They never accept the Christian message)
Quote for the footpath (parable of the sower)
“Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it”
Where the seed falls (the rocky ground)
The shallow Christian
They listen and respond at first, but the response has no depth
—> as soon as the hot sun of persecution rises, their faith withers and dies
Quote for the rocky ground (parable of the sower)
“Other seed fell on rocky ground … since it had no root it withered away”
Where the seed falls (the thorny ground)
The worldly Christian
They listen and respond at first (follow Jesus)
- but have not understood that discipleship has to come before everything else
They allow worldly concerns for money, possessions or power to get in the way of their discipleship
Quote for the thorny ground (parable of the sower)
“Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it”
