Scribd
Upload
212 views1 page

Parable Study Guide

This document provides seven keys for understanding the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. The keys are: 1) pray for the Holy Spirit's help, 2) study the parable thoroughly in context, 3) seek the primary point, 4) pay attention to the conclusion, 5) examine the parable's structure and characters, 6) discover the implied question, and 7) look for help in the Old Testament. The document also references further study resources that informed these keys.

Uploaded by

Corina Moisa-Aredoaie
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
212 views1 page

Parable Study Guide

This document provides seven keys for understanding the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. The keys are: 1) pray for the Holy Spirit's help, 2) study the parable thoroughly in context, 3) seek the primary point, 4) pay attention to the conclusion, 5) examine the parable's structure and characters, 6) discover the implied question, and 7) look for help in the Old Testament. The document also references further study resources that informed these keys.

Uploaded by

Corina Moisa-Aredoaie
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

GrenadesFromHeaven:ParableStudyGuide

ByNickRoark

HerearesevenkeystohelpyouunlockthemeaningoftheparablesofJesusintheGospelofLuke: 1. PrayfortheHolySpiritshelpasyouseektounderstand,interpret,andapplytheparablesinLukesGospel.As youpray,keepinmindJesuscentralmessageofthegospelofthekingdomofGod(Luke8:1).MuchofJesus teachingintheparablesillustratesandilluminatesaspectsofHiskingdom. 2. Studytheparablethoroughlybyreadingandrereadingitinordertounderstandboththenearandfarcontext. Thenearcontextincludeswhatcomesimmediatelybeforeandaftertheparable.Whoistheintendedaudienceof theparable?DoesLukeofferanycluestothemeaningandsignificanceoftheparable?(cf.14:7;15:12;18:1;18:9; 19:11)ThefarcontextincludestheentireGospelaccordingtoLuke.Issomethingintheparablementionedin anotherpartofthebook?RememberthattheparablesarestoriestoldwithinalargerStory:thedeathand resurrectionofChrist.LukeintendsforhisreaderstointerprettheparablesofJesusinconstantshadowofthecross andresurrectionofJesus. 3. Seektheprimarypointoftheparable.Whileaparablemayteachseveralrelatedtruths,allofthesewillnormally relatetoonecentralpoint.Theprimarymessageoftheparablewilloftencomeattheend,orinaconcluding remarkmadebyJesus.(cf.Luke18:14.Thepointoftheparableisthedangerofprideandselfrighteousnessandthe needforhumilityandrepentance.) 4. Payparticularattentiontotheconclusionoftheparable.Usuallythemainpointoftheparableisstressedatthe endofthestory.Thinkoftheendastheparablespunchline.Inotherwords,lookcloselyatthematerialthatcomes attheconclusionoftheparable.Whatcomesattheendoftheparableisoftentheclinchingindicatorofintent. 5. Payparticularattentiontothestructureoftheparable.HowdoesJesusdevelopthestoryHeistellinginthe parable?Whoarethecharacters?Howdoeseachcharacterrespondinthestory?Isthereanysymmetryor parallelismbetweenthevariouscomponentsofthestory? a. Forexample:InLuke15:331,Jesustellsthreeparablesthathaveasimilarstructureandtheme:something orsomeoneislost,thenfound,andthereisaresponseofjoy.Noticethecallandresponseofjoyinthe conclusionofthefirsttwoparables(cf.15:67;15:910).Isitsignificantthatthefinalparableincludesacall torejoicebutnoresponse?(cf.15:28)TowhomisJesusdirectingtheseparables?(cf.Luke15:12).Jesus leavesthethirdparablewithoutaclosingresponseofjoybecauseHeiscallingthePhariseesandthescribes torejoicethatsinnersarebeingfoundandsavedbyHim.Thequestionremains:Willtheseelderbrothers jointherejoicinginthepartyorbeleftoutside? 6. Aimtodiscovertheimpliedquestionaparableisaddressing.OftenJesusparablescomeasaresponsetoa statementsomeoneelsemakesoraquestionsomeoneelseasks.Theintentoftheparablesisoftentobringabouta responsethatmovessomeonepastsuperficialthinkingtogodlydiscernment.Asyoureadthetext,askyourself: WhatistheultimatequestionthatisbeingaskedorraisedbyJesus?Focusyourattentionondiscoveringthis question.Knowingtherightquestiontoaskisthefirststeptofindingtherightanswer. a. Forexample:TheparableofthegoodSamaritan(Luke10:2537)istoldbyJesusinresponsetoaseriesof questionsaskedbyalawyerthatculminateswiththelawyersquestion:Whoismyneighbor?(Luke10:29) Insteadofansweringthatloadedquestion(thelawyerwasdesiringtojustifyhimself10:29),Jesustellsa parableandconcludesbyaskingthelawyer:Whichofthesethree,doyouthink,provedtobeaneighborto themanwhofellamongrobbers?(10:36).SotheimpliedquestioninthisparableisNOT:Whoismy neighbor?Theimpliedquestionhoveringoverthisparableis:WillIbeaneighbor? 7. LookforhelpintheOldTestament.Rememberthattheprimarysourceofmanyoftheallusions,ideas,and metaphorsincludedintheparablesofJesusistheOldTestament.Oneofthewayswecanknowandunderstandthe parablesofJesusbetterisbyknowingandunderstandingtheOldTestamentScripturesthatareallwrittenabout Him(Luke24:27).SeveralofthethemesthatwefindinLukesGospelarealldrawndirectlyfromtheOldTestament. ThesethemesincludethefulfillmentofGodspromisesgiventoIsrael,thehopeofarighteousDavidicKing,unbelief amongGodspeople,andareturnfromaspiritualexile.
FurtherStudy:Muchofthismaterialisfromthefollowingtworesources: MarkL.Strauss,FourPortraits,OneJesus(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2007),449451. KlyneSnodgrass,StoriesWithIntent:AComprehensiveGuidetotheParablesofJesus(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2008),130.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy