I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.
—Matthew 13:35
The Prodigal Son. The Good Samaritan. The Pearl of Great Price. You’ve heard the stories, but do you know them in their original context? In this 3-week study of the Parables of Jesus, we will read through many of the well-known—and not so well-known—stories Jesus used to teach hearers, both then and now, about how to live as His followers. Each day we will read parables in their immediate context, focusing on a different category of parables each week. In lieu of reading a devotional response, we will work through a series of questions to understand the meaning of the text and take to heart the “secrets of the kingdom.”
Editor’s Note: In this Parables study, Jesus Himself is telling us stories—stories He wants us to reflect on and process. Rather than asking our writers to write their own stories about Jesus’ stories, we thought it would serve you and the text better to provide questions to help you dig into the meaning of each day’s parable. If you find a parable or passage particularly confusing, stop and pray. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in His Word, and thank Him that we can know Him without knowing all the answers to our questions.
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Week 1: Parables about God’s Kingdom
Parables are stories with a point. They are designed to make us think about what is being said, why, where, to whom, and in what context. To get to the heart of Jesus’ parables, we need to pull them apart and take a careful look at the details He gives us. One detail that runs through this week’s selection of parables is that Jesus says they all describe the kingdom of God in some way. As you read through these passages, use the following questions to unpack the stories Jesus tells.
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Day 1 Reading: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:33-34
Questions:
1. Today’s reading gives us not only a parable, but Jesus’ own words about why He used them. How would you summarize why Jesus spoke in parables? How does that help prepare you to read through them?
2. What situation or problem is addressed in today’s particular parable, and what is the outcome of the story?
3. What is the central point of this parable?
4. What is your response to this parable?
I am looking forward to adding nourishment to my soil!
This passage made me realize that reading the Bible isn’t enough if you aren’t really trying to understand it. Good lesson to start this study with
Love this! Definitely going to do a deeper study on this passage.
After reading this, I want to strive to be better. To receive Gods word better. I need to reach for the good soil because right now I feel like I’m in the rocks. I’ve been feeling lately that I’m not taking in the Word like I used to or that I’m not letting it go throughout my whole week and not just on Sundays and that’s not how it should be. Jesus loves us and talks to us all the time. Why do I need to only pick and choose when He is what I want to follow? Great first day! A real eye opener already.
Amen x
When I read this parable, I want to be the good soil. I want my children to be the good soil. Now, I’m not a farmer, but I know enough about soil to know that it doesn’t just “become” good. You have to work it. You have to water it. You have to protect it. You have to rid it of rocks. You have to give it nutrients. You have to tend to it until it is good soil. It takes work and effort.
I was convicted that I haven’t been tending my soil, my heart. In fact, if I’m being honest, I’ve been starving it. I’ve been contaminating it with news, useless junk, anything to numb out. I know what my heart needs – the Word, prayer, worship. Lord, I desire more of You. Help me resist everything else.
I have always thought that i am either one soil or another but taking the time to really break this down showed me that we go through seasons where our soil changes and we need to be constantly maintaining our soil so that we can remain receptive to the word.
Love this and it’s so true.
I want to be a different kind of soil. I used to be good soil, but now I’m neglected soil full of weeds. What grows is strained and tired. I want to clean up my garden and get rid of the weeds. I need to choke out the weeds by not feeding them. My chief weed is my phone. Reading news,twitter and playing games in stead of feeding on Gods word.
Same same same — especially now, being distanced from others, I turn to my phone (even more) to “fill me” with knowledge and entertainment and it’s a weed that has been slowly growing and wrapping itself around my heart. Thanks for sharing and reminding others they’re not alone — they’re are others fighting to get back to good soil