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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 80 : The Parables taught by the Lord Jesus

Text: Matthew 13:13-18
17 September 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. The Parables of the Lord Jesus are classic examples of “illustrative stories”

2. Perhaps the most well-known one is “The Parable of the Sower”

3. We must examine this Parable further from the explanation given by the Lord Jesus

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN DISCIPLES AND MULTITUDES

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Matthew 13:11-13

1. The Disciples

a) They had faith in the Lord Jesus
b) They were keen learners
c) They were prepared to follow through with what they have learned

2. The Multitudes

a) They did not possess faith in the Lord Jesus
b) They came to the Lord for different reasons
c) They would come to ask Him for help but many did not become Disciples following the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ

THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:14-17

1. The happy and positive part of the fulfilment of prophecy

a) Blessings are often promised
b) They come about when people fulfil Biblical prophecy

2. The sad and negative part of the fulfilment of prophecy

a) No blessings are received
b) Those who end up rejecting the Word of God find themselves remaining spiritually blind

THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH

1. The Lord Jesus cited the prophecy of Isaiah

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10

2. The Context of Isaiah

a) Isaiah was keen on being sent by the LORD as His servant
b) But the LORD warned Isaiah that Israel would not listen to him
i) The people will hear but not understand
ii) They will see but not perceive

3. The context of the days of the Lord Jesus

a) The people were similar, spiritually speaking
i) The hearts of the people had grown dull
ii) Their ears were hard of hearing
iii) Their eyes had closed
b) Consequently
i) Their eyes and ears remain closed
ii) Their hearts remain lacking in understanding
iii) They are unable to benefit from the teaching of the Lord Jesus
iv) They may receive physical healing but not spiritually

THE BLESSING OF THE DISCIPLES

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:16-17

1. They had found faith in the Lord Jesus

2. They had followed Him to learn more about the Kingdom of heaven and its mysteries

3. Consequently, they were blessed in the following ways:

a) Their eyes see
b) Their ears hear
c) They were seeing what the old prophets and righteous men desired
i) They were hearing the Messiah teaching them
ii) They were having lessons taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself

CONCLUSION

1. Be challenged:

a) To find faith in the Lord Jesus
b) Find salvation in the Lord
c) Become true Disciples

2. See and experience personally

a) The ability to learn about the Kingdom of heaven
b) There are wonderful mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
i) These are wonderful life-changing truths
ii) They help us understand our Christian faith better
iii) They help us practise our faith in life