Adult Sabbath

School Bible Study Guide

Lesson 8:

The Great Controversy in the Parables of

Jesus

Memory Text:

“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Parables Studied:Parables Studied:

1. The Soils1. The Soils

2. The Tares2. The Tares

3. The Vineyard3. The Vineyard

4. The Wedding 4. The Wedding FeastFeast

5. The Lost Coins 5. The Lost Coins (sheep/prodigal (sheep/prodigal

son).son).

Why did Jesus teach in parables? “That “That seeing they might not see and hearing they seeing they might not see and hearing they might not hear.” There is a war going on. might not hear.” There is a war going on. Jesus was fully aware of that. Men were Jesus was fully aware of that. Men were seeking an excuse to kill Him … He had to seeking an excuse to kill Him … He had to “watch His words”.“watch His words”.

What is a parable? Story with a spiritual application. “An earthly story with a Heavenly meaning”.

• PARABLE TEACHING

• 1. The Soils The reception of truth.

• 2. The Tares The plan of salvation.

• 3. The Vineyard The plan of salvation.

• 4. The Wedding Feast The transformation of character.

• 5. The Lost Coins Divine love, mercy and justice.

• (sheep/prodigal son).

The Four Soils:The Four Soils:

The WaysideThe Wayside

Stony GroundStony Ground

Thorny GroundThorny Ground

Good GroundGood Ground

In the end can we blame satan if our soil is poor? If we are not “good ground”?1 Cor. 10:13

Wheat and Tares:

SYMBOLS: MEANING:

THE FIELD The world

THE TARES Evildoers

THE HARVEST The end of the world

THE GOOD SEED God’s word

THE TWO SOWERS Jesus, satan

THE HARVESTERS The angels

Matthew

13:24 - 30

The Vineyard:

The Landowner, The Vineyard, The Wall, The Tenants, The

Landowner’s Servants, The Son, The Other Tenants

Read: Matthew 21:33 - 44

Work diligently for the Lord – He will reward you greatly.

The Wedding Feast and the Wedding Garment

Read:

Matthew 22:1 – 14.

We need Christ’s righteousness!

The Lost and Found:

1. The Sheep

Luke 15:4 - 7

God left Heaven to save one lost sheep – this world!

2.The Lost 2.The Lost CoinCoin

Luke 15:8 - 10

We don’t even know we are lost – God is searching for us! Turn to Him today!

Luke 15:11-32Luke 15:11-3211. “And He said, A 11. “And He said, A certain man had two certain man had two sons: 12.And the younger sons: 12.And the younger of them said to his father, of them said to his father, Father give me the Father give me the portion of goods that portion of goods that falleth to me. And he falleth to me. And he divided unto them his divided unto them his living. 13. And not many living. 13. And not many days after the younger days after the younger son gathered all together son gathered all together and took his journey into and took his journey into a far country, and there a far country, and there wasted his substance wasted his substance with riotous living. …”with riotous living. …”

The Prodigal Son: InterpretationThe Prodigal Son: Interpretation

Of all the parables this comes closest to giving us Of all the parables this comes closest to giving us a glimpse of the hallowed face of God. It a glimpse of the hallowed face of God. It

illustrates that God’s love is beyond justice, illustrates that God’s love is beyond justice, beyond reason - that He ever hungers for the beyond reason - that He ever hungers for the

return of a sinner. The righteous are His already; return of a sinner. The righteous are His already; they have His love. But they are not to be self they have His love. But they are not to be self righteous , nor jealous of their position in His righteous , nor jealous of their position in His eyes. They are to love with His own love - to eyes. They are to love with His own love - to

yearn as He does for their wandering brothers. yearn as He does for their wandering brothers. ‘The Perfect Father’‘The Perfect Father’ might be a more descriptive might be a more descriptive

title for this gem of a parable.title for this gem of a parable.

Witnessing:Witnessing:

Should we Should we ask God to ask God to give us lost give us lost people or people or

help us help us findfind lost people?lost people?

What borders might you need to cross, or what walls might you need to scale, in your search for people who

need God?

Summary:

Jesus came to this earth to uncover satan’s lies about God. He did this not only through

the way he lived but through the parables taught. From many of these we learn vision, affect our attitude and appeal to our sense

of pride and self sufficiency. But each parable brings a note of victory. There is a harvest. People do accept God’s invitation.

Some of us do find the way home.