Jesus spoke in parables oft to the multitude
His words are more important than our daily food,
Heaven and earth he said will one day suffer decay
But not one jot of his word will ever pass away.
These forty-six parables in Matthew, Mark and Luke
Should be critical learning matters in any institute,
Scenes from daily life such understanding brings
As Jesus fashions our minds to think on heavenly
things.
None spoke like this man the greatest master teacher
he
Who taught in myriads of ways so that his students
could see
Object lessons from the word he shares with you and me,
Everyone an earthly story but teaching about eternity.
A new cloth patch placed on an old garment
Will invariably produce a much greater rent.
Storing new wine in old wineskins? Why that is worse
For the new wine will most certainly cause the old to
burst.
And just as a city on a hill cannot ever be hidden
Hiding one’s light from view is strictly forbidden.
One man will build on the rock, another on sand
But it’s better to trust in God rather than trust in
man.
The servant whose master forgives of the greater debt
Would surely show greater love to his benefactor yet.
Consider that no one lights a lamp and puts it under a
bed
So that he ends up hiding the light by which another may
be led.
I’d rather have a little barn with just a single stool
Than by Almighty God to be called a fool.
Far better to be a servant who’s working and watching
Than on the master’s return to be caught while napping.
He that is unfaithful questions his master’s return
But the faithful servant holds to what he has learned.
That unfruitful fig tree that is likely to be hewn
Just give it another year before axing it too soon.
Four types of soil and only one finally brought a
yield
But the sower was generous as he sowed the precious seed.
Let the weeds and the wheat grow in the very same
field
For at harvest time the Harvester will both of them
reveal.
By itself the soil produces grain in the rain and the
sun
And the ripened grain is reaped as soon as harvest time
comes.
The kingdom is like a mustard seed planted in the
ground
But becomes a towering tree whose immensity abounds.
Know that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast, Jesus
said
That is mixed in the flower but works through the
bread.
It is like a hidden treasure that a man found and
bought
By selling all he possessed; what great pleasure it
brought!
The kingdom is like a merchant a precious pearl having
found
Sells all that he has so that he might own that pearl
of renown.
Another time it’s represented as a great net cast into
the lake,
The bad fish are cast in the fire; the good the
fishermen take.
Every teacher of the law who is versed in kingdom
knowledge
Relishes the treasures of old and treats the new as
privileged.
One lost sheep is valued over that of the other
ninety-nine
Thus will the shepherd search until that one sheep he
finds.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the
flock
If today he is not your shepherd now is your time to
take stock.
A servant doing his master’s will sees himself as
unworthy
Recognizing all he has really done is what was only
his duty
Don’t be the unmerciful servant; for much he had been
forgiven
But could not forgive his fellow servant for the
little he had taken.
Who really is my neighbour? The expert in the law did
ask
Only to discover all to whom we can do good is the extent
of our task.
A friend in need is a friend in deed even at the
midnight hour,
One who boldly asks should be given what it is he truly
wants to borrow.
When invited to a wedding feast don’t sit in the place
of honour
That’s for the distinguished guest; the host will demand
you sit lower.
Real estate, a new wife and oxen were reasons why they
refused,
Invitees to a great banquet made excuse after excuse
after excuse.
Any man who sets out to build a house should carefully
count the cost
And salt is surely good for nothing if its saltiness
it has lost.
There is joy up in heaven over one lost sheep the
shepherd finds
Far more than the rejoicing over the other ninety and
nine.
Or consider that woman who from her rare collection
loses just one coin,
Think of the great celebration when to the ten that
coin is rejoined.
“Give me what
is mine,” demanded the heir and to a far country went
Only to return to “Father’s house” after he saw the
need to repent.
Accused of mismanagement the unjust steward was called
to give account
But was commended for his shrewdness after reducing
the loan amounts.
The rich man living sumptuously ignored the beggar at
his gate
But in hell requested Abraham, “Send Lazarus to help
relieve my state.”
Some workers agreed to their pay as they came on at
different stages
But the first ones became angry when the last received
the same wages.
Some consider it as nagging but it got the attention
of the judge,
The widow received her just demands when at first he
wouldn’t budge.
Two went up to the temple to pray: a Publican and a
Pharisee
The Pharisee did pray how good he was; the Publican
begged for mercy.
A king who retuned from afar put the faithful stewards
over his cities
But the servant who kept the investment was punished
most severely.
Two sons were commissioned; the first said no but
later changed his mind;
The second said yes but never did what it was that he
was assigned.
These tenants seized the owner’s servants; finally
they killed his son
But they were brought to a wretched end when all was
said and done.
A guest who attended the banquet but refused a wedding
garment
Was bound both hand and foot and then into outer
darkness sent.
The fig tree is a valuable lesson reminding that
summer is near
So the signs that point to the Lord’s coming tell that
he will soon appear.
Far better to be a faithful servant awake, alert and
watching
Than to be a wicked servant who when the Lord comes
finds him napping.
Or consider the ten virgins: five were wise and five
were foolish,
Five went in with the Bridegroom; the other five were
left with just a wish.
It’s like a man leaving his servants and going to
country far away
Then returning when they least expect it on that
unexpected day
Five talents gained five more; two talents became four
But the slothful wicked servant’s talent did not even
gain one more.
Goats on his left and sheep on his right when the Son
of Man shall come;
The goats to everlasting punishment; the sheep will
inherit God’s kingdom.
So end these forty-six parables instructive for you
and me
Once we keep them in our mind and take them seriously,
They all speak of God’s coming kingdom that Jesus came
to announce,
That day is fast approaching when all must give an
account.
Christ the great Judge will preside; the books will be
opened wide,
All and sundry will be present; not one of us will be
able to hide.
We will answer for the things we’ve done, be they righteous
or be they bad
And all who have rejected the Saviour for them that
day will be very sad.
Stewart Russell © 2016
