Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

This morning we are beginning a new series entitled “The Parables of Jesus”. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are 27 parables that Jesus spoke. The purpose of these parables was to illustrate the truth about the kingdom of God. The parables use comparison and figurative language to illustrate Kingdom realities.

Today’s message will be a step into the purpose of parables and gaining an understanding of how to contextualize and interpret scripture properly.
Jesus uses symbols from the realm of creation, and the realm of human relationships to illustrate kingdom truth and principles.

• From Creation: He uses things like seed, bread, wheat and tares, fish, fishermen, leaven, pearls, vineyards, sheep and shepherds.
• From Human relationships: He uses things like kings and kingdoms, fathers and sons, masters and servants, bride and bridegroom, weddings, virgins, friends, shepherds, and many others.

Each of these elements conveys kingdom truth when we understand the context of the examples. An example of this is understanding the relationship between sheep and shepherds.

• Knowing the characteristics of sheep will give a proper understanding of Jesus' use in applying it to people.
• Jesus reveals himself as a shepherd; knowing the characteristics of a shepherd and how he cares for his sheep will reveal kingdom truth of Jesus' care for people.

Gaining an understanding of the natural comparison between sheep and shepherd, or masters and servants brings clarity to the truth and kingdom reality that Jesus is conveying.

Basic Hermeneutics.
1. What- What is actually being said? Not reading between the lines to make it say what we want it to say.
2. Of Whom- Who is being talked about? Remember that the scriptural stories we read were written to a people in a specific time. There may be cultural references or customs from that time that have great significance on what is being shared.
3. To whom- Who is being spoken to? Who was Christ speaking the parables to? To His disciples? To the religious leaders? To the multitude? To an individual?
4. With what words- Consider why such terms are used by Jesus in His parabolic teaching.
5. At what time- When did Jesus speak His parables? At what period of His ministry?
6. Where- Where was the parable or message spoken? The location can have effect on the understanding.
7. To what intent- What was the purpose or reason behind the teaching? What were the circumstances under which the message or teaching given?
8. What was the preceding context leading into the parable or teaching? What was the succeeding context after the teaching or parable?

Three Keys:
Observation: What does the word actually say—not what you want it to say.

Interpretation: What does the scripture or parable mean—not what you want it to mean.

Application: How can the moral of the parable or story be applied to us in our generation? Observation is knowledge. Interpretation is understanding. Application is wisdom.

Observation precedes interpretation and proper contextual interpretation precedes application.

Understanding what was said, about whom it was said, when and where it was said, the intent, the cultural context, and what was said before and after the parable or story will help bring proper clarity to the scripture.

Our goal in studying the word should be to rightly divide the word of truth. Not adding to it or taking away from it. We do not want to pull out the parts we like while ignoring the rest. We must observe the total context of the message to interpret the scripture properly so that we can come to the correct application for our lives.

Studying the scripture is more than reading to find encouragement to get through the day. Proper study will reveal kingdom truth and principles that will completely shape every aspect of our lives.

Why did Jesus use parables?
1. It was a fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah 6:9 “And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’”
2. To reveal kingdom truth and precepts.

The nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament was consistently faltering between serving the Lord and serving other gods. This caused a hardness of heart that robbed them of being able to receive the kingdom of God.

During the time of the Prophet Isaiah’s ministry, there was great wickedness in the land of Judah, and Jerusalem. They were rebellious, sinful, evildoers, and corrupt. Isaiah prophesies to both the nation as it was then, but also of the future of the nation.

Isaiah's prophesies were spoken 700 years before Christ came. As you read the Gospels you will see that Judah and Jerusalem are still rebellious, sinful, evildoers, and corrupt. Their spiritual leaders desire the prominent places, and the best seats at parties. To be seen and praised by men.

They burdened the people with laws and customs while they themselves ignore following or keeping them. Their hearts were hardened to the truth. Their minds and patterns of thinking were contrary to the Kingdom of God. At the time of the birth of Christ as recorded in the Gospels, along with the written history of Jesus’s ministry we see that the condition of their hearts remained the same.

The first parable recorded in Matthew 13, Mark 4, & Luke 8 is the parable of the Sower. This parable deals directly with the condition of the heart. We don’t have enough time to dive fully into the parable today, but next week we will look at all three accounts together of this parable, and its full application to our lives.

To close my message today I want to direct our focus to Matthew’s gospel to see what has transpired in the ministry of Jesus that has led up to the Parable of the Sower.
1. Matthew 1. The genealogy and birth of the king. (His birthright to rule)

2. Matthew 2. The wise men’s visit and presentation to the king. (Rightful honor to be shown)

3. Matthew 3. The king’s forerunner and the King’s baptism. (Kings are always announced)

4. Matthew 4. The king’s temptation and calling of four disciples. (He was tested and found pure)

5. Matthew 5, 6, 7. The king’s sermon on the mount- the laws of His kingdom. (Establishing the domain of His rule)

6. Matthew 8,9. The power and demonstration of the king’s kingdom. (Exercising and demonstrating His authority)

7. Matthew 10. The king commissions the twelve apostles. (Designates people to represent him)

8. Matthew 11. The king’s commendation of His forerunner, John the Baptist. (Shows honor)

9. Matthew 12. The king’s rejection of the religious leaders. (Rejects and confronts a flawed system and its leaders)

Notice the word king used in all these depictions. It is imperative to remember that Jesus is the King. He is Emmanuel God with Us. He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is the author and creator of life. He is the beginning and the end.

When Jesus began to minister publicly His message was to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Matthew 4:17. What he was saying is that it was time to turn. The word Kingdom speaks of the King's Domain.

It is person, place, power, and culture. A kingdom has a king. He is the ruler and ultimate authority of the kingdom. He has a place. A king sits on a throne. From that throne, He rules and reigns. The king has power. The word that He speaks is final. The decrees He makes are filled with authority and shall be carried out exactly as He has said. The king has a culture in His kingdom. He determines what is acceptable in everything that is under his rule.

This is His domain. 53 times in 42 places the phrase Kingdom of God is used. 32 times in Matthew Kingdom of Heaven is used. These both are speaking of the same thing.

The essence of Jesus' ministry is to establish the rule of His reign on the earth. The purpose of His kingdom is to bring all things under His rightful rule. To regain what was lost through the fall of Adam in the Garden. Rebellion, sin, wickedness, and corruption were a result of the fall.

The parable of the Sower addresses the battleground of humanity. The heart of a man. Like Adam, many sit on the throne of their heart. They exercise their will, power, and culture. The message of the Gospel of the Kingdom is Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. This message places our rulership in the crosshairs. He requires us to repent and submit to his rule and reign.