Lesson#13

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #13
THE PARABLE OF STONES AND SERPENTS (MAT 7:7-12)
THE PARABLE OF TWO GATES AND TWO WAYS (MAT 7:13-14)

• MEMORY VERSE: MAT 7:7

• READ MAT 7:1-27 FOR BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT.
• REMEMBER THAT THESE PARABLES ARE STILL PART OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT SPOKEN TO HIS DISCIPLES. THEY ARE, THEREFORE, ABOUT HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
• IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OR PRINCIPLES IN THESE BACKGROUND VERSES:
• =1= IF YOU CONDEMN OTHERS, YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY THE SAME MEASURE (7:1)
• =2= IT IS EASIER TO SEE THE FAULTS OF OTHERS THAN IT IS TO SEE OUR OWN FAULTS (7:3)
• =3= IT IS NATURAL TO WANT TO CORRECT OTHERS BEFORE CORRECTING OURSELVES (7:5)
• =4= WE ARE TO BE DISCERNING OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EVIL AND GOOD IN OTHERS. (7:6)
• =5= TO BE DISCERNING, WE MUST CONTINUALLY SEEK THE THINGS OF GOD. (7:7)
• =6= GOD IS EXTREMELY WILLING TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS BECAUSE HE LOVES US. (7:7)
• =7= GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE US WHAT IS BEST BECAUSE HE LOVES US (7:9-11)
• =8= BECAUSE GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO GIVE US ALL WE NEED, WE CAN GIVE TO OTHERS OUT OF LOVE IN THE SAME WAY. (7:12)
• =9= THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO LIVE AND WE HAVE THE CHOICE. (7:13-14)
• =10= THERE IS A RIGHT AND A WRONG WAY TO LIVE. THE WRONG WAY LEADS TO DESTRUCTION. (13)
• =11= THE RIGHT WAY IS NOT OBVIOUSLY FOUND. (14)
• =12= THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND THE RIGHT WAY. (14)
• =13= THE RIGHT WAY IS NOT OBVIOUSLY FOUND BECAUSE THERE ARE DECEIVERS WHO LEAD PEOPLE ASTRAY. (15)
• =14= YOU WILL KNOW THE DECEIVERS BY HOW THEY LIVE. (16) (20)
• =15= THE FRUIT OF A DECEIVER’S LIFE WILL BE BAD. (17-19)
• =16= NOT EVERYONE WILL GET INTO HEAVEN (21) (23)
• =17= ONLY HE WHO IS OBEDIENT ENTERS INTO HEAVEN. (21)
• =18= IT IS NOT OBEDIENCE TO GOOD WORKS THAT GETS YOU INTO HEAVEN. (22)
• =19= A LIFESTYLE OF OBEDIENCE BUILT ON THE WORD OF GOD GETS YOU INTO HEAVEN. (24)
• =20= WHEN PROBLEMS COME IN THIS LIFE, IT IS A LIFESTYLE BUILT ON JESUS, THE ROCK, THAT WILL STAND STRONG (25)
• =21= THE LIFE NOT BUILT ON JESUS WILL FALL. (26-27)

• THE PARABLE OF STONES AND SERPENTS (MAT 7:7-12)
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE IN MAT 7:7-12?
• BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO LIVE, IN ORDER TO DISCERN GOOD FROM EVIL, WE MUST SEEK A GOD WHO IS ABUNDANTLY WILLING TO GIVE US WHAT IS BEST, SO WE CAN, IN TURN, HELP OTHERS.
• WHY IS THERE A TRIPLE REPETITION, ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK?
• THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH WORD, IN ENGLISH, IS “ASK”.
• PRAYER IS NECESSARY IF WE ARE TO JUDGE, ACT, AND LIVE RIGHTLY, AND ALWAYS CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH.
• THE THREE VERBS ARE PRESENT TENSE AND THEY INDICATE A CONTINUAL PROCESS.
• THIS IS A CHILD’S APPROACH TO A PARENT:
• YOUR OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR OWN EARTHLY FATHER WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOUR PRAYER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
• =1= THE CHILD ASKS IF HIS PARENT IS NEAR.
• =2= IF THE PARENT IS NOT VISIBLE, THE CHILD SEEKS THE PARENT AND THEN ASKS.
• =3= IF THE PARENT IS INACCESSIBLE, THE CHILD GETS RID OF ANY OBSTACLES IN ORDER TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE HE CAN ASK THE PARENT.
• THEREFORE, THIS PASSAGE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST PRAYER, BUT ABOUT A WHOLE LIFE STYLE.
• IS GOD EVER INACCESSIBLE?
• NO, WE ONLY THINK HE IS AT TIMES.
• WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT GOD IS INACCESSIBLE?
• IT IS SIN, LACK OF FAITH, OR FEAR.
• WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE, “STONE FOR BREAD”?
• BOTH A SMOOTH STONE AND A LOAF OF BREAD HAVE A SIMILAR SHAPE.
• THE WORD FOR “STONE” IN GREEK IS “lithos” AND THE WORD FOR “BREAD” IN GREEK IS “artos”. THE TWO WORDS HAVE A SIMILAR SOUND IN GREEK.
• WHAT IS THE MEANING OF A SERPENT FOR FISH?
• BOTH A SERPENT AND A FISH ARE A SIMILAR TYPE OF ANIMAL.
• THE GREEK WORD FOR “SERPENT” IS “ophis” AND THE GREEK WORD FOR “FISH” IS “ichthus”. THE TWO WORDS IN GREEK HAVE A SIMILAR SOUND.
• THE PROBLEM OF RESOLVING UNANSWERED PRAYER IN REGARDS TO VERSE 7:
• THESE ARE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES:
• GOD DOES NOT MAKE A MISTAKE.
• GOD GIVES US WHAT IS BEST FOR US EVEN IF WE WERE TO ASK FOR THE WRONG THING.
• PRAYER DEPENDS ON A GOOD PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIP.
• A GOOD PRAYER RELATIONSHIP DEPENDS ON KNOWING THE TRUE NATURE OF GOD.
• READ HEB 11:6
• READ JAM 1:2-8
• FOR THE BELIEVER, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNANSWERED PRAYER.
• THE KEY IS NOT JUST VERBAL ASKING IN PRAYER FOR WHAT YOU WANT. IT IS THRUST OF A PERSON’S WHOLE LIFESTYLE.
• READ JOS 1:7-9
• APPLICATION OF THIS PARABLE:
• WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
• WHAT IS THE FOCUS AND MOTIVATION OF YOUR LIFE?

• THE PARABLE OF TWO GATES AND TWO WAYS (MAT 7:13-14)
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE IN MAT 7:13-14?
• THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO BUILD YOUR LIFE. THE RIGHT WAY IS A LIFESTYLE BASED ON A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST WHO ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS AND ENABLES US TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. MOST PEOPLE TAKE THE OTHER WAY THAT IS THE WRONG WAY AND LEADS TO DESTRUCTION. HOWEVER, YOU MUST BE SURE YOU ARE NOT DECEIVED INTO GOING THE WRONG WAY BY DISCERNING THE NATURE OF THE LIFE OF THE DECEIVERS.
• NOTICE THE INTEGRATION OF ALL OF THESE PARABLES:
• A LOVE RELATIONSHIP, A CHOICE OF LIFESTYLES, AND DISCERNMENT.
• THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY GATE:
• THE CITY GATE WAS THE PLACE OF GOVERNMENT, JUDICIAL COURTS, AND MARKETS (POLITICAL, JUDICIAL, ECONOMICAL).
• EVERYTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED AT THE CITY GATE.
• THERE ARE TWO GATES AND TWO WAYS:
• PEOPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT HAD THE SAME CHOICE.
• READ DEU 30:14-18
• READ PSA 1
• WHAT IS THE NARROW GATE? WHAT IS THE NARROW WAY?
• THE NARROW GATE IS JESUS CHRIST AND ACCEPTANCE OF HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR. IT IS NARROW BUT WIDE ENOUGH TO LET YOU ENTER FREELY.
• READ JOH 10:7
• READ JOH 14:6-7
• THE NARROW WAY IS THE LIFE BUILT ON CHRIST ONCE YOU ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
• IT IS NARROW BECAUSE IT REQUIRES SELF SACRIFICE IN GIVING TO OTHERS.
• IT IS NARROW BECAUSE YOU ARE OFTEN TRAVELING ALONE THROUGH PERSECUTION SURROUNDED BY UNBELIEVERS.
• IT IS NARROW BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL BAGGAGE BEHIND TO GET THROUGH THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
• THAT IS THE MATURING PROCESS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. IF YOU ARE MATURING IN CHRIST, THE WAY SHOULD BE GETTING NARROWER AS YOU GO ALONG.
• WHAT IS THE WIDE GATE? WHAT IS THE BROAD WAY?
• THE WIDE GATE IS ALL WAYS OTHER THAN JESUS. THAT IS WHY IT IS WIDE BECAUSE IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING ELSE AND EVERY OTHER DOCTRINE, RELIGION, AND BELIEF.
• THE BROAD WAY IS SELF INDULGENCE.
• IT IS WIDE BECAUSE IT IS WELL TRODDEN BY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.
• IT IS WIDE BECAUSE ANYTHING IS TOLERATED.
• WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO WAYS AND THE TWO GATES?
• THE NARROW GATE HAS A NARROW WAY BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT LET YOU GET TOO BROAD IN YOUR LIFE STYLE.
• THE WIDE GATE HAS A BROAD WAY BECAUSE NOTHING IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO GIVE UP.
• WHY DO FEW FIND THE NARROW GATE?
• IT REQUIRES REPENTANCE, FAITH, AND SELF-SACRIFICE.
• THERE ARE TWO DESTINIES:
• THE NARROW WAY LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.
• THE BROAD WAY LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
• THE WORD, “DESTRUCTION” MEANS = WASTE, THE LOSS OF ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS TO LIFE; CONFINING IMPRISONMENT.
• APPLICATION OF THIS PARABLE:
• THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD CONSTANTLY EXAMINE WHICH ROAD HE IS ON, THE WIDE ONE OR THE NARROW ONE.

HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF SHEEP AND WOLVES (MAT 7:15)
THE PARABLE OF GOOD AND BAD FRUIT (MAT 7:16-20)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF STONES AND SERPENTS (MAT 7:7-12) AND THE PARABLE OF THE TWO GATES AND THE TWO WAYS (MAT 7:13-14)
• THINK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR OWN FATHER WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD. WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS THAT DESCRIBE THIS RELATIONSHIP.

• HOW HAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR EARTHLY FATHER INFLUENCED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER BOTH POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY?

• WHICH OF THE TWO GATES HAVE YOU CHOSEN? NOTICE THAT IF YOU HAVE NOT ACTIVELY CHOSEN THE NARROW GATE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE WIDE GATE BY DEFAULT.
• IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE NARROW GATE, HOW NARROW IS THE WAY IN WHICH YOU ARE LIVING?

• DOES THE LORD WANT YOU TO SACRIFICE SOME BAGGAGE THAT YOU ARE HOLDING?

• PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF SHEEP AND WOLVES (MAT 7:15) AND THE PARABLE OF GOOD AND BAD FRUIT (MAT 7:16-20)
• READ MAT 7:13-27 FOR BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
• REMEMBER THESE PARABLES ARE STILL PART OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT SPOKEN TO THE DISCIPLES ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
• THE PARABLE OF SHEEP AND WOLVES (MAT 7:15)
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THIS PARABLE?

• WHAT IS MEANT BY SHEEP’S CLOTHING?

• WHAT IS MEANT BY “FEROCIOUS WOLVES”?

• THE PARABLE OF GOOD AND BAD FRUIT (MAT 7:16-20)
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THIS PARABLE?

• WHAT IS MEANT BY GRAPES FROM THORNBUSHES AND FIGS FROM THISTLES?

• WHAT IS GOOD FRUIT AND A GOOD TREE?

• WHAT IS BAD FRUIT AND A BAD TREE?

• WHAT IS MEANT BY “THROWN INTO THE FIRE” (19)?

• MEMORY VERSE: MAT 7:15-16a