Lesson #38

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #38
THE PARABLE OF THE MILLSTONE AND THE LOST SHEEP (MAT 18:1-14) AND
THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT (MAT 18:21-35)

• MEMORY VERSE: EPHESIANS 4:32

• THE PARABLE OF THE MILLSTONE AND THE LOST SHEEP (MAT 18:1-14)
• READ MAT 18:1-14 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THE PARABLE.
• TO WHOM DID JESUS SPEAK THE PARABLE?
• JESUS SPOKE THIS PARABLE TO HIS DISCIPLES. THEREFORE, THE MESSAGE IS FOR BELIEVERS.
• JESUS’ QUESTION:
• WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?
• JESUS’ ANSWER:
• YOU FIRST HAVE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM, THEN YOU MUST:
• =1= REPENT (3)
• THE WORD, REPENT, MEANS = TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING AND YOUR ACTIONS BY TURNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
• =2= BECOME AS CHILDREN (3)
• IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU BECOME “CHILDISH”, BUT THAT YOU BECOME “CHILDLIKE”.
• TO BECOME CHILDLIKE MEANS YOU BECOME:
• =1= TEACHABLE
• =2= TRUSTING
• =3= HUMBLE
• THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE BASED ON A RELATIONSHIP. ONCE YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, THEN HE CAN TEACH YOU.
• RECEIVING A CHILD IN CHRIST’S NAME (5-6)
• IT IS POSSIBLE JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE OF YOUNG AGE.
• IT IS POSSIBLE JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT NEW BELIEVERS.
• OR PROBABLY HE IS TALKING ABOUT BOTH.
• THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD CHILDREN TO SEE THAT THEY RECEIVE CORRECT TEACHING AND THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED.
• THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER ALSO HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD NEW BELIEVERS.
• WE ARE TO PRAY FOR THEM, ENCOURAGE THEM, HELP THEM, AND SEE THAT THEY RECEIVE CORRECT TEACHING.
• WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN BY, “HANGING A MILLSTONE AROUND ONE’S NECK”? (6)
• WHAT IS A MILLSTONE?
• A MILLSTONE IS A SET OF TWO HEAVY CIRCULAR STONES WITH A HOLE IN THE CENTER, BETWEEN WHICH GRAIN WAS PLACED. THE GRINDING OF THE TWO STONES TOGETHER PRODUCED FLOUR FROM THE GRAIN.
• THE BOTTOM MILLSTONE WAS THE LARGEST AND REMAINED STATIONERY. THE TOP MILLSTONE A LITTLE SMALLER AND ROTATED AGAINST THE BOTTOM STONE.
• MILLSTONES COME IN ALL SIZES AND WEIGHTS.
• SOME MILLSTONES ARE SO HEAVY THAT THEY CAN BE TURNED ONLY BY USING DONKEYS OR MANY SLAVES (LIKE SAMSON).
• THE ORDINARY PERSONAL HOUSEHOLD MILLSTONE IS FROM 18 INCHES TO 2 FEET ACROSS. IT COULD EASILY BE HUNG AROUND THE NECK OF A PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF DROWNING THAT PERSON.
• HOWEVER, THE MILLSTONE IN THE PARABLE SEEMS TO BE THE LARGER HEAVIER TYPE TURNED ONLY BY THE BRUTE FORCE OF ANIMALS.
• JESUS USES THIS TYPE OF LARGER MILLSTONE AS AN EXAGGERATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS MESSAGE.
• JESUS’ MESSAGE
• IT IS BETTER TO BE DEAD THAN TO DESPISE, REJECT, NEGLECT, ABUSE, OR DECEIVE A CHILD OR A NEW BELIEVER. WHY?
• THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOD TAKES SERIOUSLY, AND HE WILL JUDGE IT SERIOUSLY.
• WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN BY, “CUTTING OFF A HAND, A FOOT, OR AN EYE THAT OFFENDS”? (8-9)
• JESUS IS USING “HYPERBOLE”.
• HYPERBOLE IS AN EXAGERATED FORM OF SPEECH TO MAKE A POINT.
• IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HANG A SMALL MILLSTONE AROUND YOUR NECK, JESUS EXAGERATES THE MESSAGE BY REFERRING TO A MUCH LARGER MILLSTONE THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO HANG AROUND A PERSON’S NECK.
• JESUS DOES NOT MEAN A PERSON SHOULD LITERALLY CUT OFF HIS OWN HAND, FOOT, OR EYE, BUT USES THE SHOCK VALUE TO EXAGERATE AND CALL ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS MESSAGE.
• JESUS’ MESSAGE:
• JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY HAVE A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS WEAK IN THE FAITH. THEY MUST BE CAREFUL TO CAUSE NO OFFENSE.
• WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF OFFENSES:
• THE AMBITIOUS HAND OF RUDENESS NEEDS TO BE CUT OFF.
• THE AMBITIOUS COVETING EYE SHOULD BE PLUCKED OUT.
• THE FOOT OF AMBITIOUS ACTIONS MUST BE ELIMINATED.
• WHAT DO THE 99 SHEEP REPRESENT? (13)
• THE 99 SHEEP REPRESENT THOSE BELIEVERS THAT ARE SAFE AND MATURING. THEY ARE THE MAJORITY OF BELIEVERS.
• PREVIOUSLY WE DISCUSSED HOW JESUS REFERS TO BELIEVERS AS SHEEP. THEREFORE, WE WILL KEEP THE MEANING CONSISTENT.
• (LESSONS #14, 19, 20, AND 23)
• WHAT DOES THE 1 LOST SHEEP REPRESENT? (13)
• THE ONE LOST SHEEP REPRESENTS THE ONE BELIEVER WHO SEEMS TO BE FALLING AWAY FROM THE LORD. HE IS THE MINORITY.
• NOTICE THAT HE IS STILL CALLED A SHEEP, SO HE IS STILL A BELIEVER.
• CHRIST SOUGHT EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY AND CALLED US TO BE PART OF HIS KINGDOM. THEREFORE, WE MUST HAVE THIS SAME ATTITUDE OF CARING FOR EACH PERSON, BECAUSE EACH ONE IS IMPORTANT.
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE MILLSTONE AND THE LOST SHEEP?
• THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST, AND WE, AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TODAY, MUST BE HUMBLE IN OUR DEALINGS WITH OTHER BELIEVERS. WE MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CAUSING NO OFFENSE TO THOSE WHO ARE YOUNG OR WEAK PHYSICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY. WE MUST USE WISDOM AND COMPASSION TO CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING AWAY FROM THE LORD.

• THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT (MAT 18:21-35)
• READ MAT 18:15-35 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THE PARABLE.
• THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS PARABLE IS THE SAME AS THE LAST ONE…THE DISCIPLES.
• WHEN A WRONG OR AN OFFENSE IS COMMITTED, THE FIRST ACT MUST BE ONE OF PRIVACY.
• THIS IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY VIOLATED PRINCIPLE. WHY?
• IT IS ALWAYS EASIER TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE RATHER THAN TO DEAL WITH IT PERSONALLY FACE TO FACE.
• WHY IS PRIVACY SO IMPORTANT IN GOD’S EYES?
• =1= A PERSON’S REPUTATION IS PART OF HIS CHARACTER. IF YOU DAMAGE A PERSON’S REPUTATION, YOU HURT HIS SOUL OR HIS CHARACTER.
• =2= IF YOU EXPAND THE CIRCLE OF OFFENSE TO INCLUDE THOSE NOT ORGINALLY INVOLVED, YOU NOT ONLY DAMAGE ANOTHER PERSON’S REPUTATION, BUT YOU ALLOW SATAN TO GET A FOOTHOLD IN THE SITUATION.
• READ PRO 26:17
• PROPER BROTHERLY CONFRONTATION:
• READ MAT 6:12-15 THE IDEAL
• WE MUST TRY TO KEEP PEACEFUL AND OPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
• THE PROBLEM:
• “IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE.” (MAT 18:15)
• THE WORD TRESPASS MEANS = TO MISS THE MARK OR TO FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS.
• THE PROCESS:
• STEP #1 – CONFRONT HIM FACE TO FACE.
• “TELL HIM HIS FAULT”.
• EXPOSE IT TO THE LIGHT OF HIS EYES ONLY AND TELL NO ONE ELSE.
• IF THERE IS NO CORRECTION, TAKE STEP 2.
• STEP #2 – TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
• TAKE SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS SEEN THE OFFENSE FOR HIMSELF FIRST HAND.
• THIS DOES NOT REFER TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT YOU TOLD ABOUT THE OFFENSE.
• IF THERE IS NO ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME OFFENSE ON A FIRSTHAND BASIS, YOU MUST NOT CONTINUE THE MATTER ANY FURTHER, EXCEPT IN PRAYER.
• YOU SEE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO PROVE THAT WE ARE RIGHT AND THAT THE OTHER PERSON IS WRONG. THAT IS HUMAN NATURE.
• HOWEVER, THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER’S ATTITUDE IS NOT TO PROVE HE IS RIGHT, BUT INSTEAD TO LIFT UP SPIRITUALLY HIS BROTHER EVEN IF IT MEANS YOU IN FACT HAVE SUFFERED A GRAVE OFFENSE.
• IF THERE IS STILL NO CORRECTION, FOLLOW STEP #3.
• STEP #3 – TAKE IT TO THE CHRUCH.
• THE TWO OR THREE WITNESSES MUST TAKE THE MATTER TO THE CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND LET THOSE IN AUTHORITY DECIDE HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.
• IF THERE IS STILL NO CORRECTION, YOU MUST DROP THE MATTER AND CONTINUE ONLY IN PRAYER.
• THE PURPOSE OF BROTHERLY CONFRONTATION:
• THE PURPOSE IS REDEMPTION, NOT JUSTICE—TO GAIN YOUR BROTHER. (MAT 18:15)
• IF YOUR BROTHER IS GUILTY, THE PROCESS IS TO CAUSE HIM TO BECOME AWARE OF HIS SIN AND TO REPENT.
• IF YOUR BROTHER IS NOT GUILTY, AND IT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, YOU WILL HAVE CORRECTED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT DAMAGING HIS REPUTATION.
• LOVE MEANS WE GIVE OUR BROTHER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. (1COR 13:5)
• LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED.
• LOVE DOES NOT THINK OF EVIL.
• THE RESULTS OF FORGIVENESS. (MAT 6:12-15, 18-19)
• THE RESULTS WILL BE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM FOR BOTH OF YOU.
• THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HINDERED BY AN UNFORGIVENESS IN THE HEART OF ONE PERSON.
• IN THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT, WHO DOES THE KING REPRESENT? (23)
• THE KING REPRESENTS GOD.
• WHO DO THE SERVANTS REPRESENT? (23)
• THE SERVANTS REPRESENT BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
• WHAT DOES THE DEBT OF THE SERVANTS REPRESENT?
• THE DEBT IS ANY SIN OR OFFENSE THAT WAS COMMITTED AND IS UNFORGIVEN.
• THE WORD, FORGIVE, ACTUALLY MEANS = TO GIVE AWAY (PARDON). IN OTHER WORDS IT MEANS TO ABSOLUTELY DISMISS IT FROM THOUGHT.
• READ HEB 10:17
• IT IS LIKE GOD WHO CONSIDERS OUR FORGIVEN SINS SO UNIMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTH THINKING ABOUT.
• IN THE PARABLE, THE DEBT OF SIN OF A SINFUL PERSON IS SO UNBELIEVABLE HIGH (10,000 TALENTS) THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER PAY IT.
• ACCORDING TO ROMAN CALUCLATION, THE 10,000 TALENTS OF SILVER AMOUNTS TO $3,000,000. IT REPRESENTS THE HUMAN ESTIMATION.
• ACCORDING TO JEWISH CALCULATION, 10,000 TALENTS OF SILVER AMOUNTS TO $10,000,000. IT REPRESENTS THE LEGAL ESTIMATION.
• ACCORDING TO GOD’S CALCULATION, 10,000 TALENTS OF GOLD AMOUNTS TO $150,000,000. IT REPRESENTS THE DIVINE ESTIMATION.
• WHO WAS THE ONE SERVANT CALLED, “A WICKED SERVANT”? (32)
• IN THE PARABLE, HE FAILED TO FORGIVE THE $12.00 DEBT (100 PENCE).
• GOD FORGAVE THE SERVANT OF HIS HIGH DEBT, BUT THE SERVANT DOES NOT FORGIVE HIS BROTHER OF HIS SMALL DEBT.
• WHAT DO THE “INQUISITORS (TORMENTORS)” REPRESENT? (34)
• THE INQUISITORS ARE SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.
• THE ANCIENT WAY OF DEALING WITH A DEBTOR WAS TO IMPRISON HIM AND TO SELL ALL HIS ASSETS. EVEN HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE SOLD INTO SLAVERY. (1KIN 4:1 NEH 5:8) UNTIL THE DEBT WAS PAID IN FULL, USUALLY BY A FAMILY MEMBER.
• IN OTHER WORDS, A LACK OF FORGIVENESS MEANS SPIRITUAL BONDAGE WHERE SATAN PREVENTS BLESSINGS TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE.
• THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.
• BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN SO MERCIFUL TO US BY FORGIVING US OF OUR INSURMOUNTABLE DEBT OF SIN, WE SHOULD QUICKLY FORGIVE OTHERS THEIR MEAGER OFFENSES BY COMPARISON.
• SUMMARY:
• IN VERSE 35, IT SAYS THAT THE LORD WILL DO TO US, LIKEWISE. HOW DOES THE LORD DO THIS TODAY?
• SPIRITUAL BONDAGE COMES FROM A ROOT OF BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A FORGIVING, FORBEARING HEART, YOU WILL FIND OTHEERS NOT FORGIVING YOU OF YOUR FAULTS.
• (HEB 12:15) A ROOT OF BITTERNESS.
• (MAT 6:14-15) A LOSS OF REWARD AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
• (1JOH 1:9-10) GOD EASILY FORGIVES US.
• APPLICATION:
• JESUS COMMENDS A CHILDLIKE SPIRIT AND A FORGIVING SPIRIT.
• THE MORE INNOCENT WE ARE IN THE WRONG DONE, THE MORE POWER WE HAVE TO HEAL THE PROBLEM, AND THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE FOR DOING SO.
• GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS UNLIMITED. OUR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS MUST BE LIKE HIS TOWARD US.

HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF A CAMEL AND A RICH MAN (MAT 19:16-26)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE MILLSTONE AND THE LOST SHEEP (MAT 18:1-14) AND THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT (MAT 18:21-35)
• IS THERE ANYONE IN YOUR PAST THAT YOU HAVE NEVER FORGIVEN. SPEND THIS WEEK IN PRAYER, PRAYING FOR THAT PERSON. IF GOD PROMPTS YOU TO GO TO THAT PERSON TO RIGHT THE SITUATION, GO. WRITE YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE.

• PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF THE CAMEL AND THE RICH MAN (MAT 19:16-26)
• READ MAT 19:16-30 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THE PARABLE.
• TO WHOM DOES JESUS SPEAK THE PARABLE?

• WHO DOES THE RICH MAN REPRESENT IN THE PARABLE? (23)

• WHAT DOES THE CAMEL THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE REPRESENT?

• WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THE DISCIPLES QUESTION, “WHO, THEN CAN BE SAVED?” (25)

• WHAT IS GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD WEALTH?

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?

• MEMORY VERSE: LUK 6:38