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RETURN TO THE SYLLABUS

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #62
THE PARABLE OF THE TOWER BUILDER (LUK 14:28-30)
THE PARABLE OF THE KING GOING TO WAR (LUK 14:31-33)

• MEMORY VERSE: LUK 14:33

• THE TWO PARABLES IN THIS LESSON OCCUR TOGETHER IN SCRIPTURE AND ARE, THEREFORE, RELATED.

• READ LUK 14:23-35 FOR THE CONTEXT OF THE TWO PARABLES
• JESUS SPOKE THESE TWO PARABLES TO A LARGE MIXED AUDIENCE OF BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS.
• THE NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP: AN EXPLANATION OF VERSES 26 AND 27:
• THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE, “…HATE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER…” (27):
• JESUS USED HYPERBOLE TO EMPHASIZE A POINT. WHAT IS HYPERBOLE?
• HYPERBOLE IS EXAGGERATED SPEECH..
• IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE TO HATE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. HE IS EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING RIGHT PRIORITIES. BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, WE MUST LOVE THE LORD THAT MUCH AND MORE.
• WE ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT JESUS COMES FIRST IN OUR ALLEGIANCE AND LOVE.
• THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE, “…BEAR HIS CROSS…” (27):
• THIS PHRASE IS OFTEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT WHEN A CHRISTIAN SAYS THAT HE MUST BEAR HIS CROSS IN REFERENCE TO SOME ILLNESS OR UNPLEASANT SITUATION IN HIS LIFE.
• JESUS ACTUALLY MEANS THAT THE CHRISTIAN MUST PUT TO DEATH HIS SELF-WILL OR HIS FLESHLY DESIRES.
• READ GAL 2:20
• THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE, “…COME AFTER ME…” (27):
• JESUS USES THIS PHRASE TO REFER TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BECOME DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.
• INHERENT IN THE MEANING IS THE IDEA OF MATURING INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST THAT COMES FROM A CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, WHERE THE DISCIPLE WALKS WITH THE LORD ON A DAILY BASIS.
• BECAUSE JESUS IS EMPHASIZING THE NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP, HE MENTIONS DISCIPLESHIP THREE TIMES IN VERSES 26, 27, AND 33.
• THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF THE WORD, DISCIPLE:
• A DISCIPLE IS A LEARNER AND AN IMITATOR WHO ENDEAVORS TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A TEACHER BY OBEDIENTLY LIVING IN THE TEACHER’S WORD (JOH 8:31), AND BY SUBJECTING HIMSELF TO DISCIPLINE.

• THE PARABLE OF THE TOWER BUILDER (LUK 14:28-30)
• BACKGROUND:
• PILATE HAD BEGUN A BUILDING PROGRAM ON A TOWER. HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FINISH THE TOWER BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FUNDS. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET SOME NEEDED FUNDS FROM THE TEMPLE TREASURY. THEREFORE, THE BUILDING WAS ABANDONED HALF FINISHED.
• WHO DOES THE PERSON REPRESENT THAT IS GOING TO BUILD A TOWER?
• THE PERSON REPRESENTS THE PROSPECTIVE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST.
• WHAT DOES THE TOWER REPRESENT?
• THE TOWER REPRESENTS THE CHRISTIAN WALK.
• IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROSPECTIVE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST IS CONTEMPLATING BUILDING A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
• DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS ONE MUST CONSIDER BEFORE BUILDING A LITERAL TOWER OR BUILDING?

• BEFORE BEGINNING TO BUILD ANY BUILDING, YOU MUST FIRST HAVE A GOOD REASON TO BUILD, A DESIRE TO BUILD, AND A DETERMINATION TO BUILD.
• THE WISE BUILDER MUST HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL PLAN.
• THE WISE BUILDER MUST HAVE GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL TO BUILD AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.
• THE WISE BUILDER MUST HAVE A BUILDING CONTRACT AND SUB-CONTRACTS.
• THE WISE BUILDER MUST HAVE ADEQUATE BUILDING MATERIALS.
• THE WISE BUILDER MUST HAVE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE JOB.

• DISCUSSION: WHAT DO YOU THINK A PERSON MUST CONSIDER BEFORE HE DECIDES TO BUILD HIS CHRISTIAN LIFE ON CHRIST?

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE TOWER BUILDER?
• THIS PARABLE IS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION WORK. THE BELIEVER IS TO BUILD HIS LIFE ON JESUS CHRIST, THE FOUNDATION STONE. BEFORE THE BELIEVER BEGINS TO BUILD HIS LIFE ON CHRIST, HE MUST CONSIDER THAT TO FOLLOW JESUS, THERE WILL BE A PERSONAL COST. HE MUST CONSIDER THE ULTIMATE VALUE OF A LIFE BUILT ON CHRIST AND EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT IS WORTH THE COST.

• THE PARABLE OF THE KING GOING TO WAR (LUK 14:31-33)
• WHO DOES THE KING REPRESENT?
• THE KING REPRESENTS THE PROSPECTIVE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST.
• WHO DOES THE ENEMY KING REPRESENT?
• OVBIOUSLY THE ENEMY KING REPRESENTS SATAN, OUR ADVERSARY.
• DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS ONE MUST CONSIDER BEFORE ENGAGING IN A LITERAL BATTLE?

• A LEADER OF AN ARMY MUST FIRST CONSIDER THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY.
• HE MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLE.
• IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IS THE TIME OF DAY AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
• MANY BATTLES HAVE BEEN LOST WHEN THE LOSING ARMY FACED THE BLINDING SUN.
• MANY FAMOUS BATTLES HAVE BEEN LOST WHEN THE INVADING ARMY WAS DEFEATED BY HEAVY SNOW OR BECAME BOGGED DOWN IN MUD.
• THE WISE COMMANDER WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF TROOPS IN HIS COMMAND AND THEIR LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS REGARDING PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND STAMINA.
• THE WISE COMMANDER WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF HIS PROVISIONS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
• IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMANDER TO CONSIDER THE ADEQUACY AND SOPHISTICATION OF HIS AVAILABLE WEAPONS.
• OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMANDER, WILL BE THE MORALE OF HIS TROOPS AS WELL AS THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.

• DISCUSSION: HOW DO THINK THE THINGS THAT A COMMANDER MUST CONSIDER BEFORE GOING TO WAR RELATE TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE OF THE KING GOING TO WAR?
• WHILE THE PREVIOUS PARABLE WAS ONE OF CONSTRUCTION, THIS PARABLE IS ONE OF DESTRUCTION. THE PROSPECTIVE BELIEVER MUST CONSIDER WHAT IS INVOLVED IN FIGHTING, AS WELL AS THE COST OF FIGHTING AGAINST A POWERFUL ENEMY, SATAN.
• READ EPH 6:12-18

• THE FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COUNT THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST RESULTS IN AN UNFINISHED LIFE.
• READ GAL 5:7
• READ 2COR 4:8-11
• SOME POSSIBLE COSTS OF FOLLOWING CHRIST:
• SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GIVE UP FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IF IT COMES TO FOLLOWING CHRIST OR PLEASING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
• JESUS CHRIST HAS EVERY RIGHT TO ASK US TO GIVE UP OUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. JESUS LEFT HIS OWN HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS HEAVENLY HOME TO COME TO THIS EARTH FOR US.
• SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GIVE UP OUR OWN PHYSICAL LIFE FOR HIM IN MARTYRDOM.
• JESUS CHRIST GAVE UP HIS PHYSICAL LIFE FOR US ON THE CROSS.
• SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GIVE UP PHYSICAL COMFORT IF GOVERNMENT OPPOSES CHRISTIAN BELIEF.
• JESUS CHRIST WAS PERSECUTED BY EARTHLY AUTHORITIES FOR US.
• USUALLY WE HAVE TO GIVE UP FRIENDS WHOSE VALUES AND ALLEGIANCES ARE CONTRARY TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH GOD IS LEADING US AS CHRISTIANS.
• JESUS CHRIST ENDURED BETRAYAL BY JUDAS, A CLOSE FRIEND.
• USUALLY WE HAVE TO ENDURE SOME KIND OF RIDICULE TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN PUBLIC.
• JESUS CHRIST WAS LAUGHED AT AND SPIT UPON PUBLICALLY.
• WE ALL HAVE TO GIVE UP OUR OWN WILL, OUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES, AND THE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES.
• JESUS CHRIST GAVE UP HIS WILL IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE WHEN HE PRAYED, “NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE.” (LUK 22:42)
• WE ALL HAVE A PERSONAL ENEMY, SATAN, AGAINST WHOM WE FIGHT A SPIRITUAL BATTLE. IN PRAYER WE FIGHT TEMPTATION AND DECEPTION AS SATAN SEEKS TO DESTROY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
• APPLICATION:
• TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, WE MUST CONTRUCT OUR LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST. IN BUILDING THIS LIFE IN CHRIST, WE MUST, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, DESTROY THE DECEPTIONS OF SATAN.

HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST POSSESSIONS (LUK 15:1-32)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE TOWER BUILDER (LUK 14:28-30) AND THE PARABLE OF THE KING GOING TO WAR (LUK 14:31-33)
• IN THINKING ABOUT YOUR OWN CHRISTIAN WALK, WHAT PERSONAL COSTS ARE YOU HAVING TO CONSIDER AT THE PRESENT TIME? (FOR EXAMPLE: FAMILY, FRIENDS, DESIRES, COMFORTS, ETC.) BE SPECIFIC.

• WRITE A FEW SENTENCES THAT WOULD CONVINCE ANOTHER PERSON WHY PAYING THESE COSTS IS WORTH IT COMPARED TO AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

• PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF THE LOST POSSESSIONS (LUK 15:1-32)
• THE ENTIRE CHAPTER OF LUK 15 IS ONE PARABLE HAVING 3 SEPARATE ILLUSTRATIONS: #1 THE SHEEP, #2 THE COIN, #3 THE SON.
• READ LUK 15:1-32
• WHY IS THE PARABLE GIVEN IN THREE ILLUSTRATIONS? (A HINT: WHAT DOES THE NUMBER 3 REPRESENT SIMBOLICALLY IN THE BIBLE?)

• TO WHOM IS THE PARABLE SPOKEN?
• WHO DOES THE MAN WITH THE 100 SHEEP REPRESENT?
• WHO DO THE 99 SHEEP REPRESENT?
• WHO DOES THE ONE LOST SHEEP REPRESENT?
• WHO DO THE REJOICING FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REPRESENT (6,9)?

• WHO DOES THE WOMAN REPRESENT (8)?
• WHAT DO THE 10 PIECES OF SILVER REPRESENT?
• WHAT DOES THE ONE LOST COIN REPRESENT?
• WHAT DOES THE LAMP (CANDLE, LIGHT) REPRESENT (8)?
• WHO DOES THE FATHER WITH 2 SONS REPRESENT (11)
• WHO DOES THE YOUNGER SON REPRESENT?
• WHAT DOES THE YOUNGER SON’S INHERITANCE REPRESENT (12)?

• WHAT DOES THE FAR COUNTRY REPRESENT? (13)
• WHO DOES THE “CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY” REPRESENT (15)?

• WHAT DO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS REPRESENT (22)?
• THE BEST ROBE:
• THE RING:
• THE SHOES:
• WHO DOES THE ELDER SON REPRESENT (25)?

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?

• MEMORY VERSE: LUK 19:10