05 Questions

The Parables of Jesus
Lesson 5:

A Collection of Parables

Last revised: 6/22/00

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1. What is the historical setting of this episode in the life of Jesus? Use Chronological Listing of Life of Christ for general identification. Do the Synoptic Gospels place this episode in the same setting? If not, identify each setting. Use outlines of Matthew, Mark, and Luke to identify each, along with historical setting identifications within each text. Use diagrams for the latter.

2. What is the literary setting of this episode in each of the Synoptic Gospel accounts? Use outlines of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Mark:

Matthew:

Luke:

3. Identify the statements in the block diagrams which contain the following parables.
Parable: Mark: Matthew: Luke:

Lamp and Bushel:

(Measure for Measure):

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mustard Seed:

Leaven:

4. Identify the historical background of each parable in the daily life of first century Palestine. Also identify any possible background use of an identical or similar parabolic metaphor in Jewish life both within and outside of the Old Testament.

Lamp and Bushel:

(Measure for Measure):

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mustard Seed:

Leaven:

5. Identify the tertium comparitionis of each parable.

Lamp and Bushel:

Mark:

Matthew:

Luke:

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mark:

Mustard Seed:

Mark:

Matthew:

Luke:

Leaven:

Matthew:

Luke:

6. Identify the possible Sitz im Leben Kirche for each Synoptic Gospel account, by carefully analyzing the similarities and differences of each Gospel account. Use the block and semantic diagrams and analysis.

Lamp and Bushel:

Mark:

Matthew:

Luke:

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mark:

Mustard Seed:

Mark:

Matthew:

Luke:

Leaven:

Matthew:

Luke:

7. Identify which of the three types of parables each one best fits.

Lamp and Bushel:

(Measure for Measure):

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mustard Seed:

Leaven:

8. Identify which grouping of the parables each one best fits.

Lamp and Bushel:

(Measure for Measure):

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mustard Seed:

Leaven:

9. What insights does each parable provide concerning the Kingdom of God?

Lamp and Bushel:

(Measure for Measure):

Seed Growing Secretly:

Mustard Seed:

Leaven:

10. Suggest some possible preaching and teaching needs addressed by this parable.