Bible Study
Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Not all scholars agree that Jesus’ teaching in this part of Matthew 25 should rightly be called a parable. For example, one prominent New Testament scholar, characteristic of those who think we should not call this a parable, argues: This is not really a parable. At most we have a parabolic saying about the separation of sheep…
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30 Teaching Outline)
As we approach our study of this parable, we must keep in mind that Jesus has been teaching about His second coming and that this provides the context for this parable as well as for the one that preceded it. Introduction: F. B. Meyer, a Baptist pastor and evangelist who lived from 1847-1929, had this prayer…
Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Today as we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus, I just want to remind you of an important principle when interpreting parables, which is that we should not over-interpret them. It is tempting for many scholars and pastors to start reading all kinds of allegorical meanings into parables such as the one…
Parable of the Two Servants (Matthew 24:45-51 Teaching Outline)
Jesus tells this parable in the context of His prophecies about His future return and the signs that will precede it. An important emphasis of this teaching is on the fact that we do not know when He will return. Indeed, He tells His disciples that this is one fact of which they can be…
Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14 Teaching Outline)
A couple of weeks ago we began to look at an exchange between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. There we saw that Jesus told them the first of three parables designed to challenge them and to expose their hypocrisy, the Parable of the Two Sons. Then, last week, we looked at the second…
Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-46 Teaching Outline)
Note: Last week we began to look at an exchange between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. There we saw that Jesus told them the first of three parables designed to challenge and expose their hypocrisy. This week we will examine the second of these parables, the Parable of the wicked Vinedressers. Introduction: Sometimes…
The Kingdom of God by Jeff Johnson Is Now Avaliable
The wait is finally over! Jeff Johnson’s new book, The Kingdom of God: A Baptist Expression of Covenant & Biblical Theology, is now available for order. Here is the description of the book at the website: Is there a central plot to the Bible? And if so, why is the Bible divided into two different…
Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32 Teaching Outline)
The Parable of the Two Sons is actually one of three parables in Matthew 21-22 that are addressed directly to the Jewish leaders who refused to believe in Jesus. We will examine the others – the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers and the Parable of the Wedding Feast – over the next two weeks. …
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16 Teaching Outline)
Scripture Reading: It is important to read all of Matthew 19:16-20:16 in order to get the whole context in our minds. This will be important to our understanding of Jesus’ teaching in the parable. Introduction: As I was studying this parable in preparation for teaching this passage, I came across this surprising assessment by Klyne Snodgrass…
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Vernon Grounds tells the following story of forgiveness: If somebody killed your child, could you ever forgive him? By God’s grace the raging desire for revenge might eventually die down within our hearts, but most of us would probably prefer never to see that person again nor to help him in any way. Yet…