Parables of Jesus Honor

Missionary & Community Activities

Requirements

1. Why is everyone who hears the words of Christ and practices them compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock?

   Answer: Mt 7:24-27: the rock is a firm foundation, it withstands storms. Practicing (not just hearing) the words of Christ creates a solid base in life. House = personal life. Rock = active obedience to Christ, a base that resists trials, temptations, and sufferings. Sand = hearing without applying (a superficial life). Storms = the inevitable adversities of life. — The final parable of the Sermon on the Mount. Principle: hearing + practicing = wisdom; only hearing = foolishness. Storms are certain for everyone. The difference is in the foundation. The rock in Matthew = Christ (Mt 16:18, 1 Cor 10:4). Practical application: it is not enough to know the Bible, one must live the teachings. Adventism: discipleship is the daily practice of the Word of God. A transformed life testifies to the believer's true faith.

2. Why, in the parable of the sower, is the message of the word of the kingdom compared to a sowing? What can be done to become the seed cast on good soil?

   Answer: Mt 13:1-23: the word is like a seed: small, but with the potential for life and fruit. To be 'good soil': a receptive heart, free of stones (opposition) and thorns (worldly affairs), prepared by the Spirit. Good soil receives, retains, hears, obeys, and bears fruit (30, 60, 100x). Care: study, prayer, a Christian context, perseverance. — The parable of the sower is fundamental. Seed = the word. Soil = the heart. Stones = temporary opposition. Thorns = material concerns. Good soil: receives deeply, perseveres, bears fruit. Application: study the Bible regularly, live what is learned, avoid distractions that stifle. Adventism: daily Bible study (Sabbath School lesson) creates good soil. Spiritual depth depends on continuous personal care.

3. Why was it not permitted to pull up the tares that were planted in the wheat field?

   Answer: The servants wanted to pull up the tares (a weed resembling wheat). The master said no, for in pulling up the tares they would also uproot the wheat (intertwined roots). Wait until the harvest: the time of the final judgment. Lesson: the separation between the righteous and the wicked is a divine prerogative, not a human one. The church lives with a mixture until the end, without judging prematurely. — Parable of the wheat and the tares. Tares = the children of the evil one. Wheat = the children of the kingdom. The master = Christ. The servants = angels. The harvest = the consummation of the ages. Lesson: patience, not hasty human judgment. The visible church mixes the true and the false. The angels will separate them at the end. Application: do not exclude prematurely, let God judge. Adventism: the absolute purity of the church only at the Second Coming.

4. What similarity is there between the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven?

   Answer: Mt 13:31-33: both show the growth of the kingdom of heaven. Mustard: a small seed becomes a great tree. Yeast: a little transforms the whole dough. Similarity: a small beginning (humanly insignificant), a hidden transforming power (internal), progressive and comprehensive expansion, a glorious and visible final result. The kingdom growing in reach and depth. — Two consecutive parables in the same chapter emphasize the same truth. Growth of the kingdom: external (mustard - reach) and internal (yeast - depth). A modest beginning: 12 apostles. Today: 2.5 billion Christians. Adventism: it began with a few in 1844, today 22 million. Gradual but real growth. Application: do not be discouraged by small beginnings; Christian witness has a multiplying effect.

5. Explain the following parables:
   • Parable of the hidden treasure;
   • Parable of the pearl;
   • Parable of the net;
   • Parable of the 10 virgins;
   • Parable of the talents.

   Answer: 1) Parable of the hidden treasure (Mt 13:44): a man finds a treasure hidden in a field and, full of joy, sells everything he has to buy that field. It teaches that the kingdom of heaven has incomparable value and is worth giving up everything to attain. 2) Parable of the pearl (Mt 13:45-46): a merchant looks for fine pearls and, upon finding one of great value, sells all he has to buy it. It shows that the kingdom of God deserves the total dedication and surrender of those who seek it wholeheartedly. 3) Parable of the net (Mt 13:47-50): the net cast into the sea gathers fish of every kind; afterward the fishermen separate the good from the bad. It represents the church that gathers all kinds of people, and the final judgment, when God will separate the righteous from the wicked. 4) Parable of the 10 virgins (Mt 25:1-13): ten virgins go out with lamps to wait for the bridegroom; five wise ones bring extra oil and five foolish ones do not. The wise ones enter the wedding feast; the foolish ones are left out. It teaches the need to always be prepared and watchful for the return of Jesus, for we do not know the day or the hour. 5) Parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30): a master distributes talents to his servants according to each one's ability; those who traded and multiplied them are rewarded, and the one who hid his is reproved. It teaches that we should use and multiply the gifts and opportunities God gives us, with faithfulness and responsibility. — Parables: stories with spiritual lessons. Christ used them to teach heavenly truths in earthly terms. Treasure/pearl: the value of the kingdom. Net: the heterogeneous church. Samaritan: the practice of love. Prodigal son: the unconditional love of the Father. Others: the lost sheep (persistent searching), the unforgiving creditor (forgiveness), the virgins (preparation). Adventism: study the parables in 'Christ's Object Lessons' (Ellen White).

6. Why do the disciples consider the words spoken by Christ written in Matthew 15:11 to be a parable? What does this verse mean?

   Answer: In Matthew 15:11 Jesus says that it is not what enters through the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of it. The disciples understood it as a parable (Mt 15:15) because it is a figurative comparison: Jesus was not dealing with hygiene or food, but used the image of eating — in the context of eating with unwashed hands (Mt 15:2,20) — to teach a spiritual truth. The meaning is that true impurity does not come from outside (rituals), but from the heart: it is evil thoughts, words, and attitudes that defile the person before God. — Jesus shifts religion from the exterior (ritual) to the interior (the heart), showing that true holiness begins within.

7. What is the key point of the parable of the unmerciful servant?

   Answer: The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35) teaches that we must forgive others just as God forgave us. The servant who was forgiven an enormous debt by the king refused to forgive a small debt owed by a fellow servant, and for this he was condemned. The key point is that whoever receives God's immense forgiveness must, out of gratitude, forgive their neighbor from the heart — otherwise, they close for themselves the door of divine forgiveness. — The forgiveness we receive from God is incomparably greater than any offense we suffer; withholding forgiveness contradicts the grace we have received.

8. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, what does it mean that all the workers received the same wage, even though some worked longer than others?

   Answer: In the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), the equal payment to all — both to those who worked the whole day and to those who came in at the last hour — represents that salvation is a gift of God's grace, and not a reward proportional to merit or length of service. God grants eternal life out of kindness to all who respond to His call, at any stage of life. The parable warns against the envy and presumption of those who think they deserve more than others. — Salvation is not bought with time or effort; it is grace. That is why 'the last will be first' — no one can complain about God's generosity.

9. Explain the parable of the two sons. How can we apply it to our days?

   Answer: In the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the father asks both to work in the vineyard: the first says 'I will not', but repents and goes; the second says 'yes, sir', and does not go. Jesus teaches that real obedience is what counts, and not an empty promise — that is why repentant tax collectors and sinners entered the Kingdom before the religious people who claimed to serve God but did not believe. Application today: it is not enough to say that we are Christians or to promise to obey; one must, in fact, do the will of God, with repentance and action. — God values sincere obedience and repentance that translates into actions more than religious words without practice.

10. In the parable of the wicked husbandmen, who does the son of the owner of the vineyard represent?

    Answer: In the parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33-41), the son of the vineyard owner represents Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sent last, after the servants (the prophets). The tenants who killed him represent the leaders of Israel who rejected and crucified Jesus; the vineyard is the people/Kingdom of God, which would be handed over to others who would bear fruit. — The parable prophetically announces the rejection and death of Christ by the leaders, and the extension of the Kingdom to all who bear fruit for God.

11. Explain the parable of the wedding feast. What does the man without a wedding garment represent?

    Answer: In the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14), a king invites many to his son's wedding; the first ones refuse, so the invitation is extended to all. The man without the wedding garment represents someone who accepts the invitation (is part of the church outwardly), but does not clothe himself with the required character — the 'wedding garment' is the righteousness of Christ, the transformation of the heart. He is thrown out because he wanted to enter on his own merits, without the covering of the righteousness of Christ. — It is not enough to accept the invitation; one must receive and put on the righteousness of Christ. 'Many are called, but few are chosen.'

12. What does the parable of the good servant and the evil one refer to?

    Answer: The parable of the faithful servant and the wicked servant (Matthew 24:45-51) refers to watchfulness and faithfulness while awaiting the return of Jesus. The good servant takes care of the house and his fellow servants while the master is away and is rewarded upon his return; the wicked servant says 'my master is delayed', begins to mistreat the others and to live badly — and is taken by surprise and punished at the master's unexpected return. It teaches us to live with responsibility and faithfulness, always ready for the second coming of Christ. — The apparent delay of Jesus' return tests one's character: the true disciple remains faithful and serves others, living as one who expects the Lord at any moment.

13. Act out a parable of Jesus of your choice.