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Sermonette Outline: “Why Parables?”

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Title: 

“Why Parables”

Key Scripture:

Mark 4:33-34

SPS:

To explain what is meant by this passage.

Supporting Scriptures:

Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35

Introduction:

Mar 4:33-34 NKJV – “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear [it]. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.”

Why did Christ speak in parables?

Body

  1. Passages where He answered the question:
    1. Mat 13:34-35 NKJV – “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
    2. Mat 13:10-13, 15-17 NKJV– “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. … For the hearts of this people have grown dull. [Their] ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with [their] eyes and hear with [their] ears, Lest they should understand with [their] hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ “But blessed [are] your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; “for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous [men] desired to see what you see, and did not see [it], and to hear what you hear, and did not hear [it].”
  2. Explanation
    1. God’s plan, from the rebellion of Adam and Eve, is to allow mankind to go his own way, and to experience firsthand the result of his foolishness and pride.  This was not the time for the healing of the people of the earth as a whole. 
    2. As a witness, it was not Christ’s intent to challenge the masses with specific details”, forcing them into making a decision to believe or disbelieve.  For the masses, he was giving them a WITNESS of who and what He was.  We see a difference when He worked personally with individuals.  (Luke 9:57)

Conclusion

God has a purpose and a plan for mankind, with every human having the opportunity to understand and submit to His way. Speaking in parables served His purpose that this time.

Sermonette Outline: The Two Genealogies of Christ

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Title: “The Two Genealogies of Christ”     

SPS: To explain why there are two genealogies of Christ – one in Matthew and one in Luke.

Key Scripture: Matthew 1

Supporting Scriptures:

Jer.22:30, Luke 3:23, Num.27:1-7,36:6-7

Intro:

Have you ever wondered sometimes why the Bible mentions two genealogies of Christ – one in Matthew 1 and another in Luke 3?  The most confusing thing about them is that they are totally different!  Brethren, why are these two genealogies both in the Bible?  Did God goof up and let this error into the Bible?  Can we learn anything from them?  

  1. Matthew’s Genealogy
    • That of Joseph…
    • Legal purposes – Jews’ custom in keeping records to trace descent through the father.  He was writing to show the Jews that through Joseph, Christ was of the tribe of Judah and was “eligible” to be the Messiah.
    • Joseph’s lineage given to emphasize the fact that Christ had to be born of a virgin.  He could not be a literal son of Joseph even though a legal one:
    • Jeconiah (Jeconias, Coniah, Jehoiachin) was one of His ancestors.
    • Matt.1:11-12 Josiah begot Jeconiah
    • Jer.22:30 “Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper. Sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah.”
    • Jeconiah had children but God said that he would never more have a descendant to reign on the throne.  Therefore a child of Joseph would never be never be qualified to rule on the throne, (including Christ)
  2.  Luke’s Genealogy:
    • This is Mary’s.  Jewish custom – Mary’s genealogy was given under her husband’s name.
    • Luke 3:23 Joseph was “of Heli” = he was the son-in-law since his father was Jacob (Matt 1:16) “Jacob begot Joseph”
    • Mary’s blood lineage – no block to the throne of David (Her ancestor was David’s other son, Nathan – (Luke 3:31)  God had promised David that He would establish his throne forever – fulfilled that promise through making Nathan the ancestor of the promised King who would sit on David’s throne through eternity.
    • How could Mary transmit David’s royal inheritance?  All inheritances had to pass through the male descendants.
    • Num.27:1-7,36:6-7 When a daughter was the only heir, she could inherit her father’s possessions and rights if she married within her own tribe.  Apparently, Mary had no brothers.  Joseph became heir by marriage to Mary – and inherited the right to rule on David’s throne. – this right passed on to Christ.
  3. Summary:
    • Joseph’s genealogy shows Christ was a descendant of Jeconiah and thus could not sit on the throne through inheriting the right through Joseph.  It further proves the virgin birth: The curse on Jeconiah’s line would have passed on to Christ if He were Joseph’s real son, but He wasn’t — He was begotten by the Holy Spirit and was the Son of God.  But Christ was Mary’s son through Nathan and can inherit the throne legally because of her marriage to Joseph, whose genealogy shows he was of the tribe of Judah.

Sermonette Outline: David and the Shewbread

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Title: “David and the Shewbread”

Key Scripture: Matthew 12:3-4
SPS: To explain what is meant by this passage.

Supporting Scriptures:
1 Samuel 21:1-6, Leviticus 24:5-9, Numbers 28:9-10


Introduction:
Mat 12:3-4 NKJV – “But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he
and those who were with him: “how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not
lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?”

What does this mean? Was Christ validating David breaking the law of God?

Body

  1. Context
    a. Note that the parallel passages are in Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5
    b. Just preceding the passage in questions, Christ is challenged by the Pharisees. They
    criticized His disciples for plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath day, as they were passing through
    the fields, saying it was not lawful.
  2. Core issue: the appropriate way to keep the Sabbath
    a. Christ clearly was challenging the Pharisees understanding and application of the scriptures.
    They were taking Him to task – and He was showing their lacking of discernment.
  3. Follow the Scriptures
    a. 1 Samuel 21:1-6 – David and his men eating the shewbread of the priests
    b. What was the instruction concerning the showbread?
    c. Lev 24:6-9 – ““You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure [gold] table before
    the LORD. “And you shall put pure frankincense on [each] row, that it may be on the bread for a
    memorial, an offering made by fire to the LORD. “Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the
    LORD continually, [being taken] from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. “And it
    shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it [is] most holy to
    him from the offerings of the LORD made by fire, by a perpetual statute.”
  4. Explanation
    a. Ahimelech the priest obviously understood the purpose and procedure for the use of the
    showbread.
    b. When David asked for bread, Ahimelech exercised his appropriate decision- making authority to
    grant David and his men the permission to eat the bread.
    c. Important: Christ, the author of the Sabbath was using this as a good example of proper
    discretion and wisdom in exercising God’s law. This was not putting a stamp of approval on breaking the law! David was not breaking the law! He goes on to add one more layer representing another good example of applying wisdom and judgement to keeping the Sabbath, citing the priests’ vigorous requirements for the Sabbath sacrifices (Number 28:9-10).

Conclusion:
What we are reading in this section is a proper insight in the application of the law concerning
the Sabbath day. The Sabbath day is holy, and should be observed and kept holy. But the 39
Sabbath regulations of the Mishna that the Pharisees meticulously observed did not show wisdom,
judgement or discretion. The priests exercised their prerogative to provide nourishment to David
and his men, using the showbread normally reserved for them. The priests were required to butcher
and prepare animal sacrifices on the Sabbath. As Luke 13:15, and Luke 15-5 explain, animals must be
cared for on the Sabbath.


Far from being permission to ignore the Sabbath, Christ taught how to properly keep the Sabbath,
showing discretion, wisdom, and common sense.