Jesus as a Teacher

Jesus’ Teaching Methods Overstatement – Mt. 5:29-30; Lk 14:26 Hyperbole Pun Proverb Riddle Paradox Parable

Overstatements – Exaggerations –“Unless you hate your father and mother …” Lk 14:26 –“if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Mt. 5:29-30 Hyperbole –“speck in your brother’s eye, but a log in your own.” Mt. 7:3-5 Pun –“straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel” Mt. 23:23-24 (qalma/gamla)

Parables were Jesus’ favorite form of teaching –A figure of speech in which there is an extended comparison –Types of parables Metaphor Proverb Story parable Example story Allegory

The most popular parables were the story parables –The rich man and Lazarus –The Lost Son (Prodigal Son) –Parable of the Samaritan Parables have primarily one main point –One should not try to interpret every detail of the story – focus on the main point

Jesus’ purposes in telling parables –To illustrate his message –To conceal from those “outside” (Mk. 4:10-12) –To disarm or silence his opponents (MK. 12:1- 11) Luke 15 –3 parables about the lost Sheep Coin Son

The overriding theme in the parables is the Kingdom of God –The basic concept of the phrase “Kingdom of God” is the extent of the influence of God in one’s life –Mark 4 & Mt 13 have several parables on the Kingdom