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Matthew 18:10-14.
Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep to show that the THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT BANQUET
The shepherd leaves the 99 others and searches high and low table with Jesus said, “Blessed is the man who will eat at
for the lost sheep. the feast in the kingdom of God” (Verse 15). In reply,
he rejoices over it more than the 99 who did not go astray. In the parable, a man planned a large banquet (great
1. God’s pursuit: God actively seeks out lost sinners, just to contact each of the invited guests, telling them that all
as the shepherd searches for the lost sheep. was ready and the meal was about to start (verse 16-17).
2. Individual Value: Each person is valuable to God; no one One after another, the guests made excuses for not
is too far gone to be saved. coming. One had just bought a piece of land and said he
them out (verse 19). like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his
invite “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he
(verse 21). The servant had already brought in the down- did not say anything to them without using a parable.
determination that “not one of those who were invited will On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.
get a taste of my banquet” (verse 24). “Teacher, he asked, “what must I do to inherit, eternal life?”
THE PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read
with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to
mind’; and, ‘love your neighbor as yourself.” an inn and took care of him.
“You have answered correctly, “Jesus replied. “Do this and you The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the
will live.” innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said , ‘and when I return, I will
to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped The expert in the law replied, “ The one who had mercy on
him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half him.”
dead.
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
said, ‘This is what what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and can’t take our riches with us. Our true legacy lies in how
build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And we treat others and the impact we make on their lives.
I’ll say to myself, “ You have plenty of grain laid up for many 3. Caring for Other Matters: The parable emphasizes the
years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said importance of caring for others. It reminds us that our
those in need.
This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who
will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it
Jesus plainly states the intial lesson of the parable, that “life
around us.