Luke 15 could be called the “lost” chapter of the Bible. Tax

collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. However, the

Pharisees and scribes were saying, “This man receives sinners and

eats with them” (Luke 15:2, ESV). Jesus uses this time to teach

them about the lost and found.

“The kingdom of heaven is like” is found throughout Jesus’

parables. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a mustard seed,

leaven, a treasure hidden in a field, a merchant seeking beautiful

pearls, a dragnet, a king who wanted to settle accounts with his

servants, a landowner who hired laborers for his vineyard, a king

who arranged a marriage for his son, and a man who delivered his

good to his servants.

Opportunities are a set of circumstances that make it possible to

accomplish something. What are some of the opportunities that we

find in studying the parables found in God’s word? Are we taking

advantage of those opportunities in our daily lives?

The parables in the Bible were told by Jesus and others for a real purpose

and to real people. So what should I do?

I should want to know all that God has for me in His word. I want to know

what He has commanded. I want to know

Commands and warnings stand out boldly in scripture, declaring God’s will. Even

the historic record in scripture is a clear revelation. But why study the parables?

It would be a serious mistake to think of the parables that God inspired to be

unimportant and “just stories.” Here are some reasons why

The point of the parable is to open our hearts to understand and receive

His word. Everyone was given an opportunity to understand. And to those

who are interested, He had a lot more for them. “…to His own disciples he

explained everything” (Mark 4:34).

Marks tells us Jesus taught with many parables. He even says He never taught

without a parable. Jesus was the master teacher, and He always used parables. Why?

God created us, and He knows how our mind works.