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A4-2- English Devotional Materials 英文靈修資料
English Devotional Materials - 12 Parables
1-The Parable of The Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8)
Matthew 13:1-9
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Luke 8:4-8
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
This parable is about a sower of seeds. Some seeds fell on the path, and eaten up by birds. Some fell on rocky ground, and it spring up but withered away because of not enough soil. Some fell among thorns, and when got choked by the thorns and produce no grain. Then some fell on good soil and grow so vibrantly and produced lots of grain. Jesus explained that the seeds are like His teachings. When people hear them but do not understand, His teachings will be “eaten” by the evil ones. Some who hears the teaching gladly but because they don’t think too much about it, when troubles come, the teaching does not help them. Some hears the teaching but all day long, their hearts are filled with worries, so the teaching does not produce fruit in them. But the seed that fell on good soil are like those who hear Jesus’ teaching, they think about it, and when they don’t understand they ask until they understand, and even put the teaching into practice, then their lives produce a lot of good works.
Questions: Which one are you? Are you like the last one? Are you teachable? Are you willing to listen to Jesus’ teaching? Do you listen to it, and talk to God everyday regularly? Are you distracted by other things, e.g. your cell phone? iPad? Are you willing to be changed? Pray to God, and ask Him for help.
2-The Parable of the Seed Growing (Mark 4:26-29)
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Jesus said a man went out to scatter seed, then he watered the ground, and did so patiently every day. Little did he know that while he was doing that, the seeds which were buried in the soil began to sprout and grow, but because it all happened under the ground, he didn’t know how. But each day, he saw something coming up, slowly growing before his eyes. Then, one day he saw that there was full grain in the ears. Before he knew it, it was harvest time. Jesus wanted to teach that when we share the Gospel, although we don’t see it, the Gospel that is received will grow inside a person which isn’t visible, but one day we can see visible change in the person.
Here are somethings to think about: Have you heard and received the Gospel? Do you see any change in you? True Gospel will produce fruits, e.g. love, joy, peace, etc. If you don’t see any fruit in you, do you want to hear the true Gospel message?
3-The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-32)
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Jesus was telling people that His kingdom is like a grain of mustard seed which is the smallest seed of all seeds. When you sew it on the ground, it will grow up and become so large that even birds in the air can make nests in it. Jesus meant to say that the beginning of His kingdom is very small, but its outcome could be so unexpected.
Here are somethings to think about: Are you feeling tired of what little change or growth can be seen in you even though you’ve been a follower of Jesus for a while already? Would you ask Jesus to help you grow to what He had planned in you?
4-The Parable of the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl, the Net (Matthew 13:44-50)
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is so wonderful and precious that it’s like a man who found a treasure in a field, and he went to sell all he has in order to buy it. It’s also like a merchant who found a very beautiful pearls, and he also sold everything he has to buy it. It’s also like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered all kinds of fish, and the good ones will be kept, but the bad fish will be thrown back into the water. It will be like this at the end of age, when angels will separate those who are good from the evil, and those who are evil will be cast into hell.
Questions: Where would you like to be? In God’s kingdom or outside His kingdom? Why? Would you pray to God and ask Him to help you enter it?
5-The Parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Have you ever been in a very helpless situation, and there was no one around to help? In those moments, who would you think of? Your mom? Your dad? Your brother? Your sister? Your best friend? In this parable, Jesus tells of a similar experience of a man. This man was going to a place, but was robbed by some bad guys on his way. Not only did they take all his money and clothing, he was also badly beaten and left half-dead on the road. How he wished someone could see and help. Then, a priest saw him but walked away. Then, a Levite came by and walked away also. Finally, a Samaritan who was also busy but when he saw this injured guy, he thought, “Even though I don’t know this person, if I was him lying helpless on the road, what would I need most?” So, he went up to him, bound his wounds, and took him to an inn, paid the innkeeper to look after him, and promised to pay the rest on his way back.
Questions: How do you decide when to help/not help another person? If you see someone in need, would you walk away? Or would you put down what you’re busy doing and lend a helping hand because you’d want others to do the same for you too in similar situation?
6-The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-11)
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
When you are invited to a party, how do you pick where to sit? Why? Well, some people may pick where to sit for different reasons. One day, Jesus was invited to a wedding party. He saw some guests trying to pick seats which are closest to the bride and groom’s families because they think this makes them look important. Jesus said, “No, no, no. Don’t do that!” Why? Jesus said because someone more important than you may be invited to sit there.” Jesus said it’s better to pick a seat which seems unimportant, just in case someone more important isn’t there, the host may invite you to sit at the better seat. Then, you will not only avoid being embarrassed but really honored. Jesus meant to say that when you try to make yourself look good, you will very likely look bad, but if you don’t mind looking bad, you will most likely get really treated well. So, it’s better to be humble than prideful because in God’s time He may elevate you in front of others.
Question: So, next time when you’re invited to be guest, where would you choose to sit?
7-The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7)
Matthew 18:10-14
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Luke 15:1-7
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Have you ever owned something very special to you, or which you can’t buy or get again? What is it? A birthday gift from your mom or dad? Your cell phone? A very good friend? Imagine, what would you do if you lost it? Would you be happy to do without it just because you have other things that are just as special? Jesus told this parable about a shepherd who had 100 sheep but lost one. Guess what he did? He left the other 99 to look for the one which was lost. After he found it, he was so happy that he called all his neighbors together to celebrate. Jesus meant to say that those sheep represent us to Him. Jesus came from heaven to earth to save us. Even just one of us were lost, He is willing to still come die for you. Why? Because He loves us, and in His eyes, each one of us is special, unique, irreplaceable.
Here’s the thought: Do you know how much Jesus love you? How does that make you feel about yourself? Do you know how much Jesus love your neighbor? How does that make you feel about them?
8-The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Have you hurt someone (whether intentionally or unintentionally), e.g. your siblings or friend, and he or she is so mad? What would you like them to do? It’s not a good feeling to be mad at and you just want them to forgive you and move on. Jesus’ disciple Peter once asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who had sinned against him. He asked whether forgiving 7 times are enough. Jesus said, “No, 77 times!” Wow! That’s really difficult, Peter thought. So, Jesus told him a story to help Peter do it: A servant owed a king $10,000 but he couldn’t pay back. So, the king ordered him to sell all he had in order to pay back, but this servant asked for the king’s mercy and patience. So, out of pity, the king was very generous. He released him and forgave him the debt.
However, as this servant went out, he saw his friend who owed him $100. He urged his friend to pay him back. His friend asked for mercy, but this servant was so mad that he wanted to send his friend to prison. When the king heard about this, he was very upset with this servant and delivered him to prison until he paid all his debts. Jesus meant to tell Peter (and all of us) that we’re all sinners, and we will sometimes sin against each other. We should be quick to forgive, because God doesn’t count our sins against us, but forgives us because Jesus has taken the punishment that we should receive because of our sin.
Here are somethings to think about: Have you ever been hurt by someone and you are so mad at that person? Guess what Jesus want you to do? Yes, being hurt is painful, but how do you think Jesus want you to think and do?
9-The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
One day, Jesus’ follower Peter was wondering what his reward would be for leaving everything to follow Jesus. So, Jesus told him this parable. A master of house went out early in the morning (around 6am) to hire servants to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay $1 per day, so the servants agreed and went into the vineyard to work. At around 9am, he went out again, and said the same thing to hire another group of servants. At around 12noon, 3pm, and 5pm, he went out again and did the same. At the end of the working day (around 6pm), he called all the servants and pay them their wages. Everybody gets $1. Those who came the earliest thought they’d get more, but no, they got $1, like the rest. So, they were very unhappy and asked the master, “These guys came last and worked only for 1 hour, why did they get the same wage as we who came early in the morning?”
The master replied, “Didn’t we agree about the salary I’ll pay you when I first hired you? I’m the master, don’t I have freedom to pay how much to each person? Are you jealous because I’m generous?” Then, Jesus said, “The last will be first, and the first last.” So, those who may think they’re acceptable to God because they’re sacrificed so much for Him may be surprised that someone else whom they think hasn’t sacrificed as much as they do are just as acceptable by God. This is because our acceptance by God depends entirely on God’s discretion, not on what we have done.
Here are somethings to think about: Do you think God accept you because of what you’ve done for Him? Pray to God and ask Him to help you know Him.
10-The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
A man had 2 sons. He asked his first son to go and work in the vineyard, but he refused. But later, he changed his mind and went. This man went to the other son and said the same. This son said yes, but end up didn’t go. Which one is truly obedient to the father? Yes, the first. Jesus told this parable because there were some sinners who had disobeyed God’s law but they later felt so sorry and turned to God. But there were some people who tried to do all the things that look godly, e.g. going to temple, etc., while their hearts were not really sorry for their sins. So, which one is acceptable to God?
Here are somethings to think about: Are you truly sorry for your sin and want to change? Or are you just pretending you have not sinned and trying to be good on the outside? Are you willing to change? Pray and ask Jesus to help you be like the first son – be truly sorry for your sins and turn to Him for forgiveness.
11-The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
There were 10 bride maids who were waiting to meet the bridegroom. 5 were foolish, and 5 were wise. The wise ones prepared their lamps and oil, while the foolish ones prepared their lamps but no oil. As they waited, they fell asleep. When the bridegroom arrived, they all woke up and fumbled to meet him. But the 5 foolish bride maids asked the wise ones for oil. But the wise ones said they didn’t have enough to share. So the foolish ones went to fetch oil, but when they returned, the wedding feast had already started, and they were shut out of it. Jesus told this parable to warn us to be watchful for we don’t know when He will return.
Here are somethings to think about: What do you think we need to prepare for the return of Jesus? Are you prepared?
12-The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So, you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
A man was going away and he has 3 servants. According to their abilities, he gave 5 talents to the first, 2 to the second, and 1 to the last. He expects them to put these into good use and report to him when he returns from a journey. The first servant invested his 5 talents and gained 5 more. The second also invested and gained 2 more. The last however, hide his master’s money in the ground. When the master returned, all 3 servants came to report what they did with the money. The master praised the first 2 servants for what they did, and promised that he will give them more money to invest. But the third servant said he was afraid of the master, so he hid the money and didn’t do anything about it. The master was upset and said he should at least put the money in a bank to earn some interest. So, he took his money and gave them to the first servant. Jesus said more will be given to the one who is faithful.
Here are somethings to think about: What have God given you, e.g. gift, skills or money? What do you think God want you to do with them? Have you been developing them or are you sitting on it? Ask God to help you discover what He’s given you and develop it for you will have to account to Him one day.