Parables are picture stories that use images that would easily be understood by those who heard the parable. Parables were a common teaching tool at the time of Jesus. So, when Jesus used parables, he was telling stories in a way that was familiar to his audience.
Jesus used parables to talk about the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. The parables that he told were meant to create an emotional response or describe a moral requirement that his followers would need to demonstrate to be part of God’s kingdom.
Week 1
“God lavishes abundant grace on everyone”
“Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out…to hire laborers for his vineyard.” This vineyard is a description or comparison to the kingdom of heaven. The workers hired first are the people who began following the Lord early in life, made sacrifices, and lived out their faith, all the time hoping their reward would be great. But what about the late comers, the people who worked the least? They are deserving of the grace, generosity, love, and mercy of the landowner, who I hope you have guessed by now is God. They are deserving, no matter what time they come to the vineyard (Jesus’ Kingdom).”