April 17, 2011 - “The Parables of Holy Week”

Led by John Weicher  

Matthew, Ch. 23-25

In the remaining three chapters before Good Friday, Jesus starts with a strong denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, blaming them for the bloodshed of the righteous starting with Abel and ending with Zachariah son of Barachiah.  He foretells the destruction of the temple, the persecution of the disciples, the coming of false messiahs, and finally the coming of the Son of Man.  He finishes with five parables, two of which are also in Mark and three in Luke (The Lesson of the Fig Tree and the Necessity for Watchfulness in both, the Parable of the Talents in Luke).   These parables appear to be intended for his disciples, while the parables in Ch. 21-22 are pointed responses to the Pharisees and Sadducees.