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WSB STUDY · THE PARABLES · SEASON 1

Week 1 · The Trap That Only Catches Free Men

2 Samuel 12:1-7

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GOSPELS · 2 SAMUEL 12:1-7

KJV · WSB TEXT LAYER

2 SAMUEL 12:1-7

1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor mans lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5And Davids anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

MATTHEW 21:28-31

28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

MATTHEW 21:45

45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

LUKE 7:41-43

41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

2 SAMUEL 14:13-14

13And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. 14For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

LUKE 19:22

22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
LOOK

· Observation: what does it say? Mark, list, count.

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Nathan and the king ()

Q1factstream

David hears the story and reacts before he knows it is about him. What two things does he do in verses 5 and 6?

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Q2meaningstream

Nathan says "Thou art the man." Why did the story succeed where a direct accusation might have failed?

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Q3meaningwell

Read . The chief priests "perceived that he spake of them." What does this verse tell us about whether Jesus' parables were understood by his opponents?

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TEACHING & NOTES · THE TRAP THAT ONLY CATCHES FREE MEN

🔒 Unlocks when this week’s core questions carry your own answers first (0 of 4 written). Study before teaching, discussion before lecture: that order is the method.