The Parables of Jesus

 

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’ For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:12-16 ESV).

 

Today I want to begin a series taking us through the parables of Jesus. There is no doubt they make up a crucial part of the Scripture. Jesus had the wisdom to simplify the profound spiritual truths he needed to share with His listeners in the form of relatable stories that are easy to understand. By definition, a parable is a tale about a simple, common subject to illustrate a more profound, valuable moral lesson. The source definition of the word “parable” means a placement side by side for comparison. It is interesting that Jesus’ use of this form of teaching also kept the truth from those who were not given the grace to understand them. This points us to the ultimate truth that God initiates our relationship with Him (cf. Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

Sometimes, the Gospel authors begin a parable with an analogy, such as "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1). Or Jesus may provide an example from everyday life to convey spiritual truth, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan to emphasize love and mercy, or the Parable of the Friend at Midnight to show persistence in prayer. In every parable Jesus utilizes the full story to produce the spiritual lesson. This marks the difference from a proverb, metaphor, simile, or figure of speech usually which centers on a word, phrase, or sentence.

 

Today, let me encourage you to pray for “ears to hear” in the days ahead. These stories are an essential part of our growth. Read the first parable we will consider tomorrow, “The Parable of the Lamp,” which is found in Matthew 5:14-16.