Interpreting Jesus' Parables And Using Them To Understand Other Parts Of The Bible

Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Introduction:

In today's post we aim to introduce the reader to the parables of Jesus and some practical tips to studying and applying them.  Not only do Jesus' parables connect readers and listeners to important spiritual truths, but at times, Jesus' parables can shed light on harder-to-understand portions of the Bible. We will begin this post by first defining a parable, and then walk our way through various examples on how to interpret and apply the parables of Jesus by using one of His more well-known parables: "the parable of the soils"

1. What is a parable?

The most fundamental meaning of the term "parable" as to do with taking a known idea, principle, experience or story and placing it alongside a spiritual truth in order to shed light on that spiritual concept. The simple diagram below illustrates what is literally meant by the term "parable":

----------------------spiritual truth--------------------

____common experience, story, illustration__

The term "parable" comes from two Greek terms: "para" meaning "alongside" and "ballo" meaning "to throw, cast".  When combined together, the term describes someone like Jesus taking a known thing and "casting it up alongside" and otherwise unknown spiritual truth that needs illuminated to the listener. 

Some Bible teachers estimate that in upwards of 30% of Jesus' teaching was in the form of parables.1  We discover over 50 parables of all different forms told by Jesus in the pages of the four Gospels. By studying them we can glean important insights into areas such as salvation, practical everyday Christian life, the Kingdom, the supernatural realm, bringing glory to God and relating to other people.

2. How do we understand the parables?   

As we come to the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus gives us the key to understanding His parables. As a matter of fact the parallel passage in Mark 4:13 actually has Jesus saying: "And He said to them, 'Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?" We will first of all look at the simple method for interpreting Jesus' parables as gleaned from Matthew 13:1-23 and other passages.

a. Observe the setting of the parable.

In Jesus' parable of the Sower the setting features a sower or a farmer, seed and different types of soils.  Consulting a good Bible Dictionary or a good Study Bible with study notes can enable the reader to begin understanding the imagery of many of Jesus' parables. Resources such as J. Dwight Pentecost's "The Parables of Jesus" notes: Since wheat was a staple of the diet in Palestine, the procedure of raising wheat would had been very familiar to the Lord's hearers. In preparation for sowing the seed, the ground was cleared of all old growth. This caused the entire field to look the same. The sower had no idea of what roots or rocks lay beneath the surface soil."

Pentecost then compares this ancient method of farming to today:

"The soil was not plowed as is done today, but rather the seed was broadcast by the sower on the surface of the soil. The seed was then scratched into the soil with a primitive wooden plow. The sowing was done before the early rains that caused the seed to germinate. The sower waited through the growing period for the coming of the latter rains that brought the grain to full fruition and thus provided a bountiful harvest."2 

Such background information will ensure the reader that they are getting to the intended meaning meant by Jesus and a better understanding of what He is communicating.

b. Find the key point of the parable.

Parables by and large are designed to communicate one main idea, principle or truth, however there will be those parables that are composed of multiple parts, requiring each part to be interpreted.  Jesus' parable of the soils is told by Jesus in Matthew 13:1-9, with His own interpretation of it given in 13:18-23. Clearly there is more than one part to the parable, however there is at the same time one overall theme, namely the different patterns we see in how people hear and understand the Word of God (compare Matthew 6:23). 

Bible scholar Simon J. Kistemaker reminds us: Althought it is generally true that a parable teaches only one basic lesson, this rule should not be pressed too far. Some of Jesus' parables are complex in composition. Later he writes: Moreover, in Jesus' parables it is not the beginning of the story but the end that is important."3

c. Cross reference other scriptures to see how the parable connects you to other parts of the Bible.

Jesus' telling of this parable of the soils in Matthew 13 ought to be compared to His telling of it in Mark 4:3-8 and Luke 8:5-8. Such cross comparison can enable the reader to understand the nuances of Jesus' parables. 

Over time the parables can provide a window in which to see the broader unity of the Word of God. In seeing the bigger picture of God's truth, we can then come back to the parable itself and have an even better understanding.

Take for instance Paul's discussion in Romans 10:16-21 of how the majority of people hearing the Gospel end up not heeding it. There are certainly excuses typically raised by people for not believing the Gospel, which Paul dismisses due to all men being without excuse (see Romans 1:18-21; 10:18:21). Why is it that people so often either reject the gospel or seem to believe but then later on fall away? Jesus parable of the soils can aid in shedding further light on the interpretation of Romans 10:16-21. 

The first three soils in Jesus' parable refer mainly to hypocrites or "make-believers" that seem genuine but do not possess true saving faith. Only the fourth soil in Jesus' parable speaks of one who have "heard the word in an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15). The first three types of people in Jesus' parable and those in Paul's exposition are like those described in Hebrews 4:2 "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard." 

d. Live out the main point or teaching(s) of the parable

It is obvious that the reason why parables begin in the realm of the known and proceed to the unknown is to get the listener to bring spiritual truths to bear in everyday life. As James notes in James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." In studying the parables, the reader or listener or preacher is able to cloth spiritual and oftentimes abstract principles in the garments of everyday life. Ordinary life is where God would have us to live out extraordinary lives for His glory.

Endnotes:

1. Simon Kistemaker. The Parables - Understanding the Stories that Jesus Told. Baker. 2002. Page 10 

2. J. Dwight Pentecost.  The Parables of Jesus.  1982. Kregel. Page 46.

3. Simon Kistemaker. The Parables - Understanding the Stories that Jesus Told. Baker. 2002. Page 11

How will it all end? Looking once again at Jesus' parable of the tares

Matthew 13:24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Introduction:

Today's post features another look at Jesus' Parable of the Tares.  Scripture is certainly amazing in how one can study the same passage time and time again and come away with an insight they never saw before. In my library are hundreds of books. I have read many of those books, some old, some small. Each time I have read a given book, I think on it and then put it on my shelf.  Those books, though precious to me, are mostly one time reads. Their meaning can be exhausted and summarized. However the Bible is so different, so unique.  I have been studying God's book for over two decades and I can tell you that each time I go to it, I find something new.  It is inexhaustible. Its words are God's words. No other book - no matter how lofty in its language or strong in its argumentation can match the Bible. So it is with this Parable of the Tares. Previously I have written on this remarkable parable and so I will simply list the links to those posts for the reader's reference:

1. http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-main-point-of-jesus-parable-of.html


2. http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/06/jesus-parable-of-tares-presented-and.html



Some interesting traits to note about the Parable of the Tares
Out of the more than fifty parables that Jesus tells in the four Gospels, the "Parable of the Tares" is only found here in Matthew. As we noted in the last post on the parable of the tares, Jesus is giving us a view of the Kingdom from God's vantage point. In the closely related "parable of the Sower" in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus is giving the hearers a view of the Kingdom from a ground level human perspective. 






When we look specifically at the "Parable of the Tares", we find another interesting characteristic. In both Jesus telling of the parable in Matthew 13:24-30 and His explanation of it in 13:36-43, we find roughly seven verses of material featuring Jesus' teaching.  In each section, we have three main areas of focus: "The Sowers", "The Seed" and then "The Harvest". In the telling of the parable, Jesus devotes three verses (24,25,28) to the sowers, three verses to the two types of seed (26,27,29) and one verse to the harvest (30). Yet in Jesus' explanation of the parable in 13:36-43, we discover the opposite pattern: two verses for the sowers (37,39), one verse for the seed (38) and four and one-half verses dedicated to the harvest (39-43). Truly the end, the outcome, defines what goes on in the present age.  

The interpretation of the parable hinges on how everyone relates to the sowers.  
The two sowers
The whole Parable of the Tares centers around the sowers and the other details in how they relate to them.  It must be noted that though this parable is called "the parable of the tares", the "tares" and the "seed" are so defined by their relationship to the two sowers. The tares are those who by nature are "sons of disobedience". Paul writes for example in Ephesians 2:2 "in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." The unbelieving Pharisees are described by Jesus as having the Devil for their father in John 8:44. In contrast, the children of the Kingdom have been "born again" and have the new nature. (John 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3). 

Two sowers and two seeds
Clearly the seeds are so defined by their relationship to the sowers. Now even though their are two sowers, the two are not equal.  After all, "The Sower", the Son of Man, owns the field or the world.  Furthermore, the "Enemy" will be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age along with the tares. 

In seeing how the seeds relate to the sowers, then truly the harvest is determined by the prevailing of the Sower, Jesus Christ.  With wheat and tares growing together, and the Spirit of God regenerating some of those tares through His Sovereign work and the evangelistic influence of the wheat, the same Sovereignty that guarantees the final harvest of souls is the same Sovereign Lord who gives tares the opportunity to hear the Gospel.  He through the testimony of the wheat urges those tares to be converted to wheat before the end of the harvest. Commentator Herbert Lockyer notes: "This is why He has sown you where you live and labor. As one bought with a price and born of His Spirit, and a new creation in Him and an heir of eternal life, He expects you to bear fruit in the corner of the field of this world, in which He has sowed you."

The one Sower and one final harvest
With the tares and wheat's respective relationship to the sowers shown, we now turn lastly to how the harvest relates to the sowers. Matthew 13:39-43 gives us a very important point about which sower is running the harvest - The Son of Man.  Notice that once we cross the thresh-hold of Matthew 13:39, the age has ended and now all things are in the hands of the Son of Man.  The Son of Man "sends for His angels" in 13:41 to gather out of "His" Kingdom the tares so to speak.  The power and authority of judgment is in the Son's hands in 13:42. Then the final state of the "wheat" is guaranteed. Interestingly all those "wheat" that the Son planted made it and did not "deconvert" into tares. Most commentators have noted that God alone can convert a tare into wheat.  

Final thoughts
So as one can see, the entirety of the parable hangs generally upon the two sowers, and ultimately upon the One sower who owns the field - the Lord Jesus Christ. The question is: in what way are you related to Him? 

The main point of Jesus' parable of the tares in Matthew 13

Matthew 13:36 "Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”


Introduction:
A few days ago I had posted the parable of the tares in Matthew 13:24-30 along with Jesus' explanation of the parable in Matthew 13:36-43 at http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/06/jesus-parable-of-tares-presented-and.html.


The aim in that post was to simply present the parable and Jesus' explanation of it. Today's post aims to understand the main point of Jesus' parable of the tares.


The parable of the tares is concerned with the activity of two sowers
In referring back to Jesus' presentation of the parable of the tares (or weeds, as it has been also termed) in Matthew 13:24-30, the middle of the parable brings out what appears to be it's focal point in Matthew 13:26-28 "But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’


When Jesus finished telling this parable and the disciples came to him later on in private, what is the first thing they ask in Matthew 13:26 "Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” The fact the disciples are calling this parable by a specific name indicates they feel the seemingly unresolved tension presented by Jesus in the parable, namely, the presence of a second enemy sower doing his dirty work in the Sower's field. 


How the parable of the tares relates to the parable of the sower


There is no doubt that Jesus' parable of the tares has a relationship to the other parables in Matthew 13. Noting how the parables of the Sower and the Tares function together can aid greatly in understanding the latter's main point. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost notes: "Once again Christ built on the familiar figure of a sower sowing good seed in a field. Since this parable was built on the previous parables, the interpretation of the sower, the seed, and the field are the same here as Christ previously explained."1 


In the parable of the Sower and the Seed in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Jesus' focus there has to do with the typical responses we can expect to see to the Kingdom's message, the Gospel. Its as if Jesus in that parable is giving the listener a view of the field from ground level. In this parable of the tares (or weeds) in Matthew 13:24-30, 30-36, Jesus is giving us a birds-eye view of the same field. The time frame is also broadened in that with the parable of the sower, the process and details of each type of soil in between sowing and harvest is the focus.  In the parable of the tares, the broader picture of just the sowing the wheat and the tares is the focal point. In short, it appears that in the parable of the sower we are getting the view of God's redemptive work in this world from a human perspective, whereas in the parable of the tares we are seeing the same work from a Sovereign point of view that includes the counter sowing techniques of the enemy of our souls.


The Sovereign sower and Satan the evil sower
As we look specifically at Jesus' interpretation of His own parable in Matthew 13:36-43, we see descriptions of these two sowers of unequal power and totally different character.


He states in Matthew 13:37-38a "And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world." Now the question is: "Who owns the field, the world?" By right the Sower owns the field. Jesus states as much in his telling of this parable in Matthew 13:24b “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field." Jesus of course is the Sower. Clearly Jesus elsewhere is described as having all authority in heaven and on earth, having the capability of controlling outcomes and directing the course of history and human affairs, just like the Heavenly Father. (Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-18; Revelation 1:5-7).


So then who is the second evil sower in the parable - termed "the enemy" in Matthew 13:28? Jesus explains in Matthew 13:38b-39 "and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels." The devil of course is described as "Satan" or "The Adversary" who opposes Christ and His people in Revelation 12. The Devil blinds unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4) and has been given allowance by God to exercise temporary jurisdiction in this world as the "prince of the power of the air". (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:14) Satan's task aims to destroy and make useless the Son's field and to ruin the entire harvest by way of over sowing with "weed" or what Jesus describes as "sons of the evil one" in 13:38. 


Life-Application: Jesus' ultimately controls outcomes
As we draw today's post to a conclusion, the one question not answered in this parable is: "why didn't the first sower go after the second evil sower"?  With no doubt the problem of evil is present in this parable. Jesus' main point is to assert the fact that in the end, His will concerning the wheat, the sons of the Kingdom, will prevail despite the efforts of the evil enemy sower.


Endnotes:
1. J. Dwight Pentecost. The Parables of Jesus. Kregel. Page 50.  

Jesus Parables 101: Why did Jesus Tell Parables?

Matthew 13:10  "And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Introduction and Review

In yesterday's post we considered what a parable is and how to interpret them.  In today's post we want to consider why He told parables.

The question is asked and Jesus' answer

After telling the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:1-9, the disciples ask Jesus this question: “Why do You speak to them in parables?” In the answer Jesus gives in Matthew 13:10-17 we can glean four reasons why Jesus told parables:

1. Instruct true believers. 13:10-12

Jesus states in Matthew 13:10-12 "Jesus answered them,“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." Parables are amazing in that they give an arena in which Sovereignty can work to bring about a response and human responsibility can reject. Those to whom the message is intended (i.e the disciples and those whom Jesus is looking to reach) will get it.  They already have it in them to come to the truth.  For others, they are too busy, or distracted or some other excuse, resulting in them not "getting" what Jesus is teaching.  True believers will get the parables, and act on what Jesus is saying.  Notice now a second reason why He chose to tell parables....

2. To fulfill Prophecy. Matthew 13:13-15

Jesus saw Himself fulfilling the prophecy that He quotes in Isaiah 6:10. In Isaiah's prophecy God had given him a mission to preach to people in Israel.  Not everyone was going to believe and it was going to be a very hard ministry.  However the value of Isaiah's task did not lay in the response but rather in the One who sent Him.  Furthermore, God's Sovereign purposes included having a remnant known to Him in whom He would work. Though most would reject Isaiah's message of their own genuine choice, the message had an intended target. Jesus saw Himself fulfilling prophecy, indicating that as Messiah, He was to proclaim the Kingdom in parables. These same verses leads us to the third reason why Jesus told parables...

3. To sift out make-believers. Matthew 13:13-15

In Jesus' ministry, as well as the church today, there is always a mixture of true believers and make believers.  In the same 13th chapter of Matthew Jesus describes such a mixture as "wheat" (true believers, those who possess genuine faith) and make-believers (false believers or merely "professors of faith"). The remarkable reality of the parables was that a typical crowd could hear the same parable and yet give different responses.  Anyone who walked away from Jesus or who failed to take in what He was giving them was to blame.  Yet for those who did take in what Jesus was saying, God's work of Sovereign grace was to be credited.  Parables uniquely and remarkably preserve that tension we often times see in scripture between God's Sovereignty and human responsibility. Sifting out the "genuine" from the "phonies" was one of the purposes of the parables. Now notice the fourth reason Jesus told parables...

4. Harvest more true believers. Matthew 13:16-17

We read in Matthew 13:16-17 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."  Jesus undoubtedly was speaking mainly to his inner circle of disciples.  However for those who had been so affected by Jesus words, for those who had it in them to take what Jesus said to heart - He is essentially saying: Come! Follow Me! Notice three key words in Matthew 13:16-17 that describes for us a heart operating in true saving faith: "see"; "hear" and "desired". When anyone hears the words of God and they are affected by what they hear, no one will be able to drive them away.  The supernatural grace of God brings about a response.  That person is set free and they have it "in them" to take to heart and act out what Jesus is saying.  They not only hear and see but desire to hear and see more.  

Conclusion:

So why did Jesus tell parables? As we saw today, four reasons: 1). Instruct true believers 2). Fulfill prophecy 3). Sift out make-believers and 4). Harvest True Believers .

Jesus' parables 101: What are parables and how do you understand them

Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Introduction:

In today's post we aim to introduce the reader to the parables of Jesus and some practical tips to studying and applying them.  Below we will simply walk our way through today's post by asking a series of questions that will introduce the reader to this fascinating subject of the parables of Jesus.

1. What is a parable?

 The most fundamental meaning of the term "parable" as to do with taking a known idea, principle, experience or story and placing it alongside a spiritual truth or principle in order to shed light on that spiritual concept. The simple diagram below illustrates what is literally meant by the term "parable":

----------------------spiritual truth--------------------

____common experience, story, illustration__

Quite literally the term "parable" comes from two Greek terms: "para" meaning "alongside" and "ballo" meaning "to throw, cast".  When combined together, the term describes someone like Jesus taking a known thing and "casting it up alongside" and otherwise unknown spiritual truth that needs illuminated to the listener. 

Some Bible teachers estimate that in upwards of 30% of Jesus' teaching was in the form of parables.1  We discover over 50 parables of all different forms told by Jesus in the pages of the four Gospels. This tells us that in studying the parables, and understanding how Jesus unfolded truths to His listeners, we can gain insight into the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  By studying them we can glean important insights into areas such as salvation, practical everyday Christian life, the Kingdom, the supernatural realm, bringing glory to God and relating to other people.

2. How do we understand the parables?   

As we come to the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus gives us the key to understanding His parables.  As a matter of fact the parallel passage in Mark 4:13 actually has Jesus saying: "And He said to them, 'Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?" Now we are not going to focus on interpreting the parable of the soils exclusively in today's post, however Jesus indicates that the parable itself functions to unlock the answer to two major questions: how are we to understand them and why Jesus spoke in parables. We will first of all look at the simple method for interpreting Jesus' parables as gleaned from Matthew 13:1-23 and other passages.

a. Observe the setting of the parable.

In Jesus' parable of the Sower the setting features a sower or a farmer, seed and different types of soils.  Consulting a good Bible Dictionary or a good Study Bible with study notes can enable the reader to begin understanding the imagery of many of Jesus' parables. Resources such as J. Dwight Pentecost's "The Parables of Jesus" notes: Since wheat was a staple of the diet in Palestine, the procedure of raising wheat would had been very familiar to the Lord's hearers. In preparation for sowing the seed, the ground was cleared of all old growth. This caused the entire field to look the same. The sower had no idea of what roots or rocks lay beneath the surface soil. The soil was not plowed as is done today, but rather the seed was broadcast by the sower on the surface of the soil. The seed was then scratched into the soil with a primitive wooden plow. The sowing was done before the early rains that caused the seed to germinate. The sower waited through the growing period for the coming of the latter rains that brought the grain to full fruition and thus provided a bountiful harvest."2 Such background information will ensure the reader that they are getting to the intended meaning meant by Jesus and a better understanding of what He is communicating.

b. Find the key point of the parable.

Parables by and large are designed to communicate one main idea, principle or truth, however there will be those parables that are composed of multiple parts, requiring each part to be interpreted.  Jesus' parable of the soils is told by Jesus in Matthew 13:1-9, with His own interpretation of it given in 13:18-23. Clearly there is more than one part to the parable, however there is at the same time one overall theme, namely the different patterns we see in how people hear and understand the Word of God (compare Matthew 6:23). Bible scholar Simon J. Kistemaker reminds us: Althought it is generally true that a parable teaches only one basic lesson, this rule should not be pressed too far. Some of Jesus' parables are complex in composition. Later he writes: Moreover, in Jesus' parables it is not the beginning of the story but the end that is important."3

c. Cross reference of scriptures to see how the parable connects you to other parts of the Bible.

Jesus' telling of this parable of the soils in Matthew 13 ought to be compared to His telling of it in Mark 4:3-8 and Luke 8:5-8. Such cross comparison can enable the reader to understand the nuances of Jesus' parables. In the case of the parable of the soils, which is all about explaining how various people understand and hear God's Word, unlocking more difficult passages such as the warning sections of Hebrews 6 and 10 can aid the reader's understanding.  Over time the parables can provide a window in which to see the broader unity of the Word of God. In seeing the bigger picture of God's truth, we can then come back to the parable itself and have an even better understanding.

d. Live out the main point or teaching(s) of the parable

It is obvious that the reason why parables begin in the realm of the known and proceed to the unknown is to get the listener to bring spiritual truths to bear in everyday life. As James notes in James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."  In studying the parables, the reader or listener or preacher is able to cloth spiritual and oftentimes abstract principles in the garments of everyday life.  Ordinary life is where God would have us to live out extraordinary lives for His glory. 

Tomorrow we will consider why Jesus told parables.....

Endnotes:

1. Simon Kistemaker. The Parables - Understanding the Stories that Jesus Told. Baker. 2002. Page 10 

2. J. Dwight Pentecost.  The Parables of Jesus.  1982. Kregel. Page 46.

3. Simon Kistemaker. The Parables - Understanding the Stories that Jesus Told. Baker. 2002. Page 11

Keys to interpreting Jesus' parables

Matthew 13:1-3a "That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables....".

Introduction and Review
In yesterday's post we introduced the reader to the concept of parables in the Bible and concluded with focusing upon Jesus' parables in particular. We noted that in Jesus' parables, spiritual truths are "parabled" or "thrown alongside of" common everyday situations, people or scenarios.  In preaching situations for example, preachers will often employ illustrations for their listeners to grasp and picture whatever is being communicated.  Up to 1/3 of Jesus' teaching ministry involved the use of parables.  In today's post we intend to understand some ways in which we can properly understand the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1. To begin, late Bible scholar Bernard Ramm gave a set of principles for interpreting Jesus' parables that I think can prove helpful, as summed up below: 1

a. The perspective principle informs us that to adequately interpret the parables we need to understand them in relationship to the Person and work of Christ and the kingdom of God.

b. The cultural principle  tells us that when reading the parables, we need to see them in the context of the culture in which they were told.  

c. The exegetical principle (exegesis means = leading out the meaning for people's understanding) refers to identifying that one central truth, seeing how Jesus Himself interpreted the parable, looking for intepretive clues within the parable itself and comparing the parable to other similar ones.

d. The doctrinal principle simply refers to how parables can be used to illustrate doctrine, illumine Christian experience and teach doctrinal lessons.



2. Bible Scholar Roy B. Zuck gives a set of guidelines that readers can use when reading anyone of Jesus' parables:2



a. Note the story's natural meaning. That is to say, noting what the passage is saying in its normal, grammatical sense without reading things into the passage.



b. Determine the Problem, Question or Situation that prompted the parable. This has to do with why Jesus told the parables he told.  What situation or people led to the particular story, parable or narrative given by Jesus?



c. Ascertain the Main Truth being illustrated by the parable. Zuck notes that parables function oftentimes like sermons in revolving around one key idea or point.  There may very well be subpoints or details brought out for color and emphasis, but overall there is one anchoring thought. 



d. Validate the Main Truth of the Parable with Direct Teaching of Scripture. This takes into account the oft used adage that "scripture interprets scripture". Whatever topic or truth that is being empahsized by the parable, bringing in other passages of scripture that speak on that subject can yield richer and mor emeaningful intepretation and application. 



e. Note the Actual or Intended Response of the Hearers. How Jesus' hearers responded ought to give the reader or the preacher a hint as to whether or not they are on the right track.


Conclusion:
It is hoped that these last couple of posts have aided the reader in wanting to read and study more upon Jesus' parables.  In the future this blogger intends upon engaging in a study of Jesus' parables.  May these blogposts serve the wider Christian world to the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Endnotes:

1. Bernard Ramm. Protestant Biblical Intepretation. Pages 276-287. 

2. Roy B. Zuck. Nasic Bible Interpretation. Pages 211-218

What is a parable?

Matthew 13:1-3b "That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, soHe got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables....". 

Introduction:

Whenever we survey the 3 1/2 year ministry of Jesus Christ, we discover the following patterns that marked what he did:

1. Sermons

2. 1 on 1 conversations

3. Miracles

4. Various teaching and episodes of brief exhortation

5. Predictive prophecies

6. Object lessons

7. Parables

It is that last category that will be the focus of today's post as we consider the subject of parables. According to many Bible teachers, Jesus' parables comprised roughly 1/3 of His overall teaching and preaching ministry. In Matthew 13 we see what is perhaps one of his most well-known parables, the "parable of the soils". Certainly exploring Jesus' parables is a worthwhile study that can enable people to better understand who Jesus is, His aims and for preachers - how to communicate God's truth in fresh ways. But before going any further, the question must be asked: "what is a parable"?

Defining and identifying parables 

The word "parable" itself comes from a combination of two Greek words "para" (meaning alongside, as in "parallel") and "ballo" (to cast or throw).  Thus in a parable I am "throwing alongside" an ordinary object, situation or story a corresponding spiritual truth. That meaning at least covers the essence of parables in the New Testament, particularly as they relate to Jesus' teaching.  The reader must note though that parables make there appearance throughout the Old Testament centuries before Jesus came on the scene.  In the quote below, we see just how much detail and variety existed in the Old Testament concept of "parable".

The Old Testament is where we first find parables or parabolic type teachings 

Herbert Lockyer, the prolific commentator and Bible teacher of years past, writes concerning the meaning of parables in the Bible:

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for 'parable' is Mashal, meaning a proverb, similitude, parable. In a wide range of use this word 'covers' several forms of picturesque and suggestive speech - all those forms in which ideas are presented in the robes of imagery. As its applications are thus varied, it is variously translated in our English version. The root idea of 'Mashal' is 'to be like,' and often refers to 'the sentences constructed in parableism' so characteristic of Hebrew poetry. The word is never used in the naroow technical sense of its counterpart in the New Testament."1

According to Lockyer, many of the poetic books would fall under this broader definition of "parable". Books like Proverbs, which contain short little witty sayings would be prime examples. Many of the Prophets used parables when communicating to their hard-hearted audiences.  In the Matthew 13 passage from whence our opening text derives, Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 in His explanation of why He Himself chooses to use parables in His teachings. 

Bible scholar Roy B. Zuck writes about how parabolic sayings or stories were used in the Old Testament, with some example verses:

"Some parables also occur in the Old Testament. It is used of short sayings: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Samuel 10:12) "From evil doers to evil deeds" (24:13). In these sayings the question or statement in the form of a popular proverb points to the likeness between the statement and the reality. The maxims or wise sayings in the Book of proverbs compare those observations with realities in daily life (Prov. 1:1,6; 10:1; 25:1). Zuck further explains how much variety exists in the Old Testament usage of parabolic teaching: "oracles (Numbers 24:20-23), taunts (Isaiah 14:4), bywords in which a person is seen as undesirable to others (Job 17:6; 30:9; Psalm 44:14), and of lengthy discources (Job 27:1; 29:1). Zuck then notes an additional category: "dark sayings or riddles, as in Psalms 49:4 and 78:2."2

The New Testament is where we see parables being used more specifically and strategically by Jesus 

Whenever we come to the New Testament, we discover that as many times as we read of parabolic type teachings in the Old Testament, Jesus is the One who is seen speaking the majority of parables in the Bible. Roy Zuck notes: "Most of the parables were told by Jesus....Matthew and Luke record most of the parables.  Matthew has 18, with 11 of them unique to him.  Luke has 22, with 7 of them in common with Matthew, and 15 others unique to Luke. Mark has only 5, with only 2 of them unique to his Gospel and both of them are short (Mark 4:26-29; 13:34-37).3 Most Bible commentaries and dictionaries place the number of parables told by Jesus in a range between 50-70 (since some parables are parts of larger ones, which is why the actual count differs between interpreters). 






With the Old and New Testaments briefly surveyed in identifying some key places and general definitions of parables, let us now finish up today's post noting the key traits of a parable, and how to interpret them.

Characteristics of Jesus' parables 

In understanding some of the key characteristics of Jesus' parables, various scholars and key texts on Bible interpretation (hermeneutics) aid us in noting some of major marks:

1. Jesus will oftentimes tell his parables in a three-part form (a master and two contrasting sub-ordinates, as in the parable of the father, the prodigal son and his older brother in Luke 15); a two-part from featuring two contrasting figures (the Pharisee and Tax-collector in Luke 19:9-14) and two-part parables giving way to one key point (as in the tower-builder and warring king in Luke 14:28-33).4

2. Roy B. Zuck categorizes the kinds of parables told by Jesus: seed parables, nature parables, servant parables, father parables, king parables, money, harvest, women, social, comp[assion, rejoicing, feast, refusal and kingdom parables.5

We could go on but it is very clear that in any study of parables in general, and Jesus' parables in particular, much insight in the Christian life, the scriptures and Jesus' Himself can be gained.

More tomorrow........

Endnotes:

1. Herbert Lockyer. All the Parables of the Bible. Page 10

2. Roy B. Zuck. Basic Bible Interpretation. Page 196

3. Roy B. Zuck. Basic Bible Interpretation. Page 197

4. William Klein, Craig Blomberg & Robert Hubbard. Introduction to Bible Interpretation. Page 338. In their book the authors use the technical terms of what I summarized above as referring to triadic pattern (3-part); dyadic (2-part) and monadic (1-part) structures in parables.

5. Roy B. Zuck. Basic Bible Interpretation. Page 208