♥
Monday, February 16, 2009
What's a parable?
Just pondering about the parable of the sower which the speaker spoke on Sunday during service.
A pretty well-known parable, usually used for preaching, perhaps about accepting the good news and not to succumb into some difficulties and trials in our Christian walk. He touched on some common blocks to Christian growth. I agree that the parable does encourage us in some way to continue to be followers of Jesus. However, somehow, I felt that this aspect of the parable is over-emphasized and most of the time, the rich and true meaning of a parable and its context are glossed over.
What's a parable anyway? An object lesson from nature or daily life that one can associate with so that some spiritual truth is taught? Well, that's only part of what a parable really is. Matt 13:10 says, 'The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"' If it is an object lesson so that people could understand what Jesus wanted to tell them, a parable should be easily comprehensible. If that is true, why did the disciples ask that question?
Therefore, a parable is really a veiled way of teaching. Not to teach, clarify or make plain to its listeners. In fact, a parable is mysterious and not easily understood, unless God reveals its meaning (Matt 13:11-17, Mark 4:11-12, Luke 8:8-10). Not something that man unravel on his own. But God chooses it to be made known. We can do nothing to work on unraveling the mystery. It is revealed to us, by God's grace. The listeners are out there in the crowd and they fall into 2 groups: one who listens and understands and the other who does not.
Thus the meaning of the parables is made known only to believers. Why else would Jesus say, 'This is why I speak to them in parables.' (Matt13:11-13), 'but to those outside everything is said in parables' (Mark 4:11) and 'but to others I speak in parables (Luke 8:10). The word will take root in the people that God chooses. Besides, when we cross-reference to Mark 4:10, it says that when Jesus was alone, the 12 disciples and the others (could refer to some of the women who followed in Luke 1-3) asked him the meaning of the parables and he explained to them. He didn't explain it to all the people who heard the parable. 'When he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.' (Mark 4:34). Jesus is also taking this chance to teach his disciples and prepare them, for the kingdom is near (Mark 1:15).
What is to be revealed is 'the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven' (Matt 13:11), 'the secret of the kingdom of God' (Mark 4:10), 'the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God' (Luke 8:9), which translates to God's rule in the person and work of Jesus. The seeds that fell on the different type of ground likens our response to the good news, rather than how we respond to things that happen in life. Do we recognize the secret? Sadly, some don't...
Labels: Bible
PROFILE ♥
Cynthia
Life is beautiful,
Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you will never get hurt,
Love like you will never get hurt,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like it is heaven on earth,
Enjoy this day.
♥
Monday, February 16, 2009
What's a parable?
Just pondering about the parable of the sower which the speaker spoke on Sunday during service.
A pretty well-known parable, usually used for preaching, perhaps about accepting the good news and not to succumb into some difficulties and trials in our Christian walk. He touched on some common blocks to Christian growth. I agree that the parable does encourage us in some way to continue to be followers of Jesus. However, somehow, I felt that this aspect of the parable is over-emphasized and most of the time, the rich and true meaning of a parable and its context are glossed over.
What's a parable anyway? An object lesson from nature or daily life that one can associate with so that some spiritual truth is taught? Well, that's only part of what a parable really is. Matt 13:10 says, 'The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"' If it is an object lesson so that people could understand what Jesus wanted to tell them, a parable should be easily comprehensible. If that is true, why did the disciples ask that question?
Therefore, a parable is really a veiled way of teaching. Not to teach, clarify or make plain to its listeners. In fact, a parable is mysterious and not easily understood, unless God reveals its meaning (Matt 13:11-17, Mark 4:11-12, Luke 8:8-10). Not something that man unravel on his own. But God chooses it to be made known. We can do nothing to work on unraveling the mystery. It is revealed to us, by God's grace. The listeners are out there in the crowd and they fall into 2 groups: one who listens and understands and the other who does not.
Thus the meaning of the parables is made known only to believers. Why else would Jesus say, 'This is why I speak to them in parables.' (Matt13:11-13), 'but to those outside everything is said in parables' (Mark 4:11) and 'but to others I speak in parables (Luke 8:10). The word will take root in the people that God chooses. Besides, when we cross-reference to Mark 4:10, it says that when Jesus was alone, the 12 disciples and the others (could refer to some of the women who followed in Luke 1-3) asked him the meaning of the parables and he explained to them. He didn't explain it to all the people who heard the parable. 'When he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.' (Mark 4:34). Jesus is also taking this chance to teach his disciples and prepare them, for the kingdom is near (Mark 1:15).
What is to be revealed is 'the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven' (Matt 13:11), 'the secret of the kingdom of God' (Mark 4:10), 'the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God' (Luke 8:9), which translates to God's rule in the person and work of Jesus. The seeds that fell on the different type of ground likens our response to the good news, rather than how we respond to things that happen in life. Do we recognize the secret? Sadly, some don't...
Labels: Bible
