1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Parables are more than illustrations or examples. Parables are literary devices: similes and metaphors. They are a substantive expression of a fundamental truth…not just an example of a truth. In this, they are meant to do far more than shed light on something. They are meant to tell the truth.
Which is why Jesus used them all the time…
Human beings, for all our wonderful qualities, are not naturally disposed to comprehend metaphysical (spiritual) truths. We need help. So, Jesus gives us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us when we become part of God’s family. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to spiritual truth and the real substance of life becomes clear. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”. (John 14:26)
Jesus tells us nobody else will understand without parables.
So…why do we marvel when our neighbor simply doesn’t “get it”? Our neighbor may never “get it” unless we are prepared to present the claim of Christ through parables. Try some of the ones Jesus used. Of course, it may be helpful to spend some time preparing.
It seems Jesus presented parables thematically…which is helpful.
Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven: hearing, seeking and growing
The Sower (Matthew 13: 3-23, Mark 4: 1-20, Luke 8: 5-15)
The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13: 44)
Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13: 45-46)
The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13: 31-32, Mark 4: 30-32)
The Leaven (Matthew 13: 33)
Seed Growing Secretly (Mark 4: 26-29)
Parables of loss and redemption
The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18: 12-14, Luke 14: 3-7)
Lost Money (Luke 15: 8-10)
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32)
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32)
Parables about love and forgiveness
Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18: 23-35)
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-37)
The Two Debtors (Luke 7: 41-47)
Parables about prayer
The Friend at Night (Luke 11: 5-8)
The Importunate Widow (Luke 18: 1-8)
Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18: 9-14)
Eschatological parables
Eschatological parables
The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13)
The faithful Servant (Matthew 24:43-51, Mark 13: 34-37, Luke 12: 35-40)
Marriage of the King's Son (Matthew 22: 1-14)
The Rich Fool (Luke 12: 16-21)
The Wicked Husbandman (Matthew 21: 33-44, Mark 12: 1-12, Luke 20: 9-18)
The Tares (Matthew 13: 24-30)
Drawing in the Net (Matthew 13: 47-50)
The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13: 6-9)
Leafing Fig Tree Matthew 24: 32-35, Mark 13:28-31, Luke 21:29-33)
Other parables
Other parables
The Wise and the Foolish Builders (Matthew 7: 24-27, Luke 6:46-49))
The Lamp under a bushel (Matthew 5:14, 15, Mark 4:21-25, Luke 8:16-18)
The Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)
The Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31)
Ten Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30, Luke 19: 11-27)
Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20: 1-16)
Once we take the training wheels off, the Lord may just give us some parables of our own to use with our neighbors. We will be amazed with the results.
Live boldly out there today…
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