The Lord's Parables - Introduction

by J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, Scotland | Category: The Lord's Parables | Jan 1991

Much teaching in the Scriptures, both in the Old Testament and in the New is presented to us in figurative and symbolic forms. Eastern languages lend themselves readily to figurative forms of speech, so we find much use being made of types, similitudes, proverbs, allegories and parables.

The use of appropriate illustrations is a valuable aid in the teaching process. Good illustrations act like windows, letting in light to illuminate the mind. Apt illustrations remain imprinted in the memory long after they have been heard, and they are readily recalled. The use of parable, therefore, constitutes a valuable and enduring form of instruction. The effectiveness of the use of a parable to impart a message to the hearer is well illustrated by the parable Nathan told to David to convict him of his great sin (2 Sam. 12:1-15). David was quick to pronounce judgement on the man depicted in the parable, and when it was brought home to him that he was the man portrayed in the narrative he could not but confess, "I have sinned against the LORD".

Solomon, in his day, made extensive use of proverbs and parables in his teaching, and men and women came from far and near to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes give us some of that distilled wisdom. He drew his illustrations from the whole field of nature and delighted his audiences with the choice words that he used in his teaching (1 Kin. 4:32,33; Eccles. 12:9,10), but when the Lord Jesus was here on earth a greater than Solomon was here among men (Mat. 12:42).

The Lord Jesus was a matchless teacher. The multitudes were astonished :at His' teaching "for He taught them as One having authority" (Mat. 7:28,29). His fellow countrymen asked. "Whence bath this Man this wisdom?" (Mat. 13:54), and men sent to arrest Him were disarmed by His teaching and exclaimed, "Never man so spake" (John 7:46). However, they failed to appreciate that He was more than Man and that in Him were all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden (Col. 2:3).

Early in His ministry the Lord gave plain direct teaching, but as it became evident that His teaching was unacceptable to the leaders of the nation He began to teach by parables, and in so doing He fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah 6:10 and Psalm 78:2 (see John 12:3941; Mat. 13:34,35). His disciples asked Him why He was speaking in parables. His answer revealed that He was doing so to hide from His hearers the knowledge of truths that

they were not in a condition to receive, but they were also spoken to instruct those whose attitude of heart would enable them to profit from His teaching (Mat. 13:10-16).

The word "parable" (Gk. parabole) signifies a placing of one thing beside another with a view to comparison (W.E. Vine). It is generally used of a short descriptive narrative drawn from nature or human circumstances for the purpose of illustrating and setting forth spiritual truth. In the synoptic gospels the word is also used in relation to a short saying or proverb (e.g. Mat. 15:11,15; Luke 4:23;6:39). The parable differs from the fable in that it never transgresses the natural order of things by attributing reason and speech to trees, birds and beasts. It may also be distinguished from the allegory, which is a more elaborate form of illustration in which a comparison is to be found in all or most of the details given.

The Lord Jesus never used fables in His teaching; the use of fables would not have been in keeping with the lofty and authoritative standard of His teaching. The many parables that He told dealt with matters of fact, with common everyday events or with the operation of the laws of nature, and

who better than He who is the Creator to show the harmony that there is between the laws of nature and spiritual truths.

The Lord narrated His parables in such a way that His audiences were enthralled; they appreciated the beauty of the stories and the moral teaching that lay on the surface, but the deeper spiritual truths underlying them were hidden from them. What we have in our Bibles are sometimes synopses of the accounts that were given to the multitudes, yet the beauty of the narratives comes through even in our English translations. The interpretations of the parables were given in private sessions to the disciples (Mark 4:10,34; Ma~ 13:36), but even so there was much that they did not understand. The Lord gave them such instruction as they were able to bear while He was with them (John 16:12). After His resurrection in those private teaching sessions He had with them He was able to tell them more (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3), but for a fuller enlightenment they had to await the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-16). The Holy Spirit subsequently brought to their remembrance the Lord's words and enlightened their minds (John 14:26). The Lord's teaching given through the medium of His parables would be among the things of which the Holy Spirit would give them a fuller understanding; we should expect, therefore, to find an amplification of the truths underlying the parables in the teaching given in the epistles and this will be explored in our study of the parables.

The parables the Lord told, of which more than thirty are recorded, are to be found in the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. In John's Gospel there is no mention of a parable although much figurative language is used in the form of metaphor and allegory, and the Lord represents Himself for example, as the Good Shepherd, the Door, the True Vine, and the Light of the World.

A few of the Lord's parables were addressed to individuals, some were addressed to His disciples, either in private or in the hearing of the multitudes, but most were delivered in the course of His general teaching to the multitudes, and in some instances we are given the specific reason for the telling of a particular parable.

There are many precious lessons to be learned from a study of the parables; some are easier to interpret than others, but the great need in every case is the illumination that the Holy Spirit gives to the earnest seeker after truth.

The subject matter covered in the parables is wide-ranging and so are the divine principles and spiritual truths illustrated by them. It is our purpose, God willing, to examine these throughout the year in a series of articles contributed by a variety of writers. We shall find in the parables truths relating to the involvement of the Trinity in the redemption of man; principles relating to prayer, forgiveness, faithfulness, service and its rewards, and warnings against pride, covetousness and materialism. The accountability of those in positions of responsibility and privilege and the outworking of age long divine purposes are also set out in them. These: and 'many other things besides will be' examined in our study of the parables. The need to put into practice what we learn and not be only hearers of the Word, but also doers, is stressed in the story that the Lord told of the builders on rock and on earth (Luke 6:4649). We should be ever mindful of the consequences of failing to so build.

J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, Scotland | Jan 1991
The Lord's Parables