Teaching in Parables

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newton3003

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2017
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#1
Psalm 78:2-4 says, “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.”

Why convey God’s word in parables? Because it is easier to convey things in terms of what people can associate their own knowledge and experience with, than it is to convey things in an abstract fashion. The Bible tells us that when people do not understand what you are saying, then what you say sounds to them like the beating of a snare drum which makes a lot of empty noise.

If I say to someone who does not have a lot of knowledge that it takes care and nurturing to achieve everlasting goals, can that person relate to that? Learning is achieved by making associations with what the person knows.

So, if the person I am talking to is a farmer who grows crops and I tell him this parable from Matthew 13:3-8: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,” the farmer would more likely understand that what you are saying.

And as Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 8:15, “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

We know the path to God. As implied in Jeremiah 1:5, we are all potential prophets conveying the Word of God as the heavens declare His glory. As such, we shouldn’t hold back what we know about God and the Blessings and Graces He may confer upon those who love Him, since He wishes that everyone be saved. As it says in Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#2
Your post seems very self-contained, with neither question nor room for discussion. Is there something you are wondering about, or were you just sharing your conclusions on the subject?
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#4
Well, there is, however, one interesting point. Look at all the parables that have to actually be explained to today's hearers who are either, not of an agrarian society, or have no knowledge of many (or, possibly, ANY) of the customs and esoteric traditions of that day. That seems to defeat the "logic" of teaching in parables as it relates to the modern man.... if all he does in today's world is simply read the words of a Bible, with no one around who can enlighten him as to the strange meanings of much of the language and terminology used.

I say this for all the people who say that the Bible was written TO us just as much as it was written TO the people to whom the various letters were directly addressed.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#5
No, at least I don't think so. I'm simply trying to determine whether you are wanting to discuss the issue, or simply sermonize on it. Some people consciously discourage discussion. Some discourage discussion inadvertently. I'm wondering which you are.

There are many of us who could write a sermon and present it in such a way as to leave no room for genuine discussion. We choose not to do so, because we prefer fellowship to friction. Typically, those who do so are people who "don't play well with others". Some people ask questions to learn, some ask to teach. Some share thoughts and invite feedback and other perspectives, while some assert their views on an issue and demonstrate that they really aren't open to learning at all. I'm hoping you are of the former sort. :)
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#6
one has to learn to walk before they can fly.
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#8
Can you elucidate as to the application for which you intend this to apply?
when the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables. IMO He was teaching one has to be ready and prepared to receive them.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
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#10
Your post seems very self-contained, with neither question nor room for discussion. Is there something you are wondering about, or were you just sharing your conclusions on the subject?
Sometimes there is no real reason, sometimes God will just place something on a persons heart to speak.
I like how Jesus spoke in parables because it gave a much easier picture to grasp to the people of that time I have seen him use lots of people including me with analogies, not quite the same thing of course but it seems he still enjoys story telling and now does so through hi children
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#11
Sometimes there is no real reason, sometimes God will just place something on a persons heart to speak.
I like how Jesus spoke in parables because it gave a much easier picture to grasp to the people of that time I have seen him use lots of people including me with analogies, not quite the same thing of course but it seems he still enjoys story telling and now does so through hi children
Unless we try to make some sort of doctrine out of it, as many people have done with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
 
Z

Zi

Guest
#12
He said the purpose of them was to keep some out of the loop..

He actually gives a reason. No guess. No opinion needed.
when the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables. IMO He was teaching one has to be ready and prepared to receive them.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
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#13
Unless we try to make some sort of doctrine out of it, as many people have done with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
Ya that is true
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
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#14
Unless we try to make some sort of doctrine out of it, as many people have done with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
One might contest your assumption that the passage to which you refer is a parable. Name one other parable where a known persons name was cited.

Jesus explained the parables to the disciples but left the religious know it all's to their just desserts.

Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#15
One might contest your assumption that the passage to which you refer is a parable. Name one other parable where a known persons name was cited.

Jesus explained the parables to the disciples but left the religious know it all's to their just desserts.

Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Likewise, show me the verse that says a name cannot be used in a parable. In this case, a name of Greek derivation was used to help make the whole point of the parable.... that "birthright" (or even conversion and circumcision) did not buy the Jews Salvation.
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#16
Mar 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Parables were used so that only the spiritually hunger would seek after it,and understand by Jesus,and now by the Spirit of Jesus,for if it were an easy saying then even people who did not care all that much would be able to understand.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

People who love the ways of the flesh will not be able to understand,neither do they have a great desire to understand.

1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Count yourself blessed if you believe Jesus is Lord,the Savior come in flesh,and the Christ,the Son of the living God,for God is surely working in your life,and thou shouldest understand all parables,not terrible,and will be unsnareable.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
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#17
Unless we try to make some sort of doctrine out of it, as many people have done with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
The rich man and Lazarus is not a parable. By deeming it as such, you miss the point that Christ means to convey. It is an event that took place witnessed by the Lord before appearing in the flesh.

Parables use symbols to represent the literal, wheat = son's of the kingdom, Tares = son's of the evil one, harvesters = angels, harvest = end of the age, etc., etc.

The rich man and Lazarus uses the real names of Abraham, Moses, Lazarus, etc. and the real location of Hades. In order for this to be a parable those names would have to be symbolic of something literal, which is the problem because it starts off with the literal.

This very real event of the rich man and Lazarus reveals two men dying, their bodies being buried and their spirits departing, being conscious and aware after death and being found in Sheol/Hades. It demonstrates that there is a place of prejudgment punishment in flame and that there is no getting out once there. This is demonstrated by the fact that the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to his father's house to warn his five brothers so that they wouldn't come to that same place of torment.

If you would read it in the literal sense you would understand what the Lord is conveying regarding this event Willie.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
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#18
Jesus explained why He teaches in parables, it is so that those who see will gain and those who do not will be even more blind. Not 'because it's easier to understand'
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
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#19
Jesus explained why He teaches in parables, it is so that those who see will gain and those who do not will be even more blind. Not 'because it's easier to understand'
Matthew 13:10-12

The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 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.

Kinda weird IMO to try to explain Christ's purpose in speaking this way without ever making reference to the scripture where He literally gives His own explanation...?
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
463
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#20
The rich man and Lazarus is not a parable.
Actually it is.

By deeming it as such, you miss the point that Christ means to convey.
The point Christ wanted to convey is in verse 31.

It is an event that took place witnessed by the Lord before appearing in the flesh.
You made that up.

Parables use symbols to represent the literal, wheat = son's of the kingdom, Tares = son's of the evil one, harvesters = angels, harvest = end of the age, etc., etc.
There are parables that use people, too. It does not mean they were literally true.

The rich man and Lazarus uses the real names of Abraham, Moses, Lazarus, etc. and the real location of Hades. In order for this to be a parable those names would have to be symbolic of something literal, which is the problem because it starts off with the literal.
Parables do not always use symbols. You are building on a false premise. And it's simply not true that because the story contains names, it must be understood as literal.

This very real event
It was not a real event, it was a parable.

of the rich man and Lazarus reveals two men dying, their bodies being buried and their spirits departing, being conscious and aware after death and being found in Sheol/Hades. It demonstrates that there is a place of prejudgment punishment in flame and that there is no getting out once there. This is demonstrated by the fact that the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to his father's house to warn his five brothers so that they wouldn't come to that same place of torment.
It also demonstrates that the people on the "good" side of hades could hear the screams of those in torments on the "bad" side of hades. Is that how you envision Paradise?

If you would read it in the literal sense you would understand what the Lord is conveying regarding this event Willie.
What the Lord conveyed in that parable is that even if a person would return from the dead, he would still not be believed.

He was right.

Also, if the parable is literal, it contradicts many scripture that describe what happens at death. See Ecc 9, and several scriptures in Psalms and elsewhere that say the dead -cannot- praise the Lord. Why can't they? Because they are dead. The dead can't do anything. They have no thought, no emotion, no work, no nothing. Dead means dead, not alive.

Jesus told that parable to the Pharisees because by Jesus' time the Jewish religion had been swayed by the Greeks into thinking that when you die, only your body dies, but your soul/spirit continues to live on. Similar to what most Christians believe to this day. Death is an enemy (1 Cor 15:26), not the doorway to Jesus, or the gateway to Heaven.

When Christ returns to gather his church, the DEAD in Christ will be raised from the dead. It means what it says. Christians who have died are currently dead as doornails. They are aware of nothing whatsoever. Their next conscious thought will be when Jesus raises them from the dead at the rapture.

In 1 Thes 4:13, Paul tells the Thessalonians not to sorrow for those who have died. Notice he did not say not to sorrow because they are already with Christ. He said not to sorrow because when Christ comes to gather the Christian church, those Christians who have died will be raised from the dead.

Everyone who has died is dead. The ONLY exception is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:13). Dead believers will be raised from the dead in one of two future events: the rapture (for dead Christians) or the resurrection of the just (for dead OT believers and people who will come to believe and be killed for their faith during the coming trib). Everyone else will be raised from the dead and judged at the resurrection of the unjust, after the millennial kingdom.

The devil lied when he told Eve "you will not surely die". And yet to this day most Christians believe that when you die, you really don't. Death has been dumbed down to meaning "separation". It's a separation all right... It's a separation of YOU from LIFE. IMO, the doctrine of the "immortal soul" is one of the biggest fallacies in orthodox Christianity today.

And as I have said before, I am not a JW or SDA. I am a Christian who believes that the Bible teaches that when people die, they are dead.

I'll probably be slammed six ways from Sunday for this "heresy".

That's OK. :)