Why Parables?

[2Thewaters]

Why the parables and riddles that sometimes leave us in debate for thousands of years as to their true meaning? Why not just outright teaching? And how does one acquire the "ears" to hear the true meaning of these parables?

because the majorty of people work for the devil, and they would have destroyed the Bible long ago.

When it is shrouded in mystery then they dont take it personally.


Why?

Jesus says the BEAST is evil!
the beast will take over the whole world
the Beast uses force,
the beast says that he is God on earth
the Beast will be thrown in the lake of fire
the beast is awful
the beast claims he is God
the beast wears purple and scarlet
the beast burns candles in their services
the beast has idols and graven images
the beast changes the worship day and the commandments
the beast will change the day of worship to an evil beast day
the beast sells souls of men for money
etc etc etc

so who is the beast?

well, the beast has for centuries said
I am obviously not the beast!
when everyone who has the spirit knows exactly who it is.


so the parable allows the wicked not to hear the truth
or they would have destroyed the Book of revelation long agon

but they actually protected it in their archives for 1500 years.
and the bible survives

if the Bible said straight out who the beast is, revelation would have been burned long ago

evil cannot understand truth
so that is why parables work

so the beast cannot see itself
and those who are Gods can see who the beast is.

Just shows how smart God is.

 

[Angela53510]

And to think I thought we were supposed to post our favourite parable. Instead I find people trying to discern why Jesus told them.

Wouldn't it be easier to discern if we talked about ACTUAL parables??

"The Parable of the Sower13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. [SUP]3 [/SUP]And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. [SUP]4 [/SUP]And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. [SUP]5 [/SUP]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, [SUP]6 [/SUP]butwhen the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. [SUP]7 [/SUP]Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [SUP]8 [/SUP]Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [SUP]9 [/SUP]He who has ears, let him hear.”
[h=3]The Purpose of the Parables[/h][SUP]10 [/SUP]Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” [SUP]11 [/SUP]And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. [SUP]12 [/SUP]For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [SUP]13 [/SUP]This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.[SUP]14 [/SUP]Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

[SUP]16 [/SUP]But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
[h=3]The Parable of the Sower Explained[/h][SUP]18 [/SUP]“Hear then the parable of the sower: [SUP]19 [/SUP]When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. [SUP]20 [/SUP]As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [SUP]21 [/SUP]yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. [SUP]22 [/SUP]As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [SUP]23 [/SUP]As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”" Matt 13:1-23

Here, Jesus gives the parable to everyone. I would say that is the "general call." Then he explains that the parables are a fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah 6:9-10. This is very important!! It is more than just about Jesus telling stories to his disciples and even interpreting them. It is about Jesus being the Messiah and fulfilling the prophecies.

Then he explains the parable to his disciples in detail. The interesting thing about his explanation, is that once you read it, it seems so obvious what he is saying. This is one of my favourite parables. It is about the harvest for the kingdom of God. It also explains why sometimes we seem to see people accept Christ with joy and not follow through. Because they were not sown on good soil. They cannot grow. Unless someone transplants them! (Spoken like a gardener!)

 

[2Thewaters]

See, evil has HUBRIS
and hubris never condemns itself
so parables allow the truth to get around even when the evil ones are in charge.

 

[2Thewaters]

And to think I thought we were supposed to post our favourite parable. Instead I find people trying to discern why Jesus told them.

Wouldn't it be easier to discern if we talked about ACTUAL parables??



Then he explains the parable to his disciples in detail. The interesting thing about his explanation, is that once you read it, it seems so obvious what he is saying. This is one of my favourite parables. It is about the harvest for the kingdom of God. It also explains why sometimes we seem to see people accept Christ with joy and not follow through. Because they were not sown on good soil. They cannot grow. Unless someone transplants them! (Spoken like a gardener!)

If Jesus would have stood on the mountain and said

The leaders of Gods church are rapists
they have stolen the church from the vinyard owner
they have raped Gods children and lead them to hell
and the priests and and scribes and levites are dead ducks
they are going to hell
and you are not

they would have killed him right away

so he used parables.

 

[Tintin]

Jesus Christ understand the power of story to reveal godly truths. Facts speak to the mind, but Story speaks to the soul.

Good gravy! Jesus Christ *understood the power of Story to reveal godly truths. Facts speak to the mind, but Story speaks to the soul.

 

[Descyple]

A couple of years ago I uploaded to YouTube this lecture given by theologian Michael Horton regarding the purpose of Jesus' parables, while focusing mainly on the Parable of the Sower.

He takes the view that some people in this thread have already stated, that the main purpose of Jesus' parables was to conceal God's truths from certain people.

I hope the video can help the discussion here.


[video=youtube_share;ufZGnwuVZUM]http://youtu.be/ufZGnwuVZUM[/video]

 

[p_rehbein]

a wee bit of your "native outbackian" showing?

 

[crossnote]

Please define mystical in this instance.. I don't think I quite understand that term in this respect. I'm asking so I could perhaps correct myself.

It's hard to define because it's essence defies definition
Although I do not subscribe to christian mysticism, this short article gives a gist of what it is.
The Christian Mystic Explained

So experience trumps scripture.

 

[breno785au]

It's hard to define because it's essence defies definition
Although I do not subscribe to christian mysticism, this short article gives a gist of what it is.
The Christian Mystic Explained

So experience trumps scripture.

No I'm not saying that but it can compliment it, can't it? Perhaps I had confused reason with result or just downright wrong which I'm willing to admit. Result being me glorying God in His wisdom.

 

[2Thewaters]

It is easy to twist Bible verses

but a story cannot be twisted.

you have to clean the whole house before you find salvation


The truth is hid from the worldly wise false leaders and is revealed to the child-like and humble.

The truth calls for self-sacrifice.

It has battles to fight and victories over sin and putting away all sin and battles to win.

By the great men of the world and by the huge world loving world-conforming church,
God's true servants and commandment keepers are opposed and despised.


See how few they ARE!

See how great we are!

Who do you think is right?
they say.


John the Baptist stood alone to rebuke the pride and formalism of the Jewish PREACHERS and LEADERS in the nation.

How obscure, how hopeless, seemed the mission of Paul and Silas, the two tentmakers, as they with their companions took ship at Troas for Philippi.

See "Paul the aged," in jail preaching Christ in the dungeons of the Caesars.

See the little communes of slaves and peasants IN CONTRADICTION with the SUNDAY PAGANISM of imperial Rome.

See Martin Luther alone with God, crush that mighty church which is the masterpiece of the Babylon wisdom.

See him holding fast God's word against emperors and popes,

declaring, "Here I take my stand; I can not do otherwise. God be my help."

John Wesley preaches Christ and His righteousness in obedience to the whole Bible in the middle of formalism, adultery, divorce remarriage, sensualism, and infidelity.

Hear the response of ecclesiasticism the DOCTORS OF THE WORLD WITH COLORFUL ROBES SAY : "Sit down, young man. When God wants to convert the heathen, He will do it without your help or mine."

The great leaders of religious thought did NOT AGREE WITH JESUS "We know that God spake unto Moses; as for this fellow [Christ in the messenger He sends], we know not from whence he is." John 9:29.

Now, in these last days be assured that the special truths for this time are found, not with the ecclesiastical authorities, the major world loving churches,
but with men and women who are not too smart for their own britches, not or too wise to believe the word of God.




"For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called;
but God hath chosen the humble poor persons of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the false churches of the mighty

And commoners of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are" (1 Cor. 1:26-28);
"that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:5).



And in this last generation the END OF THE WORLD, the parable of the mustard seed is to reach triumphant fulfillment. The little seed will become a tree.
The last message of warning and mercy is to go to "every nation and kindred and tongue" (Rev. 14:6-14),
"to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts 15:14; Rev. 18:1). And the earth shall be lightened with His glory. {COL 79.3}



The message for today to each one of us is from revelation is this

come out of twistings that does not follow the bible'
come out of babylon confusion
come out of thousands of interpretations of rapture etc etc
leave alone the twisters of the word that are confused babylon
they are as confused as was the church in Jesus time
follow the word of God, not mens traditions and twistings
worship God not idols
read your Bible, dont waste time on television
get ready trouble arrives
those who follow mens interpretations and twistings are not following the bible
come out of them
and follow the bible
worship God like he said, not like popes say or emperors say

before the plagues take you out.

 

[gypsygirl]

Jesus Christ understand the power of story to reveal godly truths. Facts speak to the mind, but Story speaks to the soul.

to piggyback onto this, jesus used parables to illustrate in a soulful way, but also, parables weren't easily understood, necessarily. i believe this speaks to the fact that He knew that following Him, learning His truth would require effort and need to be digested. all over the bible we are reminded that we must seek God (and His words) to have a relationship, wisdom, and faith.

and that the complexity, even radical truth of what he shared would need to be carefully illustrated in a manner that would both convey the message and hold up to the test of time, as relevant and powerful today as it was then.

even jesus' own disciples needed help to understand the parables.

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
luke 8:9,10

 

[crossnote]

No I'm not saying that but it can compliment it, can't it? Perhaps I had confused reason with result or just downright wrong which I'm willing to admit. Result being me glorying God in His wisdom.

It's quotes like this that make me skeptical that it can be complemented..

"God cannot be reached by logic or captured by thought. Instead, one can only approach by love steeped in humble expectation of God's grace."

This seems to short circuit Jesus Christ, the cross, the Holy Spirit as the means of 'reaching God'.

 

[Simona25]

I showed from Scripture why the parable was used...to hide the truth of the kingdom from those who did not believe.
Where does it say it's purpose is to , ''opens the horizon of thinking';?

The parable (in general) both veil and unveil, both hides and shows; the parable as a didactic method (because, as I said earlier, Christ was teaching the crowd in parables, not un-teaching them) is superior to the occidental ones because it leaves you thinking, it provokes something in you.

 

[Kingdom_Mystic]

[h=1]Proverbs 25:2New King James Version (NKJV)[/h]2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

 

[jag1977]

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:[SUP]12 [/SUP]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.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
[SUP]14 [/SUP]The sower soweth the word.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
[SUP]19 [/SUP]And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
[SUP]27 [/SUP]And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
[SUP]31 [/SUP]It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
[SUP]32 [/SUP]But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
[SUP]33 [/SUP]And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
[SUP]35 [/SUP]And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
[SUP]36 [/SUP]And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
[SUP]37 [/SUP]And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
[SUP]38 [/SUP]And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
[SUP]39 [/SUP]And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
[SUP]41 [/SUP]And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 

[Timeline]

It's quotes like this that make me skeptical that it can be complemented..

"God cannot be reached by logic or captured by thought. Instead, one can only approach by love steeped in humble expectation of God's grace."

This seems to short circuit Jesus Christ, the cross, the Holy Spirit as the means of 'reaching God'.

I don't know - Can we really understand God? Don't get me wrong, we can gain an understanding of God within the realm of human understanding, as explained through the Holy Spirit. But I don't suppose that I will really understand until I am released from this body. But what we can/do understand is adequate; It allows us to do what we were intended to do - And Love is number 1 and 2!

 

[jag1977]

I don't know - Can we really understand God? Don't get me wrong, we can gain an understanding of God within the realm of human understanding, as explained through the Holy Spirit. But I don't suppose that I will really understand until I am released from this body. But what we can/do understand is adequate; It allows us to do what we were intended to do - And Love is number 1 and 2!

Love is number 1 and 2 however the most important thing you have is loyalty and loyalty is FIRST. You can claim love of a million people...you are only loyal to true love. Loyalty, true charity of yourself. An adulteress spouse that tramples loyalty can claim love for a life time, love of humanity summed is nothing to one lost second in loyalty. Loyalty is Hope, Faith, Charity, and Love and is the essence that searches the heart. Loyalty is the fruit of the spirit of truth.

 

[jag1977]

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:[SUP]12 [/SUP]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.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
[SUP]14 [/SUP]The sower soweth the word.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
[SUP]19 [/SUP]And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
[SUP]27 [/SUP]And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
[SUP]31 [/SUP]It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
[SUP]32 [/SUP]But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
[SUP]33 [/SUP]And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
[SUP]35 [/SUP]And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
[SUP]36 [/SUP]And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
[SUP]37 [/SUP]And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
[SUP]38 [/SUP]And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
[SUP]39 [/SUP]And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
[SUP]41 [/SUP]And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Something just keeps standing out here....a fact of this scripture is when a K is sown the outcome of the verse or general idea of the verse is negative. Not sure what that means if it even means anything. I am pointing that out because I just felt the urge to do so.

 

[dcontroversal]

Because the word of God and the mysteries contained therein are meant to be understood by God's people.....Jesus even explained this...for it is given unto you to KNOW the mysteries of the kingdom....

for the lost...seeing they shall not see and hearing they shall not understand.......

 

[RedTent]

Jesus Christ understand the power of story to reveal godly truths. Facts speak to the mind, but Story speaks to the soul.

This is good, but you must remember that lives speak to godly truths, also. How we live our lives speak to that, and scripture often uses literal life to show truth just as it often uses parables.