"The Parables Of Jesus" - "Keys to the Kingdom"

 What excites you? Are you a big sports fan? Does watching your favorite sports team in a close game get your adrenaline flowing? What is your passion; what captivates you? Have you ever been really excited by someone or something? Has your mind, your heart, ever become engrossed in an unique experience to the point that you were unaware of what was going on around you? To some in may be a sporting event. To others a good book or movie. To me it is the beauty of God's creation. I love just to sit and enjoy the view of peaceful calm lakes, snow-covered mountains, gentle moving streams or to take a walk along a peaceful ocean beach.

The issue of modern civilization is the furthest thing from my mind when I am absorbed in the beauty of God's creation. I get a similar feeling when Jesus speaks to me in Scripture. He is a master at story telling. He speaks with authority. He taught as no man had taught before. He used simple stories (parables) from every day life to convey hidden truths about the kingdom of God. Like a skillful artist, Jesus painted beautiful pictures with short and simple words. In our imagination, we can join his original audience as they hang on every word. When Jesus spoke, his listeners were absolutely spellbound.

For two thousand years, Christians and non-Christians alike have admired the teaching ability of Jesus. As a teacher Jesus employed a variety of techniques to implant his message upon the minds of his hearers. He is a master teacher in both his method and message. Jesus uses vivid every day illustrations as one of His most powerful teaching methods. In these parables He uses common, every-day experiences of life of His original listeners as illustrations to communicate the most important truths any teacher has ever delivered.

As I study His teaching I can sense His presence. I can hear His voice as He speaks to us through these simple but powerful illustrations. These powerful parables will enable us to grow spiritually like never before. They will transform us into His likeness.

This method of teaching using vivid everyday illustrations is very powerful and makes it easier to remember. It draws the image or word picture on our memory. For example, how many of us can remember the stories of the "Three Little Pigs" or "Goldie Locks and the Three Bears"? I am sure many of us remember the key points of these stories. Yet it probably has been years since many of us have read or heard these stories. This is the same with Jesus' parables. We do not have a bunch of principles to memorize and soon forget. These down to earth illustrations burn themselves into our memory.

Approximately one-third of Jesus' recorded teaching is found in the form of these everyday illustrations, which are called parables. Some of the best know sayings of Jesus are from His parables. For example the words "prodigal son" and "good Samaritan" and their general meaning are well known to most of the world. When we think of a "prodigal son" we think of a wayward and rebellious child. The phrase "good Samaritan" brings to mind a helpful and caring person. These are general thoughts conveyed by these parables, however, Jesus had a deeper meaning than has been captured by the above phrases. During this study we will be investigating these deeper meanings.

The word "parable" is derived from the Greek word "parabole" which means "to place beside, to cast alongside". It "signifies a placing of one thing beside another with a view of comparison". This method of comparison of the "known" (earthly) truths with the "unknown"(heavenly) truths shed further light on the unknown. Jesus is placing the known next to the unknown so that we may learn". It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. When Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like....", He was placing an earthly thing beside a heavenly truth for the purpose of teaching about the kingdom.

Jesus used parables because they contain objects that the audience can relate to. Jesus always customized His message to His audience when He taught. When He was answering the Pharisees, He quoted the Old Testament. When He teaches the general audience of His day who were mostly farmers, Jesus used familiar things like seeds, soil, sheep to illustrate difficult truths. These simple concepts are still relevant today.

Jesus' parables are like a road map. His Spirit leads us on a path from the known into the unknown. A specific parable usually conveys its message of truth through an analogy, a comparison or a contrast.

Jesus' parables often had a surprise or an unexpected twist and would catch the hearer off guard. The parable would move from the very familiar and understandable aspects of an experience to a sudden turn of events or a remarkable comparison that would challenge the hearer and invite him further reflection. This required reflection or meditation is what separates the truth-seekers from the curiosity-seekers!

Our understanding of the truths of these parables will have a great impact on our spiritual lives. Parables contrast the inadequacy of man-made religion versus the sufficiency of a personal relationship by faith in Jesus. As we study the parables it is as if God is holding up a mirror showing us our warts. The study of the parables will have a dividing effect on us. It divides those who believe from those who don't. Jesus says that His Word is sharper than a two edged sword and divides bone from marrow.

The truth divides. Our hearts will either be softened or hardened by the teaching of the parables of Jesus. It has been proven in nature that the same sun, which melts ice, will also harden clay. What awakens one will harden another. Our hearts will either be softened or hardened by studying the parables of Jesus. Parables strengthen the faithful while blinding the faithless. They encourage believers and discourage unbelievers. Believers will see more clearly while unbelievers will become blinder. Jesus is the only one who can give sight to the blind. Jesus as the Savior and Lord who is the only One that can change people, regenerate them, give them eternal life (See appendix A - Roman Road).

When the Disciples asked why He spoke in parables. Jesus quoted from Isaiah. In Isaiah's famous vision in the temple (Is. 6:8-13), God says the people will hear but not understand His truth because they did not want to listen. Because of this He would allow their hearts to be hardened, their eyes blinded and their ears stopped. Yet it was Jesus' desire that all hear and believe. Jesus' common expression, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear," is a plea for us to understand. This also demonstrates the New Testament teaching that the Holy Spirit is required (does the interpreting) for the believer to understand. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "not everyone would understand." This illustrates the fulfill Isaiah's prophesy that hearts, eyes and ears are closed. It was the judgment of God upon the hardened hearts of Israel. Their dull and rebellious hearts would make them blind and would end in judgement.

Because of these harden hearts Jesus was using parables to perk their interest and awaken their spiritual senses. The parables both revealed and concealed. Those who were spiritually hunger would understand. Those who were not hungry would not be fed. It was not that His word hardened their hearts, their hearts would be hardened to his word.

Jesus' ministry was always in conflict with the views of the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus used parables to catch his hearers off guard and to teach them about their sin in a way that would not make them defensive. His parables often involved an element of surprise or an unexpected twist. The parable moves from the very familiar to something that challenges us to invite further reflection. They catch us of guard and teach us about our sins in a way that breaks through our defenses.

This same technique was used by Nathan to convict King David of his sin. Nathan told the unsuspecting David the seemingly harmless parable of a rich man and a poor man living in the same city (2 Sam. 12:1­4). The poor man owned only a single little ewe lamb, which he loved as a household pet. The rich man owned large flocks; yet when the wealthy farmer had a guest to serve, he took, killed, and prepared the poor man's single lamb for the dinner!

Nathan sought to get inside David's guard and cut the iron bonds of his self-deception and to strike the moral blindness from his eyes. It was a well­laid trap and David responded with moral outrage, thus condemning himself. Nathan then applied the parable to the king's affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:5­14). This parable took David by surprise. But with only a few minutes of meditation and with the help of Nathan, he able to realize that "He was the man."

In understanding parables we should consider the un curso de milagros  of the parable. Look carefully for the question, issue, or situation that Jesus is answering or illustrating by the parable. Parables should always be interpreted in the context of the lesson Jesus was teaching. And finally, determine what central truth is being taught. The parables usually show attributes of the kingdom, the King, His subjects, and the relationships between them.

Parables can provide great insights into our relationship with Jesus the King. A Key to understanding parables is seeing its context in the ministry of Jesus. Many times Jesus strings parables togeather to illustrate the same point. I like to think of Jesus' parables as portraits or word pictures. In many of the parables we see a picture of Christ. His love, grace, patience, mercy, compassion, faithfulness, powers, and majesty are just a few of His characteristics we see as we study the parables.

The parables also reveal the heart and thoughts of God. Jesus is a living parable, the visual presence of the invisible, eternal God. He is the clear window into the mind and heart of God. To see and hear and experience Him is to see, hear and experience the Holy God of this universe. Yet, the proud pull down the shade and miss the opportunity of a lifetime to know God personally and intimately. God only reveals to those who are interested to know the truth. The Bible says in Deu 4:29 that if you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.