The Kingdom Of Heaven Parables

[BanjoPicker]

The subject of the parables is one of the important subjects of the Bible. A right understanding of them is all important, because we have so many false teachings based upon a wrong interpretation of them. The average person in Christendom thinks that parables do not mean anything, and many thousands of people are in the habit of denying plain truth by saying, " That is just a parable," as if a parable did away with truth instead of teaching it.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The Definition of Parable

A parable (from the Greek word parobollo, signifying to throw by the side of for the sake of comparison) is a story in which comparison is made between some moral, spiritual, or literal truth and some human event or fact of nature. It is a story or comparison take from real life and from nature to illustrate some truth in another form than the literal statement of the truth. Or, the parable may be for the purpose of concealing truth from uninterested hearers and revealing it to interested ones. It is simply an illustration to make clear and to throw light upon truth by giving an example and a comparison of it.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The more common word for parable would be illustration. If modern readers of the Bible would substitute the word illustration for parable it would clear up many confusions for them. They know the simple meaning and usage of an illustration, but the devil has so mystified the word parable to Bible readers that multitudes think of parables as having a spiritual supernatural, mystical, and magical meaning beyond human comprehension. Many people actually think because the word parable is in the Bible it does not mean there what it does outside the Bible. In other words, the average person has been blinded to the true meaning and purpose of Scripture that he thinks that because a word or a statement is in the Bible it has altogether a different meaning from what it would have if found in another book, or when used by man outside the Bible. This is one of the greatest tricks of the devil to sidetrack men from truth. He gets men to think because some word is in the Bible it automatically is different in meaning than the same word would be outside the Bible. Christians must wake up to this fallacy if they are to get a simple and correct knowledge of the Bible.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The words of the Bible mean exactly the same as they do in other books. They are not to be spiritualized, interpreted, changed, or otherwise understood differently from their plain; common meaning outside the Bible. Why should people start changing the meaning of words when they are seen in Scripture? Why should they spiritualize and make symbolic and figurative the truths of the Bible that are expressed in plain human words when they would not think of doing this if they found the same expressions outside the Bible? This foolish practice alone is enough to awaken people to the fact that demon-spirits are in existence and that all such practice is propagated by these evil spirits, who seek to make the Bible so mystical and confusing that multitudes will not even try to understand it. If the word parable is going to scare the reader of Scripture, or if he is tempted to be confused by this word, let him substitute the word illustration and then use plain common sense and understand a parable as simply an example, or a comparison of truth conveyed.

 

[BanjoPicker]

All parables of the New Testament are simple illustrations and should be under stood as such. All of them are interpreted for us that need any interpretation at all. These interpretations form the right basis of a true understanding of all the others. In fact, all parables are either interpreted for us, or the points illustrated are so clearly stated in the parables themselves that there cannot possibly be any misunderstanding of them, if we will be honest enough to accept what the Bible itself says.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The parables of the Old Testament are prohetical sayings of plain truth that are understood in themselves. In Num. 23:7-12, 16-26; 24:1-10, 15-25 we have several parables, which are plain statements of prophecy and blessing concerning Israel. Each of these parables was clearly understood even by the heathen king, Balak.
They are also clear in themselves that no statement of interpretation is necessary. In Job 27:1 and 29:1 the complainings of Job are called parables. These are also clear in themselves as to the true meaning. In Ps. 49:4 the song for the sons of Korah is called a parable. In Ps. 78:2 it is foretold of the Messiah opening His mouth to utter parables of truth that had been kept secret from ancient times. The mention of "dark sayings" in this passage does not mean that parables are hard to understand, but that they were hidden previously and are now made clear, as is interpreted in Matt. 13:35. Naturally, things that were kept secret from the foundation of the world could not be understood until they were revealed. Since their revelation they cannot be "dark sayings" and mysteries, for they are clearly explained by the greater of all teachers.

 

[BanjoPicker]

A few parable are found in the prophets. In Ezek. 17:1-10 the prophet calls his message to Israel a riddle and a parable. The king of Babylon is likened to a great eagle taking the best branches of the cedars of Lebanon, referring to Nebuchadnezzar taking captive the best people of Israel. The king of Egypt is compared to another great eagle in whom Israel trusted for help, but God says that it will do no good. This parable is interpreted in Ezek. 17:11-24; so there cannot be any misunderstanding of the meaning of this parable. In Ezek. 24 there is another prophetical parable which is also explained in the same chapter. In most of all the Old Testament places where "parable" is used it could have been translated by proverb, for it comes from the Hebrew word mashal and means a pithy saying, usually of a metaphorical nature, an adage, byword, or proverb. These, however, are all explained so that they are as clear as the New Testament parables. The idea of riddle or proverb is clear in Prov. 26:7, 9; Ezek. 20:49; Micah 2:4; Hab. 2:6.
In certain New Testament parables this is also the true sense, as is clear in Mt. 15:11-20; Mk. 3:23-27; 7:14-21; Lk. 5:26-39; 6:39. These are all entirely clear and are either explained in themselves or explained by the context.

 

[BanjoPicker]

Nature Of Parables

Parables are extended similes, confined, however, to the realm of reality. The stories relate true facts and experience of human life and nature which make true illustrations and comparison of thoughts to be conveyed or illustrated. The parables themselves are not the truths intended to be conveyed, but are mere illustrations of them. The parable or illustration is of one thing, and the truth illustrated by it is entirely a different thing. When the parable has served its purpose in making clear the truth illustrated, it has no further use in teaching doctrine.

Purpose Of Parables

To set forth moral, spiritual, and eternal truth in attractive form.
To simulate the interest of the hearers Mt. 13:10-17, 35; 2 Sam. 12:1-14.
To administer reproof without giving rise to resentment 2 Sam. 12:1-14; Lk. 7:36-50.
To convey the truth to sincere listeners and conceal it from others for the purpose of testing them Mt. 13:10-17, 34, 35.