Jesus as story-teller

A strong feature of the New Testament Gospels is Jesus’ parables. Bible dictionaries have long descriptions of what they were, how to classify and interpret them, and why Jesus used them. Matthew simply quotes Jesus to accomplish most of that . . .

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. (Matthew 13:1–3)

A parable is simply a story that illustrates a truth using comparison, hyperbole or simile. In Hebrew, they could be a taunt, riddle, an allegory, or a proverb. In the NT Jesus used them to instruct. One third of His teaching involved these fascinating stories. Why did He use them?

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 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.” (Matthew 13:10–17)

It might seem strange that this God-man who came to reveal truth to the world would hide it in stories, but He did. The result was that those who heard needed more than education or IQ to understand what He was talking about. The parables were like riddles to those who were not spiritually ready or willing to hear them.

All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34–35)

My dictionary outlines the history of how parables have been interpreted. At first, interpreters regarded them as allegories and assigned meaning to every detail in the story. During the reformation, that changed to a more literal interpretation, even regarding the parable to hold only a single moral concept. Some insisted there is one allegorical element in them. Others felt they reflected the human author who relayed these stories Jesus told, giving them meaning beyond Jesus’ intention. Some of this was pulled out of their context.

Yet the marvel in all this is that the Lord is not confined to human ways of understanding. He provides the Holy Spirit to help His people read and understand what He is saying to them. At the end of His discourse in parables in Matthew, Jesus says:

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” (Matthew 13:51)

They understood because His Spirit opened their understanding.

In the same way and depending on my spiritual condition, the Word of God comes to me as I need to hear it. The Greek word for this is ‘rhema’ and it means those words that God speaks to meet the need of the moment. I may be anxious about something and am given assurance by a passage I’ve read dozens of times prior but did not ‘hear’ it the same way as this time. While this is subjective and a bit scary for many Bible scholars, it is nevertheless a reality. Jesus even said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

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Jesus, You make parables clear to those who read them by the power of the Holy Spirit. My role is to watch out for fanciful interpretations and instead listen to You. Besides the wonder of parables, it is a great wonder and grace that You speak to us at all. Thank You.