The Purpose of Parables

INTRO:

Have you ever tried to describe something to someone that they had never seen or heard of? What was it? Did the person understand after your description?

Take a step further:

Imagine describing the color red to a blind person, the color blue, etc.

New series: Parables of Christ

Parables, What are They?

What is a Parable?

Dictionary - a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

Better Biblical Definition - an illustration to reveal a kingdom truth

Why would Jesus speak in these parables?

to be confusing?

to tell a good story?

to sound wise?

Two reasons:

Give us a picture of the Kingdom

Reveal our faith

Mark 4:9–12 ESV

And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

vs 9. hilarious

vs. 11 Disciples relationship with Christ gave deeper insight

Closeness with Christ reveals God

- If you have seen me, you’ve seen the Father

John 14:9 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Want to know God, Know Christ

Psalm 92:12–14 ESV

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,

Planted in Christ=Flourishing=Never ending Gospel centered lives

planted - source is in Christ

flourish - grow in Christ

Old age - never end in serving Christ

To understand parables we need closeness with Christ

Gaining a Picture of the Kingdom

Mark 4:30 ESV

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?

m

Jesus uses parables to give a picture of the Kingdom of God

starts parables with “the kingdom of God is like...”

Jesus giving us insight to what we have never seen or known - Spiritually blind

1 Corinthians 2:9–11 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

on our own we can’t fathom the kingdom

vs. 10-11: The Spirit reveals God; We need God to know God and to know His kingdom

Revealing What We Are After

Matthew 13:13–17 ESV

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.

More of Christ = More understanding

Jesus speaks in parables to reveal why we are following Him

Do we see Jesus as a miracle worker? A good teacher?

Do we see Him as a genie? or just a savior?

Is Jesus about you going to heaven?

No, Jesus is about you getting Him

The more you dig into Christ, the more beauty you see:

In the Cross

In His love

In His wrath

In His mercy

In His righteousness

In His justice

Jesus gives parables that we can know and love Him to the fullest, and expose our need to grow in Him