Why Parables?

Good morning Richvale Church! Welcome to our service we are so glad that you are with us.…We are so grateful for those here in the service and those of you at home…We love you all and missing being all together in one place...

Can you believe that we already more than halfway through 2020…

Normally, Summer hits and our Children schedules change, and there is this definitive line between school and summer… but this year is a little different..

So today...We are starting our Summer series — and Over the next several weeks we are going to be going through the parables that Jesus taught..

In our series is entitled, “The Greatest Stories Ever told.”

The reason why these parables are the greatest stories ever told is because Jesus was the story teller…

Matthew tells us that when Jesus taught the crowds, they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke as one with authority not like one of the scribes…

There was something noticeably different about Jesus and his teaching when compared to other religious leaders of the day..

…and the crowd were able to figured it out…The difference is that Jesus.. spoke with Authority! …

The word Authority…gives us some great insight..you see..

The greek word here for authority is the word

EX Ousia --- The prefix EX comes up quite often in Scripture — means come “Out of” When God created the universe we talk about God creating Ex-Nihilo meaning out of nothing.. God created with out the aids of preexistent materials..

The root word/lemma… is the word Ousia.. which means wealth…

when you join these two words together… You learn that the word authority is not so much…top down authority … or legislative power… …

But rather, Authority that comes out of the abundance of Christ person… There is this wealth that resided in Jesus… Jesus was no ordinary Rabbi teacher… He was God incarnate in the flesh… In other words..

Jesus not only

Communicated truth … He was truth… he himself embodied truth --- Jesus did not only proclaimed the word — He was the Eternal Word who holds the very words of eternal life…

Jesus words are astonishing, because His words not only impacted the hearers in the first Century, but his word continue to bring light, illumination and revelation.. today…

Jesus style of teaching was part of the Oral tradition - been a part of the fabric of our human experience

Jesus was a master story teller..… When you think about it

Stories are memorable...

How often do we remember large bodies of materials? How much of our High School and college education do we remembered?

The truth is our minds don’t hold onto large bodies of information very long… But we do remember narratives... stories.

If we think about our knowledge of the Bible --- our minds goes to the great stories of the Bible… the Story of Adam and Eve taking the forbidden fruit, The shock of Cain killing Able, Moses and the burning bush, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, Noah and the Flood, Joseph and the pit…David and Goliath, the Parable of the Sower and the Seed , the parable of the talents, the parable of the prodigal son…

Stories have a way of drawing us in and holding our attention… and sticking with us...

Parables are a unique and memorable way of telling stories.. but they can be confusing when you are trying to interpret them…

Most of us love the convenience of online shopping… What has become relatively popular are these food boxes…like Blue Apron, Sun Set Basket… Each meal comes with it’s own set of ingredients for that specific meal ... They have exact ingredients and nothing is wasted.. and if you follow the recipe your meal will turn out just fine...

When Jesus starts taught in parables... It is like delivering the Blue Apron box to your door step...... except with a noticeable difference… instead of finding a recipe in the box you find is a note.. that says…

Stop and think about the ingredients… don’t just throw them together.. The success of this meal will be determined by whether or not you have experience the meal before… Parable can be that vague…

The word parable comes from the greek word The English word parable comes from the

Greek parabole, which means “to set aside” or “to throw beside.”

Parables have two primary purposes: parables conceal and reveal.

Those who had understanding would gain more truth of His Kingdom…and those who would continue to be in the dark… That is the unique nature of parables…

Parables are like a mirror…you listening and then all of sudden… truth hits you unexpectedly… Your own hear is exposed..

If there was ever a time that we needed to wrestles with the Words of Scripture it’s today… We need to know how to frame our current context in the light of the eternal words of Jesus...

One of the ways we can do this is going back to teachings of Christ...

In Matthew chapter 13 Jesus was at the height of his public ministry -- he is on the shores of Galilee teaching .. We are told that it a great crowd had gather.to hear him speak... the crowd was so large that Jesus had to get into one of the boats in order to have the ability to speak to those who had gathered.. ..

Matthew tells us..

Matthew 13:1–3 ESV

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

The disciples must have been excited when they saw this larger crowd gathered around Jesus… What an opportunity to clarify and make plain the plan of God’s Salvation and the breaking in of Kingdom of God… …

Here was this prime time --- amazing opportunity…

Then Jesus begins to teach and he tells the parable of the Sower and the seed… That a certain sower went out and sowed seed.. some fell on the path where the birds came and devoured the seed.... some of the seed fell on rocky places where there was not enough top soil for the seed to take root...they sprang up but had not depth and they were scorched by the sun.. Then other seed fell in the thorns and the thorns grew and chocked up the plant... lastly the seed feel on the good ground and the seed produced some bumper of 100, 60, 30…times more.

Then Jesus then concluded with the story… He simply says...-- let him who have ears let him hear...

Instead of resolving the tension of the story… He left the message of a clift hanger.

As you can imagine the disciples are confused about Jesus teaching...and so they confronted Jesus

Matthew 13:10 ESV

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

The disciples are confused! Why did you choose this occasion to teach in parables?

You have this huge crowd — the amazing opportunity to outline clearly… make your about your kingdom --- but instead gives this you basic lesson on farming? It doesn't add up!! What a missed opportunity!!

So the questions the disciples have for Jesus is Why Parables...

T/S Why did Jesus teach Parables?

1. To Contrast Information with Transformation.

We are living in the. “Information age.” Where on one hand it is amazing that you can google any topic that comes into to your mind… and find something on that topic..…

That is the upside of living in the information age… On the other hand.. but the down side is that there is often too much information creates its own set of problems… One of the problems of informations overloads.. is that you don’t always get the facts.....

A recent cover story for The Economist, was entitled "Yes, I'd lie to you: The post-truth world."

The article analyzed the dishonesty that's wreaking havoc in politics, journalism, social media, and many other areas of our common life.

One expert quoted in the article said, "Right now, it pays to be outrageous, but not to be truthful”

When it comes to the Bible ---

truth is not just for our consumption… but truth is for our transformation...

- Dwight L. Moody

The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation. Dwight L. Moody 

Jesus preaching was part information and part transformation..

Jesus taught on one subject more than anything else during his ministry… and that was on the subject of the Kingdom of God…

It interesting that Matthew talks about the kingdom of heaven and John talks about the kingdom of God… We need to know that they are two and the same thing… The main difference is that Matthews message is to the Jews… who would avoid using the direct name of God… … and John speaking to a broader non jewish audience..

Jesus answers the disciples question in verse 11.

Matthew 13:11–12 ESV

11 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. 12 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.

Jesus answers the question Why Parables? He comes out right with the mission of his ministry… It is about the Kingdom of Heaven...

He tells his disciples that they are blessed because they have been GRANTED to UNDERSTAND the mystery/secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven...

But at the same time Jesus makes us aware that there is another group represented … made up of Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes…who have not been granted understanding.....

The followers of Jesus were given the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.

Some translations say “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Now that word “mystery” or “secret” refers to something that was hidden in the Old Testament and now made known in the New Testament.

So it was no secret that God was going to send the Messiah to usher in a kingdom.

What was a secret/mystery was what kind of Messiah that would be, and how that Messiah would conquer.

Jesus was concerned that by hearing and seeing the Messiah they might turn to Him for blessing without actually understanding the true nature of what God was doing.

The parables were helping them understand what kind of King He is and what kind of kingdom He is ushering in… was different ....

Tim Keller gives this wonderful analogy of how the kingdom of God differs from earthly kingdoms… He tells us that our worldly Kingdoms always move forward by coercion and force… You look at conquerers like Alexandar the great --- you either fight to the death or you give in...

The kingdom of God, though, is different. It’s like a seed and not like a boulder. When the boulder comes to hit the ground, it smashes the ground, but the seed comes in very quietly. The boulder transforms the ground, revolutionizes it externally. The seed revolutionizes it internally. The boulder comes in and does it suddenly and coercively. The seed comes and does it organically, gradually, and gently.

The boulder actually just breaks the land, but the seed transforms the soil into a garden or a forest. It transforms it by reorienting and rechanneling its energies, its nutrients, and its minerals into life-giving processes.

The boulder actually doesn’t really change the land. It just breaks it with sheer external power. The seed transforms it completely and ultimately transforms it more completely.

What is the kingdom of heaven?

The kingdom of heaven—which, is synonymous with the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Christ—is the redemptive rule or reign of God in Christ… Not so much talking about a place but rather the influence of the King...

So in that sense, you could say that the kingdom of heaven is everything in the world, because God has rule and reign over everything in the world.

In the Lord’s prayer we say, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come …”

What does that mean? That means, “God, assert your redemptive rule and reign across the earth in Christ!”

Or Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness.”

What does that mean? That means, “Don’t worry about this or that. Seek and submit to the redemptive rule and reign of God in every facet of your life, and all these things will be given to you.”

Or Mark 10:15, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

What does that mean? It means, “Like a child, you receive and embrace the rule or reign of God through Christ in your life.

The kingdom of heaven is a present reality: The King is here, and His kingdom is advancing.

It is inviting ....

God’s rule and reign over disease and disasters and death is being asserted redemptively through Christ. So there is a very real sense in which the kingdom of heaven is at hand; it is present.

That is the information Part of Parables.. to teach us about the Kingdom of God.… But on the other-side of that of information transformation part of truth… Jesus tells us we have to go deeper for transformation.

C. To Dig deeper into Spiritual Truth.

Here is the thing with a parable is it forces you go deeper? The narrative draws you in.... and then you find yourself asking what does this mean?

Matthew 13:12 ESV

12 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.

Jesus says that the person who receives the word will be given even more… and the one who has not received will loose what they have…

But You don’t want to stop there...

Different kinds of soil…produce different kinds of harvests… Jesus saw that the Key to agriculture was the type of soil....

There is inherent power in the word of God to change your life… There have been whole regions of the world that have been transformed by the gospel....

The issue is not with the Word --- but in the condition of our hearts...

You can hear the word… and not take it to heart… and it won’t stick…

Seed will not stick on the hard Path… it will not stick in the rocky places… it will not stick in the thorns..

But watch what happens when the conditions are perfect… when the seed and right soil meet… You will literally see that seed grow from nothing into a harvest..

Why Parables?

1. To Contrast Information from Transformation.

2. To Contrast the REAL from the FAKE. .

PARABLES ARE ALL ABOUT Contrasts and COMPARISONS ..

Contrasts help us define or recognize patterns between what is true and what is fake… How do you determine whether you have a counterfeit dollar note or not… You compare it to a real note…

You make comparisons. Parables often use Similes … the words “like” or “as”as a technical device to make comparisons.

Jesus spoke in Parables to contrast the real from the false..Those who had real faith and those who had bought into a religious system…

Why Parables? Jesus answers his disciples..

Matthew 13:13–15 ESV

13 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. 14 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.” 15 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.’

The reason Jesus taught primarily in parables is because Truth can meets people at different levels…

There would have been diverse crowd listening to Jesus.... There where the curious, there where those who had hopes and expectations of Jesus being the Messiah.. There would have been those who Religious leaders — waiting for Jesus to make a mistake or mis-speak… Then there were genuine believers… seeking to mature in Faith..

Jesus could also conceal truth from those who were denying the obvious. In spite of miracle after miracle, teaching after teaching, the crowds and religious leaders were still not believing in Jesus as the Christ, and He said, “To them it has not been given” to understand these stories.).

The problem is sometimes their is saturation without depth.... For example -- pharisees -memorized laws, prophets...

It wasn't that they didn't have access...problem is being so close to truth that it doesn't impact us personally... Doesn't change our thoughts our behaviors...

Jesus goes back to Isaiah's prophecy... pointed out perpetual problem not only in his time, but existed in the time of Christ...

This is a problem that has persisted throughout history..

At the end of book of Acts 28:23 Paul is in Rome and he has an opportunity to speak to some of the Jewish leaders there.... these were a group of Jewish leaders who had heard warned about Christian sect... but had not much about Paul... and wanted to learn more about his views on the Christians..

On an appointed day the great number of Jews came to listen to Paul... and he expounded the kingdom of God...showing them from both the law and the prophets that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.. He spoke from morning till evening...

The apostle Paul was a master in rhetoric... Paul had both depth and background of his Jewish heritage, former Zealot and Pharisee... having amazing breadth of knowledge of the scripture and ability…\ When you think Paul could arrive in a city and after a short while plant a church... among gentiles... But here, he has a captive audience... he has all the time needed... they are listening.. but at the end of the day --- he had only reached a few people...

Paul stands back and makes the observation --- that Holy Spirit had it right when he spoke through the prophet Isaiah... that some people will hear and never understand.... they will see and never perceive.. because their hearts have grown dull.. and they have their eyes shut... because if they had known and understood they would have been healed....

Both Jesus and Paul recognized that what we often face is hearts and eyes that are blinded to the gospel..

Parables are for our healing.

b. Check out your heart health

Jesus is challenging His followers to check out your own heart…It is easy to fall into the camp where you are going through the motions… You are hearing truth… but the truth isn’t transforming you any more…

Jesus knew that there would be those who would reject truth... but there is a blessing that comes with those who have an appetite for the word of life...

We need to..

a. Check out your Spiritual appetite

Jesus speaks in parables... to invoke in his hearers spiritual hunger.

Most of us don’t like missing a meal… Sometimes, I will skip breakfast… and at about 11:30 my blood sugar drops and energy is down and I’m ready to be refueled.

Something would be wrong if I missed several meals and didn’t feel hungry… Living in Africa, hunger is a huge problem… you often see malnutrition… you can physically see someone who suffers from malnutrition… Well there is not only Physical malnutrition … If you can go days and week without cracking open your Bible --- You might not know it … but your have spiritual malnutrition...

Jesus tells His disciples that

There is so much meat in the parables that those who are hungry for spiritual food.. will be blessed the spiritual truth that they have will be compounded.... it will be given and there will be abundance...

Jesus taught on the sermon on the Mount that there is a blessing for those who hunger for righteousness...

Matthew 5:6 ESV

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

But, on the other hand... if there is no desire... no spiritual hunger the converse is true... that even the truth that you have been given will be taken away from you…

This is an interesting concept that you can actually loose ground --- when you are no longer in the word, no longer in prayer, no longer seeking after spiritual things...

Purpose of parables --

Why Parables? to show

1. To Contrast Information from Transformation.

2. To Contrast the REAL from the FAKE.

3. To Contrast the Revealed from the Concealed.

The purpose of Parables are to Contrast — to throw along side… The idea is to reveal and conceal… To provoke the hearer to action…to shake this up

The hope of the Gospel… is alway for transformation and healing.

Jesus did not teach in parables to confuse or condemn the people. Rather, He sought to excite their interest and arouse their curiosity. These parables would give light to those with trusting, searching hearts…

Matthew 13:16–17 ESV

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 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.

Jesus wants to the disciples to consider the blessing of having the knowledge of the Kingdom of God…

What he is talking about is revelation…which simply mean to make known…

Not only was the Mystery of the Kingdom of God hidden from the religious leaders of the day… but it was also concealed from the prophets in the Old Testament...

Even thought the prophet in the OT wrote about the Messiah and his Kingdom… They didn’t understand what it all ment...

Jesus says consider the blessing … that the Disciples enjoyed and

to Consider the blessings of knowing about the breaking in of the Kingdom of God.

The blessing came because they understood the meaning of the Kingdom of God… That it was time for Christ rule and reign and dominion...

I don’t know is you caught this on the News this week… but there is a dust storm from Sahara desert --- that has crossed over the atlantic ocean and came into United States this past Thursday..… This plume of dust has travelled over 5000 miles... Apparently, the last time something like this happened was 50 years ago.. When the dust storm hit Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, it darkened the skies and reduced visibility to only a few miles...

Sometimes storms come at us from nowhere… and we might find ourselves in a dust storm where we are struggling to see God’s Kingdom…

The Bible tells us to seek First his Kingdom and his righteousness… But when you are in a dust storm… visibility is reduced.

If you are not seeing or hearing correctly…we need to ask God to reveal himself to us...… The parables are designed to point things out… to get our attention… They are designed to make us whole...

As we start out praying that we would understand see and hear that despite what is happening in our world right now ---His Kingdom is at hand…

Here is the thing… God is the greatest storyteller and the best news is that His story is far from over.

When we attentive to God story of the Kingdom that story becomes our story too...

- Craig Groeschel

Your story is not over. It's not too late to change the story you'll tell one day.

lets pray..