definition of a Scriptural parable

 

A Scriptural parable is a Heavenly Truth with a Heavenly meaning. Often the Heavenly Truth is told using a Heavenly story…a story originating in Heaven and using earthly illustrations as a part of the story for specific purposes. But, earthly illustrations always have specific limitations. They are of the finite earth, not the infinite Heaven.

 

Many Saints have been misled by sincere and earnest preachers and teachers giving the definition of: A parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning. Never mentioning the earthly story or illustrations aspect of their erroneous definition. CAN YOU SEE how the difference of their definition misleads and distorts Truth?

 

AND TO MENTION…Matthew 13:10-17 give us some of the most important, powerful, foundational fundamental Truth about parables found anywhere in the whole of Scripture.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear. and have not heard them.

WOW! What a bunch of Spiritual words our Lord gave forth at the question: Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?

 

But are you ready for perhaps the most staggering Truth given us in Matthew 13? Read vs. 34-35…

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

WOW! God tells us Jesus never uttered a word to the multitude except in a parable.

So, what are the Truths in this discourse?

1.      Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables.

2.      Jesus ONLY spoke to the multitudes IN parables.

3.      Parables can only be heard, seen, understood with the Supernatural Spiritual Ears of God, the Supernatural Spiritual Eyes of God, and in the Supernatural Spiritual Mind of God. WHICH ALL SAINTS TODAY ARE BLESSED WITH!

4.      At the moment of Matthew chapter 13, even the close disciples of Jesus DID NOT have any of that in #3. (how do we know that? look at v.18 and v.36: Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.  v.18                                                                                                  

Jesus went on to explain in more detail the very parable He had given in vs.3-9. "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field."  v.36

The disciples asked Him to do with the parable of the wheat and tares (that He had told them in vs.24-30) the same as He had done with the first parable…explain it to them. They would not need any explanation IF they had the Ears, Eyes, and Mind mentioned in vs.16-17.

5.      (now, listen!) Is Jesus God? Yes. Was/Is. How much of everything Jesus/God has written or said is a parable?

·         just the things declared to be parables?

·         or, everything...or almost everything?

 

To answer that last question, let us think about some things…

·     have you ever heard or read the Scripture and Heard, Seen, and Understood ALL?

·    have you ever read, and read, and read verses before that are not identified specifically as parables, and then can see and understand that they have a hidden meaning? A heavenly writing with a Heavenly meaning.

So we can look at all of Scripture and perhaps See that every Word of God is a parable...at least to the natural mind.