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Teaching by Parables

Text: Mark 4:1-20; Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
1 December 2013

TEACHING BY PARABLES

1. Chosen method: The Use of Parables          Mark 4:2

a) Story-telling method
b) Earthly story with a deep spiritual meaning

2. Parable of the Sower

3. The Disciples

a) The Twelve
b) There were others around The Twelve          Mark 4:10
c) They asked Jesus to explain the Parable of the Sower

4. An important word of explanation

a) The Disciples          Mark 4:11a
b) Those who were outside          Mark 4:11b

5. Reasons why Jesus spoke in parables

a) Seeing they may see and not perceive
b) Hearing they may hear and not understand
c) Lest they should turn and their sins be forgiven them          Mark 4:12

6. Important Prophetic Context

a) Isaiah’s ministry to Israel          Isaiah 6:9
b) Make the heart of this people dull
c) And their ears heavy
d) And shut their eyes
e) Lest they see with their eyes
f) And hear with their ears
g) And understand with their heart and return and be healed          Isaiah 6:10

7. Significance of this Context

a) The unrepentant hearts of the people
b) They had heard and seen so much but they had not responded
c) The word of God would now sound like parables to the people
d) If they wanted to learn they would have to put in extra effort
e) The “easy learning approach” was now over
f) If they wanted to learn deep spiritual truths they would have to work a little harder          Cf. Psalm 78

8. Context of the Lord Jesus

a) He had spoken plainly
b) He had performed mighty miracles
c) But despite all that He had done they had shown little spiritual comprehension
d) Isaiah 6:9-10 fitted the context and was thus applied by the Lord Jesus

POEMS CT

#10 HE TAUGHT BY PARABLES

Jesus taught the multitudes in so many wonderful ways,
His life was a marvel to behold, full of truth and grace.
He taught through the miraculous signs He performed,
Those who became disciples had their lives transformed.

But there were many who chose not to believe,
Their hearts were hardened, His word they did not receive.
Jesus still had a Divine Will that He must fulfil,
The teaching of God’s word was His Father’s will.

Jesus chose the form of parables to teach God’s word,
Great skill would be needed; But the Spirit of God would undergird.
The hearers would have to make an extra effort to learn,
The depth of meaning would only come to those who discern.

The parables offered hope to the multitudes at large,
They could still understand if their minds they would enlarge.
The teaching ministry of Jesus had taken a new curve,
The call was to follow Him as disciples- and that would take some nerve!

Inspiration: Mark 4:2