Parallel Chapter Seven

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Chapter 7

Parables

Parables are metaphorical stories that share a strong message but often hide the antagonist to protect the writer or speaker. Jesus loved to speak in parables, at least according the synoptic writers. Luke includes 24 (18 are unique), Matthew 23 (11 unique) and Mark 8 (2 unique) in their teachings of Jesus. Interestingly enough John according to many scholars has none. John does include some short analogies that some scholars point to as parables. Again the question is not why is John different but what is it that John is trying to say. John writes from the point of view of history, looking back at his time with Jesus, even to the point of spending a great deal of time sharing their lack of understanding at what Jesus was trying to tell them. John’s point in all this is that Jesus is truly who He said He was.

For the synoptic writers the most important thing to be learned from Jesus was faith. Jesus focus was on believing in the power of God, believing in who Jesus was and spending time trusting God in all that we do. The first parable that I highlighted is the parable of the sower. What makes this parable important is that all three writers spend time not only sharing the parable, but also sharing the meaning of the parable with a caveat. That caveat is that Jesus shares with them that not understanding the meaning is paramount to not believing.

^NRS Matthew 13:1 The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' ¹⁴ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. ¹⁵ For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.' ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

^NRS Mark 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; ¹² in order that 'they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.'" ¹³ And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?

^NRS Luke 8:1 ¹⁰ He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.'

All three writers use parables then to promote the idea that it is through faith alone that understanding comes from the teachings of Jesus.

           All three writers include some of the favorites, the Parable of the Mustard Seed that shares that the kingdom of God starts out with a small glimmer of faith and grows into a strong tree that can support the birds of the air. By the way, “Birds of the Air” was a saying in Jesus day often referring to the Gentile nation who moved about while most Jews were born, lived and died within 30-40 miles of their home.

           Another of the parables worth noting is the Parable about “He who has ears”. All three use it to again emphasize that faith is the primary objective of following Jesus. Followers of Jesus who have such faith then would have opened to the teachings in such a way that they would understand the message that God is trying to convey to the world through them. Some of the more famous parables appear only in Matthew and Luke. The Parable of the Leven Bread and the Parable of the Lost Sheep do find their way into Mark’s story. Interestingly enough Mark has the least of the parables in his Gospel. Did he not know them or in his effort to preach to the Gentile world did he not find them as important. Again, maybe not the right question.

           All three writers also address the idea of what is the most important commandment. All three show it as a test given to Jesus by the Sanhedrin to try and trip him up.

^NRS Deuteronomy 6:1 Now this is the commandment-- the statutes and the ordinances-- that the LORD your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, ² so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. ³ Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

This prayer, called the Shema, from verses 4 and 5 is foundational to the Hebrew understanding of what is important and is considered even today to be the greatest commandment God has given us. In all three synoptic gospel, Jesus answers correctly by repeating the Shema. Then He adds to it remarking that we are to love one another as well. Luke takes it a step further with the Good Samaritan. Matthew might well have left that part out since it would not have found favor among the Hebrew people while Mark reaching out the Romans may well have left it out because they would not have truly understood the significance.

           Only Matthew and Luke have included the parable of the Great supper that many believe points to the day of judgement that will come, who will find favor, and who will not. However, all three use this parable to share that we are to be the enhancers of God’s word, to be the preservers of the Word throughout the ages.