Why Did Jesus Preach in Parables? Намуна

God’s Appeal through Us

Some people say we should preach as Jesus preached. They think the method for how we communicate should be a story because it is the form Jesus used with parabolic preaching. I do not agree with the idea because Jesus told stories and parables, we should always do so too. We have many other examples in the New Testament as to what preaching should be. 

As believers today, sitting in church, when we hear parables we believe they help us get hold of the truth. The parable of the sower, for example, or the parable of the seed, however you want to describe it, is so helpful. The reason we find the parables helpful is that the Lord has saved us and we have access to His grace. We have His explanations for us in Scripture, as well as the teaching itself. 

The normal method of preaching we see in Scripture is first you read the text, then you explain it, illustrate it, synthesize it, and lastly you apply the text. Look at Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. All the elements of expository preaching can be seen in the approach Peter used when he delivered his sermon. That is how preaching is to be done. The only time our preaching is inerrant is when we are reading the text of Scripture—so, read it! Then explain it. Illustrate it with other passages of Scripture that deal with the same subject, summarize it, synthesize it, apply it, and exhort people with it. Call people to obey it, to respond to it. Do it with the heart of God. God is always making His appeal through us, so we exhort people, beg people to be reconciled to God through Christ. So, we act as evangelists and as shepherds as we teach the Word of God. 

Thank You, God, for the many ways You instruct us. Thank You for the parables and for the explanations You gave to the disciples so we would also be blessed by Jesus’ teaching. Thank you for Peter’s example of preaching on Pentecost. Thank you for psalms and proverbs and epistles. Most of all, thank You for Your love for us, for the longing we should all be reconciled to You. Grant us opportunities to be effective ambassadors for You.  

This devotional was based on an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. Consider subscribing to the Straight Truth Podcast YouTube Channel. We release new episodes every Thursday.