More Parables of Jesus

AS WE DISCOVERED IN THE LAST FIVE READINGS, Jesus used parables all the time in his teaching ministry. He'd tell an interesting story and use it to communicate an important or sometimes threatening truth to his listeners.

In our next five readings, we'll cover another set of parables based on two topics. The first is perhaps the greatest theme that emerges from Jesus' parables: the kingdom of heaven. We've already established a basic definition of that mysterious phrase: God's rule on the earth (see chap. 41). But that sounds too much like a quote from a theology book. We'll understand it much better when we read the stories Jesus told.

When you do, you'll notice that Jesus never said, "The kingdom of heaven is exactly this– – –. Period!" Instead, he said, "The kingdom of heaven is like..." and then connected it to a good short story. That's because there is so much to understand. Each of the ten parables about the kingdom of heaven (some are very short, so we'll read several at a time) gives us a different insight into this major theme. In the end, you'll need to piece everything together. It's like assembling a jigsaw puzzle; after a while, you can begin to see the full picture.

The second topic in this section is actually a variation of the parable teaching method. John called it a "figure of speech" John 10:6). Instead of telling a full-blown story with a plot and a punch line, Jesus pointed his listeners to a familiar object- a shepherd, a flock of sheep, a gate, a vine, some branches, a gardener- and used the analogy to explain deep truth.

Whether it's a story or figure of speech, there's a lot to learn from the parables of Jesus. So let's get back to it.

It's Like...

PRAY: Lord, you know the clutter that fills my heart and mind today. Please enable me to look beyond that to what you want me to see in your Word.

READ: Matthew 13:1-58

REFLECT: As we sort through the collection of six parables in Matthew 13, it will help to remember our basic definition of the kingdom of heaven since that's the theme that holds this chapter together. In essence, the kingdom of heaven is God's rule on the earth, or his territory and people (see chap. 41).

Perhaps the most famous of these parables is the first, about "the sower" (vv. 3-9). Jesus' description of a solitary farmer spreading seed by hand has been the subject of great paintings by Jean-François Millet (1851), Vincent van Gogh (1888), and many others. And even though most of us don't live in agrarian societies today, Jesus' reflections on where the seed fell still communicate an important truth about the Word of God: it must be received and nurtured to bear fruit in our lives.

Taken together, these parables help us see a more complete picture of the kingdom of heaven. It starts small (like seeds) and has a unique power to grow (like a mustard seed or yeast). It's worth everything you have to obtain (like hidden treasure or a pearl) and will eventually include many people (like a net). There's only one dark cloud on this beautiful canvas: some will oppose the kingdom of heaven and its inhabitants (like weeds). It's amazing how much truth Jesus packed into a few word sketches.

But all this raises an interesting question: Why did Jesus rely so much on parables (v. 10)? The answer is our willingness to receive his message. To learn from Jesus' parables requires that we receive his message with humility and faith, which is something many of his listeners lacked (v. 58). By quoting from Isaiah (vv. 14-15), Jesus is saying that those who understand with their heads only, that is, without believing, don't really understand it at all. To enter the kingdom of heaven requires knowledge and belief. That's what it means to "understand with your heart" (v.15).

APPLY: What word picture would you use to describe your understanding of the kingdom of heaven? It's like ____.

PRAY: Jesus, I do want to be included in your kingdom. Please increase my knowledge and strengthen my belief in who you are and what you offer me.