Parables of Jesus Christ

Parables

• Because of the dangers of improper interpretation
• The evident lapse into allegorization of parables
• There needs to be Biblical safeguards and guidelines
• Here are the safeguards and guidelines we'll use

Interpretation of Parables

• Come from the authors cultural background
• We should look at: Manners, customs, material culture
• This is bridging: historical, geographical, and cultural
• This gape exists between our generation and Christ's
• The parables are far more Palestinian then Western

We should find out

• Who the parable is being told to
• Identify with the original hearers
• Search out the setting

Kenneth E. Bailey wrote "Palestinian Christians saw their own culture reflected in the parables and could thereby understand the teller/authors intent directly."

Crucial questions

• Attitude
• Relationship
• Response
• Value judgement

Crucial Questions

Parables

• Lost sheep, lost coin, lost son
• Luke 15:1-2 Jesus receiving sinners
• Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Given to a lawyer testing Jesus
• Luke 10:25-37 - Jesus' answer

Parable

• The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
• Given to Peter
• Matthew 18:21-35
• When originally spoken the hearer = interpreter

Interpreting the Parable

• Must realize there is
• One major
• Fundamental
• Spiritual truth in it

Interpreting the Parable

• Seek to discover this truth
• Even if there are secondary truths
• Secondary truths will 
• Reinforce, under gird 
• The one central truth or key

Examples of central truths

• Virgins - Matthew 25:13
• Lost Sheep, Coin, Son - Luke 15:2, 7, 10
• Sometimes it's at the beginning 
• Unjust judge - Luke 18:1
• Parable of the Pounds - Luke 19:11

Examples of central truths

• Sometimes its at the beginning and end
• The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
• Matthew 18:22, 35
• Major truth - forgive as God forgives

In each of these Parables

• We can find secondary truths
• They all under gird the central truth

Myles Coverdale(AD 1535): "It shall greatly help you to understand Scripture, if you mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, and to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before what followeth."

We have to investigate

• What - is being said(literal not allegorical)
• Of Whom - who is being talked about?
• To Whom - Who is Jesus talking to?
• With what words - language/terms
• What time - What time in Jesus ministry? 

We have to investigate

• Where - was Jesus when he spoke?
• To what intent - what was the purpose?
• What circumstances?
• What goeth before - preceeding context
• What followeth - succeeding context

Threefold cord - Ecc. 4:12

• Observation - what does it actually say?
• Interpretation - what does it actually mean?
• Application - how does the moral apply to us?

Threefold cord - Ecc. 4:12

• Observation - knowledge
• Interpretation - understanding
• Application - wisdom(Proverbs 1:1-6)
• A parable has one main focal point
• But it is also a comparison

Parables

• Comparison between
• natural realm
• spiritual realm
• Each detail corresponds to the spiritual realm
• They are all related to the focal point

Kind of like a jig-saw puzzle. The puzzle has many parts but there is one picture. All the parts are necessary to complete the whole picture. To leave any part will leave holes.

We work from part to whole and whole to part without forcing the parts. All of the parts are necessary to make up the whole parable.

There is a safeguard though

• We can't force interpretation
• All the details find their significance in relation
• To the truth
• The main point
• Its major, moral, and spiritual truth

Parables have a twofold purpose

• Reveal truth
• Conceal truth
• This all depended on the attitude of the hearers
• We can see this in the words of Jesus' disciples
• Matthew 13:10

Matthew 13:13-14

• This was the general attitude of the multitude
• Eyes to see and didn't see...
• The disciples eyes, ears, and hearts were blessed
• They had spiritual sight, hearing, and perception
• Jesus' purpose Luke 8:9-10, Isaiah 6:10(lest they...)

Interpreting the Parables

• The parables have a moral
• The parable clothes truth in external form
• Had Jesus given truth straight, would have been forgotten
• So he clothes it in parables and symbols
• It's much easier to remember

Hebrews 9:9

• The Tabernacle was a "parable"
• Within it there are numerous symbols
• They all hold truth in external form
• The Tabernacle is gone but the truth's remain
• So to understand it we go from literal to figurative

Distinctions of a Parable

Distinctions of a Parable

Parables

• Parables not to be made sources of doctrine
• Doctrines should not be founded on parables
• Parables used to illustrate and confirm doctrine
• Ideas on parables must never contradict theology

The Purpose

• Bring to bear the moral on our lives
• Observation leads to interpretation
• Interpretation leads to practical application
• It helps to lead to formation of our character

Parables fall into two groupings

• Interpreted parables
• Uninterpreted parables
• Jesus interpreted two parables in Matthew 13
• Didn't really interpret any other parables
• We have to use the first parable as a key

The Interpreted Parables

• Parable of the sower and seed
• Parable of the wheat and Tares
• Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23
• Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Key to the Parables

• So how do we interpret the others
• Use the Key
• Mark 4:13 - If you don't understand
• We can use these two parables as samples
• They show how Jesus interpreted the parables

Method and Format

• Format is basically five-fold
• The Scripture, setting, moral, exposition
• Finally the practical application

The Scripture of the Parable

• First off - 2 Timothy 3:16 "all scripture"
• For reproof, and instruction
• Secondly - read reference carefully
• This gives general knowledge of wording and language
• We'll see symbols to interpret as well as a truth to reveal

The Setting of the Parable

• Second most important step to understanding
• May be two fold: Historical and Inspirational

Historical Setting

• Sets the stage
• Can be done by considering preceding events
• Sometimes parables come from conversations
• Sometimes accusations
• Sometimes from disciples sometime others

Historical Setting

• Sometimes given in answer to questions
• Sometimes spoken to the disciples
• Sometimes the multitude
• Sometimes individuals or religious leaders
• Where, what were circumstances, to whom?

Inspiration Setting

• We believe the Gospels were inspired
• The writers were unique
• Matthew wrote to?
• Parables in Matthew - kingdom of Heaven
• Mark  and Luke present them uniquely

Settings

• Both blend together and give
• Proper understanding
• Proper interpretation
• Proper exposition

Steps so far

• All scripture is inspired
• Read reference

The Moral of the Parable

• Next thing is to see is the moral
• The spiritual lesson
• The central truth

The Moral of the Parable

• The central truth could be the "hub"
• The supplemental truths could be the "spokes"
• All form the wheel of the parable
• Not just one truth, yet there is a central truth
• Discover central truth early 

The Moral of the Parable

• Each parable has a major truth
• Supportive truths
• The Parables set for portions of truths
• No one parable is all of the truth

Guidelines we will use in this Class

• Observation
• Interpretaion
• Application

Observation

• What do the Scriptures actually say?
• Not what I want it to say
• What are the words used?
• The words were inspired by the Holy Ghost

Interpretation

• Not only: What does it say?
• What does it mean?
• What did it mean to the hearers?
• What does it mean now to us?

Interpretation

• Interpret symbols using scripture
• Compare the parable to other Gospels
• What's the context?
• Avoid extremes
• Pay attention to the "time element"

Application

• This is the end result of the process
• How can the truth be applied to our life?
• May be one interpretation. 
• There are many applications
• Truth is eternal. It applies to all generations