AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURES OF SPEECH
message
2: THE PARABLE
*
"Every well-chosen and presented illustration in the sermon lets a
flood of intellectual light into the hearts and minds of the hearers." |
AT THIS
time let us study parables as they appear in the Scriptures. In the Old
Testament a crisp, terse saying was called a parable. The Proverbs of
Solomon are called parables. An examination of this portion of the Word of
God shows that couplets constitute the basis for this type of revelation.
In the New Testament the term rendered parable comes from two words which
mean beside and to throw down or place. A parable, according to the
etymology of this word, is therefore the laying down of some known or
acknowledged fact, principle, or truth beside that which is unknown. The
object in doing this was to institute a comparison in order that one might
deduct the unknown from the known.
Generally speaking, the parables are of such a nature that only one point
was in view. They are like figures of speech. For instance, should I use a
metaphor in stating, "He was a lion in the fight," I would be making a
comparison between some person of whom I was speaking and a lion. There
would be only one point, however, that would be common to the person and
the lion. The lion is recognized as the king of beasts and is thought of
as being able to conquer the rest, or rule over them. Thus by this
metaphor I would mean that the one of whom I spoke had been a victor on
account of his strength and power over his opponents. Someone has said
that a parable is simply an extended metaphor. This is true and must be
acknowledged as such. But in recognizing the kinship between a metaphor
and a parable, let us not go to the extreme and think of a parable as an
allegory. This latter type of language is the use of certain story
material - either fact or fiction - that is presented in order to carry
along a spiritual lesson. The facts are stated, or the story is told. But
it is not the purpose of the speaker or writer to bring into sharp focus
the things that he is saying. On the contrary, it is his desire to lead
his hearers or readers to see some great fundamental principle which runs
along parallel with his story, and which is obvious. If I should speak in
geometrical terms, I would say that a parable is like two circles that are
tangent. It is for us to find that one idea and not try to make the
illustration go "on all fours." This is the general rule for a parable;
there are, however, in certain contexts parables that are intended to deal
with more than one point. But each one must be studied in the light of the
facts as they are presented in the text.
An Examination Of Certain Parables
Our Lord Jesus Christ concluded His Sermon on the Mount
(Matt., chaps. 5,6, and 7) by giving us a parable of two builders who
erected houses, but upon different foundations. In this parable the Lord
likened the one who hears His words and obeys them to the person who is
wise and discreet, and who, when he builds a house, digs down deep to the
rock, lays the foundation upon it, and upon this erects his building. When
the rains descend, the winds blow, and the floods come, they beat upon
this house; but it stands, because of the fact that it has a firm
foundation upon which it is well-located and built. On the other hand, the
one who hears His message of love, but rejects it, refusing to accept it
and to conform his life thereto, is like the foolish man who built a house
upon the sand. When the rains began to fall, the wind to blow, and the
floods to beat upon that house, it falls, because it has no foundation.
Thus in this pictorial way, our Lord compared those who hear, and who heed
His teaching and those who hear, but who refuse to be obedient to His
instructions, to the two different builders. They show their wisdom or
their lack of understanding by the kind of foundation upon which they
build, the firm foundation or the one that is only shifting sand. The
person who hears and heeds the teaching of the Lord is the one who builds
his house for eternity; but the one who builds upon the sand suffers
eternal loss.
We can see the one main point, therefore, that is illustrated by the
parable. For us to try to find some hidden, spiritual, or mysterious
meaning and read that into the text would be to do violence to the Word of
God.
Let us look at another parable. In Matthew 13:31,32 we have the parable of
the mustard seed. Jesus stated it thus:
31. The kingdom of heaven is like unto
a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32. which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is
greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of
the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof. |
That which Jesus called the kingdom of heaven, He compared
to a certain grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his
field, and which indeed developed into an abnormal plant, a tree. In this
thirteenth chapter of Matthew the Lord was presenting the teaching
regarding the kingdom of heaven by the use of these various parables, each
of which presents some one or more phases of this great kingdom of heaven.
In this parable He said that the kingdom is like a grain of mustard seed,
which is the smallest of all seeds, which a man planted in his field, and
which developed into this abnormal growth, becoming a tree in which the
birds of the heavens came and found lodgment. It is clear that the Lord
was not talking about just any mustard seed, but a specific one, which a
certain man planted and which developed abnormally. This growth, then, of
the plant from such a small beginning into this great tree sets forth some
one characteristic of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus spoke about this institution which He called the kingdom of heaven
and compared it to the reign of God upon the earth. Kings obtain the right
to rule over certain territory, that is, over the subjects, the people who
live within the limits of the kingdom. John the Baptist announced that the
kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God, had come to hand. Jesus sounded the
same note. The Twelve, when they went forth on the limited, or restricted
mission in Galilee, proclaimed the same message. During the last six
months of our Lord's ministry the Seventy in Judea proclaimed the same
message. Upon the authority of all these witnesses we cannot believe
otherwise than that which is known as the kingdom of heaven, or the reign
of heaven, had come near. When we read further in the second chapter of
Acts, we see that this kingdom was established when the Holy Spirit came
and inspired the Apostles to speak the message of truth and to lay the
foundations upon which the church of God is built. Before Pentecost, we
read of the kingdom as being in the future (Matt.16:18); after that
memorable day, we read of it as being in existence (Acts 8:12; 20:25;
28:31). These facts point positively in the direction that the kingdom
which was announced by John, the Saviour, the Twelve, and the Seventy was
established on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. It
exists through this age. During the Tribulation the Lord will purge out
all the tares, the wicked ones, from it and will take the kingdom over.
(Ed note: If the reader is interested in a study of the Parables of the
Kingdom, we suggest that he read
http://www.biblicalresearch.info/page318.html).
Then will be fulfilled the prophecy that the
kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ
(Rev. 11:15). But in the parable of the mustard seed the phenomenal
development of the kingdom into a super growth is the one feature about
the kingdom which the Lord foretold. Personally, I am convinced that this
was fulfilled by the so-called conversion of Constantine the Great, who
forcibly imposed Christianity upon the Roman Empire. There was a growth
and an expansion of the kingdom of God into one great politico-religious
octopus. The seeds were sown for the development of a corrupt
ecclesiasticism, which has borne fruit throughout the Dark Ages and even
to the present time.
In Matthew 13:33 Jesus spoke a parable, comparing the kingdom of heaven
unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three
measures of meal, till it was all leavened. Here again we have
one outstanding point which is common to the kingdom of heaven, and which
is common to the fact related in the parable. The comparison brings out
another feature of the kingdom of heaven. According to the statement of
the Lord, a certain woman took leaven and inserted it into three measures
of meal. This leaven grew and developed until it permeated all the meal.
Why the Lord said three measures, no one can tell. Of course conjectures
and surmises may be in order; but in the absence of positive proof no one
can be dogmatic. The three measures of meal may have been put into one
vessel. Then the woman inserted leaven into the meal, and it continued to
work and foment until it affected the entire lot of meal. It is clear that
this is a parable, and that leaven here is symbolic of something - of some
power or force that permeates the entire portion of the meal. By an
examination of all the instances in the New Testament where the word,
leaven, is used symbolically, it is seen to signify something evil. The
presumption therefore is that it has the same significance here, unless
there is something in the context contrary to this thought, or unless
there is evidence in some other passage that contradicts such an idea. One
will look in vain for any such negative evidence. In the preceding parable
at which we have just looked, we see that the kingdom of heaven would take
on an abnormal growth - something contrary to nature. Anything that is
beyond the normal may excite our curiosity. The fact that the leaven
permeates all the meal indicates something that at least is in harmony
with that in the preceding verses, which is abnormal.
This thought is in perfect agreement with the interpretation that leaven
symbolizes something evil in other places and doubtless also in this
place. Looking at the facts as just presented, we have a right to believe
that leaven here is a symbol of something evil.
The woman is the one who inserts the leaven into the meal. The leaven
being symbolic, we have a right to believe that the woman likewise is a
symbol. It is she who introduces, this leaven into the meal. In other
places where we see a woman used symbolically, she always represents some
kind of ecclesiasticism. A pure, virtuous woman signifies the true church
of God; whereas a woman who is a harlot represents a false religious
system. These facts lead us to believe that the woman in this instance
represents the false ecclesiasticism which developed in the Middle Ages,
and which injected some leavening, evil influence into the kingdom of
heaven that corrupted it. We shall not be far wrong if we conclude that
the leaven which she introduced into the meal was nothing but false,
corrupt teachings, doctrines and practices; since the teachings of the
Pharisees and Sadducees were called by the Saviour
the leaven of the Pharisees.
Without doubt the explanation given of the parable of the grain of mustard
seed and the leaven deposited by the woman in the three measures of meal
is beyond controversy. We have seen that each parable had one central
thought to present. There was therefore one point of contact between the
parable and the truth to be taught. But, when we look at the parable of
the sower, we see that there are a number of points which the Saviour
brought, together in this one parable. One should read Matthew 13:1-23. In
substance the parable is this; The sower went forth to sow seed. As he did
this, some of the seed fell upon the side of the road. The birds
immediately came and devoured the seed. Other seed fell upon the rocky
soil where there was little earth. Forthwith this seed sprang up into
plants; but when the sun became hot and scorching, it withered and died
because it did not have depth of soil in which it was growing. Moreover,
there were other seeds that fell among thorns. These sprang up and
developed into plants, but the thorns choked out these plants so that they
did not bring forth any fruit to perfection. There was still other seed
which fell upon good soil, and which brought forth fruit - some thirty,
some sixty, and some a hundred fold. Jesus explained this parable, saying
that the seed which fell upon the wayside soil represent the Word of God
as it is preached, and as it falls upon the hearts of people who are
indifferent, and who are not interested. They therefore do not receive the
Word - just like the seed that falls upon the hard, roadside soil. The
devil immediately comes and snatches this Word away from the heart lest
haply the one thus having heard should believe and be saved. The seed
falling upon rocky soil represents those who hear the gospel message and
who embrace it most enthusiastically. But they have little stability of
purpose of heart. When therefore conditions become somewhat trying, and
not so favorable as at first, they fall away, which fact shows that there
is no real spiritual life in this group of people. The seed falling among
thorns represents those who hear the Word, who endure for a while, but who
become offended at the delay of the materializing of the promise of God
and become engrossed with the cares of life and its pleasures. Thus the
Word and all evidence of spiritual life is choked out so that they do not
bring forth any fruit whatsoever. All three of the classes thus enumerated
are those who hear, but in whom the Word does not find deep and abiding
lodgment, and who do not bring forth any fruit for the kingdom of God.
On the other hand, those seeds which fall in good ground represent those
who have faith, who surrender their lives to God, and who accept Christ.
The new life is imparted. They are strengthened by the Spirit of God and
bring forth different amounts of fruit - some thirty fold, some sixty
fold, while others produce one hundred fold.
It is clear from the way the Lord spoke of the four different types of
soil upon which the seed falls and His explanation of the seed falling
upon these different kinds of soil show beyond a peradventure that these
details stood out clearly in the Saviour's mind, and that He wanted us to
see them and to understand that there are the four points of contact
between the parable and the kingdom of God, to which He wished to direct
our attention.
Other parables might be given, but these are sufficient to stimulate in us
a desire to interpret the parables and to be cautious, observing the basic
laws involved in parables. A failure to recognize these general principles
has proved to be a fruitful source for untold guessing, speculation, and
wild theorizing.
The Purpose Of A Parable
Though some of the Old Testament prophets occasionally did
use a parable, our Lord is the one who used them so very much. Evidently
there was a reason for His adopting this method of instruction. Why did
Jesus employ the parabolic method in instructing people? On many occasions
He spoke in the simplest language, putting His message in such a way that
the humblest and most under-privileged people, educationally speaking,
could understand what He had to say. A survey of the Gospel records shows
that that was the principle He followed as a general rule. On many
occasions He spoke in parables. Why, do you suppose, did He change His
method on certain occasions? Evidently there was a reason.
We have been told that an old Chinese proverb declares that one picture is
worth ten thousand words. This possibility is no exaggeration. In many
instances a picture can convey a clearer idea to a person than possibly
twice, or several times that number of words. We think in terms of our
experiences and the things with which we are acquainted. The one who can
clothe his ideas in language that is familiar to his hearers will be
better able to teach them. Parables are illustrations. Someone has said
that illustrations are to a sermon what windows are to a house - they
admit light to it. Every well-chosen and presented illustration in the
sermon lets a flood of intellectual light into the hearts and minds of the
hearers. We have every reason to believe that Jesus adopted the parabolic
method of instruction in order that those people who wished truth, and who
were under-privileged from an educational standpoint, might see the truth,
accept it, and be saved. A study of all the parables that are recorded in
the Gospels will lead one to that conclusion. To the one, therefore, who
is honest, sincere, and unbiased in his attitude toward the truth, the
parables chosen by our Lord become most illuminating and instructive.
But all people do not want truth. All too many become confirmed in their
own ways of thinking and find it most difficult to lay aside their
prejudices and preconceptions in order that they might receive the truth.
For all such people who were in the audiences of our Lord on special
occasions, Jesus used the parabolic method. This fact is seen in the
following quotation:
And the disciples came, and said unto
him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11. And he answered
and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12. For whoever
hath to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but
whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he
hath. 13. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they
see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand, 14.
And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By
hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing
ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 15. For this people's
heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their
eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And
should turn again, and I should heal them. 16. But blessed are your
eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17. For verily I
say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see
the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things
which ye hear, and heard them not. ~
Matthew 18:10-17 ~ |
From this quotation it is abundantly evident that Jesus
did speak in parables in order that those who did not want the truth, who
had a bias against it, and who would not accept it, might not see it. Why
did He not want them to have the truth? Another statement which He made
might throw light upon this question. The Lord Jesus said to His
disciples, 'Give not that which is holy to the
dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. There are
people whose attitude, from the spiritual standpoint, immediately puts
them in the class of dogs and hogs. We may conclude that whenever Jesus
saw people of that nature in His audience, He adopted the parabolic form
so that they could not take the gems - sparkling, brilliant rubies and
diamonds of truth - and tread them down under their feet. Hence, on the
occasion when Jesus spoke the parables recorded in Matthew, chapter 13, we
are logical in concluding that there were people in the audience who would
not receive His message, but who were there to carp and to criticize.
Having such an unholy bias, they were unable to take a hold of these
marvelous truths. All they could do was to distort them and use them
against the Lord Jesus.
In view of all the facts discussed above, and especially of those
connected with the parable of the sower, we have every reason to believe
that one's attitude toward truth and toward the Lord Jesus Christ will put
him into one of the four classes which are represented by the four
different types of soil mentioned in the parable of the sower. Does this
statement then, one may ask, assume that there may be a person who
naturally falls into the class represented by the seed falling on the
wayside soil, but who, by his attitude toward the truth, is taken from
that class and is placed in the fourth group that brings forth an abundant
harvest? Yes, it means that. Are we therefore to assume that all have the
same capacity and are on an equal footing by birth and by environment? No;
we are not to arrive at such an erroneous conclusion. This is contrary to
facts. But we learn that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound
(Rom. 5:20). Anyone who will accept truth and receive the Saviour, coming
to Him, shall in no wise be cast out. * *
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