Word Nerd Wednesday - Parable

I’m so thrilled to welcome Sarah Travis back to My Messy Desk for Word Nerd Wednesday! She is super smart and shares that wisdom with us as we study a word you’ve probably heard before, but may not have looked at from this perspective!

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Parable | “a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson; especially : one of the stories told by Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible”

What is a parable? When were they used? Why did Jesus speak in parables?

In Greek “parabole” - a comparison, often uttered by our Lord, a teaching aid cast alongside the truth being taught.

There are many different lists, each with their own criteria for what constitutes a parable so I do not claim to have the definitive answer on the number of parables in Scripture! They are spread throughout Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some are in all three books, some of which there is only one Gospel record.

What can be said definitively is that parables bring truth to life in a context we can visually grasp. Oftentimes they give us a message we can relate to, for example the ”Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32). I’m sure we can all place ourselves in the shoes of the son who strayed and spent himself, then in humility and desperation came back to his father.

Parables are a measure of truth using a real life parallel to explain the mysteries and conditions of the Kingdom of Heaven. Take again the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”. Every human is born walking along a path leading away from their Father in Heaven, a path toward eternal devastation. Each one of us has to come to a point of recognition when we turn from our earthly ways and step onto the path leading home to our Father, who is watching and waiting with open arms to welcome us to into eternal peace.

Parables were very much a style of teaching in the days of Jesus and even today some of the best speakers I have heard use stories to illustrate their message. From a young age our minds are tuned to storytelling and stories are often passed down through generations as a way of keeping memories alive. The fact is, stories are often easier to remember, and so the truth nestled in them is also remembered more closely.

Jesus Himself tells us a deeper meaning behind why he spoke and taught in parables in Matthew 13:13-15 {quoted from the ESV}.

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,

and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and with their ears they can barely hear,

and their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, and I would heal them.’”

 

I’m sure many of you have inside jokes, code words, even glances you give loved ones when you hear or see something that holds special meaning to you. My husband and I certainly have a common language only we can understand…sometimes it is a reflection of how crazy we are!

What makes our relationship so special, and the depth of our understanding of each other so powerful, is our passion to seek to understand one another. We genuinely long to know the other more and more.

When Jesus spoke in parables it was a secret language only accessible to those with a genuine heart seeking to understand, a gift in and of itself. Those reject Him and His message were and are left blind to the Spiritual meaning of His parables. Understanding and insight is gifted to us through the Holy Spirit and the gift of discernment. Only those who believe and place their trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and surrender their lives to Him and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit have the key to understand His parables.

When Jesus spoke in parables it was a secret language only accessible to those with a genuine heart… Click To Tweet

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

John 16:13 NASB

Parables also act as a form of judgement on behalf of the unbeliever who is left wondering as to the meaning of the words uttered by Christ, understood by others and not them.

The beauty is that the more we seek to understand, the more depth of understanding will be given. When did you last spend time studying the parables spoken by Jesus? Do you glance over them as familiar stories from childhood Sunday School, as I sometimes do?

Today I challenge myself, and you, to start spending time studying the parables. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal, through His Spirit, new and deeper meaning to His Word so that you might come to know Him more and more.

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Sarah Travis is Scottish born and bred and immigrated to the U.S. in 2013 to marry Jason. They now have their first baby boy on the way. She is an author, speaker, and inspirational Bible teacher passionate about helping women believe their acceptance and belonging in Christ, not in the world. She is also a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies. You can connect with Sarah on Facebook and Twitter, and on her blog at www.sarahtravis.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups – Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Testimony Tuesday, Planting Roots.