Matthew 13:10-13 English Standard Version

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 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.

I left off yesterday asking what you heard when I mentioned pearls. The parable of the pearl is but one of many parables in Matthew 13. Some of my readers would have made the connection to that parable. Some might not, and that is an opportunity to learn.

Reading all of the parables we will discover that only the parable of the sower was explained in Matthew 13. It would seem that by adding an explanation of that parable it elevates that parable to a level of importance above the rest of them.

The parable of the sower is about spreading the seed of the gospel everywhere. No care was taken to ensure that the precious seed only fell on good soil. If we choose to only spread the gospel to people who we deem worthy, then we have judged others.

Matthew 7

Judging Others

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Parables are just one way to discover the mysteries of the bible but do not by themselves instruct us in what to do with that knowledge. It would be unhealthy for a teacher to only share the parables. This life in Christ is much more than just sharing stories.

Many stories in the bible speak to the character of mankind, mistakes and consequences. By themselves they will not tell us how to act out this life in Christ. We need all the Word of God to understand all that we need to be considering that God is molding us.

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Yesterday we said to know the Spirit of Truth. When helping others who have questions, if we don’t have the answer given to us by the Holy Spirit we are likely to rely on the teachings of others. Given that different administrations teach variations on the meaning of scripture we must be careful how we answer the questions of new converts.

We like to have the answer that will help but the worst thing we can do is give an opinion without sound scriptural support. Sound doctrine does not happen by accident. We have a long history of gifted scholars with libraries full of books, commentaries, pamphlets and notes scribbled in the margins of our bibles.

It is better to say “let us look to the scriptures”. Then we are placing the study in the hands of the author. Glib answers harm young believers. When our answers are refuted by more learned scholars it damages the relationship we have tried to establish. They might even think we are lying.

“I don’t know.” That is an honest answer sometimes but leaves the questioner with no avenue for an answer. It is better to add, “Let’s ask an elder.” In that way both are confirmed as believers seeking better truths.

A thing can be true but incomplete. That does not make it a lie, just an incomplete answer.

Look at the four gospels, the first  three are Synoptic and vary in minor details too insignificant to render them unreliable. John’s gospel is not. John has written some of the most important aspects of the Christian life. None of these gospels are a lie in any way.

Matthew was a disciple, Mark and Luke were not. Their writings came in a timely manner.  John had a beautiful relationship with our Lord that encompassed decades before he penned his gospel.

Giving weight to any book of the bible and showing favoritism dishonors the love that God poured out to each and every writer from Moses to John. How many of us have read Numbers with the same frequency as Romans? In doing so we might just miss a message God has just for ourselves. Those are precious pearls hidden in our hearts.

What did you hear when I mentioned pearls?