Biblical Tradition Of Storytelling - Parables

Why did Jesus tell parables? In Matthew 13 Jesus was also asked why he told parables Matthew 13 v 10 -17: ‘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. 14. 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. 15. 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. 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.’
So there is a division here: people that will hear and will know , and a group that will not listen and will not know. There is not a middle group though, its just separated into the two groups.
Matthew 13 v 34 + 35: ‘34. All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.’ This is quoting from the Psalms. Psalm 78 v 2 ‘I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark savings from of old’
Jesus spoke to everybody and those who were there, he wanted a response from them though and wanted them to think about the Word rather than just hearing it, which is why he spoke in parables. When Jesus spoke parables people would respond and think about it. Jesus also spoke from the past as well. Isaiah 6 v 9 + 10 ‘9. and he said ‘Go, and say to this people: keep on hearing but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears were heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.’
Psalm 78 v 1-8 ‘1. Give ear, O my people to my teaching; incline your eyes to the words of my mouth! 2. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark savings from of old, 3. Things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6. that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell the children, 7. So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments; 8. and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.’ The word ‘parable’ is a different type of parable from the way we know it to be. A parable is a form of storytelling with a lesson and a meaning, a passing on of what has happened before. v8. ‘. and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.’ The rest of Psalm 78 talks about what God did and the children making the wrong actions, it’s a great lesson. v7. ‘So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments;’ Its told the message is timeless, it will keep its relevance. If we don’t think about it it’s a story, if we do then a parable becomes a lesson, it has a message.
There are several layers to a parable – like an onion has several layers and you have to unpeel them. There is still more to uncover and to understand, another aspect of the message. We have to give our time and thought to think about what each parable means.
One parable is Matthew 22 v 2 – 14 – the wedding feast. ‘2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” An unfair story. Why is this parable unfair? The guests were provided with clothes to wear, but one man chose not to wear them, and he was thrown out, he didn’t care and wasn't prepared to accept what the invitation was. It teaches us not to be stubborn and not to repeat the mistakes. The purpose was to teach us about the kingdom – v2 ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son’ being at the feast is like being in the kingdom. The King is God and the marriage and feast for the King’s son is Jesus. v7 ‘The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.’ What could this refer to? – Israel and the covenant? The response of the Jews? It might be telling us when God sent the Babylons and the Romans against them, God uses these people to bring what is necessary. v9 ‘Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ Speaking of the Gentiles – Galations 3 – everybody ahs the chance to. We’re given freewill – The opportunity to listen, and to read these parables and learn about them, and learn from them as well. Each parable is a story and telling us a meaning and giving us a lesson to learn.

Sorry Kenneth its not quite 5000 words, but 1378 is close enough.