Understanding PARABLES

[soberxp]

Every word in the Bible is a parable.
From Genesis to Revelation.

 

[ScottA]

This statement reveals you do not know or understand the meaning of the third heaven. You may never....

Ah, but there is another possibility also...

 

[ScottA]

Thank you for this thread. I love the parables. The parable of the Sower contains very important truths.


I would like to ask you a question concerning the parable of the Sower.

It‘s a very simple question and easy to answer, but nevertheless I will ask you.


For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12


What must someone have in order to be given more?

There are a few ways that one could look at that question, but the most correct answer is the best: One must have hearing, from which comes faith.

 

[David Lamb]

Every word in the Bible is a parable.
From Genesis to Revelation.

Is it? What is a parable in:

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth," (Gen 1:10

or:

““But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”” (Mt 9:6 NKJV)

If everything recorded in the bible is a parable, why do we read words such as:

“And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Lu 6:39 NKJV)

Perhaps you have a different notion to me of what a parable is.

 

[JLB]

There are a few ways that one could look at that question, but the most correct answer is the best: One must have hearing, from which comes faith.

For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12


What you say is true. One must have ears to hear, which is the same as a heart to understand.

• A hearing ear and understanding heart.

The answer is “good ground” which = a heart to understand.

One must have “good ground” (a heart to understand) to be given more.

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:23


Why would the Lord continue to give “seed” to ground that doesn’t produce fruit. It is just wasted.

Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Matthew 13:18


The only heart condition that produced fruit was the heart that “understands”.


He who does not have “good ground” (ears to hear and a heart to understand) the seed he has been given will be taken from him.


To hear means to hear with the intention of doing what is heard… because you understand.

 

[JLB]

It's what Daniel and many others like him have.

The “good ground” in the parable represents those with honest and good hearts, prepared to receive God’s Word (Luke 8:15). Fruitfulness is the result of a process: first hearing the Word (Matthew 13:23), then receiving it into the heart (Mark 4:20), understanding it (Matthew 13:23), keeping it (Luke 8:15), and patiently producing fruit. Even among the good ground, fruitfulness varies, some yield thirty-fold, while others yield a hundred-fold, reflecting differing levels of faithfulness and preparation. Just as Isaac, the true seed, reaped a hundred-fold (Genesis 26:12), those who are faithful, patient, and diligent in holding God’s Word will bear abundant spiritual fruit, demonstrating the enduring power of understanding, receiving, and living by God’s promises.

In other words, "till the ground from which you were taken!" Genesis 3:19

Good ground is the answer.

 

[ScottA]

Is it? What is a parable in:

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth," (Gen 1:10

or:

““But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”” (Mt 9:6 NKJV)

If everything recorded in the bible is a parable, why do we read words such as:

“And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Lu 6:39 NKJV)

Perhaps you have a different notion to me of what a parable is.

I can answer, but @soberxp should respond first.

 

[ScottA]

It's what Daniel and many others like him have.

The “good ground” in the parable represents those with honest and good hearts, prepared to receive God’s Word (Luke 8:15). Fruitfulness is the result of a process: first hearing the Word (Matthew 13:23), then receiving it into the heart (Mark 4:20), understanding it (Matthew 13:23), keeping it (Luke 8:15), and patiently producing fruit. Even among the good ground, fruitfulness varies, some yield thirty-fold, while others yield a hundred-fold, reflecting differing levels of faithfulness and preparation. Just as Isaac, the true seed, reaped a hundred-fold (Genesis 26:12), those who are faithful, patient, and diligent in holding God’s Word will bear abundant spiritual fruit, demonstrating the enduring power of understanding, receiving, and living by God’s promises.

In other words, "till the ground from which you were taken!" Genesis 3:19

And in this understanding, where did Israel go wrong that they knew not their Messiah when He came--not being "prepared to receive God's Word?"

 

[Hiddenthings]

And in this understanding, where did Israel go wrong that they knew not their Messiah when He came--not being "prepared to receive God's Word?"

As we have already established here, the Jews had allowed themselves to be influenced and corrupted by Greek mythology, adopting many false ideas, beliefs that, sadly, most Christians still hold today.

They missed their Messiah because they expected the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but instead he grew up as a lamb. In the same way, many Christians today expect Christ to return as the Lamb, but they will be confronted with the Lion, roaring truth into a lost and deceived world.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, they had lost the ability not only to receive truth but also to test the knowledge they already possessed. Many Christians in this forum are doing the very same thing.

 

[Hiddenthings]

Good ground is the answer.

But how does one get good ground?

 

[ScottA]

As we have already established here, the Jews had allowed themselves to be influenced and corrupted by Greek mythology, adopting many false ideas, beliefs that, sadly, most Christians still hold today.

They missed their Messiah because they expected the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but instead he grew up as a lamb. In the same way, many Christians today expect Christ to return as the Lamb, but they will be confronted with the Lion, roaring truth into a lost and deceived world.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, they had lost the ability not only to receive truth but also to test the knowledge they already possessed. Many Christians in this forum are doing the very same thing.

Some expect the return of Jesus to be as a Lamb, some as a Lion, but many more combined have expected Him to return in the distant "future" and in the "flesh." For which He gave warning, saying "you also"--"you" even of that time:

Matthew 24​

44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.​

48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.​

 

[Jack]

Not a parable!!!

Luke 16:19-31
19 The rich man died and was buried.
24 Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'
25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'
27 Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,
28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

 

[Jack]

Every word in the Bible is a parable.
From Genesis to Revelation.

Satan LOVES that doctrine!

 

[ScottA]

Not a parable!!!

Luke 16:19-31
19 The rich man died and was buried.
24 Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'
25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'
27 Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,
28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Satan LOVES that doctrine!

You are right about the story of the rich man--but it's a story, nonetheless, but yes, true.

However, that is not what is meant by saying "all scripture is parables." Sorry, it does need explanation:

It is rather all the world, all creation that is all a form of parables--and scripture is what is true in the heavenly places of God made manifest--in "likeness", in other words, in parable. Including the scriptures in that all encompassing statement of all being parables, is simply because the scriptures are part and parcel to all being made manifest--as follows: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them" (Isaiah 42:9). Thus, creation is a form of media--media of God--made manifest as revelation. God has expressed the parable likenesses in many ways. It is even written in the stars, etc.--the heavens declare His glory--(a parable).

 

[Jack]

Luke 16 is a clear warning from Jesus.

 

[ScottA]

Luke 16 is a clear warning from Jesus.

Absolutely!

 

[Hiddenthings]

@Jack have you found a friend who also believes in immortal worms?

 

[JLB]

But how does one get good ground?

Good ground = a heart to understand


Cultivating a heart to understand is something we do after we are born again.


The Parable of the Sower is also a set of instructions to guide the disciples as to whom to invest their life in to make disciples.

To invest their time is making disciples among those who would reproduce the Seed.


Its about reproducing the Seed.


These were only 12 men who would have the responsibility to reproduce the Seed in others who would be faithful to continue the process.


They needed to chose the right people in whom to spend their time with in making disciples.


It’s one thing to be saved, its altogether another thing to see the life of Christ in us brought to fruition.


To walk as He walked.

 

[Behold]

@Jack have you found a friend who also believes in immortal worms?

Read your bible.

Isaiah 66:24

Mark 9:48

 

[JLB]

You are right about the story of the rich man--but it's a story, nonetheless, but yes, true.

‘Yes a true story with real people in a real place in the heart of the earth at that time.