Introductory Sermon for Parable Series
Mark 4:9-4:12
Sermon Brief
Date Written: July 23, 2008
Date Preached: June 25, 2008
Where Preached: OPBC (Wed PM)
Sermon Details:
Sermon Series: A Series on the Parables
Sermon Title: Introduction
Sermon Text: Mark 4:9-12
9 And He said to them, [some texts omits - to them] He who has ears to hear, let him hear¨ 10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.¨ [Isaiah 6:9, 10]
Introduction:
The parables of Jesus are some of the most beloved and cherished teachings for the Christian. But just what is a parable and why did Jesus use this teaching tool with such propensity?
I want to share with you over the next several weeks and months tonight about the parable, what it is, how it is used and then in succeeding weeks we will look at each parable documented in the Gospels and seek to learn about it and apply its context and meaning to our present day situations and lives.
1. What is a Parable?
First of all the word parable is derived from the Greek word [para-bolay] and this Greek word is actually a combination Greek word consisting of two simple Greek words first [pah-rah] which is a Greek preposition meaning along or beside. Second, is the Greek word [boh-lain] which carries the infinitive meaning, to cast or to throw.
So when these 2 simple Greek words are combined the meaning is to cast along side of or quite literally to compare to or to compare with
Jesus used the parable to bring across the meaning of His teachings in terms and language His audience would relate to and understand.
However, the parable is not unique to Jesus as it was a form of teaching that grew out of an OT teaching style known as mishal or masal which was a one sentence proverbial type statement. In fact, in the Septuagint, which is the OT translated into Greek the term mishal was translated as para-bolay.
In the OT the term masal meant to be similar or like something or someone it was used in the verb and noun forms to either be similar to make something similar. This was a very effective way of getting a certain point across to students, but Jesus used a slightly different approach in His use of the parable.
Jesus approach was one that was to lift up and encourage those who were seeking Him. Jesus used the parable as the hub of His teaching from which all other teachings out flowed.
Now our passage of Scripture for tonight may seem to contradict this about Jesus it seemed as if Jesus is saying here in this passage that the parable is to conceal and NOT reveal the message, but this conception about Jesus method is erroneous at best.
You see parables can take on many forms and they can have multiple purposes as well and it is one of these purposes that Jesus is revealing here in our passage tonight. Jesus indicates that parables do veil the truth, but it is only to those who are profane and indifferent to the message those who would not profit from the message those who would only reject and distort the message! It is to THOSE people that the message is veiled and cannot be understood.
For those who sought Jesus for those today who are SEEKING Jesus, He will not hide His message from you, but will reveal Himself to you THRU His message and His word.
The idea Mark was dealing with is that the identity and the fullness of the message of the Messiah could not be fully understood even by His followers, much less by those who would reject, distort and tear down the message Christ brought it would be a mystery to even believer until after the resurrection of Christ in which the mystery would be revealed to believers!
A parable can also be an extreme example or story about a truth something we call hyperbole which is an intentional exaggeration to make an undeniable point in a very understandable way, let me give you an example of what I mean
Turn with me to Matt 5:29-30:
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Now I ask you, was Jesus actually advocating that people pluck out their eye or cut off their hand? Not at all, but in fact He was using a form of the mishal like I said it is what we call a hyperbole or exaggeration to make a point!
Jesus also used another approach in His teaching as he used the simile which is like the parable a simile (notice the close resemblance to our word similar) refers to a comparison and is usually accompanied by the words like or as or seems, let’s look at an example of that!
Turn to Matt 10:16: 16 Behold, I send you out AS sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise AS serpents and harmless AS doves.¨
Jesus also used what we know as metaphors or what I like to refer to as word pictures A metaphor and a simile differ in that a metaphor can be in the form of a proverbial statement, riddle or paradox which are contrary statements in lieu of the simile which is a comparison statement!
A parable was simply a tool of teaching that Jesus used to get across the message of the Kingdom of God in such a way that the simple people of Palestine would relate to the message and be able to understand the message. In simple terms, Jesus spoke to those around Him on their level in their culture using their lives and customs to illustrate about the Kingdom of God.
Now that we know WHAT a parable is, we have another question that begs to be asked and that is
2. What is the purpose behind the parables?
Well by knowing the origin of the word parable we have an understanding of the purpose behind the word itself behind the teaching that employed the use of this teaching method we know as the parable.
In his book illustrating the Life of Jesus Herschel Hobbs wrote the parable was a favorite method of teaching they took one central truth and so adorned it in familiar dress that it might be viewed from many different angles. The parables of Jesus have been called earthly stories with heavenly meanings. They were the handles by which His listeners might [be able to] pick up truth and take it home with them.
So we can see that a parable is a short story, set in a contemporary setting, which brought the listener into the story it was something they could relate to and while in that place the listener is able to gain an easier understanding of the spiritual truth Jesus was revealing
The overall purpose of the parable was to teach to reveal to bring its listeners or readers along side of the message of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Now we know WHAT and WHY about the parables, but how do we come to know them? How do we ascertain what they mean? How can we apply them to our lives in today¡¦s world?
3. How do we study the parables?
When studying the parables what are we supposed to be looking for? What are the important elements for us to study and exegete? For the believer, the 1st area in understanding and interpreting the parables is that one must seek out a common theme or point being made in the parable.
And although many parables could be interpreted as having multiple meanings it is generally believed that they only had one intended meaning.
The important elements of a parable are 3 fold:
The context in which the parable is presented to the reader
The audience to which the parable is originally presented
The characters of the parable and who they represent
How we interpret the parables is vital in how we interpret all of Scripture. As Baptists we believe that God’s Word is His final authority here on earth and that it has a common theme coursing thru its pages. If then we interpret a parable and it is in conflict with the common theme of Scripture then our interpretation of the parable is in error!
We need to understand that Jesus did not speak in parables for the purpose of withholding the truth from anyone but it was to reveal God’s truth and kingdom. It was the result of His teachings, parables included, and even His miracles that most people simply could not comprehend or accept and therefore they rejected it outright!
4. So what are we going to study?
Well in learning what a parable is, what its purpose is and how we are to study them, I am going to present a new parable to you each week and then you are going to read about it that entire week and I have some questions for you to ponder while reading and studying about it.. Then we will come together each Wednesday and go over what we have learned and repeat the process.
For next week I want you to read Mark 4:1-20 the parable of the soils and I am passing out these hand outs with some questions for you to try to answer when studying this passage.
