THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL
LEARNING AT THE FEET OF JESUS
Mark 4:10. “And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.”
There is an obvious difference between those who hear Jesus on a shallow or cursory level and those who hear from him intimately. Those who only go to God when they are in trouble are limited in their understanding of most things of an eternal nature. God is still only a help in trouble, and not the source of life itself. To these people God is quite different to what He really is. They may think that He is the author of their problem. They may think that He is the only answer to their problem and may attribute ridiculous notions of His involvement in the solution.
The only way to have a decent understanding of God is to spend time with Him and in His word.
The word says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” This is not to be the habit only of preachers. Any person needs to study the word for their own benefit. I guarantee that something you find for yourself means a whole lot more than something which you hear another say. Of course when we hear a bible teacher expound the word and reveal a lot of wonderful truths we are thrilled, but we also need to find some of our own revelation.
There is a negative side to this. And that is that all those who spend time with the Lord are going to be vilified somewhere or another. It is interesting how we are embarrassed by those who admit to being men or women of prayer. We may call them super-spiritual or something else, but it is we who are at fault. When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus it was He who congratulated her for getting it right. She was no different from Adam in the Garden, who found that it was normal to spend time with God. Spirituality is normality.
UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES
Mark 4:10 “And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.”
Parables. Parables are in the OT, in rabbinic literature, and in the Gospels of the New Testament. The parables taught by Jesus, in comparison to the others, are unique. Some scholars count a total of sixty parables and parabolic sayings in the Synoptic Gospels. This amounts to about one third of all the recorded sayings of Jesus.
Brevity and simplicity mark the parables Jesus taught. Only a few of them are longer than average: the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) and the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). These parables come to life; they are the vehicles that convey a profound message in simple terms, the proverbial earthly story with a heavenly message.
A parable is a form of speech, either a story or saying, used to illustrate a point the speaker is seeking to make. Parables can be divided into three classes: true parables, story parables, and illustrations. The true parable is an illustration taken from daily life, and its teaching is universally acknowledged. Examples of the true parable are children playing in the marketplace (Matt. 11:16; Luke 7:31-32), a sheep separated from the flock (Matt. 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7), a coin lost in a home (Luke 15:8-10).
Story parables refer to an event that took place in the past and centres on one person: the shrewd manager who redeemed himself (Luke 16:1-9), and the judge who eventually administered justice in response to the repeated plea of a widow (Luke 18:2-8).
Illustrations are stories that project an example which is to be imitated; the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) ends with the admonition "Go and do likewise."
There are also simple parabolic sayings which Jesus used which seem to have come from the sayings of the day. Examples of these are: "Physician, heal yourself" (Luke 4:23); "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" (Luke 6:39).
The parables of Jesus are stories that are true to life, even though in some cases exaggeration is intended (e.g., ten thousand talents by any standard is a great amount, Matt. 18:24) or allegorical overtones can be detected (see the parable of the tenants, Matt. 21:33-44; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:9-19).
However, the parables Jesus taught are not allegories in which every name, place, and feature is symbolic and demands an interpretation. The parables embody metaphors and similes, but they are never removed from reality and never convey fictitious ideas. They are stories taken from the world in which Jesus lived and are told for the purpose of relating a spiritual truth.
Jesus knew human life in all its forms and manifestations. He knew about the life of the farmer, the vinedresser, the fisherman, the builder, and the merchant. He was acquainted with the professions of the minister of finance, the judge, the tax collector, and the manager of estates. He knew the Pharisees and the experts in the law. Jesus was at home in all the social levels of society and was able to minister to all people regardless of status, training, or occupation. By means of parables Jesus brought the message of salvation to everyone, called his listeners to repent and to believe, challenged believers to put their faith to work, and urged his followers to exercise watchfulness.
We too can tell the gospel by using illustrations which are relevant to the hearers. Too often we are using the so-called language of Zion. We need to use the common language of the people. Jesus told stories. We can also tell stories. Be careful how you criticise a preacher or teacher of the word. You may have criticised Jesus in His day!
However, there was also something mysterious about the parables, and especially this one in Mark 4. Some people simply could not understand them. Even Jesus’ own disciples had some difficulty. Why would this be? It was because of spiritual blindness. Isn’t it interesting how even the simplest gospel truths are not understood by even the most intellectual of men?
Because Jesus’ parables were not always understood by his disciples He provided an interpretation of them. The question whether Jesus hid the meaning of the parables from all except the initiated may be answered by looking at the broader context of this parable of the sower. In Mark 3 Jesus met the teachers of the law, who charged him with demon possession: "By the prince of demons he is driving out demons" (3:22). Because of their blatant unbelief, those opposed to Jesus were unable and unwilling to understand the meaning of his teaching in parables. Believers accepted the word of Jesus and received his parabolic teaching in faith and understanding, even though full comprehension might not be evident at first. The disciples were perplexed by Jesus’ teaching because they had not yet seen the full significance of the person of Jesus the Messiah.
However we have seen this difference. In my mind the key to understanding the kingdom of God is to understand the parables. When you have difficulty in knowing their meaning then you have to do what the disciples did.. they asked Jesus.
THE GOSPEL IS NOT A MYSTERY TO US
Mark 4:11 “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”
Jesus would not reveal the whole truth to the leaders of the Jews. The scribes and the Pharisees were students of the word of God, and should have known Him and what He was about. However, because they approached the word of God from a legalistic standpoint they would not receive revelation. Jesus had not only been accused of demon possession He had been attacked and nearly thrown from the cliff in Nazareth because of His gracious teaching in the synagogue. It is sad that even today people prefer law to grace. They like rules and regulations. They want someone else to set the perameters of their lives. Children have to have boundaries set for them, adults should be able to work them out for themselves.
Mark 4:12. “That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”
Jesus was being ironic. He was sorrowful concerning the religious leaders. He knew that their hardness of heart was the problem. If they would sincerely search the scriptures for themselves then they would not be in such bondage. They would be set free by the truth. They would know the truth and it would set them free.
THE KEY
Mark 4:13. “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”
Jesus said that this was the KEY. When we understand this we can understand just about everything God wants us to know.
Mark 4:14. “The sower soweth the word.”
This is true of just about everything in life. Everything is a product of sowing and reaping in one form or another. Whatever you sow you will reap. This was true in God’s initial creation and also true with Him sending His Son Jesus. Jesus was the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies. When death has occurred resurrection can take place, and many sons come into glory.
We need to learn to become sowers. When we do we will become reapers as well.
It is interesting to note that the subject which is one of the most taught in our churches is also one of the most neglected. This is especially true in England. People from the African continent habitually practise sowing and reaping. Americans are real givers. But there are so few in England. Thank God for the exceptions, but it is sad that in our efforts to come against materialism, we have ended out being mean minded and spiritually destitute.
There are still those who think of the pastor and pray, “Lord, you keep him humble and we’ll keep him poor.” And when they are confronted with the truth they will cover themselves with a shroud of spookiness as to how the pastor needs to believe God for his income. I can remember a church member rejoicing to see that the pastor had holes in his shoes. Another rejoiced because the knees in the pastor’s trousers were wearing thin and this proved that he was a man of prayer.
But the word says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” (Gal 6:6)
We know that Old Testament Law included the tithe going to the Levitical priests in order for them to eat. We are more than tithers in the New Covenant era because we say that all our income belongs to God. Everything should be available to Him, and therefore available to His ministry.
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8).
However, He has given us stewardship of it. Sometimes the pastor is going short, although the Lord is prompting the congregation to give to him. They are ignoring Him, either deliberately or because of their ignorance of the Word.
WISDOM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
The Word of God is the wisdom of God. Believing it is wisdom. Acting upon it is believing it. The Lord says:
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” (Proverbs 3:13-16)
A wise person will be a doer of the word. He will believe in sowing and reaping.
PROSPERITY IS NOT A MIRACLE!
It is a law.
What you have shows how much you have given in the past. It depends on what you give, and how you give it. Some will say that they give without expecting a return on their giving. That is truly commendable. However, we can give and expect a return because it is universal law.
Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) He was not making up a new doctrine as He went along. He was revealing a truth that should have been known from the beginning.
Gen 1:29. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
Seedtime and harvest was the first major law of the universe. God has to follow this law. What He sows He also reaps.
He also enjoys it when we put it into practise and enjoy prosperity as a result.
Psalm 35:27 “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
Although God is not primarily responsible for our prosperity He will bring an abundance when He sees fit. This is firstly spiritual, but it will also manifest as financial.. remember that it is the Lord that gives the increase:
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
TITHING
Tithing is supposed to be a joy. Why? Because God will bless the tither in a big way. Is tithing a New Testament principle? Yes, it is. However, it should always be fun. Jesus received tithes: “And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” (Hebrews 7:8)
However, we should not really consider ourselves to be tithers because with us all we have belongs to God anyway. Most of us give far more to the gospel than our tithe. Try to add up all that you have given and work it out as a percentage of all your income and you will quickly become confused. How do you factor in the times you have provided hospitality, including food, light and heat etc etc? Tithing is a good foundation for our giving, but it really is only a beginning.
We are to be stewards over the finances which God has entrusted to us. That means that sometimes we use the money to ensure that we can serve Him better. It is so foolish to make do with a car that is held together by elastic bands when we can get something better. It will be always available and not constantly with the mechanic.
God blesses us with good finances so that we can help to establish His covenant:
Deuteronomy 6:18. “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
This is a two-fold blessing. We are given wealth so that we can spend it on spreading the gospel. We are also given wealth so that we can enjoy living the life we have, and show others how God can bless us.
