Monthly Archives: August 2021

Good Bible Interpretation, Reasons to Believe

Context-Part 3-Parables

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“A text without context is a pretext”

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

Matthew 13:34


But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Mark 4:34

JESUS STYLE OF TEACHING AND EXPLAINING

Both Matthew and Mark note Jesus’ particular style of teaching. It was through the use of parables. In fact, both of them tell us when He spoke to the multitude, He always used a parable. So we can conclude that when Jesus is talking to a great number of people, He used objects, persons, or situations to not just tell an inspirational story, but to reveal a truth about the God and His kingdom. We should, therefore, be careful to force a literal application to a parable, but rather look for the message which almost always comes at the end of the parable.

There is another important fact we can glean from Matthew and Mark notes. It is in the last sentence of Mark’s account:

And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Mark 4:34

Jesus explained the parable to the disciples if they didn’t understand, Here is a good habit for us. When we are alone with Jesus, desire to know truth, and we are willing to follow him as a disciple, He will explain it to us, Since we are not in the literal presence of Jesus, we are promised the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus, to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). This would certainly include parables. But, like our last study on literalism, there are too many who want to turn a parable into something literal. Examples will be given in another study.

JESUS’ STYLE OF TEACHING WAS PROPHESIED

Jesus fulfilled the words of David who prophesied the Messiah would use parables:

I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us. Psalm 78:2-3

Understanding parables is an important part of understanding Jesus’ teaching, But as noticed from above. The truths that come forth from a parable is something “…we have heard and known.” It is not some new truth, but a well-known and documented truth from the Scriptures which are the writings of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms.

 “...all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Luke 24: 44-45

Here we see Jesus calling the books we call the Old Testament, “Scriptures.” There was no New Testament when he spoke in parables. So you may ask, “How do I understand the parables?” As mentioned above, you must not be part of the crowd. You must be a disciple, Going to church to hear a preacher might inspire you, but it may not always reveal to you the deep things of God if your heart is not right.

Now this may seem harsh, but Jesus explained His use of parables after the disciples asked,

“Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Matthew 13:10

MORE OR NOTHING

“He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 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. Therefore I speak to them in parables,;

Matthew 11:11-13

Why was it given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? Are we talking predestination here? It was because they were followers ready to do His bidding regardless of the popularity of majority at the time lead by the Scribes and the Pharisees. We can be that type of follower. Can’t we?

Also, it is a kingdom truth that the more you know, the more you will know….IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BE DOERS AND NOT HEARERS ONLY (James 1:22) James goes on to say we will deceive ourselves if we are not doers. Jesus said it another way,

“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine,.”

John 7:17

If you have a little knowledge and not willing to do God’s bidding, the little you have will be taken away and your experience will likely become legalistic or weak. This was the case of the Scribes and the Pharisees! They were not followers of the Messiah and were content in their knowledge of God and their traditions. They were doers, but the legalistic judgmental kind.

Jesus parable of the talents speaks to this, which ends with these words:

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Matthew 25:29

Here is another way to understand parables. The message Jesus wants to get across is almost always given plainly at the end of the parable.

Good Bible Interpretation, Reasons to Believe

Context part 2

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“A text without context is a pretext.”

In part 1, I used the example of how context can determine a course of literalism or symbolism. One of Jesus’ statements bewildered some disciples and the sneaky religious leaders:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 53, 54

Because of literalism, it caused some disciples to walk away and never follow Him again. It was a difficult saying to understand on the surface.“ Therefore, many of His disciples, when they heard this, said,

“This is a hard (difficult) saying; who can understand it?”

These are the surface readers and those who don’t listen closely. Often, they are lazy and desire quick and plain answers. Especially answers that fit their own way of thinking or beloved traditions. Others want to force the literalism and therefore miss the point that Jesus made regarding the words of God. Who can understand it? It is those who listen closely to context and love Him. His point can easily be lifted out of the symbolism as he explained to the twelve who stuck by him. even though their understanding of His kingdom was still growing.

They comprehended Jesus was comparing bread with words, and His blood with sacrifice. By these two things a person has eternal life and will “be raised up in the last day “(Verse 39, 40, 44). If not, they will not be “raised up at the last day.”

A steady diet of Jesus’ words will give real life-saving faith. Here are the plain words that a majority of the crowd missed:

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Verse 63

God’s Spirit are contained in the words! How can that be? Let’s use a real-life example:To eat breakfast and skip on eating God’s words every day results in deterioration of the soul. A famous evangelist once said, “Little time with God, little faith. Much time with God, much faith.”

If we are not reading and digesting God’s word every day, we will become spiritually skinny, weak, and die. We may be overweight on the outside, but starving on the inside. Remember, you must do the spiritual eating yourself. You can’t have your pastor or anyone else eat for you.

So, turn off those recordings and let God talk to you directly. Also keep in mind, it is not the habit of reading that helps, it is the understanding of God through this exercise and then doing his will (John 4:34). As James said,

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

Please do not turn daily devotions in a works oriented exercise. If you miss a day or two, it doesn’t mean you are lost. Now how about those who would force literalism into this sermon of Jesus? Yes, it has happened in our world over the ages. Have you heard of transubstantiation? In the Roman Catholic church, during the taking of the Eucharist (Lord’s supper for the Protestants), the priest claims that he turns the bread and the wine into the literal body and blood of Christ even though the bread and the wine remain the same in their appearance. Thereby, the literal body and blood of Jesus are consumed! It totally discounts the point Jesus makes about the context and connection of living by His words.

Therefore, the message of Jesus is turned from an important spiritual lesson regarding eternal life and growing spiritually to a religious ceremony with all its pomp and display. As He said,

“It the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Verse 63

If the audience that day had listened closely, and had only a slight understanding of Jesus and the context of His ministry, they would have known Jesus was using symbolism to make a spiritual point of vital importance. It is a point that separates many church goers into those who are real and growing and those who have the “form of godliness, but deny the power.” 2 Timothy 3:5Tomorrow, we will look at the symbolism contained in parables.

Good Bible Interpretation, Reasons to Believe

Context-Part 1

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A popular and witty saying among Bible Teachers goes like this,“

A text without context is a pretext.”

Pretext, in the spiritual context, is a justification to act or establish some religious beliefs based on a misapplication of a verse or two.” A good understanding of context will help a Bible reader know when to take passages as literal or symbolic. This we learned in a recent year-long zoom study of Daniel and Revelation. Both Daniel and Revelation are highly symbolic, but they also contain literal scenes and truths. It is the lazy man’s way to say, “The whole Bible is symbolic.” This implies no one can understand God’s word and therefore we are unable to apply its literal applications.

A powerful example using context and therefore discerning between literalism/symbolism is found in John 6.

“Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is [drink indeed.” John 6: 53-55

Wow! That sure sounds like Jesus is promoting cannibalism! But, if the religious teachers and disciples had just listened closely to ALL the words of Jesus (Context), they would know He was using symbols of bread and drink to tell a very important truth about eternal life and living a strong life in Him. But, some of the disciples were so confused that they never followed Him again,

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more (verse 66).

This they did even after hearing Jesus’ explanation,

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Verse 63

If they had been listening to the context of what Jesus had said before, they would have been prepared for this symbolic reference to God’s word. Jesus said in Matthew 4,

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Verse 4

Jesus is quoting from the Book of Moses in Deuteronomy 8:30. Here God’s words are like bread that gives live (Spiritual life). The Twelve seemed to understand Him. Jesus asked them a question that Peter quickly answered showing He and the others closest to Him understood,

“Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. (Verse 67, 68)“

Another form of spiritual nourishment is found in the story of the woman at the well. Jesus’ disciples brought Him some food and He said,

“I have food to eat of which you do not know” (John 4:32).The disciples wondered, “Where did He get food?” He said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (verse 34).

So, when we do the will of Christ, we’re feeding our souls.

What is the spiritual lesson from Jesus’ reference to eating His flesh and drinking His blood? Do we take it literal? No! Jesus compares His words to bread or food. His blood is believing and trusting in His sacrifice for us. We need his “flesh” and “blood” every day to live. Just as we need food every day to live literally, we need to eat God’s words (read), absorb it (understand), and apply it to stay alive.

We must thirst and hunger after righteousness and then be satisfied in our souls by God’s word. This must be a daily ongoing experience for the believer, otherwise, we will find ourselves growing skinny, weak, and then dying from lack of spiritual substance. We must feed ourselves; we can’t depend on someone else to eat for us.

The result of “eating His flesh” and “drinking his blood” is this: Jesus will

“raise us up in the last days.”

This term is used 4 times in this chapter alone. What does this mean? It is the resurrection when Jesus comes in the last day! Wow! What a wonderful thought. A different topic for a different time. Next time we will look at how some religious teachers of today have taken this story and tried to turn it into a literal application of eating his flesh and drinking His blood.