“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.