Sabbath: Parables
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 20th of July 2024
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
Mark 4:1-34, James 1:21, Isaiah 6:1-13, Psalms 104:12, Daniel 4:10-12.
Memory Text:
“Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him’ ” (Mark 4:24-25, NKJV).
This week’s study is on the parables in Mark 4:1-41. The Gospel of Mark has the fewest parables of any of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
For many years scholars have argued over the meaning and interpretation of Jesus’ parables: How to interpret what they mean, why Jesus used them, what kind of lessons they were intended to reveal, and how literally they were to be taken, or whether they were purely allegory, and so forth.
Obviously we are not going to solve all these issues in this week’s lesson. Instead, we are going to look at them and, by God’s grace, come away with an understanding of the points Jesus made through these parables.
Mark 4:1-41 has just five parables—the sower, the lamp, the measure, the growing seed, and the mustard seed. The majority of the chapter revolves around the parable of the sower. This parable is told first, followed by the reason for parables, and then the interpretation of the parable. This three-step pattern will be the focus of the studies for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Then the other parables will be the subject of study on Wednesday and Thursday.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 27.
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Interestingly, Jesus spent a lot more time telling stories than preaching doctrine.
Maurice, I think the "doctrines" were imbedded within the parables themselves. The parables were a teaching tool that was an acceptable and effective way for Jesus to get the message across to those who listened.
When Jesus was teaching a "multitude", He used parables so everyone could take something good home from their day out. The parables of great story-tellers are multi-layered observations with broad appeal, and Jesus was the master story-teller. When He talked, He made sure that His illustrations and language could be understood by everyone present. All could relate to His stories.
Children could go home happy that they had heard an interesting and unforgettable story, and willingly go to hear Him again. The poor and illiterate could understand the story, enjoy recalling it and reflect on what it meant for them. Then they could re-tell the story to their neighbours and workmates.
The educated recognised the story was multi-layered, leading them to discussion with their peers, passing the story and its merits on to others.
The highly educated had to concede that Jesus' parables were valid. Debate in academic circles was over the layers of meaning and who the intended object of each layer was.
We are discussing these parables today, because they are doing exactly what Jesus intended, having "gone viral" for 2000 years. At least one layer of each story applies directly to each of us, because each story is intended to cause us to reflect on our lives in relation to Jesus.
It is our duty as Christians to never assume that people around us understand language and references we may use within our peer group. When we reach our neighbours, it must be on a level that they can relate to. Failure to do so has the opposite of our intended effect. If our approach is seen as archaic, inappropriate, impersonal, mass marketing, "Bible-bashing", mocking their intelligence, or out of touch with their reality, we may turn them away forever.
We must learn from Jesus to keep the Gospel simple, using language and concepts that people are willing to engage with.
God’s 'Living Word' - His Truth and His Light -, will prepare the heart and mind of man and reveal that which stands in the way for them to be changed from darkness into the heavenly Light.
What is the ‘Power of the living Word’ - how is it released? It has the power to lead us to repentance, inspiring us to be humble as it gives us a new, contrite heart. The power of the Word of God prepares the heart and mind – ‘tilling their ground to make it fruitful’. We are being prepared/sanctified to accept the seed to bear fruit; ‘acceptance’ and ‘bearing fruit’ go hand in hand, being two sides of the same coin.
I so very much appreciate God’s unbounded Grace leading me to accept the invitation to live in His kingdom; welcoming wholeheartedly His spiritual guidance governing my every thought, word, and deed - Mark 4:26-29; v. 27-28: …and [the man] should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how; for the earth yields crops by itself: …”
The Power of the Holy Spirit is boundless in the humble, willing and contrite heart; enriching the soil, tilling the ground, laying bare any obstacles which might hinder the seed from producing an excellent harvest, and asking for our heavenly Father's help to remove it.
To some, parables need to be explained to become helpful in understanding their spiritual application in life. Jesus Christ promised and gave us the Holy Spirit to prepare the soil of our heart and mind, to become our teacher and guide so that we become fruitful - Mark 4:33.
As a teacher ,I've learnt that learners tend to remember the topics taught when we infuse stories related to the topics more.Jesus had learnt this early enough and did just that,using parables and probably explaining each of them and the listeners found it interesting that way.Hope to learn one more time about some of these parables as recorded in the book of Mark.Be blessed this new week!
The use of parables was crucial.
Firstly, we can take "the parables" as teaching aids like a powerpoint presentation today that allows students to remember the details of a lecture for a long time.
Secondly, the lesson was given to everyone assembled alone the seashore including young ones as such everyone could relate with the parable because every planting season this is what they all experienced.
Thirdly, the Jewish nation at this point in time had been plagued with biases. Matters that were simple could hardly be comprehended because of their tradition (just as Lucifer had confused some angles in heaven with sophistry). So the lens of perception was blurred by biases at this point of time.
Finally but importantly, Jesus had enemies inspired by the devil who wanted to hault his ministry and were looking for every opportunity from what he said to close his road to the cross prematurely.
Jesus used methods of teaching that we could adapt in spreading the gospel. His methods were effective in reaching people of all ages and class.
As a university scientist professor, my teaching technique is to combine classroom lectures with a repeat of those principles in the laboratory, as hands-on exercises for the students. This is further enhanced by field trips to commercial enterprises where these same principles are used in common practice.
Notice that Jesus preached in the synagogue, on the mountainside, by the sea, and in people's homes. He also healed the sick, cast out demons, revealed the inner thoughts of his critics, picked grains on the sabbath, told parables, calmed a raging sea, etc. Everything that Jesus did had significance towards the fulfillment of his mission.
In our quest to "make disciples of all men," our approach should be multi faceted. We should also deliberately evaluate our effectiveness. This includes asking ourselves honest questions. Is our approach working to make the gospel attractive to all groups in our realm of influence? For example, are young people leaving my church? If so, why are they leaving once they get to an age of maturity? Is my approach only attractive to one ethnic group? If so, why? Are we using all the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to the church, "for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the saints?"
Jesus' (God's) method is always the best approach. My prayer is that we not only read about it in the bible, but that we practices it in our daily lives.
Amen, let’s be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving our own selves. James 1:22
Yes we need to be not only hears of the word of God but we need to be doers. And God uses parables to express something in the word of God. He found ways to reach people.