Teaching in Parables
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables. Matt. 13:1-3, RSV.
Midway through Jesus' ministry we find two major transitions. One had to do with location and the second with His method of teaching.
His early teaching had largely taken place in the synagogue. That was understandable, because it was the place where the Jewish people expected to hear God's Word expounded. But the opposition to Jesus' teaching made it prudent to avoid what for Him had become places of confrontation. Beyond that, His popularity with the people had so increased that no synagogue could hold the crowds. Thus in Matthew 13 we find Him teaching by the lakeside.
Not only did He have a new venue for His teaching, but also a new methodology: "He taught them many things in parables." It isn't that He hadn't ever used parables before, but as opposition increased He begun to employ them more.
Jesus wasn't the first Jewish leader to use parables, but writes Klyne R. Snodgrass, "there is no evidence of anyone prior to Jesus using parables as consistently, creatively and effectively as he did."
Someone has aptly described a parable as "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." It employs an illustration of something familiar on earth to help people grasp a heavenly or spiritual reality.
Parable teaching had several advantages. For one thing, it was safe. With some out to destroy Him, by the use of parables Jesus could teach in a manner that did not unduly alienate His enemies or provide them with concrete words that they could use against Him.
A second advantage is that people love stories, and the Jews of old were no exception. Every preacher knows the power of a story to hold attention.
But perhaps their greatest value is their ongoing teaching function. Ellen White put it nicely when she wrote that "afterwards, as they looked upon the objects that illustrated His lesson, they recalled the words of the divine Teacher. To minds that were open to the Holy Spirit, the significance of the Saviour's teaching unfolded more and more. Mysteries grew clear, and that which had been hard to grasp became evident" (Christ Object Lessons, p. 21).
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables. Matt. 13:1-3, RSV.
Midway through Jesus' ministry we find two major transitions. One had to do with location and the second with His method of teaching.
His early teaching had largely taken place in the synagogue. That was understandable, because it was the place where the Jewish people expected to hear God's Word expounded. But the opposition to Jesus' teaching made it prudent to avoid what for Him had become places of confrontation. Beyond that, His popularity with the people had so increased that no synagogue could hold the crowds. Thus in Matthew 13 we find Him teaching by the lakeside.
Not only did He have a new venue for His teaching, but also a new methodology: "He taught them many things in parables." It isn't that He hadn't ever used parables before, but as opposition increased He begun to employ them more.
Jesus wasn't the first Jewish leader to use parables, but writes Klyne R. Snodgrass, "there is no evidence of anyone prior to Jesus using parables as consistently, creatively and effectively as he did."
Someone has aptly described a parable as "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." It employs an illustration of something familiar on earth to help people grasp a heavenly or spiritual reality.
Parable teaching had several advantages. For one thing, it was safe. With some out to destroy Him, by the use of parables Jesus could teach in a manner that did not unduly alienate His enemies or provide them with concrete words that they could use against Him.
A second advantage is that people love stories, and the Jews of old were no exception. Every preacher knows the power of a story to hold attention.
But perhaps their greatest value is their ongoing teaching function. Ellen White put it nicely when she wrote that "afterwards, as they looked upon the objects that illustrated His lesson, they recalled the words of the divine Teacher. To minds that were open to the Holy Spirit, the significance of the Saviour's teaching unfolded more and more. Mysteries grew clear, and that which had been hard to grasp became evident" (Christ Object Lessons, p. 21).
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