Parables - Teaching 15

Why Tell Stories?

"The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”

He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again:

'Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
    Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
    so they won’t have to listen;
They screw their eyes shut
    so they won’t have to look,
    so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
    and let me heal them.'

“But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance." Matthew 13:10-17 MSG


Why Parables

Finally and of course better late than never, we are discussing why Jesus used stories (or parables) to teach.

This version (in the Message version) lays it out why, without question.

Jesus more often than not tells stories or answer questions or explain things, ideas, concepts.

My guess was this wasn't normal for teachers and preachers during His time. It isn't normal for most teachers and preachers even today.

So when Jesus used it, it was  probably some sort of novelty. People got entertained. But those who wanted to get more, stuck around and they usually got more, the explanations even.

That's How It Works

And that's how it is for the Kingdom of God. There is no one forcing anybody. No arm twisting. No coercing. No brainwashing. You just kept coming back for more. If you aren't ready, then you aren't ready.

Lots of people will be forever hearing but not listening. Now if they do listen, many may not be able to comprehend.

What is amazing about Jesus is that He Himself explains what He said. Today, it is His Spirit who does that.

God gives us the opportunity or opportunities to be able to hear His Word (nowadays more than ever). He gives us the desire for it. Because of this desire, we take time to listen. The Holy Spirit, God's Spirit shows us insight after insight depending on what we need (at the moment or shortly there after) or what soneone needs to hear when we share it to them.

It's amazing. And the process starts over and over, as we keep reading and listening to the Word of God.

When I write these, it all just flows naturally. If it doesn't, I stop, until such a time that it does (many times at 3 'o clock in the morning). And then I proofread or at least try to. (I don't use spellcheck or use a Word processor. I just type directly here normally on my phone and some times there will be lots of typos, I typically will catch them when I reread it).

If you do not have the ready heart for this yet, then ask God for it. He will give it to you. Do not be like one of those the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah was talking about. Of course at one time, we all were. And these stories will help us snap out of it. Read them.

Parables Series

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