Introduction

We should began by opening up our thinking as to why did Jesus speak to the people in parables.  It was a well-established practice of the Jewish prophets to speak to the people in parables to get a truth across to the people for their spiritual growth and their receiving an understanding of the ways of God.  Jesus knew this practice full well from his early childhood training and in the knowledge of the Old Testament teachings.       (Luke 2:41-52)  Matthew 13:34 35    Psalm 78:1- 3

 
Jesus understood the mindset of the people as to their levels of understanding and knew that the teachings had to continue with the same format as the prophets , if not the people would leave wondering what was said and what action should be a result of the truth told them.  The parables gave a concrete statement of truth or reality that could not be questioned. 

The Greeks however, like to look at abstract ideas, which would lead to pointless discussions, and arguments for the sake of expressing ones own feelings and earthly knowledge.  For example, “Does a tree make a sound in the woods when it falls if there is no one there to hear it?”  The obvious answerer is yes but the Greeks would debate the word sound because a sound is only a sound when it can be recognized.

When we look at the various parables for example:

·       The Parable of the “Sower” it describes how the Word of God would be received

·       The Parable of the “Wheat and the Tares” it describes the mixed character of the world and the final makeup of the Kingdom of God

 

As we examine or study these parables, we should gather a greater understanding of the character of citizens in the Kingdom of God.