Lesson 1 – The Purpose of Parables

“I will open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Psalm 78:2.

“‘All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables;… that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.’ Matthew 13:34, 35. Natural things were the medium for the spiritual; the things of nature and the life experience of His hearers were connected with the truths of the written word. Leading thus from the natural to the spiritual kingdom, Christ’s parables are links in the chain of truth that unites man with God, and earth with heaven.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 17.

PURPOSE

1.Why did Jesus speak to the people in parables? What does the Bible student who searches them receive?

Matthew 13:10-12. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? ¹¹He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹²For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

James 1:5. If any of you lack wis- dom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

“We should study the Saviour’s parables where He spoke them, in the fields and groves, under the open sky, among the grass and flowers. As we come close to the heart of nature, Christ makes His presence real to us, and speaks to our hearts of His peace and love.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 25.

2.What does one need to understand His parables? Otherwise, what will be the result?

1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Matthew 13:14, 15. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and see- ing ye shall see, and shall not per- ceive: ¹⁵For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be con- verted, and I should heal them.

John 16:13, 14. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoev- er he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴He shall glorify me: for he shall re- ceive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

“But the mass of mankind despise the truths of God’s word and prefer fables. 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11: ‘Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.’” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 300.

3.Why are those who study the parables blessed? For what purpose should they be studied?

Matthew 13:16, 17. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

1 Peter 1:12. Unto whom it was re- vealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

“While the angels hold the four winds, we are to work with all our capa- bilities. We must bear our message without any delay. We must give evi- dence to the heavenly universe, and to men in this degenerate age, that our religion is a faith and a power of which Christ is the Author and His word the divine oracle. Human souls are hanging in the balance. They will either be subjects for the kingdom of God or slaves to the despotism of Satan.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 21.

FEELINGS AROUSED BY THE PARABLES

4.What does one sense when he understands the parables? What will follow this?

Romans 10:10-12. For with the heart man believeth unto righteous- ness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

“All are to have the privilege of laying hold of the hope set before them in the gospel, and how can they hear without a preacher? The human family is in need of a moral renovation, a preparation of character, that they may stand in God’s presence. There are souls ready to perish because of the theoretical errors which are prevailing, and which are calculated to coun- terwork the gospel message. Who will now fully consecrate themselves to become laborers together with God?” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 21.

5.What benefits are obtained? Personally, what do you want to receive?

Matthew 13:51, 52, 45. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old…. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls.

Proverbs 23:23. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

“In different nations there were earnest and thoughtful men who had sought in literature and science and the religions of the heathen world for that which they could receive as the soul’s treasure. Among the Jews there were those who were seeking for that which they had not. Dissatisfied with a formal religion, they longed for that which was spiritual and uplifting. ”Christ’s chosen disciples belonged to the latter class, Cornelius and the Ethiopian eunuch to the former. They had been longing and praying for light from heaven; and when Christ was revealed to them, they received Him with gladness.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 116.

6. What does the Creator want from those who accept Him? List and explain these things.

Luke 15:17, 18. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.

1 Corinthians 6:11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

“‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’ John 1:12, 13. Here is the only power that can work the uplifting of mankind. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and practicing of the word of God.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 509.

7.To what does the Lord invite all who study the parables?

Psalm 95:6-8. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

“What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and pre- paring for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 216.

For Additional Study

“But no man can impart that which he himself has not received. In the work of God, humanity can originate nothing. No man can by his own effort make himself a light bearer for God. It was the golden oil emptied by the heavenly messengers into the golden tubes, to be conducted from the golden bowl into the lamps of the sanctuary, that produced a continuous bright and shining light. It is the love of God continually transferred to man that enables him to impart light. Into the hearts of all who are united to God by faith the golden oil of love flows freely, to shine out again in good works, in real, heartfelt service for God.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 418.