1.
what is a parable?
When
Jesus teaches he always uses parables (Mark 4:33-34).The activity of teaching in
parables is an important part of Jesus ministry. But what is a parables? Some
of the parables are short proverbs (such
as Mark
2:27, 19,21,22, 7:15) and some are long stories (such as Mark 4:1-9,
12:1-9). Many believers think that a parables is a simple story and that
the meaning of a parables is easy to understand. By using parables Jesus makes
hid teaching clear they say. But let us consider these other four questions.
1.
Is it easy in fact to
understand the meaning of the parables?
Certainly
Jesus parables are simple stories but it is not easy to understand the meaning.
For example, what is the meaning of the seed growing secretly (Mark 4:26-29)? "The kingdom of God is like…." Verse 26.
But like what? Like the seed? Like the process of growing in secret? Like the harvest? What is the meaning? Is it
the contrast between present and future? Is it the contrast between the fact
that we cannot make the seed grow and the fact that the seed will grow and
produce a harvest? Is the meaning that the kingdom of God will certainly grow.
Which of interpretation is correct? From this example we can see that it is not
easy to interpret the parables.
