• You do already know, right?...  these are not to us!
• The easiest explanation of what the parables mean TO us.  Nothing!
• But they are worth studying if one is interested in how Jesus' talked with those that wouldn't hear, etc.
• We really need no other justifications - explanations - or attempts at making them fit TO us!
• Why did Jesus use parables when He did?
• Matthew 13:10-17 - And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He 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. For 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For 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 converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For 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.
• Why do we need parables when we have the Bible - the written Word of God itself!
• Matthew 13:34,35 - All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 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.
• Now we can hear these mysteries from Paul himself!
• Was there ever a 'clue' to Paul's time still to come?
• Matthew 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
• P.S.
• Note in Luke 8:10 - And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
• We will talk about the Kingdom of God more during our time in Luke.

What is a Parable?

• It is said that a parable is "a comparison between material truth and spiritual truth, designed to teach doctrine and obedience."
• Parables are found in the Old and New Testament Gospels, which are still Old Testament, remember - Hebrews 9:16,17.
• There are a total of 41 parables taught by Jesus. Some disagree on the number of parables, give or take a few.
• Jesus teaching in parables was actually a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy that was told in Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
• Look for the verses with 'like,' 'as,' 'like unto.'

• Primary law of parables - A parable is given to teach ONE central truth.
• An attempt to make extended application of each detail of a parable will produce false interpretations today.  The details of the parable are important, but they only contribute to the primary meaning for the overall parable.  (Lockyear)

• A parable is given for one main truth or doctrine to the time of the kingdom of heaven in the gospels!.
• That's it. Not two or three.
• If we try and chase every little thought and detail down and make extended application of it we are headed for serious errors that lead to false teachings.
• There is not a spiritual meaning behind every detail in a parable. The details support the one main truth being taught.

• Parables applied TO us today are used to 'support' false teachings today that were originally meant to teach to the Jews the kingdom of heaven during the times of the gospels!
• False teachings of the rapture such as 'Left Behind" etc.
• The rapture is taught using Second Coming verses.
• Today's perverted modern church growth can be supported by falsely using a parable, etc.
• Matthew 13:36-43 - 'church' instead of the world
• Matthew 13:33 - the false useage of leaven is used to promote the false GROWTH within a church, knowing that Paul preaches that gain is godliness to men destitute of the truth, etc.
• Leaven from Paul's preaching shows the growth of apostasy, not membership and increase of numbers, etc
• The 'lifestyle' of a Great Commission Christian will be lead by parables, but those parables won't come through in the end, as does the rest of the folly in today's Christianity.
• II Timothy 3:9 - But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

• 1. What is the plain interpretation of the parable?
• Most often the parable is plainly interpreted in the immediate passage.
• Jesus himself gave the meanings to many of the parables.
• 2. Always study the parable in its context.
• Study the context that surrounds the parable to help determine the main idea.
• 3. Study the parable in others locations in the Bible.
• Many of the parables are repeated in the other Gospels.
• Sometimes one Gospel will shed light on a parable in another Gospel.
• 4. Compare the main interpretation with all parts of Scripture doctrine.
• “Parables illustrate doctrine; they do no formulate it.
• Parables must not be the first source of doctrine.” David Cloud

• Galatians 1:6-8 -  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Some claim that this is a parable Luke 16, but that is only to support their unbelief in hell and that it is a real place of eternal punishment.

• There are three reason that we know that this was not a parable.
• 1. Proper names were used, Abraham and Lazarus.
• Proper names are NEVER used in parables.
• 2. Other passages of Scripture support the description of hell.
• 3. There is no indication or proof anywhere that this is a parable.
• Many times Jesus would say that He was using a parable, or the disciples would inquire about the parable - but that is not done here.
• The Rich Man and Lazarus is a true story is not a parable!

• Matthew 13:1-23
• 1-8 - the parable
• 18-23 - Jesus explains it
• word of God is always compared to a seed at any and all dispensations.
• God spoke
• Tablets
• Prophets
• Jesus
• Spirit of God
• Paul, etc.
• King James Bible -
• I Corinthians 13:10
• Deuteronomy / Hebrews 4:12,13, etc.
• Jesus explains it to them THEN, not to us now!
• vs 19 - the word of the kingdom
• vs 23 - where is the fruit, etc. today?
• there may actually be fruit to try to prove they are correct - gain is godliness, etc...
• ...but when compared to rightly dividing and Paul, it is apostasy and the working of the devil and his ministers of righteousness preparing for the antichrist and tribulation, etc.!