Jesus

This essay is concerned with the parable technique used by Jesus in his sermons. Both Mark 4 and Matthew 13 describe the way Jesus used parables to illustrate his points. A parable is an illustrative story suggesting a moral or lesson. Another way to describe a parable is to say that it is an allegory. This is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings lying outside the narrative itself. Consequently, an allegory or parable represents one thing in the guise of another. The purpose of this is to generate a dual interest -- one in the events, characters, and setting presented; and the other, in the ideas they are intended to convey or the significance they hold.

Whenever Jesus used a parable, he was teaching a lesson to his hearers. He did not do so to confuse people; but rather, he did so to make his meaning more clear and further enlighten his followers and potential followers. Jesus did not always find the of his people to whom he preached to be very understanding of his message. Thus, he attempted to make his meaning as easy as possible to comprehend. As Jesus says: "Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand" (Matthew 13:13).

C. Leslie Mitton states: "Within the teaching material in the gospels there is no area where we may legitimately feel ourselves so near to the actual words of Jesus as in the p

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away the word that was sown in their hearts" (Mark 4:15). This is how the world has distractions preventing the word from really settling in one's consciousness. Well-meaning friends can make remarks that completely disorient a person from God's gospel. Every type of negative influence can occur to prevent the seeds of faith from developing. This is the reason it is so tremendously important for God's message to be sown on good ground, where nothing can get in the way of the lessons to be learned. A person truly dedicated to learning the teachings of Jesus must be prepared to give his or her full attention to the process. C. Leslie Mitton states: "The parables fit exactly into what is known of the geography, climate, and social conditions of Jewish Palestine at the time of Jesus. The Sower sets about his task as a sower would in that area. The 'Good Samaritan' reflects the notorious dangers of the journey between Jerusalem and Jericho. Local customs about weddings, banquets, family relationships, etc. are all accurately represented. It is in Palestine where Jesus lived and taught that these conditions were found, not in Rome or Ephesus. The accuracy of the parables in reflecting the conditions of that time strongly s

Category: Philosophy - J