Author ad

Showing posts with label Parable Principle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parable Principle. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2019

Parable Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!
Parable Principle
             In the New Testament instances of the word, it is used of a story with a hidden meaning, without pressing, in every detail, the idea of a comparison.[1]
             I know of twenty-three parables in the Old Testament and forty-three in the New Testament.  Because this book is not about parables, but only just this one chapter, I will only discuss two here.  One parable in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.
             This likeness is generally only in some special point.  One person may be like another in appearance, but not in character, and vice versa; so that when the resemblance or likeness is affirmed it is not to be concluded that the likeness may be pressed in all points, or extended to all particulars.[2]
             For example, a lion is used as a resemblance of Christ, on account of his strength and prowess.  The Devil is likened to “a lion” because of his violence and cruelty.  Christ is compared to a thief, on account of his coming, being unexpected; not on account of dishonesty.[3]
            The resemblance is to be sought for in the scope of the context, and in the one great truth which is presented, and the one important lesson which is taught:  and not in all the minute details with which these happen to be associated.[4]
       The interpretation of the parable be must further distinguished from any application which may be made of it.  For example:  in the Parable of the “Ten Virgins” (Matthew 25:1-12), the interpretation belongs to some special point of time immediately preceding the return of the Lord to the earth.  This is indicated by the word “Then,” with which it commences, and by its place in relation to the context.  Any lesson for ourselves, as to watchfulness on our part, must come as an application of it to present circumstances.[5]
            Bad Vineyard.  Isaiah 5:1-7:  In this parable God, through the prophet Isaiah, is telling the people of Israel that He had carefully planted them in good soil and cared for them.  But they have been a bad vine and did not produce any good fruit and God is planning on pulling them up. God gave this prophetic parable just before the Babylonian captivity.
            The proceeding chapter, chapter four, is about restoring Jerusalem.  After this great hope then God explains His future judgment of Israel.  The first half of the fifth chapter is the parable in discussion.  The second half of the fifth chapter is about the evil that men do.  In chapter seven we have the calling in prophecy of the Messiah.  So, God gives the Jews great hope before and after this parable of judgment.
       Now will I sing to my well beloved   a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.  My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:”
             And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine press therein:  and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
             And now, o inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
       What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard:  I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and brake down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
             And I will lay it waste:  it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns:  I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
       For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant:  and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
             The Two Sons- Matthew 21:28-32:  This parable is spoken by Jesus inside the Temple in Jerusalem to the chief priests and the elders.  Jesus reserved His harshest words for the self-righteous religious people who thought they had no need for mercy!
            But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, son, go work today in my vineyard.
            He answered and said, I will not:  but afterward he repented, and went.
            And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
            Whether of them twain did the will of his father?  They say unto him, the first.  Jesus saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
            For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not:  but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.





1.      [1] E. W. Bullinger.  Figures of Speech used in the Bible.  Baker Book House.  Grand Rapids, MI.  1968, p. 751.


2.      [2] ibed.


3.      [3] ibed, 751-2.


4.      [4]ibed.


5.      [5] ibed.


William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.