Why Parables?
Matt 13:1-23

•	Each year we read this parable 6 times at least – probably think we have a good idea about what it is about – Jesus explained, and it seems simple enough. I hope we will see that as with all scripture – there is more than our first impressions

•	First want to look at “Why Parables?”
•	Answer to the question is all to do with a main reason for Parable of Sower
•	Want to look then at some background about what parables are, why they were given, and how to interpret
•	Purpose - surprising - but a reason for joy for us

Background
•	Midway thru 2nd year, popularity rising to new levels
•	Until now - preaching has been quite plain (e.g. Sermon on mount)
•	All of a sudden a BIG change occurs in his preaching - Matt 13:3 - 1st time word used 
•	13:10 - the question is asked why??? And so too do we ask it? – This is something new!
•	From now on a lot of Jesus teaching – about 1/3 of Jesus’ overall teaching

Purpose
•	Not just Popularity increasing, opposition too!
•	13:1 – On that day! What day? 
•	12:24 – accused of healing by Beelzebub 
•	12:31 Christ accused of using Beelzebub to perform miracles - this amounted to blasphemy against the holy spirit - an unforgivable sin (IMPORTANT)
•	12:38-39 desire a sign - this showed them to be wicked GENERATION

•	Now switches to parables - on this same day (will see O.T. links)...

•	Purpose was to sort people out - to make truth easier for some, and to make it impossible for others. Like dividing sheep and goats from one group into two. They are a form of judgment.

•	Primarily it was to CONCEAL truth - this may be surprising but that is what Jesus own explanation is. May not think it is that concealed, but this is because we have the explanations given to us by Jesus. Even many with incorrect understanding of the gospel get hopelessly muddled: try to fit their false doctrine to them (e.g. go away to far country and return to give rewards - heaven going)

•	v12 explains the principle of how God works - He confirms to what we want - if we want to understand, he will help us, if we don’t want to, He makes it harder. This seems to go against idea that God wants all to come to knowledge of Him, and is not willing that any shall perish. This is true, but many do not want God, and so he makes them even more perverse.
•	Dividing Into 2 groups, adding to one, subtracting from the other
•	He then quotes Isa. 6. - Look at strength of language in Mark 4:11-12
•	‘Those that are outside’ - emphasis on no hope
•	‘Lest they return and be forgiven’ - i.e. Parables prevented them from being forgiven - i.e. a link to unforgivable sin.
•	In a sense a parable was a form of judgement - Jesus starts to preach using a technique to prevent forgiveness on the day they blaspheme against the HS
•	They have been given many chances, but are obstinately refusing to listen to Christ, and so now they get parables

•	The words are quoted again in Acts 28:25-28 - v28 helps explain the significance of the parables - it was a sign that the Jews were rejected from being Gods people and the Gentiles, whom they despised were to receive the Gospel.
•	General principle that God will confirm our intentions – assist us to make us better or worse:
•	Like God hardening the heart of Pharaoh - he first hardened his own heart
•	Like cursing of fig tree – made worse
•	2Thess 2:10-11 and Rom 1 – 2 stages – they reject, so God hardens them
•	In a way, a lot of scripture is written this way – if we seek truth – we will find it, but if we have our own preconceptions – we will find what we want – devil, immortal soul etc.

Matt 13:34-35 – Another reason – an unusual quote - Psa 78:2
-	No parables in Psa 78 – it is a restatement of history
-	Psa is about WHY God would speak in parables!
-	Note v1 – just like sower parable starts - ears
-	Why? – Rest of psalm is about Israel’s failures - All about miracles of Holy Spirit v13, 15, 25, but they rebelled against it - v10, 17, 22, 32...   

•	Use of parables similar to a later event. John 6 - the absolute peak of popularity - one year before crucifixion - there Jesus speaks in parabolic language about eating flesh etc. - the effect is that many ceased to follow him, he knew this would be the effect - John 6 seems to show Jesus making his language more offensive as he senses its effect.

But there is a positive side to things too it is to reveal as well as conceal

Matt 13:11
•	to you it is given – i.e. Revealed to them - how?
1)	God chose them – election – Matt 11:25-27 – great cause to rejoice (not in pride that we are better than others) – Jesus rejoiced in this, so should we!
2)	They asked the meanings - Matt 13:36 - others could have asked too but they didn’t (too proud) - we too should ask in prayer for help understanding- Jas. 1:5-7 

•	Mysteries of K of H - major topic of parables - they often tell us about the nature of the kingdom itself, how it will come to pass, the king or the character of those who will be accepted/rejected. Many parables start - KoH is like...
•	mystery (=secret known only to the initiated) - important idea - first time word occurs - no mysteries to saints (e.g. trinity) 
Matt 13:16-17
-	We have great reason to rejoice - men like David, Isaiah Abraham & Daniel desired to know what we have been given!!!

How to interpret?
•	2 methods - both right - not one or other…

1)	FIRST - main lesson - example – e.g. Nathan’s parable 2Sam 12:1-7 
•	Paints a vivid, understandable picture - one feature is especially prominent (here it is the injustice – We react to it and say NO – that is not right) David was pulled into the story, but then he is shown how he is like the story. Most parables work this way if we let them.
•	It causes us to make an emotional connection by taking some normal circumstance and we should see some absurd, surprising, ironic etc. element - here the main lesson often lies. 
•	Pictures from everyday life with a twist.
•	the shepherd leaving 99 sheep behind to get the one – not real
•	the workers who wish to kill heir thinking they will get it all the inheritance
•	salt that loses saltiness
•	10,000 talents debt

2)	But more than this . There is other layers - a code if you will - sower & tares are examples - if we cannot work it all out - we are insufficient, not the parable
•	but note that the parables do not always match the main lesson, detail by detail -  - but often the detail by detail interp will be complementary to the main lesson
•	Often OT echoes – to enhance the parable
•	mustard seed to great tree (quite absurd) – might think it is about growth of true kingdom – but learn much from the echo to Daniel 4 - explains how the church would become corrupt - Babylon
•	Good Samaritan parable (Luke (Luke 10:30-35) - 2Chron 28:8-11, 15)
•	Loaves at midnight, goes back to Abraham and Sarah and the 3 angels they entertained
•	Look at context - usually for a purpose - sower teaches lesson of why parables and how they work

Parable of the Sower

•	At first thought - what else to say - Jesus explained it!
•	will see there is a lot here
•	a few comm. Say – simplest parable – maybe, but by no means simple

•	Several questions come to mind when looking at parable & interp.
•	What is the lesson for us? Are we to focus on the Sower, or the Soil?
•	Is it stating unalterable facts about ourselves - or are we to take its lessons and respond?

The Sower 
•	Lessons for us from both 
•	Ultimately Christ is THE SOWER but we are all sowers… 

1Cor 3:6-7, 9
-	Labourers TOGETHER – amazing when you think about it 
-	We are all to be sowers – there are lessons for us in this parable both as sowers and soil - but we are not to forget that it is God who gives the increase.

•	Remember to look for an absurd point in a parable - one that is missed by all is in this one - everyone says - naturally seed would go everywhere - NONSENSE - this sower is wasting 75% of his seed - they knew how to plough and create a field etc.

Ps 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed

Parable of Tares, and also the parable of the seed in Mark 4:26 – the sowing is done on good ground!

•	Lesson in Parable - No real sower would waste his seed by throwing onto the road! - But not us - we are not be discriminating in our sowing. Preach to all – not judging who we think in “good” soil

The Seed

Matt 13:19 - seed = word of the kingdom

1Pet 1:23-25
-	we are a natural seed that is dying - but the word of God dies not - it lasts for ever
-	2 types of seed – flesh and word
-	baptism - word comes to life inside us and starts to grow – will see more of this in the 3rd ground – the struggle between natural growth and the Word

  Jas 1:18 – agricultural imagery – Word brings us forth – to be first fruits
	:21 	- put aside the fleshly, natural types of seed
		- implanted = rooted (engrafted in KJV – not a natural growth – planted in a corruptible body) - it springs from the heart - but we will see that some hearts can not receive it..

Fundamental part of God’s purpose with creation

Genesis
1:28 – be fruitful – spiritually producing fruits of spirit
2:8 – man placed in a garden – planted as it were
2:15 – man a gardener – i.e. he is to produce fruit 

Greek has idea in parable of the seed being continually sown – not a description so much of how people respond to a call of the gospel, but how we in ecclesia react to continually hearing the word. 

•	Parables – they are a  form of judgement – they make clear those who want to know God, and those who reject him
•	Lessons already:
•	As sowers, we are working with God, to spread the seed
•	Do not be discerning or selective
•	The seed = God’s word – to grow and bring fruit in us as the soil.
•	What type of soil are we?
•	Will see that we are all the same type of soil – the question is, what type of soil will we become?