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Parables

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, Cal. · Dec 20, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 50.

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Parables

By F. D. Starr

By F. D. Starr
The reasons why the Master spoke in parables to the people are clearly given in the Bible. This method of instruction was in use in the days of the Old Testament writers. As will be seen by John 16:25, 29, a parable is a proverb, and a proverb is a parable. The marginal rendering is “parable,” while that in the regular reading is “proverb.” The Proverbs of Solomon might, according to the Greek title found in the Septuagint, be called the Parables of Solomon.
There are two Greek words that are rendered either “proverb” or “parable.” John uses one of these, while the other three Gospel authors use the other. Both these words are used in the same way in the Old Testament Greek. A proverb seems to be a very short parable. The idea is that of teaching by illustration, a very forcible method. It would seem as if there could be no excuse for any one in whatever vocation in life for not understanding the Saviour’s teachings after He has used the occupations in which we are daily engaged as illustrations of His work.
A very common complaint among the people when they are appealed to in regard to Scripture study, is that they are very busy people, that they have to work for a living, and so their minds are diverted from spiritual concerns, and they can not be expected to know much about eternal things. The people who thronged about the Lord to listen to His teachings, were also toilers for bread. To accommodate this class the Saviour likened His work to their work.
About Him were many fishermen whose lot was severe, sometimes to toil all night and catch nothing. To them and to others He said the kingdom of heaven was like the fisherman’s net and consequent labor. Whenever the poor fishermen from that time went to their ordinary toil, they would naturally say, The Master said our labor was like His; and their minds would be drawn toward, not away from, the great concerns of eternity.
Shepherds were numerous in that part of the country. The life of this class of toilers is well represented by that ancient shepherd, Jacob: “In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.” Gen. 31:40. The next time one of them was called to keep his flock by night, he might beguile the weary hours by remembering what the Good Shepherd who was to lay down His life for the sheep, had told the multitude about the “ninety and nine” and the search for the one lost sheep.
Keepers of vineyards came to listen to the great Teacher. Had any of them had the experience recorded so long ago in prophetic lore: “They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept”? Cant. 1:6. See also Isaiah 5. Their diligence in connection with the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts would be renewed by the earnest teaching of the Master in His interesting parable concerning their occupation. How could they help thinking about the kingdom of God the next time they went to prune the vines or gather the grapes?
The festivities of the marriage ceremony were woven into the teaching of the Man of Nazareth to illustrate His work, so even the bewildering preparations for the nuptial occasion should but lead the contractors and friends to thoughts of the marriage of the Lamb.
The merchantman, seeking to increase his riches, and in fact nearly every legitimate calling, were used by our Lord in illustrating His Gospel teachings. Even the busy housewife could not complain that she was left out. What is more important than the making of good bread! Much of a woman’s time is spent in this line of work.
When she sets herself to this task, she can remember that in mingling the leaven in the meal to prepare to make the loaves, her work is likened to that of the kingdom of heaven; so her work need not divert her mind from God and the future life, but rather lead her thought toward heavenly things.
What is esteemed to be more of a drudgery than sweeping the dusty floor? But even this is employed by the heavenly Teacher to illustrate the kingdom of God. What employment then need keep the soul from God?
Perhaps there is no more common occupation than farming, therefore our Lord’s parables concerning the sower of the grain and the tares of the field will certainly interest in a personal way a very large number of laboring people. The tiller of the soil may have his mind directed above from the time he prepares the ground for the seed till he reaps and garners the golden grain. With him the important event is the harvest; for it he looks and longs and waits with patience. Without the harvest his well-laid plans of farming would come to naught. What is the harvest in the great Gospel plan? “The harvest is the end of the world.” Matt. 13:39.
How essential, then, is this grand culminating event to which sages and prophets have looked forward with so much glad anticipation. Let us not fail to learn the parable and its meaning.