The Parables of Jesus

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 39.

The Parables of Jesus.

FOURTH QUARTER 1901.

NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ's Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ's Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.

LESSON 1.—OCTOBER 5.—TEACHING IN PARABLES.

Lesson Scriptures, Matt. 13:13-35; 25:1-12, R.V.

Lesson Help.—“Christ's Object Lessons,” chapter 1.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. In what way did Jesus teach the multitudes?

“All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake He nothing unto them.” Matt. 13:34.

2. What prediction was thus fulfilled? What did He utter?

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.” Verse 35.

3. As a basis of His parables, from what source did He principally draw?—Nature and scenes from every-day life. Matt. 13:24-32; 25:1-12.

4. Why did Christ speak in parables?

“Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matt. 13:13.

5. What are people supposed to see in the things about them? Rom. 1:20.

6. In how many things is God revealed?

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” Jer. 23:23, 24.

7. Failing to see Him in each daily scene and event, what happens to the heart?

“For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse; because that, knowing God, they glorified Him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.” Rom. 1:20, 21.

8. Was this the condition of the people to whom Jesus opened His mouth in parables?

“Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; and, seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive; for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again, and I should heal them.” Matt. 13:13-15.

9. Then, in showing God in common things, what was revealed?

“I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.” Verse 35, last clause.

10. How do you express your thoughts?—In words and deeds. Does God express His thoughts thus?

11. When were the earth and all its contents an exact expression of God's thoughts?

“And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Gen. 1:31.

12. At that time what do you think the man, created in the image of God, could see and understand in the things about him?

13. Give two reasons showing why the natural man sees so little of God now in His created works?

“Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts.” Eph. 4:18.

“And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.” Gen. 3:17, 18.

14. Are these parables needed, then, to-day? Why?

NOTES.

To Adam and Eve in their Eden home nature was full of the knowledge of God, teeming with divine instruction. Wisdom spoke to the eye, and was received into the heart, for they communed with God in His created works. As soon as the holy pair transgressed the law of the Most High, the brightness from the face of God departed from the face of nature. The earth is now marred and defiled by sin. Yet, even in its blighted state, much that is beautiful remains. God's object-lessons are not obliterated; rightly understood, nature speaks of her Creator.

In the days of Christ these lessons had been lost sight of. Men had well-nigh ceased to discern God in His works. The sinfulness of humanity had cast a pall over the fair face of creation; and, instead of manifesting God, His works became a barrier that concealed Him. Not only the things of nature, but the sacrificial service and the Scriptures themselves,—all given to reveal God,—were so perverted that they became the means of concealing Him.

Jesus sought an avenue to every heart. By using a variety of illustrations, He not only presented truth in its different phases, but appealed to the different hearers. Their interest was aroused by figures drawn from the surroundings of their daily life.

In the Saviour's parable-teaching is an indication of what constitutes the true “higher education.”

Too often the minds of students are occupied with men's theories and speculations, falsely called science and philosophy. They need to be brought into close contact with nature. Let them learn that creation and Christianity have one God.

Christ's purpose in parable-teaching was in direct line with the purpose of the Sabbath. The Sabbath bids us behold in His created works the glory of the Creator. . . . On the holy rest-day above all other days, we should study the messages that God has written for us in nature. We should study the Saviour's parables where He spoke them, in the fields and groves, under the open sky, among the grass and flowers. As we come close to the heart of nature, Christ makes His presence real to us, and speaks to our hearts of His peace and love.