Let's study this parable from this scripture. From this passage, we can learn important points regarding parables in the Bible. That is to say, we can learn God's true intentions about parables.
"The whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables." We can learn one thing from this text: that many teachings of Jesus are delivered through "parables." In that time period Jesus spoke to his disciples and people through parables. Many scriptures inform us that Jesus talks to us through parables. For example, see these scriptures:
"Mark 4:33,34 33 And with many such parables
spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto
them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
We understand that Jesus talked to the people in his time period through parables. But, does this fact have any connection to us in this present age? What are these words telling us in this present age? Let's find out.
First, let's imagine the scene where this "parable of sower" was given. There was a whole multitude by the sea. In contrast, there was a only few disciples. Scripture says "without a parable spake he not." So, this scene itself might also be a parable. If this scene is parable, what might God be trying to tell us through its drama?
People:
Let's examine "the people" first. The foil to the word "people" is "disciple." The term "people" represents believers who hear the word of Jesus gladly. In addition, they are the believers who receive help from Jesus, have faith in Jesus, and receive healing from Jesus. So, "the people" is the imagery of ordinary christians in the present age.
The Word of Jesus:
During the days of his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke with the people directly. Even now, Jesus speaks with us. How does the Lord talk to us now? For example, he speaks through persons or through circumstances. But, basically, he talks to us through the Bible.
Parable:
The Bible repeatedly tells us that Jesus talks through parables. What does this fact mean to us? This may indicate that the word of Jesus or the Bible is full of parables. There are many parables used in Bible. The Bible is a book full of parables. This book includes many more parables than we might think.
Examination:
I think this "parable of the sower" is an examination given by Jesus. The Lord wanted to examine the disciples to see whether they really understood parables or not. Here, the Lord shows us one sample of a parable. Later, the Lord will shows us the correct answer to this examination. The Lord explained the interpretation of this parable to the disciples. Through this, we know the biblical pattern of interpretation of parables. Through his interpretation, we can understand "the seed" is the word of God. We understand "the bird" means the evil one. The Lord's will is for disciples to understand the other parables in the Bible according to the pattern and method he hereby demonstrated.
Some may say, "Don't speak such error. If you interpret the Bible by yourself, you will fall into falsehood." But, please do not think that. If it were not the Lord's will for his disciples to interpret the Bible for themselves, he should have just said, "All you have to do is just hear it and you don't need to interpret anything." But, what does the Bible say about it? The Lord says, "Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?" This is the Lord rebuking his disciples who are slow in understanding a parable. In addition, this word indicates that the Lord wants his disciples to understand parables on their own "by themselves."
Matthew 13:11 "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. "
Here it clearly warns that if we are not disciples, we are not permitted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. In the Bible, there is a specific brand of truth named "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." "Mystery" means "hidden thing" in Greek. For example, in book of Ephesians, Paul talks about the mystery of marriage. He says this mystery implies "Christ and the church."
In Bible, there are also truths that are not hidden. For example, the truth that God is one or Christ will come again On the other hand, there are hidden truths called "mysteries."
Concerning a "mystery," the Bible never says that every mystery within it has already been revealed and that no mystery remains to be uncovered. Instead, the Bible suggests to us that there are still many hidden mysteries waiting for discovery.
Someone may say, "If we do not understand a mystery, there is no problem as long as we have faith in God." But, that is not always true. For example, the Pharisees and scribes read the Bible so much, but still could not understand any "mystery" messages in the Bible. In particular, they did not understand the mystery of Jesus, his coming to this world as "a servant." So, they killed him on the cross and after this, they received judgment upon themselves. I do not think a similar such situation will happen in this age. But,if God intends to reveal other mysteries to us, we should seek it.
It is God's will to reveal this mystery to disciples. But, he does not want other people to know the mystery. Usual truth or revealed truth may be opened to "the people" But, a mystery is hidden to them. God designed it like this. The people in this scripture actually heard "the parable of the sower," but they could not understand it. They could not understand the meaning of "seed" or "bird" in the parable. They might have imagined many things. "Seed" might be a man? So, "a seed eaten by bird" might signify "men killed by war." But, they would not be able to reach the right interpretation because it is not given to the people to know the mystery of kingdom of heaven. So they could never understand a parable. No matter how diligently they might hear, they would remain afar in their understanding of a parable. Because they are not permitted to know the mystery of kingdom of heaven. That was true in the age of Jesus. And it is also true in these end days. Even now, many people are separated from understanding parables and mysteries within the Bible.
Well, many "people" read the Bible. They open the scriptures and read the many stories in the Bible such as the stories of Adam, Abraham and David. Within these stories many parables and mysteries are hidden. But, people do not see or understand them. They do not even know the fact that parables are hidden there. They just hear or read outside of the limits of the parable. They may understand the some of the elementary concepts written in in the new testament such as "Adam is a figure of Christ." But they do not open their eyes to the other hidden parables, allegories and analogies.
The Bible says that both the disciples and the people hear the same parable. At this point, both of them are equal. And both of them can not understand the parable when they first hear it. The text says "a great multitude." So, we can surmise that the number of people who do not understand the parable is great. There are parallel accounts of this in the books of Matthew and Luke. These scriptures also inform us of the same situation that there was a great multitude. In this text it shows us a contrastive scene. This is the contrast between the small number of disciples and the great multitude of people. Through this contrast, the Bible shows us the great number of people who just hear parable and can not understand it. That is to say, even in this present age, the number of people who do not understand a parable or the mystery of the kingdom of heaven is overwhelmingly large.
On the other hand, the disciples are in the know. They are permitted to know the mystery of kingdom of heaven. That is to say, they have a right to know it. They also do not understand the parable at first. But, they ask the Lord for understanding. And they receive it.
How can we understand parables? First, we have to be his disciple. It is important. Then the Bible says we must ask for light, to ask the Lord for understanding. Let's look carefully at the Bible here. When we read "the parable of the sower" or other parables in the Gospels, we can see one fact. When the disciples ask the Lord, he always explains its understanding to them.
Mark 4:10 "And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable."
Matthew 13:36 " Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field"
In other words, if disciples do not ask for understanding, there is the possibility that this parable might not be opened to them. When the disciples ask the Lord, he reveals its meaning. This is a principle of the Bible. And this is true even now. Every disciple who asks Lord will understand parables. Therefore, a disciple who does not understand parables has not asked the Lord. Or he does not only listen to him, but listens to hard to other persons and commentaries. They sometimes collide with Lord.
There are many books or teachers that show forth a correct understanding of the Bible. Of course, they have their value. But, the biblcal model for us to follow is to ask Jesus for the most right way to understand a parable. We have to have faith that the Lord will teach us to understand the Bible and parables. Because the Bible clearly says, "when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." Therefore, if we seek for the understanding of a parable in any other way, we face the possibility of reaching a false interpretation.
It is even now true that Jesus is a healer and deliverer from evil spirits as per the Gospels. Likewise, it is even now true, if anyone is his disciple and asks for understanding of a parable, Jesus will reveal it to him. That is how it was done with Peter or the other disciples. Even if we are the disciples of Jesus, we can not acquire spiritual gifts i.e. healing or prophecy without asking for them. Any disciple who asks for a gift will be given it. Likewise, the understanding of a parable is opened to him who seeks and hears from the Lord. I want to repeat it. In the biblical view, the number of people who do not understand a parable is very large. Therefore, it is no surprise if many people in this age do not say anything about parables or do not understand parables. Many people in this age may not talk about parables or recommend seeking its understanding. But, this does not mean seeking an understanding of parables is against faith. Believers who understand parables are few. Instead, the number of people who do not understand parables is an overwhelming majority. Therefore, in our age not to understand parables has become the norm of orthodoxy. But, in the Bible, there is no principle that "the majority is always right."
Maybe the present age is an age full of "people." Even in most interpretations of the Bible, the principle of the majority rule may have priority. But, we are not called to follow the common sense of "the people." Instead, we are called to do the Lord's will. The will of the Lord is to understand parables, all the parables in the Bible. It is as per the word "how then will ye know all parables?"
I repeat to you, from the beginning, God never intended all of us to understand parables. He just wanted to reveal mysteries only to those disciples who seek God earnestly. It is like the other spiritual gifts. For most other people he has no intentions of reveal it to them.
Let's understand parables in the Lord.
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