When God came to earth as the man Jesus he told many parables. Most people for example remember the parables of the sower and the seed and the prodigal son, but he told many more than that. In fact, when Jesus spoke to a very large crowd Mark tells us that “He did not speak to them without a parable.” (Mark 4:34) Why would he do that? Many people say that Jesus was a master story teller (which he was) and that he taught spiritual principles in parables in order to make the spiritual principles clearer. Such teaching is an example of the blind (spiritual teachers and leaders who do not know the ways of God) teaching the blind (the general population who go to them trying to get spiritual understanding, spiritual food). Jesus tells us exactly why he teaches in parables within Mark 4 itself. He says,

10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? (Mark 4:10-13 ESV)

“How then will you understand all of the parables?” How indeed? That is the question this series of teachings seeks to answer. The first thing to see concerning the parables of the Bible is that God specifically and purposefully uses parables in order to obscure his truth, not to help reveal it! What? Does he not want us to understand all things and especially his Word? That depends. First he wants to know if you are worthy to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

This whole idea, of course, flies in the face of the worldly Christian churches that boldly advertise “Everyone welcome!” in front of their chapels. They lack even the most basic discernment and would let any pervert or murderer into their midst without first discerning his spirit. God does not intend to reveal his treasures to any who would despise them or selfishly use them for their own ends. God’s Word proclaims that man may purchase God’s truth, which the Scripture calls “the pearl of great price” only by selling all that he owns. In fact, no man possesses enough worldly wealth to gain it. He must sell his very soul for it! You have heard of men willing to sell their souls to Satan for great fame or riches. Satan only copies, mimics, and perverts God’s creation. He collects souls because he know that God does. “If you would gain your life (soul),” Jesus says, “then you must lose your life (soul).” In other words, if you would gain the Kingdom of God by saving your soul (not your spirit!), then you must be willing to lay down your soul in this world. You cannot love both the things of this world and the things of the Kingdom of God. You have to be willing to “come out of Babylon,” out of man’s kingdom.

The six thousand year period of time since man’s creation now draws to a close. God intended one main purpose for his creation during this time. Would man choose God’s way, or he would he choose his own way? Would man desire to be ruled by God or would he want to be ruled by his carnal passions? Would he take the mark of God upon his head and hand, or would he willingly accept the mark of the beast? Only one type of person has decided to accept the mark of God instead of the mark of the beast, God’s overcomer.

You may find this hard to believe, but the entire Bible was written for God’s overcomer, for the specific people who will one day be spiritually transformed, or glorified, into becoming an actual son of God. Most translations of the Bible call this transformation an “adoption” by God, but that word misleads the masses. In Romans 8, for example, translators usually render the Greek word huiothesia as adoption. We typically use the word adoption to mean the legal placement of someone from another family into our own family. This implies that the adopted person is not necessarily genetically the same as the people in the adopting family. This understanding is totally contrary to that expressed by Paul and the other writers of the New Testament. The term huiothesia means to “to be placed as a son” or “to come into one’s inheritance as a son.” Paul makes it clear that this event stands as the culmination of the faithful Christian’s life. He says,

12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[f] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,“Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [Romans 8:12-23]

We do not wait to “be adopted” by God as if we were entering a new family at that time. The whole purpose of the Scriptures is to learn how to become part of God’s family now! This is what it means when Psalm 103:7 says that Moses knew the ways of God, but that the people of Israel only knew his acts. If we succeed in this, then God himself will place us into his family as true sons. Paul explains this to the Corinthians,

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[b] in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[c] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. [1 Corinthians 10:1-14)

The Greek word τύπος (typos) is translated “examples” in verse six above and technically means “types.” Paul says here that ancient Israel’s experiences, although factually and historically true, were also (and more importantly) “types” which teach spiritual principles. They were thus parables! You have heard, for example, that Joseph is a “type” of Christ and that King David, too, is a “type” of Christ. This is true because each of these men demonstrated particular character traits and performed certain actions that the Bible teaches belong to the perfect man, Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is said to be the antitype (the prophetic fulfillment of the type) of both Joseph and David.

Jesus did not speak to them without a parable. Neither does he speak to us without a parable. And now for the really profound truth… every single historical account in the Bible also serves as a parable, a vehicle by which God teaches spiritual truth to his overcomers. 

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. [John 1:9-13]

The pearl of great price is the huiothesia, the reality of becoming a son of God. God has given us the “right” to pay the price, but will we? Will we take the time and effort to learn God’s own language, his parables, the ways of his kingdom? Will we take these parables to heart and apply them in our own lives?