I’ll just be honest with you up front:
I have a sort of love/hate relationship with the parables.
Maybe that isn’t something I’m supposed to say, as a Pastor. Maybe you consider the notion to be disrespectful towards Scripture. If so, I apologize. Minimizing the power, impact, and truth of God’s Holy Word is certainly not my intention; however, the Parables of Jesus are both beautiful AND confusing. They paint such vivid pictures to help me to imagine what Jesus is attempting to convey to his audience, and yet, I’m not sure if I get it. Is there supposed to be one correct answer or interpretation? Why did Jesus use parables? When asked these questions directly, Jesus responded, “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’” (Matthew 13:13)
Honestly...not the answer I was hoping for.
I bring up this topic because in the next month, we will embark on a series of sermons investigating the Parables of Jesus. Specifically, the parables depicted in the ten stained glass windows on the western side of our sanctuary. From left to right (back to front), we’ll explore each of these teachings. In preparation, to assist me in this task, I recently began reading “Proclaiming the Parables” by Thomas G. Long. I’ll leave you with a question that he considers, and one that I have been pondering myself: “Are there parables to be considered a metaphor, simile, allegory, all of the above, or something else?”
I’ll leave that to you to consider for a little while, though feel free to contact me, sit down for a chat, or check in, to make sure my thinking is headed in a helpful direction.
While we’re on the topic, what are some of your favorite parables? No fair choosing “The Good Samaritan.” Everyone always picks that. I have a few of my own, but I won’t list them here. You’ll have to tune in for our sermon series or ask me. As you know, I don’t have all the answers, but hopefully a careful consideration of some of Jesus’ most famous teachings will prompt us toward great questions and conversations. I’m looking forward to it.
Very truly,
Pastor Adam
ARTWORK CREDIT: ”The Lord of the Parables” by Jorge Cocco | 5x7 | Loose Print | Source: Altus Fine Art
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