The Parables
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea. But such great crowds gathered about Him that He got into a boat and remained sitting there, while all the throng stood on the shore. And He told them many things in parables(stories by way of illustration and comparison), saying, A sower went out to sow."--Matthew 13:1 - 3.
Understanding the Parables
In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus spoke in parables. According to Psalm 78:2-3, "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us." The prophecy has been fulfilled. Throughout the Bible we will find many prophecies being, and will be, fulfilled.

The purpose of these parables was to help those of His time, and us of our time, to understand the "secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 13:11) Notice how in this chapter Jesus began most of the parables with "the kingdom of heaven is like or likened to". Jesus makes things very clear in wanting the disciples, and us, to know and understand what Heaven is like, what Hell is like, as well as how we are to conduct ourselves as godly people and the importance of fruitful understanding.

Also, like in the Book of Luke 15, the parables give us an understanding of God's love for backsliders and sinners. The Parable of the Lost Sheep makes this clear. God loves all of us, but hates sin. He, along with the angels, rejoice over one repentant sinner. This is also illustrated in the Parable of the Lost Son. This is better know as the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:1-31)

Parables help us to differentiate between those who are true and those who are false. Jesus also described to us in parables not only what Heaven and Hell are like, but who shall enter in each. The parables are not difficult to understand. They are timeless and true. They, like the Ten Commandments, are not suggested ideas. They illustrated truth and God wrote these in the Bible for a reason.

Also covered are lessons in humility, and about religion, sin, faith, and learning who really is the god, or God, of your life. You can find everything you need in the pages of the Bible. A good place to start reading are the Gospels, where of course,
you will find all of the parables.

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