Leave A Mark - New Teaching Style

In Mark 4:2 we discover that Jesus is using a new style of teaching, "Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching." Someone said that parables are EARLY STORIES WITH HEAVENLY MEANING.

Parables (PARABOLE) comes from the verb PARABALLO, meaning to cast alongside.  So the use of parables was a form of teaching by which an earthly story was cast alongside a spiritual truth in order to give understanding to the latter.  It should be noted that a parable teaches one primary truth.  While many secondary meanings may be involved, they all contribute to the central truth.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? A parable both concealed and revealed.  It concealed truth from those who used Jesus' teachings only as a means of criticizing Him, but also revealed truth to those who were prepared to receive it. In chapter 3, unbelief by the religious crowd was blatant and they were already conspiring to destroy Jesus. (Mark 3:6)

A parable is different than a fable. A fable is not necessarily true to life, but a parable draws spiritual truth from life as it was lived by its hearers.  Jesus used parables to interpret the nature, growth, fulfillment, and consummation of the Kingdom of God. 

In Mark chapter 4 Jesus teaches 3 parables of the seed, He is describing the Kingdom of God and how it grows.

Take time to read the parables:

•  The Seed and The Soil (4:1-20) - It reveals how people respond to the Gospel.

• The Seed and Strength (4:21-29) - It tells how the seed has ability and strength, the emphasis is on growing.

• The Seed and Success (4:30-34) - The emphasis is on faithfulness.  The Kingdom may start out small but it will grow.  Growth of the kingdom and the Word of God can be assured success.