Speaking in Parables (Matthew 13:3; 10-17; 34-35)

(Class Notes)

• Speaking in Parables (Matthew 13:3)
  • In the OT, SPEAKING in PARABLES (Ezekiel 20:49) was the means God used in "DROPPING" His WORD AGAINST His HEARERS (Ezekiel 21:2-3; Ezekiel 24:3; Micah 2:4; Habakkuk 2:6)
  • Thus, the Lord SPOKE in PARABLES which were directed AGAINST His ENEMIES (Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19)

• Reasons for Parables (Matthew 13:10-17)
  • In reply to the QUESTION posed by His DISCIPLES, "WHY SPEAKEST Thou unto them in PARABLES" (Matthew 13:10) - the ANSWER of the LORD is TWO-FOLD (Matthew 13:11-15; Matthew 13:16-17)
  • The NEGATIVE REASON is in reference to the MULTITUDE (Matthew 13:11-15):
    • It is to CONCEAL FROM the MULTITUDE "the SECRETS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN" (Matthew 13:11)
    • MESSIAH also GAVE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HIMSELF in "MOSES and the PROPHETS" TO His DISCIPLES (Matthew 13:12 cf. Luke 24:27), BUT HID it FROM His ENEMIES (Matthew 13:12 cf. Luke 19:42)
    • The REASON for CONCEALMENT via PARABLES (Matthew 13:13) is ISRAEL'S WILLFUL UNBELIEF, i.e. "their EYES have they CLOSED" (Matthew 13:14-15 cf. Isaiah 6:9-10)
  • The POSITIVE REASON is in reference to His DISCIPLES (Matthew 13:16-17):
    • It is to REVEAL TO His DISCIPLES (Matthew 13:16) the "THINGS" that "MANY PROPHETS and RIGHTEOUS MEN have DESIRED TO SEE" (Matthew 13:17 cf. I Peter 1:10-12)

• Prophecy concerning Parables (Matthew 13:34-35)
  • The PARABLES which were SPOKEN to the MULTITUDE (Matthew 13:34) were PROPHESIED as the means to "UTTER THINGS which have been KEPT SECRET from the foundation (overthrow) of the world" (Matthew 13:35 cf. Psalms 78:2):
    • These "THINGS" were FOR the UNDERSTANDING OF His TWELVE DISCIPLES who were PROMISED to "sit upon TWELVE THRONES, JUDGING the TWELVE TRIBES of ISRAEL" (Matthew 19:28)
    • These "THINGS" concerned the fact that ALTHOUGH the OUTWARD APPEARANCE of the MILLENNIAL KINGDOM would be REJOICING and NO WEEPING (Isaiah 65:18-19) - INWARDLY there would STILL be SIN and DEATH (Isaiah 65:20) due to "HIDDEN LEAVEN" (Matthew 13:33), i.e. "HIDDEN WICKEDNESS" (Zechariah 5:7-8)

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