Parables

                One of the questions that is pretty often asked about the Savior’s ministry is about His use of parables to teach the doctrine. Many wonder why he would use such great lengths to teach principles when he could just tell us what they are. It seems like it would be easy to misunderstand what he is saying and get the doctrine wrong. There are some very good answers to why He taught in parables though.

In Matthew 13:11-14 Christ gives one of the reasons that he speaks in parables. He says, “…it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given…Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand” (vs. 11, 13). Christ knew that not all of those that listened to Him were listening for the right reasons. As he taught in parables those that were prepared for His words and had the Spirit with them would hear the principles that he had to share. In this manner, His words would not be twisted to evil purposes and fall of the ears of those unprepared for His gospel.

Another reason that he taught in parables was to allow us to seek for our own understanding. He wanted us to learn to search for good instead of just having it handed to us. The Gospel of Christ is filled with work and faith. Both of these principles come into play when reading parables. We must trust in the Lord and His Spirit to show us the principles therein as we diligently search for them. We cannot learn without the Spirit and the principles will not be revealed without our taking the time to look for them.

As we read through parables, it would be good for us to remember that there is a difference between the interpretation and the application of the parable. There is only one interpretation of a parable yet that interpretation can be applied to many situations. As an example let’s look at one of Christ’s parables.

                In Matthew 13: 47-50, Christ gives the parable of the net cast into the sea.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The interpretation of this parable is that Christ “Throws” His gospel, as a net, into the world and uses it to gather people to him. As people come unto him, those that are worthy of His glory are kept and those that are not are tossed back.  

                The applications for this parable are wide. We can learn from it that we are brought unto Christ through his gospel and that we must be safely inside it. We learn that not all that are members of the church will be counted worthy, so we must act on our faith and knowledge and do his will so as to be counted worthy of remaining in His presence. We can also apply this to our lives by realizing that if His gospel is how people are brought unto Him, then we should help to make sure that others are safely inside the net as well. We must help them to come unto Christ.