Symbolism and Parables in Biblical Narratives

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Meme

-(

Grk

mimema

- imitated, mimick) -

unit of cultural information spread by

imitation, image, story or joke passed

between internet users.  mime is one who

imitates

Allegory

- Story, poem or picture that can be interpreted to

reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Symbol

- a thing that represents or stands for something else

Sign

- an object, quality or event whose presence or occurrence

indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something

else.

Parable

- simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual

lesson

Exemplar

-a person or thing serving as a typical example or

model.

Symbolism in the OT:

 “Walk with God”, dust, stars, sand,

“Flowing with milk and honey”, Circumcised hearts,

Cedars of Lebanon, Hearts of stone or flesh, Bronze

Serpent, scape-goat, temple, Face of God, lion,

shepherd, dog, etc.

Symbolism in the NT: 

Lamb

, 

Shepherd, a Sower, a

Bridegroom, a Door, a Cornerstone, a Vine, Light, Bread,

and Water

, 

Ramah and Rachel, shake the dust off your

feet, whitewashed tombs, Capstone, Alpha/Omega, etc.

Why did Jesus speak to them in parables?

Matthew 13:2

 Such large crowds gathered

around him that he got into a boat and sat in it,

while all the people stood on the shore. 

3 

Then

he told them many things in parables, saying: “A

farmer went out to sow his seed.

Matthew 13:10

10 

The disciples came to him

and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in

parables?”

11 

11 

He replied, “Because the knowledge

He replied, “Because the knowledge

of the secrets of the kingdom of

of the secrets of the kingdom of

heaven has been given to you, but 

heaven has been given to you, but 

not

not

to them.

to them.

12 

12 

Whoever has will be given more, and

Whoever has will be given more, and

they will have an abundance. Whoever

they will have an abundance. Whoever

does not have, even what they have

does not have, even what they have

will be taken from them. 

will be taken from them. 

13 

13 

This is why I

This is why I

speak to them in parables:

speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not

    though hearing, they do not

hear or understand.

hear or understand.

14 

14 

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of

Isaiah:

Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never

“‘You will be ever hearing but never

understanding;

understanding;

    you will be ever seeing but never

    you will be ever seeing but never

perceiving.

perceiving.

15 

For this people’s heart has become

calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

    and they have closed their eyes

.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

    hear with their ears, understand with

their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

Proverbs 25:2 “It is the Glory of

Proverbs 25:2 “It is the Glory of

God to conceal a matter, to search

God to conceal a matter, to search

out a matter is the glory of kings.”

out a matter is the glory of kings.”

Parables are not illustrations to

illustrate truth.  They are illustrations

to hide truth.

Why?

It is the Mercy of God.

He intentionally hides truth from those

who aren’t ready to obey it.  So he doesn’t

automatically increase their responsibility.

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“A farmer went out to sow his

“A farmer went out to sow his

seed. 

seed. 

4 

4 

As he was scattering the seed,

As he was scattering the seed,

some fell along the path, and the birds

some fell along the path, and the birds

came and ate it up. 

came and ate it up. 

5 

5 

Some fell on rocky

Some fell on rocky

places, where it did not have much

places, where it did not have much

soil. It sprang up quickly, because the

soil. It sprang up quickly, because the

soil was shallow.

soil was shallow.

6 

But when the sun came up, the plants were

scorched, and they withered because they had

no root. 

7 

Other seed fell among thorns, which

grew up and choked the plants.

8 

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it

produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times

what was sown.

9 

Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

What was the difference in the seed

on good soil? Why did it produce a

crop- a hundred sixty or thirty times

what was sown?

This person had ears to hear.  This

person had a cultivated soil. 

It was

ready for the seed.

He hides things for us, not from us.  He

conceals truth in 

stories so that the

hungry get it 

and those who aren’t

don’t.

Why?

Because he doesn’t want to increase the

accountability.

He doesn’t want to increase the

judgement on people who aren’t

ready to receive what God is saying

.

“It is the Glory of God to conceal a

matter.  It is the Glory of kings to

search out a matter.”

 Proverbs 25:2

When you hide eggs for a 2 year old, you hide it in plain sight and

make sure it’s bright. You give them clues “you’re getting warmer!”

The whole pleasure of the parent, grandparent is the child

discovering stuff.

If the child is older, you hide it a little harder for them to search

harder.  The older child’s joy is in finding something that was

difficult to find.  They discovered it. We would never hide the eggs

and go into the other room.  

Our pleasure is in their discovery.

  (It

is the Glory of God to conceal a matter)

In God’s economy, he puts it just out of

reach so that we have to sacrifice to get

it.

Something about the process that

brings God glory the he couldn’t

get any other way.

“Your royalty never shines brighter

than when you live with the

consciousness that you have a legal

right to the mysteries of God and

you’re going to look!”

Bill Johnson

KINGDOM OF PRIESTS

Exodus 19:15–16

: “Now then, if you will obey Me

faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My

treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed,

all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a Kingdom

of Priests and a holy nation.”

Isaiah 61:6

“And you will be called priests of

the 

Lord

,

    you will be named ministers of our

God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.”

1 Peter 2:9

9 

“But you are a chosen people, a 

royal

priesthood

, a holy nation, God’s special

possession, that you may declare the praises of

him who called you out of darkness into his

wonderful light.”

Revelation 1:6 “and has made us to be

a kingdom and priests to serve his God

and Father—to him be glory and power

for ever and ever! Amen.”

There’s something about becoming Kings

and Queens, Princes, and princesses in the

Kingdom.  

The something about rising to our

call and our destiny in the moment of

searching.

“It’s the father’s good pleasure to give you

the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

22 

Then Jesus said to his

disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not

worry about your life, what you will eat;

or about your body, what you will

wear. 

23 

For life is more than food, and the

body more than clothes.

THE WORRY PASSAGE LUKE 12:22-34

Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock,

for your Father has been pleased to give

you the kingdom

.”

24 

24 

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap,

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap,

they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds

they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds

them. And how much more valuable you are

them. And how much more valuable you are

than birds!

than birds!

25 

25 

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour

to your life? 

to your life? 

26 

26 

Since you cannot do this very

Since you cannot do this very

little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not

labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all

his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

28 

If that is

how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here

today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how

much more will he clothe you—you of little

faith! 

29 

And do not set your heart on what you will

eat or drink; do not worry about it.

30 

For the pagan world runs after all such things,

and your 

Father knows that you need

them. 

31 

But seek his kingdom, and these things

will be given to you as well.

32 

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father

has been pleased to give you the kingdom

.

33 

Sell your possessions and give to the

poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will

not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will

never fail, where no thief comes near and no

moth destroys.

34 

For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also.

It is the father’s good pleasure to give you the

mysteries of the kingdom. As He gives us the

legal Keys to unlock hidden secrets and

mysteries.

He’s the Easter Egg-hider who is giving you

clues!

“

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Prodigal

- (adj)- spending money or

resources freely and recklessly;

wastefully extravagant,

(noun)- a person who spends money

in a recklessly extravagant way.

The father is extravagant but he

wastes nothing!

It’s His economy to spend lavishly

on his Sons and daughters.

He’s hiding things 

for

 US!

Insight into the ways of God comes from

our humble 

anticipation

 that the Father is

Good and 

he delights to reveal himself 

in

what he’s doing.

Luke 8:

17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed,

and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought

out into the open.

18 Therefore consider carefully 

how you listen. 

Whoever

has will be given more; whoever does not have, even

what they think they have will be taken from them.”

GOD IS SPEAKING TO US EVERYDAY, ALL DAY!

Psalm 19 1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the

skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day

after day they pour forth speech; night

after night they display knowledge.

Example: 

Jesus appears to Mary, she tells the

disciples-, they don’t believe her.  He

appears to a couple of them on the road,

they tell the disciples, they don’t believe

them.  Jesus then appears before them, He

rebuked them for their unbelief and

stubborn refusal to believe and has to show

them the nail marks.

Here’s the challenge:

All of us have heard dreams, testimonies that didn’t

pan out and weren’t legitimate.  We’ve heard and

seen testimonies the were not true.

There are some who reject the story because the

story is unbelievable but it’s true.

But others accept a story that is totally believable

but it’ a lie.  How can you tell the difference? 

Only

one

 of the two release his presence!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRU7wUFC/?k=1

The People He Loves

See what

great love the Father has

lavished on us, that we

should be called

children of God!

1 Jn 3:1

Malachi 3:2 “He will sit as

Malachi 3:2 “He will sit as

a smelter and purifier of

a smelter and purifier of

silver, and He will purify

silver, and He will purify

the sons of Levi and refine

the sons of Levi and refine

them like gold and silver,

them like gold and silver,

The Process

The Process

The Product

The Product

:

..so that they may present to

..so that they may present to

the Lord offerings in

the Lord offerings in

righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

The Pay-Out!

The Pay-Out!

“so that you may walk in

“so that you may walk in

a manner worthy of the

a manner worthy of the

Lord and may please Him

Lord and may please Him

in every way: bearing

in every way: bearing

fruit in every good work,

fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge

growing in the knowledge

of God”  Colossians 3:10

of God”  Colossians 3:10

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRU7wUFC/?k=1

If everything is only intellectually appraised, then without His

presence in the environment, it will be difficult for us to

recognize what is right and what is not.

Plus:    Love adds a unique edge to it. Because acc to 1 Cor 13:

“Love believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Love for self, love for neighbor, love for Country, Love of God.  If

you have Love, you will anticipate God’s Truth because you are

in a position of receiving what God is doing and saying.  There’s

a bent to believe.  What he’s saying next, you don’t have to win

me over, you don’t have to convince me.  

I’m hungry and I

know that my hunger attracts the very thing I’m looking for.

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Trashing of the Constitution, Mail in Ballots, Dominion

Machines, Election Day lasting longer than a week, Stolen

elections, An illegitimate Administration in the WH., Green New

Deal, The Great Reset, inflation, Cancelling of Fossil fuels and

Energy independence, open borders, illegal immigration,

Human-Trafficking, Fentynol flooding our country, opiod

addiction rampant, sexual immorality being the standard,

Greed, Satanic Worship, Idolatry of Man, Disdain for human life,

the unborn being a commodity, innocent being killed, Doctrines

of demons, Critical Race Theory in our schools, Boys competing

in girl’s sports, pronoun protocols, Liberal media lies and

cancelling the conservative voices, censure and gas-lighting,

Facebook, Twitter, Google, Youtube, Tiktok,

China stealing our data and information,

Colleges and universities cancelling conservative

thought, cancelling healthy debate and re-

writing history, Corruption in the Whitehouse,

Law-fare against people who love their country,

Corruption in the statehouses, Weaponizing The

DOJ, the FBI, DHS, CIA, NSA, FISA Courts,

Supreme Court, IRS.

Medical Tyranny, Mask mandates, Vaccination Mandates, Covid

Testing, CDC, NIH, WHO, the whole lies surrounding Covid 19,

shutdowns, lost businesses, lost wages, lost retirements, lost

loved ones, scared loved ones, lawlessness in the streets, Fauci,

Bill Gates, Hunter Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, Tom

Wolf, Richard Levine, Gerry Nadler, the Jan 6 Committee, Liz

Cheney, The rest of the swamp in Both Parties and Both Houses

of Congress and the Senate, The Elite getting richer, middle-

class getting poorer, Poor getting forgotten and exploited, Fake

News, Insurrection, loss of freedoms, loss of righteousness,

government interference and Atheism.

The Church, The Bride is more concerned about what the

woke worldy people who aren’t at the wedding think about

how she looks more than what the Groom thinks about her.

Powerlessness to heal, save and deliver others from bondage.

Disdain for God’s word and obsessed with overcoming

boredom.