Symbolism and Parables in Biblical Narratives
Explore the fascinating world of symbolism and parables in the Bible, from the Old Testament with references to dust, stars, and more, to the New Testament featuring metaphors like the Lamb and the Vine. Delve into the reasons behind Jesus speaking in parables and uncover the profound meanings behind these symbolic narratives.
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A MEME MAKING GOD A MEME MAKING GOD
A MEME MAKING GOD A MEME MAKING GOD 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.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. Matthew 13:1010The disciples came to him and asked, Why do you speak to the people in parables?
11He replied, Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.13This is why I speak to them in parables:
Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this peoples 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 God to conceal a matter, to search 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.
PARABLE OF THE SOILS (OR SOWER) PARABLE OF THE SOILS (OR SOWER) A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9Whoever 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 doesnt 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 Gods 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.
Theres 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.
22Then 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.23For 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.
24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27Consider 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.28If 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!29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.31But 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.
33Sell 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. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It is the fathers 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!
PRODIGAL FATHER PRODIGAL FATHER 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.
Hes 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.
Heres 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!
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
The Process Malachi 3:2 He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver,
The Product: ..so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. Malachi 3:3
