Parables and sermon illustrations
Parables have often superficially been compared to sermon illustrations – both seem to relate spiritual truths to earthly events, using contemporary language and metaphors (e.g., those of agriculture, construction, and human relationships). One member of my congregation shared her definition of a parable as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”
It’s too simplistic, however, to say that, “Jesus used sermon illustrations when he spoke in parables, therefore we also should use sermon illustrations in our preaching.” Mark 4:10-20 says that the purpose of parables is very different to our illustrations: While illustrations seek to make spiritual truths easier to understand, parables seek to make spiritual truths harder to understand:
…for those outside everything is in parables, so that
“’they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
(Mark 4:11-12)
Parables, therefore, have a hardening effect – Jesus uses them to confirm people in their sin and unbelief.
The automatic doors of the gospels
Is this cruel of Jesus? Does Jesus wish to ‘shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces’ like the scribes and Pharisees do? Not at all – though parables harden further those who reject Jesus, they also open up the secrets of the kingdom to those who want to know more:
And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God…
(Mark 4:10-11)
Parables therefore separate insiders from outsiders. Outsiders refuse to even try to understand the parables in their stubbornness, but insiders are rewarded as the secrets of the Kingdom of God open up to them.
To paraphrase my lecturer in New Testament, parables are the automatic doors of the gospels. They remain closed if you stay far away, but all you have to do to get them to open up is to move closer – to engage with them and ask Jesus for His help. Jesus doesn’t lock the secrets of the Kingdom behind bars and bolts, or a 20-digit combination lock; He places them behind automatic doors and invites us to come close to Him.
The joy of understanding
The preacher of parables has the privilege and the joy of seeing the secrets of the Kingdom open up to insiders as they read and understand the parables of Jesus. As a preacher myself, it warms my heart when I see that light of understanding dawn on someone’s face, or when Christians excitedly share a parable and its meaning, or when I hear from someone in the church, “I never understood what that parable was about, but now I do!” This is Mark 4:11 in action; it’s the automatic doors opening for people as they enter the treasure room of the secrets of God’s Kingdom.
EPTrust is organising our Wahroonga Preaching Conference on the 7th September because we want to see this joy spread to more and more people, as the parables of Jesus are explained and unpacked by faithful and engaging preaching. We will hear model sermons of parables preached and advice from experienced preachers on preparing sermons from the parables. There will also be a Q&A panel to address more specific issues. Our speakers include David Cook, Chris Edwards, Simon Manchester, and myself.
You can register at http://wpc.net.au/preach2026 – we’d love to see you there!