Further to what I said yesterday regarding the purpose of the parable, please note: “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field,” verse 36. The multitude goes away but the disciples desire an explanation.

What a blessing it is to have our hearts and minds opened by God’s Spirit to hear and heed His Word. This is something we should all pray for. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,” Ps 119:18. Boys and girls, our eyes are inclined to close when we come to God’s Word!

PARABLES ARE CHIEFLY FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

In Numbers 23-24, we find Balaam the false prophet using parables. Job used a parable, 27:1. The psalmists and the prophets Ezekiel, Micah and Habakkuk also refer to parables. But the NT has an abundance of parables for it was a time of unfolding and unveiling.

THAT THE SAVIOUR SHOULD USE PARABLES INDICATES THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE YOUNGEST LEARN FROM HIM

The youngest child who is of age to understand simple words can follow the story of the sower going forth to sow seed.  Therefore, by using such simple words He would have you listen and learn from Him.

Time and again the Lord Jesus said: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” Matthew 11:15.

Have you ears to hear?

Every day we hear noises that we pay no heed to. The croaking of a crow as it flies overhead, the noise of a car driving past. A cow mooing in the fields around here.

But there are other noises which we know we must take heed to. The ringing of the bell to end lunch time. We must cease playing and return to class. The teacher as instructions are given, that we must listen to and seek to store away in our minds and memories what is said.

Chiefly we must seek to heed what God says to us in His Word. The Psalmist said; “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee,” Psalm 119:11. Eliphaz the Temanite, the friend of Job, said: “Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart,” Job 22:22. Jeremiah said: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart,” Jeremiah 15:16. As we take in food and benefit from it, so we should seek to take in God’s Word and grow thereby. Following the birth of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem and the visit by the shepherds we read: “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart,” Luke 2:18,-19. Let us all be like Mary.