by Marilyn Ehle
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.” Matthew 21:45
JJesus’ parables are known throughout the world, even by people who make no claim to be His followers. The story of the sower and seed has even been used to illustrate how to “plant” a business in a particular community where profit can be made.
Today we can be quick to apply the primary spiritual meaning of parables to those who do not yet claim Him as Savior, or even to those whom we perceive as not following Him closely or with the correct “theology.” We see the rich and quickly quote “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Such pithy statements seem always easier to apply to others than to ourselves.
In the crowds that surrounded Jesus were not only people opposed to His message, but men and women who dearly loved Him and longed to become more like Him. It was at the very telling of the rich man and camel mini-parable that one of Jesus’ closest friends seemed to suddenly recognize that the illustration just might be personally applicable: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Did Peter wonder, “If even a rich man cannot enter heaven, what about us itinerant, ragtag believers?”
It would be good for all Christians to carefully re-read the best known parables to see if Jesus might just be talking to us as well as to the world. His parables always had a purpose.
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