In Part Four we covered that the Spirit language to the world is in parables and in proverbs.
In Part Five, we will cover why interpretation is so important and how the interpretation is revealed. Interpretation is needed to understand what the meaning of a parable is.
Interpretation becomes the application of the proverb, the knowledge (the knowing) of what to do, or what to believe in (or what to stop believing and trusting in). Interpretation reveals what thought or perception one is in so that the heart can call out to God for help and guidance.
Interpretation; the parable is explained and understanding comes
If the parable is explained, then the heart would have the understanding and the parable story application would be revealed. Consider how interpretation works within the scriptures. We know the interpretation of allegory words like heaven and earth because the scriptures of the prophets give us the right answer.
The prophets Isaiah and Moses of Deuteronomy and the apostles Mark and John offer us more insight into the interpretation of metaphoric words and phrases.
Isaiah 55: verses 8, 9
8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
What is the definition of heaven according to the prophet Isaiah? Answer: The thoughts and ways of God.
What is the definition of earth according to the prophet of Isaiah? Answer: The thoughts and ways of man.
Take the time now, to read and review the complete parable here in Isaiah 55, for it will explain by allegory and parable speech how the thoughts and ways of God descend to the earth (to the thoughts and ways of man).
Gods thoughts and ways are like rain from the clouds and like snow (the rain and snow from heaven), which in turn, waters the earth, so the earth now can produce seed for the sower and bread to the eater.
The rain and the snow is the parable language of words coming out of the mouth of God. The rain according to the book of Deuteronomy is…doctrine (recall Mark 4:2 Jesus parables are his doctrine).
Deuteronomy 32:1 -4
1. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3. Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Through the parable stories, the Lord reveals the condition and state of mind of our hearts (the thoughts and intents of the mind). So, in the parable, an understanding, a word of the Lord is being given. This word or understanding is referred to as the doctrine of Christ as we see here by the apostles Mark and John:
Mark 4: verses 1, 2
1. And he (Jesus) began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2. And he taught them many things by parables and said unto them in his doctrine.
Here are two confirming witnesses to this truth, that Christs’ Doctrine (Jesus parables) will bring us Understanding.
Matthew 15: verses 15, 16
15. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare (interpret) unto us this parable.
16. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
~ 1 John 5:20 ~
Parable – Sower of the Seed
Here in Matthew, Jesus speaks the parable of the sower of the seed. After he speaks the parable, he takes his disciples aside and gives them the interpretation.
How you’ve ever noticed that the Interpretations of the parables are made known only to his disciples and not to the multitude?
Think about the sower of the seed parable in Matthew
Matthew chapter 13
3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Parable of the Sower of the Seed – Jesus Interprets
Jesus speaks the parable of the sower of the seed to all that came to hear him. After Jesus spoke this parable, he then turned and explained to his disciples that they alone and not the multitudes were to be given the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
Matthews’ record of the parable of the sower of the seed.
Matthew 13:verses 18 – 23
18. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower (hear the interpretation and gain understanding).
19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23. But he that received seed into the good (and honest) ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
In the book of Luke we find this as well:
Luke chapter 8: verses 9 – 11
9. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be (mean)?
10. And he said, Unto you (my disciples) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.