Jesus was very skillful in the use of stories in His teaching. These were not run-of-the-mill stories. They were filled with ordinary things like seeds, dirt, rocks and thorns. Jesus referred to His stories as parables. It is a rare and amazing gift to accomplish what Jesus did with this technique. He could conceal or reveal great truth in just a few words.
This fact will certainly stand out to you as you read the pages of this book. Every parable had a definite purpose. The purpose of His very lengthy parable recorded in Matthew Chapter 13, was to expose the dangers involved when people are void of understanding. This lack of understanding is carefully and fully-illustrated in the parable. It has many levels and manifests itself in different ways.
After His very colorful descriptions of a lack of understanding, the explanation given by Jesus is equally unique. As the author skillfully points out, all of this can lead to the destruction of a person's health and their finances. In some cases there was such revelation entwined in the stories Jesus told it has often been missed. This is true even when reading His explanations.
The parable comprising a large portion of Matthew chapter 13, which is commonly called, "The Parable of the Sower" is a great example. It is packed with great insight into the way Jesus looks at the world in which we live. Using the actual words of Jesus, the author has pointed out what Jesus saw as a major hindrance to the lives of the people to whom He attempted to minister. These same problems are still a factor in every society. They have not gone away. In fact, due to the increased amount of stress found in our world the challenges discussed in this book have grown much worse.
We are not without hope. We can find real answers, and they are spelled out clearly by this author. Our job is to pay closer attention to the explanation of the parable as it relates to the lives of the people to whom Jesus attempted to minister. Only then do we receive the benefit Jesus intended.
The real purpose of the parable was never just the telling of a story. Both the intent and purpose are found in the explanation. Expect your spiritual perspective to be challenged and enriched as you read what is written here. It is not only far from ordinary; it is rich with fresh revelation from the Holy Spirit. It is a very real re-examination of The Parable of the Sower.
