An Article of Faith

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr

Posted February 3rd, 2010

A cursory reading of the Gospel accounts reveals that one of Jesus’ primary methods of communicating truth was through His use of parables.

A “parable” is a short simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth. The Greek word parable literally means “a laying by the side of” or “a casting alongside,” thus “a comparison or likeness.” In a parable something is placed alongside of something else, in order that the one may throw light upon the other (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary 1995).

In one of Jesus’ most famous parables – ”The Sower and the Seed” – Jesus says, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:3-9).

Jesus’ last statement, “He who has ears, let him hear” is the key to understanding His use of parables (Matthew 13:10-17).

Only those spiritually hungry enough to truly listen are able to receive the spiritual truth behind the story. For everyone else, Jesus’ words are simply a short story and nothing more (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).

Jesus goes on to explain the spiritual meaning behind the parable: “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

How’s the “soil” of your heart?

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.