When I was finally and truly saved, I felt overwhelming conviction of sin. It was crushing and inescapable. This led me to transforming repentance, and still does.
But being honest, I had no concept of how to count the cost. That came over time, and continues to unfold. All I know is what is said in John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Our faith is given to us by our Father. He is sovereign in election and no one who is saved by Him can fall away. As MacArthur said, “If I could lose my salvation, I would.” It is humbling to know God placed His special, condescending love upon me, for no reason I did, or could, give Him.
I agree with all that you say, but have a slightly different understanding of why Jesus suddenly starts teaching in parables:
At this point in his ministry, he is aware both of the imprisonment of John the Baptist and of the fact that he is being shadowed/stalked by Pharisees wherever he goes. Consequently, he begins speaking in parables for the same reason Voltaire published under a pseudonym to avoid imprisonment and persecution. Everyone knew that “Dr. Ralph” was in fact Voltaire, but both church and state couldn’t legally “get the goods on him,” as long as his name did not appear in his publications.
Similarly, Jesus’s enemies understood well enough what he was saying, but as long as he couched his teachings in metaphor, they couldn’t make a case for blasphemy “stick.” He had “plausible deniability.”
This is not to say that he was being “lawyerly,” since his ministry was essentially about making literal Mosaic law be understood on “another level,” which is the nature of metaphor.
Thanks for this, and the Voltaire parallel is a sharp one. The timing you note is real: Mark places the parables immediately after the Beelzebul charge, so the hostility is at its height.
Where I would push back is on Christ's own stated reason. In Mark 4:11–12 He tells the disciples the parables function so that those outside "may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand" and He quotes Isaiah 6, a judgment text. That is not evasion. It is concealment, and He says it is deliberate.
The difference matters. Voltaire hid his name so the authorities could not reach him. Christ did not hide His meaning so that He could survive; He hid it from men who had already heard Him plainly and rejected what they heard. And when it finally served His purpose to answer plainly, before the Sanhedrin in Mark 14:62, He gave them exactly what they needed to condemn Him.
So I would say the parables were not legal cover. They were judgment on hearers who had spent their hearing.
I do acknowledge that he did manage the timing ; John says so repeatedly, but He did it by withdrawing, not by softening. In the same chapter where He hides from stoning, He tells them they are of their father the devil (John 8:44, 8:59).
Appreciate the thoughtful engagement. It's always good to hear from you. Take care.
As always, enjoyed your post. I particularly like this parable, as it helped me many years ago come to realization about salvation. I see this parable, as Jesus providing a continuation for the purpose of man. In Genesis 2: 8-15, we see God brings life, creating the plants and causing them to grow. Man is placed in the garden to "cultivate and keep" it. In 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9, Paul applies this directly to God's mission for us, where he notes man may plant and water the seed, but God causes it to grow. Two bookends, but for good measure in Matthew 13, Jesus gives this parable and then proceeds to explain it so we can understand. You see we cannot save others, and we cannot even save ourselves, only God does that. Now, we still have a purpose as given in the great commission (Matt 28) to go, proclaim, teach, baptize, nurture, and pray - but it is still God that gives the increase. God creates life, and salvation; His servants are entrusted with cultivating what belongs to Him. I look forward to following your series, as I really enjoy it. Thank you, for your dedication to this publication.
When I was finally and truly saved, I felt overwhelming conviction of sin. It was crushing and inescapable. This led me to transforming repentance, and still does.
But being honest, I had no concept of how to count the cost. That came over time, and continues to unfold. All I know is what is said in John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Our faith is given to us by our Father. He is sovereign in election and no one who is saved by Him can fall away. As MacArthur said, “If I could lose my salvation, I would.” It is humbling to know God placed His special, condescending love upon me, for no reason I did, or could, give Him.
Great post... looking forward to the next four!
I agree with all that you say, but have a slightly different understanding of why Jesus suddenly starts teaching in parables:
At this point in his ministry, he is aware both of the imprisonment of John the Baptist and of the fact that he is being shadowed/stalked by Pharisees wherever he goes. Consequently, he begins speaking in parables for the same reason Voltaire published under a pseudonym to avoid imprisonment and persecution. Everyone knew that “Dr. Ralph” was in fact Voltaire, but both church and state couldn’t legally “get the goods on him,” as long as his name did not appear in his publications.
Similarly, Jesus’s enemies understood well enough what he was saying, but as long as he couched his teachings in metaphor, they couldn’t make a case for blasphemy “stick.” He had “plausible deniability.”
This is not to say that he was being “lawyerly,” since his ministry was essentially about making literal Mosaic law be understood on “another level,” which is the nature of metaphor.
Thanks for this, and the Voltaire parallel is a sharp one. The timing you note is real: Mark places the parables immediately after the Beelzebul charge, so the hostility is at its height.
Where I would push back is on Christ's own stated reason. In Mark 4:11–12 He tells the disciples the parables function so that those outside "may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand" and He quotes Isaiah 6, a judgment text. That is not evasion. It is concealment, and He says it is deliberate.
The difference matters. Voltaire hid his name so the authorities could not reach him. Christ did not hide His meaning so that He could survive; He hid it from men who had already heard Him plainly and rejected what they heard. And when it finally served His purpose to answer plainly, before the Sanhedrin in Mark 14:62, He gave them exactly what they needed to condemn Him.
So I would say the parables were not legal cover. They were judgment on hearers who had spent their hearing.
I do acknowledge that he did manage the timing ; John says so repeatedly, but He did it by withdrawing, not by softening. In the same chapter where He hides from stoning, He tells them they are of their father the devil (John 8:44, 8:59).
Appreciate the thoughtful engagement. It's always good to hear from you. Take care.
As always, enjoyed your post. I particularly like this parable, as it helped me many years ago come to realization about salvation. I see this parable, as Jesus providing a continuation for the purpose of man. In Genesis 2: 8-15, we see God brings life, creating the plants and causing them to grow. Man is placed in the garden to "cultivate and keep" it. In 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9, Paul applies this directly to God's mission for us, where he notes man may plant and water the seed, but God causes it to grow. Two bookends, but for good measure in Matthew 13, Jesus gives this parable and then proceeds to explain it so we can understand. You see we cannot save others, and we cannot even save ourselves, only God does that. Now, we still have a purpose as given in the great commission (Matt 28) to go, proclaim, teach, baptize, nurture, and pray - but it is still God that gives the increase. God creates life, and salvation; His servants are entrusted with cultivating what belongs to Him. I look forward to following your series, as I really enjoy it. Thank you, for your dedication to this publication.
Thanks Mike, you obviously understand this exactly right.