“He Began to Speak to Them in Parables”
“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *
Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte,
NC 28210
www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date: 2 April 2017
Text: Mark 12.1 - 12
Thesis: In order to rightly divide the Scriptures we
must understand how language is used in Scripture.
1
Introduction
A.
Keys
are required to open doors. Language and
its use is the key to understanding.
B.
The
NT uses Metaphors, Similes, Parables, Epigrams, but not Allegory to communicate
God’s Will. We are going to examine
each.
1.
Metaphor
– A metaphor is the comparison of two factual things that are essentially
unalike in order to make a point – Luke 13.32
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
2.
Simile
– A simile is a more overtly stated metaphor to underline, as it were, the
meaning. A simile is likely to us words
such as “like” or “as” – Isaiah 53.6
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
3.
Parable
– A parable is an extended simile or metaphor that is characterized by a
setting, an account, and an application.
Many times, such as in Mark 12.9, a parable asks questions of the
audience – Mark 12.1. Sometimes the
questions are rhetorical, providing the obvious answer.
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
4.
Epigram
– “…any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.” –
Dictionary.com - “Epigram is a clever and witty statement expressed in just a
few lines, pointing out foibles and truths of mankind.” – Literarydevises.net –
Luke 6.42
a.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN SCRIPTURE.
5.
Allegory
a.
An
allegory is a “½ true metaphor” as it has real things doing or saying things
not found in reality, in other words, a fable – Judges 9.7 – 15
1)
This
is the only true allegory in the entire Bible.
What Paul calls an “allegory” in Galatians 4 turns out to be a metaphor
for the true meaning of the contrast is revealed by the Holy Spirit at the end
of the context.
b.
An
allegory is also the drawing of factual conclusions with no supporting evidence
as taught by the so-called “church father,” Origen in the 3rd century. Origen “spiritualized” or “assigned meanings
by imagination” to the Scriptures drawing downright stupid conclusions. His interpretation of the Prodigal Son in
Luke 10?
1)Adam is the victim
2)Jerusalem is heaven
3)
Jericho
is the world
4)
The
Robbers are the devil and his demons
5)
The
Priest is the law
6)
The
Levite is the prophets
7)
The
Good Samaritan is Christ
8)
The
Beast is the Body of Christ
9)
The
Inn is the church
10)
The
2 denarri coin is the Father and
11)
The Son Promise to come back is the Second
Coming of Christ.
c.
The
“Allegorical Jump”
1)
“Well,
that’s not a heaven and hell issue.”
2)
“We
know that babies are baptized in the New Testament because the “entire
household” of both Cornelius and the Philippian Jailer were baptized.”
3)
“The
Bible never says we can’t __________”
2
The
Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:
A.
If
we ignore how language is used in the Scriptures, we will not have “ears to
hear.”
B.
Peter
refers to the misunderstanding of the language of Scripture, either done
ignorantly or on purpose, as “twisting.” – II Peter 3.15 - 16
3
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
At
the heart of every error lies a misunderstanding of how language is used in the
Bible.
B.
IN
ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED
IN THE SCRIPTURES.
C.
“Why?”
D.
Luke
12.9 – “What will the owner of the vineyard do?”
4
“The
Gospel Call”
·
My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim,
Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his
time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
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