(Text and Audio)
Title: Dark Sayings of Old
As we begin, I need some volunteers to read some passages for us in a moment. (Mark 4:33-34, Romans 16:25-26, I Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:8-9, Col. 2:24-26)
Sometimes, the brilliance of a teaching is found as much in the method as the message itself. About two years ago, some of you may remember a sermon I preached from Matthew 5 entitled “The Gospel According to Mr. Myagi.” In that message I showed the video clip from the classic 1980’s movie The Karate Kid when Mr. Myagi reveals to Daniel-San that he hasn’t just been having him wax the car, paint the house and fence, or sand the floor. But rather, that he was teaching him through muscle memory skills that would “awaken” when the time was needed.
Similarly, we’re going to look at the prophetic reason why Jesus teaches different audiences using different methods, and, specifically, why he’s using parables when teaching the masses.
(read/pray)
“to the multitude”
It is important to remember that Jesus’ teaching in parables was to the multitude, or to the masses. As we will see in a moment, there is a reason for that, but for now, I think it’s worth noting that Jesus’ teaching can be divided into a few different categories. Here we see he spoke to the multitude in parables exclusively.
There was no other method he chose to employ to the masses at this point in his ministry, than to use parables.
The Categories of Jesus’ Audience:
- Parables to the multitudes
- Explanations of the parables to the apostles (Mark 4:33-34)
- One-on-one discipleship (Samaritan woman at the well, Peter, Nicodemus)
- Public Debate (Pharisees and Sadducees)
- Interrogation (trial)
- Others?
POINT: Jesus often changed his method of teaching depending on the type of audience he was dealing with. We must do the same. In other words, we need to have a well rounded set of skills. It’s okay to have particular teaching strength, but beware of becoming too specialized. One of the most overlooked of Jesus’ skills as a teacher was his adaptability and his versatility.
“that it might be fulfilled”
The next thing we see Matthew record is the reason for this particular method of using the parables with the masses. It is an intentional method, that serves a purpose, and that purpose is the fulfillment of O.T. Scripture.
Remember, as I reminded us last week, the purpose and original audience of Matthew’s Gospel was Matthew was a Jew, writing to the Jews, to stack up the evidence from the O.T. prophecies that clearly showed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.
This interlude in vv. 34-35 is for just that purpose. It’s a pause to call to mind that even in the midst of these 8 parables in chapter 13, Jesus is fulfilling scripture simply by the method of teaching.
What O.T. passage is being referenced here?
Matthew 13:35 “I will open my mouth in parables”
Psalm 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old.”
J.I. Packer: “The writer means that he will recount the events of the past in a poetic way designed to instruct the hearts of distant generations”
Of all the NT writers, Paul talks about this idea the most. Consider the following verses:
Paul’s Parallel’s:
Romans 16:25-26, I Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:8-9, Col. 2:24-26
(Have a reader for each)
I think we can agree on the following:
Conclusions:
- There is an ancient Truth of old.
- That Truth has intentionally been kept hidden.
- That Truth is now being revealed to a select few. (The Saints, those who have ears to hear, the Elect.)
My Point: The Truth never changes, never has. But was does change is whether or not we can see the Truth.
The most important question any human being can wrestle with is this: Is Jesus the son of God? Is he the Messiah?
Those who say yes, and mean it, are the select few.