Yeshua Spoke in Parables
When one studies the Bible, they should be mindful of how Yeshua spoke, Matthew 13:34-35.
34All these things spake Yeshua unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
It was a prophecy that Yeshua would speak in parables, Psalm 78:2.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
The fact that Yeshua spoke in parables is discussed in the other Gospels, Mark 4:33-34.
33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. 34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Mark tells the reader that when Yeshua spoke openly, he spoke in parables. It was not literal stories. Yeshua would expounded to his disciples, but not to the masses.
Luke tells the reader in Luke 8:8B-10
8BAnd when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Yeshua even told his apostles that others would hear only the parables. Then in John at the end of His ministry, John 16:28-30.
28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
The word proverb is also translated parable. This was at the end of Yeshua’s ministry. Up until then, it was in parables to those other than Yeshua’s disciples. Consistently throughout the gospels, Yeshua did not use literal stories when speaking to the multitudes, He spoke to the crowds in parables.
If one is still a little queasy that the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable, note the beginning, Luke 16:19A.
19A There was a certain rich man,
And at the beginning of the chapter, Luke 16:1.
1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man,
Consistency is a rare gem in Christianity today. One needs to decide for themselves. The remainder of this study is on the basis that the Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable. If one disagrees, the remainder of the study will only serve to conflict with their personal doctrine.
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