(Excuse lack of credit for this image, since forgotten, acquired long ago.)
* Sacred Scripture reference links are to the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) unless noted otherwise.
** From a somewhat different perspective, please see the Concise Version.
Introduction
After providing the Parable of the Sower, the Lord Jesus “called out” Clearly (yes, cried out!) to the utterly baffled crowd for something to hear, “ ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear,’ ” Luke 8:8, in part (see also “cried” or “cried out” in “Luke 8:8 in all English translations”, Bible Gateway), the only message understood after a parable beyond comprehension. Using the quoted New American Bible Revised Edition wording, the logical thought in the crowd could be, “He did not call out to remember or try to understand. We already heard the parable, then he called out to hear something, saying ears, for us to hear something else, not reflect upon what was said.” Being told there is “something to hear” immediately after a parable no one understood now more than begs the question, begging the answer, yes, provoking it, perhaps with the Lord’s private disciple interpretations mentioned in the crowd, considering word about the Lord circulated well and, as discussed, the Universe And Beyond! For a few, it began to form a genuine interest, heard basically within the heart of its own accord, then hearing the private disciple interpretations.
Disciple formation was not mentioned to the disciples of the Lord Jesus using parables with the public, to some extent even suggesting the contrary when referring to prophecy and the gross hearts of the general public. However, it can be seen with the Lord even calling out a heartfelt invitation for everyone to join His disciple group to hear the private interpretations. He gathered disciples with this substantially heartfelt silent message to the corrupt crowds.
The authors do not address this disciple formation, making the topic unusually problematic. Importantly for readers, the need for their understanding may invite concern. It is only logical. However, assuring sincere enthusiasm and an environmental change was necessary, and better not to announce it. Other valid purposes support a sense of discipline or retribution. However, this unknown part of it, extracting worthy souls from the corrupt crowds, an additional contribution to the growth of Christianity and saving worthy lost souls, should remind everyone of compassion, of salvation in all of the precious time of God. The Lord Jesus Will Not Forget One Lost Sheep.
Transparency has reasonable limits through the wisdom of the Lord in not informing anyone about it, not even His disciples, for free will to work best within the hearts and souls of the crowds, only drawing forth those genuinely interested in Him. Rule out the Lord providing uninterpreted parables solely because of their gross hearts. All of His time and effort had a fruitful underlying purpose (no celebrity campaigns!).
Recall a public parable for its heartfelt prudence, a bridge spanning from a public group to a private group of disciples, to Heaven, the precious few with heart-spoken devotion acting upon His invitation.
1. Summary & Please Help
By necessity, it requires help in disclosure in fairness to the Lord Jesus.
As discussed below, one purpose of the uninterpreted public parables of the Lord Jesus was disciple formation. You will likely agree, hopefully, sharing this in any way you desire, in fairness to Lord † Jesus. Without your help, others unaware of this fruit not explicit in Sacred Scripture (with good rationale), Or Written On, have a Misunderstood sense of discipline or retribution by the lack of interpretations. Many, but probably all of these parables were hard or incapable of understanding but serving this good-faith purpose. By necessity, it requires help in disclosure. †
The uninterpreted Parable of the Sower alone provides an adequate factual basis for disciple formation, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-9, 14-20; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. The Lord literally “called out” clear to hear His bottom line final message, “ ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear,’ ” (Yes, Cried Out!) Luke 8:8, see also “Luke 8:8 in all English translations”, Bible Gateway), the only message the entire crowd understood, of “something” to hear. From the beginning to the end of the parable, it was the only comprehendible message of anyone, otherwise impossible. Its intention resulted eventually, in at least some genuine hearts hearing the private disciple group interpretations. Consider the likely thoughts stated in the crowd, “We already heard the parable, so it must mean something else.” Crowd mention of the Lord’s private disciple interpretations is quite possible considering, as discussed, the word about the Lord circulated well.
Disciple devotion emanated from the wise and prudent use of the Lord Jesus of free will within the human heart and soul. Genuine hearts, hearing the words of Lord Jesus, “ ‘embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bearing fruit through perseverance,’ ” Luke 8:15, in part. It is especially so here with this somewhat silent parable attraction allowing for an initial interest heard And formed within on its own accord.
The fruit of these parables ultimately contributed to massive eternal rewards and contributions to the expansion of Christianity, Even If There Was Merely One New Disciple. Again in history, God wisely brought forth the good from the bad, the crowds with gross hearts, Matthew 13:15, and it is all clear through one parable near impossible of any sure public understanding, the Parable of the Sower.
2. Discussion
The thought of a disciple of the Lord Jesus may not always recognize the admirable extent of loyalty with its burdens and responsibilities during a time of great turmoil and pain, defying family and friend, but by proper devotion, disciples. It required total dedication and commitment, detachment from family and possessions, and even more, potentially death. See Luke 14:25-35, NABRE, and NABRE Notes 14:25-33, 14:25, and 14:34-35.
Considering a few more surrounding circumstances of those involved certainly does provide more understanding and appreciation of the task the Lord had to complete. Necessarily through His saving nature, seen in action, He extracted genuine interest from public crowds that even prophecy referred to as having gross hearts, Matthew 13:15. The most relevant prophecy is at Matthew 13:13-15, 35; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10; John 12:38-40 ᶠⁿ¹. Forgive this, but there may have been a few disciples of the Lord that were not trustworthy. Transparency has reasonable limits. He did not divulge any intention of disciple formation to anyone disclosed in Sacred Scripture. Oh yes, there sure is a discussion of all the rationale below (sharing His desire in any way, Any Aspect Of It And Whatsoever, would have been imprudent).
ᶠⁿ¹ John 12:37-43, especially 12:39, can cast an incorrect mysterious negative influence of God on free will if not properly understood. I struggled with it for years. All, scholars included, should not cast aspersions on God by carefully comprehending the proper meaning of John 12:37-43, id. Please see John 12:37-43: Everyone Should Understand Before Commenting Or Cast Aspersion Upon God And Damage Others, especially the full version and its appendix.
Because there is a reflection on an overall understanding and wording of what the crowd heard in the uninterpreted Parable of the Sower quoted here, Luke 8:5-8, when needed, please refer back to this quotation of it: “ ‘A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.’ ”[.] “After saying this, he called out, ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.’ ”[.]
After providing the uninterpreted Parable of the Sower above, with no sure crowd understanding, the Lord Himself acknowledged the need for an explanation to understand. Mark 4:13. He “called out,” Luke 8:8, id., a final separate one-line message, “ ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear,’ ” id., both in part. Technically, it is not part of the parable to lack understanding. A need to understand was an intention of prophecy, Isaiah 6:9-10, now fulfilled, Matthew 13:13-15, 35. Importantly, note that it is stated separately from the parable in two of the three Gospels with the Parable of the Sower (perhaps reasonably considered in implicit accord with the third, Matthew). See Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; Matthew 13:9 (also, note that it was “called out,” Luke 8:8, id.). It was not a mere cliché lacking significant meaning to the crowd He “called out” to (if support is needed, see endnote 1, far below) or part of a parable lacking an understanding. Instead, the Lord called out something important, hoping all hearts eventually would understand and that all truly would “hear.”
Keep the setting in mind for those hearing the parable. It is from One known to have performed acts of God, miracles, the first, A Perfect Announcement, an exorcism in a synagogue with a reasonable possibility of notice to many, including the Universe, Yes, And Beyond, Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37, 41; Regarding And Beyond, an interesting example, of many, is Acts 19:13-17.
There was a unanimous crowd understanding of something to be heard. With the Lord knowing there was a need for a parable understanding, Mark 4:13, id., and realizing an interpretation will follow for the disciples, Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15, an inescapable presumption is that “ ought to hear’ ” meant to hear like and as a disciple. The intention was that they “hear” the private disciple group interpretations. That action the Lord called for was inevitable, natural within the hearts of at least some, oh, sure, mindfully pondering the only known message, something to hear. It is unlikely, basically impossible, that anyone had a sure understanding of any other message from the entire parable.
Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus provided “many” public parables, all uninterpreted (see below, Mark 4:33, in part. See also, 4:34), and many, basically all, were hard or impossible to understand. It should raise a good question. Why did the Lord Jesus exert so much precious time and effort with the crowds (Truly!)? Oh, the Lord Jesus knows, He was obligated to fulfill prophecy and not provide interpretations. However, it is not the best way to make friends. Therefore, He made good out of a bad situation (the obligation to fulfill prophecy, but also immoral crowds!), attracting and drawing out disciples with His heartfelt message to hear the private disciple parable explanations. For the Lord Jesus, saving worthy lost souls is well worth the effort.
Writers primarily discuss one or a combination of two general reasons there were no interpretations: 1) the explicit purpose of the Lord to fulfill prophecy, Matthew 13:13-15, 35; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10, or another part of the Old Testament (e.g., Matthew 13:35, quoting Psalm 78:2) or 2) because of previous unaccepted clear teachings, NABRE note 13:13 of Matthew 13:13.
Lacking much value without an interpretation provided many with bewilderment and a negative impression, e.g., what was the purpose, a mystery? Are we supposed to believe what most, perhaps all in the crowd, cannot adequately understand with all the heads down and shaking? A few parables would have been sufficient to fulfill the prophecy, but there were “many” parables, Mark 4:33, in part, see also, 4:34, id. That should trigger off notice for inquiry. Also, denying them interpretations went beyond the purpose and character of the Lord Jesus (so as discussed, He compensated for it, saving souls!). He did not come now for judgment as a disciplinarian, but to my knowledge, He did have only one disciplinary obligation, not providing parable interpretations. Knowing His personality of sacrifice for the benefit of others and His compassion and saving grace (and, yes, His appearance before the many rough crowds searching for One Lost Sheep), is only retribution or punishment (that authors write about above) the expected fruit of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through all of His time and effort? Oh no, expect meaningful fruit consistent with His mission and personality given us to know and love.
Above all, with the common-sense, proper assumption that At Least Some (Even, One!) were worthy of disciple devotion in all the crowds, not trying to provide for them would also be out of character for the Lord Jesus. Common sense alone informs us. However, we are held to a higher Christian standard, thinking by the Spirit of Lord Jesus within our hearts. Giving us His personality to genuinely know and love, How Can We Then Forget What The Lord Jesus Would Not? The best hint is thinking of one lost sheep. Reaching the core of our hearts, those wrong on this one may hear about it later! Also, we should realize it is unreasonable to rule out Any worthy (or intended disciple formation) based upon prophecy restated, of the dire moral state of the General Jewish population, Matthew 13:13-15, 35; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10. See also, John 12:38-40 ᶠⁿ².
ᶠⁿ² Beware, see ᶠⁿ¹, ibid.
Do not underestimate the bold silent wisdom of the Lord working around these rough crowds with gross hearts, Matthew 13:15, id., even merely saving one lost sheep (and to be seen, there is a good rationale why He did not make His intentions explicit). Add to everything a practical consideration: Mathematical importance, yes, new disciples, and their eternal reward, Even If A Mere One, Two, Or A Mere Few New Disciples (also, those later becoming disciples through the disciples of the Lord). Yes, their fruit, directly and indirectly, provided eternal life for mass multitudes of others (through multiple effects, prospectively too, Massive (Truly!)!
Many writers overlooking disciple formation may do so by not concentrating On What The Crowd Only Heard (and could understand, basically nothing, except “something to hear”), focusing instead on an understanding of the parable, of the private interpretation of the Lord to His disciples that does refer to “hearing”. Matthew 13:18-23, id.; Mark 4:14-20, id.; Luke 8:11-15, id. However, the crowd did not hear and enjoy the benefit of that private interpretation. They Only Knew They Did Not Understand The Parable And Heard Nothing About Hearing Anything, Except There Is Something They “ ‘ought to hear’ ” (if needed, refer back to the parable as quoted above, or Luke 8:5-8, id.). What the crowd thought should be of interest, especially those with genuine interest. For them, wanting to hear and listen more, and to understand, resulted in joining the disciple group to do so, viz., in disciple formation, the fruitful use of the Lord with these parables. Imagine what one of the first free will actions would be ~ this is a must-see, so envision it ~ and the embrace of our dear Lord Jesus (WOW!).
The final one-line message of the Parable of the Sower, “ ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear. [although technically, not part of the parable],’ ” was filled with meaning. It is the sincerest of all words of the Lord Jesus imaginable, dear, intended to be heard, with the dearest hope all would eventually understand, acting upon it. I prefer the King James Version, where “he cried” His message to them, Luke 8:8, in part, KJV, Bible Gateway. These were precious moments for Lord Jesus, awaiting dearly to embrace the in-action free will response of each new disciple, the treasure of His eyes, so dear.
The meaning of the final message of the Lord was left somewhat vague but with rationale (seen following this). Eventually, it would have been understood by anyone with a genuine interest if they tried. Some may have understood it soon. No doubt, there is a possibility that some may have heard its correct meaning stated somewhere within the crowd.
In this crucial matter, sharing His desire whatsoever would have been imprudent. It sure would have been imprudent trying somewhat silently to find hearts worthy of devotion in all these spiritually immoral crowds, communicating to draw out genuine interest both heard and formed within hearts on their own accord. Disclosure could only undermine His efforts and His prudence. Also, with spiritually immoral crowds, it would have been imprudent to share this within His desire, finding hearts worthy of devotion and their required environmental change (away from the crowd and with the private disciple group). It must go unspoken, inconsistent with crowd gatherings. It is unreasonable to expect the Lord Jesus to have made disciple formation explicit in any way, any aspect of it, whatsoever, in this crucial matter.
Please see footnote 1 for an analysis that considers some factual contrast-comparison aspects, of “ ‘Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear,’ ” in the Gospel of Luke's Simile (a/k/a Parable) of Salt, Luke 14:35, infra, with its Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:8, id.
The crowd was utterly baffled, hearing a parable near impossible of any sure understanding, naturally begged the question (and focus) directed to where the Lord sure did, the only thing they could understand, to “something” they “ ‘... ought to hear.’ ” I see a leading look-back focus of memories known fact, of what was “called out.” Would you have eventually understood the heartfelt message of the Lord Jesus? Of course, you would!
Even if the Lord did not intend disciple formation, it would be wrong to rule out some inadvertent discipleship! However, in line with reason, it is reasonable to conclude that public parables had an underlying purpose of disciple formation, and some disciple formation did occur.
3. Conclusion
Again, uninterpreted parables with the public had an intention of disciple formation, and at least some occurred. It is adequately supported, devoid of any reasonable basis to the contrary, and should be accepted as reality, unfair otherwise.
I suspect, although there were some additional disciples (and considering their later conversion through other disciples), in fairness, yet far from certain, there may have been only a very precious few, perhaps not many.
We should remember these parables as instrumental in extracting genuine interest through the prudent use of the Lord Jesus to bring forth long-term devotion with the compassion of eternal life for some in the immoral crowds, and bearing fruit, whether a few, for multitudes of others. The parables and those saved by them produced multiple effects, especially prospective, contributing significantly to the Christianity we know today.
The very precious few, whatever their number may be, contributed to more conversions of others at the time, their bashful families still behind! Beyond and prospectively, their fruit, the massive born-baptized, historical conversions, into and for eternity, each individually was, is, and will be. It is disciple devotion, heart spoken, their names chosen, gems in His † eyes, unseen pearls in parables otherwise, now His † treasure in Paradise †.
No comments:
Post a Comment