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Parables to Frustrate

Parables to Frustrate

Some have read this text and wondered if Christ used parables to deliberately confuse certain people who might otherwise have been converted. Like many Bible questions, it is best to look at other verses to see what God says about His desire for people to be saved. See Revelation 22:17, for instance, which makes it plain that “whosoever desires” may come to and be accepted into the kingdom.

The apostle Peter stated, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). It is clear through other Bible writers that God never intended to hide any truth that would lead a person to repentance and conversion.

So what does this passage in Mark really mean? The verse is made clear by reading a parallel account in Matthew’s Gospel, when a reason is given why some people do not hear or see the truth. “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15).

Christ’s words are spoken in irony. Another way of saying this verse might be, “These people plug their ears and refuse to listen! They squeeze their eyes shut and cannot see anything.” Zechariah describes some people who turn from God by saying, “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law” (Zechariah 7:12).

Jesus wisely used parables to bypass prejudiced minds. But for those who insisted on refusing to hear His words, the parables were meaningless and only “increased” their darkness. May it not be so for you and me!

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Mark 4:11-12

Amazing Facts Devotional It is Written The Incredible Journey EG White Devotional

Sabbath School NET

Those who feel the constraining love of God, do not ask how little may be given to meet the requirements of God; they do not ask for the lowest standard, but aim at perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With earnest desire they yield all and manifest an interest proportionate to the value of the object which they seek. Steps to Christ, p. 45

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Be On Guard

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Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42.

The condition of society today is the same as when God presented before Israel the abominations of the heathen, and the same warnings are necessary to the remnant people. Spiritualism is advancing through the land in triumph. “The spirits of devils, working miracles” are going “forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

Men and women are seeking unto them that have familiar spirits, but the people of God cannot in any sense follow the practices of the world. They must keep the commandments of the Lord. The line of separation must be distinctly marked between the obedient and the disobedient. There must be open and avowed enmity between the church and the serpent, between her seed and his seed.

Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Strange gods were introduced through the agency of evil spirits, and because of transgression the chosen people were finally scattered from the land of promise.

The same experience is repeating in the history of God’s people….

It is time to heed the Savior’s injunction as never before, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Trust in God, however perplexing may be your situation. Seek His counsel, and turn not after them that have familiar spirits to be defiled by them. He who has died to redeem you has promised to guide you and clothe you with His own righteousness, if you will but loathe sin and purge yourself from evil by washing your robes of character and making them white in the blood of the Lamb.

What love, what wonderful love, that God bears with the perversity of His people and sends help to every soul that desires to do His will and forsake sin! If we will but cooperate with the agencies of heaven, we may come off more than conquerors. Fallen creatures as we are, capable of the most revolting crimes, yet we may become victors through the power of the grace of Christ and have a place in His everlasting kingdom, to reign with Him forevermore.

THOUGHT:
No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God with those He seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tender entreaties to the wanderer than does He. All His promises, His warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love. Steps to Christ, p. 35

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Is the Body and Soul Separate Entities?

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The first thing we should notice in this text is that the “soul” and “body” are “destroyed” in hell. This means the soul is not naturally immortal. Only God is naturally eternal (1 Timothy 6:15, 16). But what does Jesus mean about killing the body but not the soul? Is it possible for the soul to exist apart from the body? Some say it is, but the Bible indicates otherwise.

The Greek word psuche has been translated as “soul” in this text, but in many other texts, it has been translated as “life.” For example, Jesus said, “Whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25). The idea of an immaterial soul that is separate from the body is a common belief among many today, but you won’t find it in the Bible.

But what about Matthew 10:28? Put in the word “life” instead of “soul” and the text makes perfect sense and is consistent with the rest of the Bible. The contrast is between one who can take the physical life and Him who can take away eternal life. Proof lies in the words of Jesus: “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4, 5).

In other words, the word “soul” here means not only life, but eternal life. Notice how Luke’s passage parallels Matthew’s except that he does not say “kill the soul,” but “cast into hell.” They mean the same thing. Men can only kill the body and take away the physical life. But God has the power to cast into hell and take away eternal life.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

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Divine Demolition

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Controlled
The engineering required to build skyscrapers, particularly the super tall skyscrapers, is quite a marvel, but what many of us do not know is the precision planning required for the demolition of a tall building is also quite an achievement. Experts say that when a skyscraper needs to be torn down, it is one of the most precisely planned, strategic, and delicately balanced engineering feats one will ever witness. One explosion after another occurs and large dust clouds form. It can seem like chaos and mass destruction. However, when all the dust settles, the evidence shows that it has been a very orderly process, and the surrounding buildings remain completely intact and unharmed. It is a controlled demolition. It is amazing that a building upwards of 45 stories can be torn down by a series of explosions without damaging the surrounding buildings. In fact, the tallest building ever imploded was 47 stories.

This is a lot like the Lord’s sanctifying work in our lives. Often the destruction of the old building is done to make room for something new. In Christ we are putting off the old and putting on the new. The Lord also does this in a very wise, very precise, and very pinpointed way so that even in the midst of destroying the old, He does not harm the new.

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Trials
Often times the Lord uses painful trials as part of the sanctification process in our lives—the controlled demolition project. When we are going through a series of trials, it can feel like the implosion of a building, like one explosion after another going off in our heart, leaving billows of dust. It can seem chaotic and be very painful and frightening. We might wonder why the Lord is allowing it to happen. We might even question whether there will be anything left when it’s done.

Many times, though, the Lord is using these trials to implode strongholds in our heart. He is very strategic, precise, and purposeful, even though the process can be painful and at times extremely confusing and frightening from our point of view. God has an incredibly beautiful way of destroying the old without harming the new and even growing, strengthening, and establishing us in the process. Even as we are in the midst of or healing from some of the destruction, we can rejoice over the new He is building!

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Areas
We will conclude this study with a time of reflection. Think about the questions that follow and how the Lord might be working in your life.

What are some areas where you feel the Lord may be working on a controlled demolition in your life? Have you been willingly working with Him, or do you find yourself fighting against the blasts?

What are some of the new structures that you see Him building into your soul? Is it greater love, compassion, or understanding for others? Is it a deeper willingness to listen to His voice and be obedient to His Word?

Even in the midst of the Lord’s demolition project, have you seen Him take pains to make sure nothing is destroyed except what needs to go? What might some examples be?

We can take comfort in the Lord’s precision work in our lives. In the hymn “How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord,” the writer depicts God as saying to us: “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.” The Lord always has a good and loving purpose in every Divine Demolition.

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