Parables and Allegories Chapter Fifteen

Chapter 15

PARABLES AND ALLEGORIES

Is all of the Bible for today? Even parables? Are we to read part of the Bible as fact and consider part as only fables? Never! The entire Bible is for us today. However there are times in scripture when God speaks to us using examples and demonstrations for what he wants us to know and understand.
When we read about what Jesus did in the New Testament, then look back into the Old Testament and read what was prophesied of him, and also of the representations of him in the Law, it is confirmation that, in truth, he is the Messiah sent from Jehovah God.
There were also things done before the Mosaic Law that give us messages about God's purpose for man, and shows us his heart and character. It is important that we get the right message when reading an account of events that happened in scripture.
Jesus used parables when teaching in the New Testament, and there are many allegories in the Old Testament. A parable, according to the Greek is a parabole, par-ab-ol-ay'; a similitude (“parable”), that is, (symbol) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm, or adage:- comparison, figure, parable, proverb. (Strong's)
Similitude means “likeness; a counter part or double; an imaginative likeness, as an allegory or parable. (Webster's)
An allegory is, is Greek, allegoreo, al-lay-gor-eh'-o: be an allegory [the Greek word itself]
Webster's says an allegory is “ ... a symbolic representation ...”
So we find a narrative of common life representing or portraying an important truth, or we may find an account of something which actually took place and is a symbolic representation of another truth.
In Galations we find a true story about two women, Sarah and Hagar (called Agar), but the writer says this -
Gal. 4:24 “Which things are an allegory ...”
So whenever we read something that we believe is an example to us, we need to look honestly at what is being said, and consider the attitude of heart that is being demonstrated, in order to see what pleases God and what does not. God does not go against his own character or purpose in what he teaches. For example consider John 13:13–15,
John 13:13-15
13 “Ye call me master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

WHAT IS THE EXAMPLE THAT JESUS GAVE HERE? WHAT DID HE DO?

He who was greatest, even the creator of all mankind, lowered himself and served the very ones he had created from dust! So whether or nor you think Jesus was instructing us to literally wash one another's feet, he clearly was demonstrating to us a willingness to humble ourselves to a very low degree for each other. How low would you have to stoop to actually wash your brother's feet? How much then, would you say that Jesus wants you to deny self to serve another? And how many Christians do you know who demonstrate such an attitude, even though it was the attitude of Jesus?
Now let's look at another scripture that gives us an example of the attitude we should have.
James 5:10&11 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; (the way the Lord ended the matter) that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (parenthesis mine)
The point of this story is not to show us that when we suffer pain and loss we should sit in sackcloth and ashes as Job did. The example is that of being willing and able to suffer what afflictions come, with patience and faith in our God, and that we will be happy if we endure to the end. We are to know that our God will be the one to end the matter in his own way. What are his ways? He is full of pity and tender mercy and will end things greater than they began. Of course our greatest example was Jesus himself.
1 Peter 2:21-23 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that ye should follow in his steps.
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not; but committed himself to him (the Father) that judgeth righteously. (parenthesis mine and emphasis)
Obviously we are not being told that we all have to die on a cross in order to suffer as Jesus did. But the example our Lord gives us is an example of heart. It is an example of giving ourselves over completely to God, that is, 100% and no less. It is an example of loving those who come against us, and never returning evil for evil, It is also an example of holding our peace; holding our tongue and speaking only according to the will of God.
Matt. 5:10-12 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets, which were before you.”
Indeed our forefathers left us many examples and so did our Lord. As we learn to understand Gods' character, his heart and his purpose, we will better understand what he is showing us through the parables, allegories and examples in scripture.
Now let's go back to Abraham who is called the father of all who receive Jesus Christ by faith. It is reasonable to consider him to be a good example to us since he was blessed of God and because of what we are told of him in Galations.
Gal. 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS MAN THAT PLEASED GOD SO? WAS IT THAT HE HAD GIVEN A TITHE TO MELCHIZEDEK, ONE TIME LONG AGO?

GAL. 3:6 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
(Also see Gen. 15:6)

IT WAS NEVER ABRAHAMS' WORKS THAT MADE HIM RIGHTEOUS!! IT WAS HIS FAITH IN GOD!

Romans 4:1-5 “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath thereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scriptures? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not of grace, but of debt, (if you get a reward you have worked for and earned, then it is not an unearned gift of grace.)
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Gal. 3:8-14+16-18
8 And scripture, forseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, PREACHED BFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham
10 For as many as are of the works of the law ARE UNDER THE CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in ALL the things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that NO MAN is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall LIVE BY FAITH.
12 And the law IS NOT OF FAITH: but the man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath REDEEMED US from the CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth from a tree.
14 That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through FAITH.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one. And to thy seed, which is CHRIST.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is NO MORE of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (parenthesis and emphasis mine)
Isn't it interesting that the very man of whom we are told, was not justified by 'works' is the man, which some preachers use as an example of one particular 'work', and tell us that because Abraham did this one particular 'work', now we must do it also? They would make one of his works a law to us.
HOW CAN ANYONE BLATANTLY DESTROY THE TRUE PURPOSE OF WHAT HE REPRESENTED?
HOW MUCH CLEARER MUST SCRIPTURE BE BEFORE WE HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID?
Surely many eyes have been blinded by a cunning and sly enemy who does not want God's people to be free to do God's work unencumbered by weights that inhibit their progress. Abraham's example was no more that we must tithe than it was that we must take three hundred trained servants and go to battle as he did. His example was of total faith in the Almighty God who will never fail, and faith in the Savior, that he was going to send, in the new and better way and in eternal life.
Why do I say he was an example of faith in the Savior? One reason is because of what is said in verse 8, where we are told that God preached the gospel to Abraham. The word 'gospel' in this verse comes from the same word translated 'gospel' in other places in the New Testament, but has to do with being done in advance. In the Greek it is - proeuaggelizomai, pro-yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zom-ahee; “to announce glad news in advance: -preach before the gospel.” (Strong's)
The gospel message that the Savior would come and save us from our sins, was preached to Abraham long years before Jesus did finally come. But Abraham believed it even then.
When God told Abraham In Gen. 12:13 ... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”, Abraham understood that he was receiving the promise of the Messiah! This was the promise on which all the other promises Abraham would believe for, were based. Jesus told about this truth in John 8:56 -
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
The Greek Lexicon gives the meaning for the word 'day', in this verse as -
“the time when I should appear among men as the messiah”
Through eyes of faith Abraham saw Jesus in the future, believed in him and rejoiced! What an awesome thought! Abraham understood that all nations would be blessed 'in him”, because that through him would come the Savior of the world!
We are told that in seeing this Abraham rejoiced. The Greek word for 'rejoiced' is agalliao, ag-al-lee-ah'-o; to jump for joy, that is, exult: be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly). (Strong's) This glimpse into the future was probably a great motivating factor in Abraham's life.
This promise given to Abraham was the promise of the seed that would one day bruise (“... snap ... break ...” [Strong's]) the serpent, or that is, Satans' head, given in Gen. 3:15. And Abraham was more than a little bit happy over the news! The seed spoken of in Gal. 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made ...”, was the same one that had been prophesied in Gen. 3:15.
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Truly this seed did come and destroy the power of Satan, for all who believe in, and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
So, Abraham was never an example of the Mosaic Law, or any works of the Law. When he and Melchisedec partook of the bread and wine, they knew what they were doing. The man Melchisedec, who represented Jesus Christ, who Jesus would succeed as high priest of God, and Abraham the father of all who would believe in and receive the Savior and his redemptive work, acknowledged the Savior's giving of his life before it ever happened, through the bread and wine, which represented his body and blood! After doing this, Abraham was blessed for his faith, not his works of giving a tithe of the spoils of a battle. Please read over these scriptures until you hear them well.
Abraham's faith was in Jesus Christ 430 years before the Law of Moses was ever given. It is faith in Jesus and his new covenant that Abraham is an example of. Let us not be deceived into thinking differently.
Heb. 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham was able to follow God, not knowing exactly where he would end up because his eyes were not earthbound, and because he had a promise. WHAT WAS THE PROMISE? It was the promise of the giver of eternal life! If the Savior was going to come and bring eternal life, they could look for that city that was built by the eternal God, and know that it would be their eternal home.
The Greek word for 'looked' is ekdechomai, ek-dekh'-om-ahee; to accept from some source, that is, (by impl.) to await: - expect, look (tarry) for, wait (for) (Strong's).
The source of Abraham's information was Jehovah God, who had promised it. Abraham believed God to the extent that he expected, looked for and willingly waited for it.
It is important to not forget what is said in Gal. 3:18 -
“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (emphasis mine)
Abraham was to inherit eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the Law, nor by giving a tithe before the Law. And how are we to inherit eternal life? We inherit because -
Gal. 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, ...
and because -
Rom. 5:18 “ ... by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(emphasis mine)
We too receive this free gift by faith. Because we were redeemed from the curse of the Law, even the Gentiles can receive the blessings of Abraham, and the promise of the Spirit of God through faith. You see, dear child of God, the only way to receive this promise is by faith. It took the redemptive work of Jesus to do what the Law was incapable of doing. No one can receive this gift by staying under the Law. It can only be received by faith, and as the FREE gift that it is. Hebrews, chapter eleven is considered the faith chapter. There is one thing, however, that is often overlooked concerning the people named in this chapter. We find that these people were able to believe God for the various promises he gave them because they had already believed in the promise of the Savior to come. Look at what is said of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Heb. 11:11-13 “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”
Here it says that Sarah believed God, conceived and did receive the child God had promised. But look what the next verse says.
13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.”
On the one hand it says Sarah did receive what she was promised, while on the other hand, it says she and others died not having received the promises. They were persuaded, or convinced and believed to receive, but did not get them at the time.
The explanation is found in verses 14+16.
14 “For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (father-land [Strong's])
16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (added notation)
Why would these dear people have believed in an eternal home, built by God, unless they also believed in life eternal with which to enjoy it? Their faith was based on the most important thing of all; God himself, their redeemer, and the promise of his coming as Savior and Lord.
They were not so tied to this earth, because their citizenship was in a country that was their fatherland. They believed in the eternal life the Messiah was going to give them and looked for that eternal city which God, himself, was building for them to live in forever. With such a faith in things that are eternal, they could endure hardships and trust their God in all other matters during their pilgrimage from earth to heaven.
While you may have thought that Abraham and the others spoken of in Hebrews eleven had great faith to be able to obey God and see so many mighty things take place, always remember what the foundation of their faith was. It was Jesus their redeemer who was to bring a better way. Even Moses' sights had been on Jesus Christ. Look!
Heb. 11:24-27 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the RECOMPENCE OF THE REWARD.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISABLE.” (emphasis mine)

HALLELUJAH!!

WHAT DID MOSES HAVE HIS MIND ON? WHERE WERE HIS SIGHTS SET?

His sights were set on Christ and the reward that came with suffering for his sake! Moses considered the reproach of Christ to be greater riches than all the wealth he could have had as the son of the Pharaoh's daughter. He must have known and understood that reproaches do come when one chooses the way of Christ, but he considered those reproaches to be riches of the greatest kind! OH! If only men today would have such a mindset, instead of trying to carry Christ's name and avoid the suffering that goes with it!!
What does it mean that Moses had “respect unto the recompense of the reward”? The Greek word for respect is apoblepo, ap-ob-lep'-o; “to look away from everything else, that is, (fig.) intently regard:- have respect.” Recompense of the reward is, misthapodosia, mis-thap-od-os-ee'-ah; “requital (good or bad) :- recompense of reward.” (Strong's) To requite is - :To repay; to recompense or reward; to do or give in return.” (Webster's)
Evidently Moses kept his eye on the reward that would come from God, to the point of looking away from all else. He was intent on his goal! He knew Christ, who would give him eternal life. Believing in him first and foremost, he then could believe for any other miracle God would do in his life. Every other marvelous miracle was small in comparison to eternal life. Moses' faith, too, had the right foundation!
Dear child of God, these great people were indeed examples to us, that all things are possible to those who believe in the God of their salvation.
Mark 9:23 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Faith in Christ and eternal life should motivate us to believe for all else God says he will do. Why would a person believe for eternal life and not believe God at all times and for all he says he will do? We should be willing to endure the hard times, knowing that our end will be far greater than our beginning.
We also have examples, in the Old Testament, of those who did not believe, such as the Children of Israel, who did not enter the promised land because of their unbelief. (See Num. 14:22+23, 26:64+65 and Heb. 13:15-19)
Heb. 4:1+2 “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, AS WELL AS UNTO THEM: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with FAITH in them that heard it.” (emphasis mine)
Even the Children of Israel who escaped Egypt, had the gospel preached to them and had a chance to believe like Abraham and Moses, but many would not!
Heb. 4:11 “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
Let us all, who call upon the name of Jesus Christ, choose to believe in him and the New Covenant he has brought us and refuse to be brought under a deception of works, self justification or the Old Law!
Let us choose the teachings of Jesus over the teachings of men!