It has been said, “If a parable has to be explained, it loses much of its force, just as a joke does when someone doesn’t get it and needs an explanation.”[1] The problem with accepting this analysis is that the reasons Jesus gave for his speaking in parables was, first of all, to hide the mysteries of the Kingdom of God from those who had hardened hearts toward the word of God (Matthew 13:10-15), and, secondly, to reveal those mysteries to the elect or those who had ‘ears to hear’ (Matthew 13:9, 16-17, 34-35). Moreover, sometimes even the disciples didn’t “get it” and the parables had to be explained (Luke 8:9; Matthew 13:36). Far from being akin to telling a joke, the parables are the keys to understanding the New Testament mysteries (Matthew 13:35).
If the parables taught the Apostles about impending judgment upon the Jewish nation (Matthew 13:37-43), because of her long list of violations of the Law of Moses (cf. Malachi 4:1, 4), how should we understand the epistles, which also teach about impending judgment and the, then, soon appearing of the Lord (2Timothy 4:1; James 5:9; 1Peter 4:5)? Paul had warned his readers about allowing themselves to become corrupt by yielding to philosophy (Colossians 2:8). In our modern days many brethren have embraced the false doctrine of dispensationalism, put forth by John Darby, who claimed that Satan is the god of this world and God was defeated at the cross. Giving heed to such men who preach such error, having no support in the scriptures, is like rendering a willful submission to and worship of the messenger (Colossians 2:18). One needs to permit the Lord to teach us, not expecting him to anoint our imaginations, but, rather, to find the truth by comparing scripture with scripture.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellent speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5; emphasis mine)
Indeed, Paul made a special effort not to permit himself, although he was an educated rabbi, to preach the Gospel according to worldly wisdom, but rather according to the wisdom of God, his hidden wisdom, which was kept secret in ages past until the days of Jesus and the Apostles (1Corinthians 2:6-7). How is it possible for men to come to know God’s secrets, if eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor had it even come to the mind of men what God had prepared for those who love him (1Corinthians 2:9)? It simply doesn’t make good sense to follow the doctrines (philosophies) of men, when men haven’t a clue.
Rather, the things are understood by men who have the Spirit of God. Even as men know the things of this world through the spirit of men, so men are able to understand the secrets of God through the Spirit of God, which is given him (1Corinthians 2:10-12). So, therefore, the secrets of God are revealed to believers by comparing spiritual things with spiritual things (1Corinthians 2:13). That is, when we see that John the Baptist says the winnowing fork is in the hand of the Messiah, and Jesus speaks about the harvest as the end of the age, we are able to understand that both John and Jesus were speaking about the same thing. However, notice, that this understanding doesn’t come, because we have discovered it after much thought. Rather, the understanding is made clear, because we compare Matthew 3:12 with Matthew 13:39.
Similarly, when we compare Matthew 13:39-43 with Matthew 24:29-35 we are able to understand Jesus is speaking of the same event—the end of the age and judgment. And, that occurs at his coming (Matthew 24:30; cf. 26:64), which, when we compare it with 2Timothy 4:1, we are able to understand that one simply cannot divorce Jesus’ coming from the resurrection of the dead and the judgment. So, if these things were to occur at the end of the harvest (Matthew 13:39), as understood in some of Jesus’ parables, they could have been fulfilled only through the Jewish war with Rome in 66-70 AD.
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[1] The comparison is made by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, which was cited from: Parables – The Greatest Stories Ever Told by John White; page 7.
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