14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”                                                                                                       1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) 

Some of the most famous teachings of Jesus come to us in the form of parables – short stories containing a moral truth. Even people who do not follow Christ are familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, or the Parable of the Prodigal Son, or the Parable of the Sower. These stories capture our attention and drive home profound spiritual truths. But one of the most consistent things that Jesus said about parables is that they tell us what the “Kingdom of Heaven is like.” These stories are meant to help us understand how the kingdom Jesus initiated is supposed to work, and how those who are its citizens will live. As such, the truths offered by the parables of Christ are a description of reality through a decidedly Christian lens. Any attempt to understand or apply them apart from that framework will prove fruitless and confusing. Christ gave these teachings to serve some and to confuse and disappoint others. And, in this series, we will address questions such as: Why did Jesus teach this way? What were the parables for? Why didn’t Jesus care if everyone understood them? And what are the truths of the parables?

If you love Christ and follow him, prepare to be deeply enriched by this study of some of Christ’s most well-known and beloved teachings.