- Lesson 1 in the Connect360 unit “Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths From His Parables” focuses on Luke 5:33-39.
A parable is a profound teaching tool that Jesus utilized frequently. Our word “parable” is a transliteration of the actual Greek word, parabolé. The word comes from two words: para, meaning “alongside” and bole, meaning “to throw.” A parable is where someone offers a story or a description and then the listener “throws down alongside” the story a deeper meaning. In other words, parables are stories that contain additional truth below the surface.
There is a parable in every miracle, and a miracle in every parable. The “miracle” of a parable is that on the surface it appears to be a simple story—but there are always several levels of truth associated with it.
The spiritual truth is that Jesus didn’t come to “patch up” the Old Testament. Jesus’ immediate audience knew what he was talking about. The old garment was the Old Testament, or the Old Covenant—what we would call “the Law.” Jesus was saying he didn’t just come to improve the Old Covenant. He came to replace it with something totally new. There was no way his new covenant could be used to “patch up” the old one.
The dawn of a new age
The new Age of Grace had dawned. John said it well when he wrote in John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Jesus came to institute an entire new system of faith—and his enemies didn’t like it.
What is the personal truth behind this parable? Jesus comes into your life to create something totally new! Some people think they are pretty good and only need Jesus to come and “patch up” their lives.
When Jesus comes into your life, his goal is not to reform you. His purpose is to transform you. We are all sinners by nature and by choice. To try to “fix” our sinful character is like sewing a new un-shrunk patch on an old garment. Second Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Based on a lesson by David O. Dykes, pastor emeritus of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.
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