Can You Hear Me Now?

02/02/2025 - Matthew Destry

Matthew 13:1-17

  1. What is a parable?
    1. παρά (para) – meaning “beside,” “alongside,” or “near.”
    2. βολή (bolē) – derived from the verb βάλλω (ballō), meaning “to throw” or “to cast.”

a/ Story / narrative (not like a metaphor)

b/ Examples from everyday life

c/ One main point (not like an allegory)

d/ ‘Sting in the tail’

2i. Why?

Parables are not just illustrations; they are a form of spiritual discernment. They test the heart of the listener.

  • To those with faith, parables illuminate the mysteries of the Kingdom.
  • To those with hard hearts, parables obscure the truth, leaving them in their blindness.

Isaiah 6:9-10:  “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”

2ii. The Parable of the Sower: A Parable About Parables

The Parable of the Sower describes four different responses to the message of the Kingdom, just as people respond to parables in different ways:

  • The Path (Hard Hearts)
  • The Rocky Ground (Emotional, but No Root)
  • The Thorns (Distracted Heart)
  • The Good Soil (True Discipleship)
  1. How: Parables invite reflection and understanding for those willing to listen deeply.
    1. Revealing and Concealing:
    2. Spiritual Readiness:
    3. Fulfilment of Prophecy:
    4. Blessings for Disciples:
    5. Every Heart is Invited:

Now: Do You Have Ears to Hear?

“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:9)

Pray: “Lord, give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. Make my heart good soil. Amen.”

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