Among the many genres of Scripture, the parables of Jesus hold a unique power. They are simple and profound, familiar and unsettling, inviting and confrontational. They draw hearers into a story before they realize the story has drawn them before the judgment seat of God. In a postmodern world, whic
A parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” There you go—end of article.That is a familiar and accurate understanding of the parable genre, but it is inadequate for the expositor who desires to preach from this packed quiver of pointed arrows of truth.Jesus often spoke in parables when
When one thinks of the parables of Jesus, one thinks perhaps of pithy sayings, punchy stories, and moral points. The parables of Jesus are probably most often used by people to moralize. Be like the Good Samaritan. Humble yourself like the prodigal son. This is a tendency, to be sure, in our use of
Douglas Adams opened his second book in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, Restaurant at the End of the Universe, with that famous line, “”In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” Indeed, many people seem q
It is easy to be overwhelmed in the midst of misery. Whether you’re facing your own sin, that of another’s against you, or suffering of one sort or another, we are tempted to remain downcast. If that describes you today, the prescription you need is found in Psalm 106. The psalmist lifts our eyes fr
In the first article of this “Christ in the Pentateuch” series, Keith Kauffman instructs: “ … it is helpful to think of two broad categories of Christology in the Pentateuch (and the rest of the Old Testament as well): prophecy and prefigurement (typology).” This article focuses on the latter relat
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15).Genesis 3:15 is a key verse of the whole Bible. The rest of the Bible is, in fact, an outworking of this one verse. The verse is set against the da
From the moment the first humans fell, Scripture begins to sing a song of promise. In the protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15, God declares enmity between the serpent and the woman, between their offspring, and pledges that the woman’s seed will crush the serpent’s head. John Calvin called this “the fir
Ask anyone if they need help and the answer is usually Yes, at least if they’re honest. People need help finding a job. They need help navigating a difficult relationship. Couples need help communicating in marriage. Parents need help raising their children. Students need help on assignments. Church
Who spoke to Moses from the burning bush? Who called to Abraham on Mount Moriah? Who withstood Balaam on his way to curse the Israelites? Who met Hagar and Ishmael when Sarah drove them into the wilderness? If you answered, “The Lord,” you would be right. And if you answered, “The Angel of the Lord,
