Chapter 11
PARABLES AND SIMILITUDES
By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze
Parable Of The Lost Brothers
For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28
In a certain city, there was a very rich and wealthy man. He had seven sons. One day, six of the children traveled to a far away place. But the first son stayed with the father.
When it was due for the six sons to return home, they did not. They had missed their way while coming back. The father patiently waited for them. After many days, he had to use mystic powers to locate the children, who by now were becoming faint, sick and badly dressed.
Having located the children, the father had to send the first son to bring them home. He equipped the first son against all odds and even gave him mystic powers.
The first son succeeded in finding his brothers. Before the six sons would follow the first son, there was dispute between them and the first son. The dispute was because of changes which had taken place in the memories of the lost brothers. After several disputes and arguments, they decided to follow the first son, who successfully led them home to their father. The father was overwhelmed with joy. He ordered his servants to wash the six sons, put costly garments on them, rubbed them with best perfume and there was a great celebration in the man’s house.
Interpretation: This parable is intended to be an answer to the song which says,
I don’t know why
Jesus loves me.
I don’t know why.
The rich and wealthy man refers to God Almighty. The six sons represent mankind, while the first son is Jesus Christ. The house is the Heavens, and the far away city is the earth. Being lost means sinfulness, mystic powers refers to omnipotence of God. The disputes and arguments refer to what transpired between the Israelites and Jesus. The rescue by the first son was inevitable because of two reasons. One, God is love; two, He has boundless love for his children.
Parable Of Point And Details
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd,
for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow;
which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city,
wherein are more then six score thousand persons
that cannot discern between their right hand
and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Jonah 4:10-11
A man had one son. But because of domestic duties he had to bring in a house boy, who was the son of his friend. The man loved the two boys and treated them alike. He made sure that they had good education. He would not allow anything to interfere with their studies. They studied hard from day to day.
On the closing date, the two boys received their results. It happened that the two failed. The house boy traveled direct from school to his father’s house after the closing, because his father demanded so.
He was very sad when he got home. When he showed the result to his father, the father became very angry and mercilessly flogged the boy, and starved the boy for one full day.
The other boy was equally very sad. Hesitantly, slowly, he approached the gate. When his father read the result, he was full of consideration. Realizing how hard the two boys had laboured, he smiled and hugged his son. “Do not worry,” he said to his son. “One day, you shall succeed.”
“It is not yet late,” he added. Then he asked his servants to give the son enough food and drink. The son ate and drank, and was relieved and refreshed.
Interpretation: This parable shows how people react differently to the same situation. Often, we have a point, upon which we base our decisions. This approach makes us inconsiderate. But the person who has details is both wiser and considerate.
The Parable Of The Two Blind Men
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 15:14
What is more?
Whoever that follows a blind man, makes himself a blind fellow.
…Raphael Nweze
One day, a blind man led another blind man along the way. It was a path each used to take alone before. However, they did not know that changes have been made on the road due to development. They stumbled here and there. Therefore, the second blind man opted to lead the way, to which the first conceded. Yet, they stumbled here and there, until a fellow who observed their predicament offered to help them out. The fellow not only restored their sight, but explained the changes along the path. The two blind men were happy and got to their destination.
Interpretation: The blind men refer to the churches of today. Many are ignorant of spiritual realities of life. They do not know the God they claim to worship. Yet, each insists that it is the best church and wants to lead the other churches.
Also, the two blind men represent the people of this generation. Their blindness refers to spiritual blindness (ignorance of spiritual realities). The way in which they were walking represents life. The fellow who offered to help them means Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. Their destination means Heaven as well as Truth. Restoration means spiritual re-birth, this included knowledge of the truth.
The blindness also refers to false knowledge: those things people claim to know whereas they do not actually know them, and those things often misinterpreted. This false knowledge keeps on failing us; that is why people blunder and fail often in life.
For example, on the eve of every New Year, we see persons or families burning old and worn-out tyres. They claim to burn the evils of the last Year. Now, let us see it in a better perspective: Who told them that tyre is used to cast and bound evil spirits? Is tyre used for sacrifice or burnt offering? If at all tyre is used, who told them that old and worn-out materials are acceptable for offering?
debt
The Parable Of The Wise Traders
For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your Heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14, 15
Some traders went to a merchant to buy costly goods. The merchant had the goods in abundance. When they got to the merchant, the man ordered his workers not to supply goods to any buyer who owed any debt. It happened that all the traders were indebted to one another, in one way or the other.
Among the traders was a wise one. He reasoned that somebody owed him some money. The amount was insignificant compared to the value of the goods. So, he went to his debtor and said, “I want to help you so that you will help me afterwards. That money I gave you is no longer a debt; it is a gift. Now, go and get your own supply of the goods. When you have received it, remember to help me pay my own debt, so that I can get my own supply”. At this statement, the other trader rejoiced exceedingly. He went to the workers, got clearance and goods.
Having received the goods, he paid the other man’s debt there and then. The wise one also got his own clearance and goods. When the other traders saw what the two traders did, they consulted among themselves, and each forgave whoever was his debtor. Thereafter, they rejoiced exceedingly because each of them got his supply of the previous goods in abundance.
Interpretation: The traders refer to the peoples of the world. Their debts refer to their sins; the merchant is the Messiah; and the workers are the Angels. Debt cancellation by the traders mean human beings forgiving one another. The abundant goods they received mean eternal life and blessings. All the traders were considered wise because, they took a decision that saved them.
The Parable Of The Ignorant Prince And Princess
But he answered and said, I am not sent
but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24
A prince and princess were on a voyage to a distant country. In the night, there was a tempest, which wrecked their ship. However, the two were lucky because waves buoyed them to another country’s shore. Being foreigners to the country, they resorted to begging in order to survive. They could not return home, because they had no money.
Unfortunately, they did not know that their father had so many assets in that country. They would go to their father’s workers and beg for their needs. One day, their father was on a visit to that country. When he saw them, he recognized them, called them, took them home and restored their lives.
Interpretation: The prince and princess refer to the children of God who are on earth. Begging means living at the mercy of fate. The tempest means the evil works of the Satan. The establishment means nature and the workers refer to other children of God called Angels, because they minister to their fellow children of God. Restoration means salvation and eternal life.
Parable Of The Three Wise Queens
For I am the LORD, I change not;
therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6
There was a very rich king in a city. He was so rich and wealthy that people called him Mr. Prosperity. The more people took from his possessions, the more abundant his wealth became. He wanted to marry a wife from a group of three beautiful girls. The three girls were friends.
After consulting among themselves, the girls decided that they must not lose their friendship because of marriage. So, they decided that the king shall marry three of them or none at all.
The king being a responsible man, organized the wise ones in his kingdom to test the girls. The girls were unknowingly tested with several things, including money and wealth and forgiveness. At the end of the test, the three girls proved themselves reliable. Therefore, the king married them all. The three became queens, instead of only one girl becoming a queen.
Interpretation: We live in a world where competition has been entrenched in every aspect of life, whereas the Almighty God wants us to co-operate. The problem of competition has even spread to evangelism, such that the churches now compete for members. The same competition negatively influences the ministers of God in their sermons, attitudes and relationships. The result has been negative: unnecessary discords, mockeries and suspicions. Each of these evils is a virtue unexpected of Christians, and contrary to the message of love given by Christ, and unacceptable to the Holy Spirit.
The parable of the three wise queens draws our attention to the need for ministers of God to co-operate, instead of engaging in unnecessary competitions, condemnations and counter-accusations.
The rich man in the parable represents the son of God, Jesus Christ. The three queens mean the Old Testament Churches, and New Generation Churches and Future Generation Churches. The test was a test of spiritual maturity. The girls are called the three wise queens because they valued each other, placed their friendship above selfish interests. They choose cooperation, instead of competition.
In the end, they all benefited. Instead of one winner and one queen, they became three winners and three queens.
A study of world history shows that old churches have benefited mankind in numerous ways. They brought the gospel to us, despite persecutions and difficulties. Also, they built churches, colleges, universities, hospitals, etc for the good of mankind.
The new churches are equally important. They have made the faith of modern Christians vibrant, strong, expressive and victorious. Numerous benefits derived from them include: accurate prophecies (visions, dreams, oracle etc). Other benefits are sweeping crusades, resounding testimonies, divine anointing, gospel and music bands, deliverances and healings, praises and choruses, saraka, clapping and dancing, wearing of white clothes by widows (instead of black clothes), etc. All these benefits and more are to such an extent unprecedented before.
The parable implies that:
- The old, new and future testaments churches should co-operate instead of competing with one another.
- Every church should emulate others in ways that are good and holy.
- They should encourage and enlighten one another, instead of condemnations and accusations.
- Imagine what the Lord is doing! The mushroom churches of the past, which started in parks and garages, have today become great temples and cathedrals.
- We do not discriminate in the market places, schools, hospitals, roads and buses. Why then should we discriminate in the House of God?
- We very much desire the blessings of God. But, very often, we overlook the most important blessing. In the beatitudes, special blessings were specified for various categories of believers. It was the peace-makers that were called the sons of God. We often strive for the lesser blessings, to the neglect of the most important one.
- Various groups are consolidating their associations and rights through unions. Hence, there is European Union, African Union, United Nations, consortiums, conglomerates and re-capitalization. The same is happening in various fields of human endeavour. It is only among the Christians that we still have discriminations, condemnations and accusations.
- Even in the time of Jesus Christ, there were diverse groups, sects and interests. But one thing was observable: Jesus was busy doing good to everybody, irrespective of group, belief, nationality or color.
- If the Christians fail to unite, they make themselves vulnerable (easy prey) to persecutions and intrigues; they will not be able to ward off intimidations and oppositions.
- In the end, church or sect does not count in the Heavens. What matters is obedience to the will of God.
- There is beauty in diversity. Consider the flower. It is beauty derived from diversity of colors. What of soup? Its pleasant taste is only possible from a combination of various ingredients. The same is true of different tunes which blend together in music. The various Christian groups demonstrate the beauty and wisdom of God.
- Prayers are efficacious when offered in love and peace. But once discrimination, hatred and oppositions set in, prayers loose their efficacy: The enemy rejoices because he succeeds in tearing children of God apart.