Matthew 13:34

“Jesus did not say anything to them without using parables.”

Matthew may have been puzzled by Jesus’ constant story telling rather than the direct didactic propositional teaching that the learned Jews used. They spoke and wrote in legal terms. Jesus told stories, almost always without any interpretation whatsoever.

The message of grace and salvation that Jesus came to live and proclaim could not be broken down into a list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” He spoke at a much deeper, more profound level, the level that touches the heart and sets the imagination free to think God’s thoughts. Of course, all belief will find expression in human behavior but legalizing human behavior without appealing to the heart of the matter does little good.  Stories embrace the heart and the mind.

At this point Matthew recalled the words of the Psalmist, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Ps 78:2. Stories liberate the heart and mind marvelously, much more than declarative statements like, “Do not work on the Sabbath.”

I marvel but begin to understand why Jesus told one story after another. Stories continue to teach, especially those that touch the heart and imagination with God’s grace.