Metaphorically Speaking

 

 

 

Metaphorically Speaking…

By Mary Ann Wray

“Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?” Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. For those who have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken away from them. This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand.” Matthew 13: 10-17 CEB

Scripture references are listed at the end, even those cited in the article*

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection, He told them that He would never leave or forsake them; He would not leave them comfortless.* Being without comfort can mean some of the following: feeling forsaken, without hope, feeling alone similar to a child lost without his/ her parent, feeling rejected, without direction in life, sorrow without anyone to comfort us in our grief, misunderstood and simply not know what to do next.  

His disciples were His closest friends and allies but He knew they would always need His help to live and work on this sin cursed planet. They spent three years with Him day and night unlearning the oral traditions and Pharisaical traditions they had been taught. He had to interpret Old Testament prophecy into the language of the New Covenant. Their hearts were corrupted by mixture. They needed healed in the heart level. So did the Pharisees, but they weren’t willing except one mentioned that we see in John 3. There may have been more but scripture doesn’t tell us.

This group of Pharisees Jesus was addressing, loved their traditions more than people and ultimately God Himself. They didn’t realize they were full of pride and sin (See Matthew 23: 25-29). Their leadership positions validated in their own minds, that they were without fault or sin. How sad. Nicodemus, a religious ruler in John 3, recognized Jesus’ unique ministry by witnessing His healing power and miracles. This ruler stated that no one could do such things unless God was with Him. However, Jesus told him he needed to be “Born Again.” Speaking in such a riddle opened a conversation with Nicodemus by getting him to question, think and ponder the meaning of such words. It is believed he accepted Christ and did become spiritually Born Again (John 19:38-39).

Even today, the Holy Spirit will speak through metaphors, parables, analogies, proverbs, and plays on words with the purpose to grasp people’s attention and make a teaching more relatable to our modern existence. Pearls, sheep, goats, snakes, treasures, coins, lamps with oil, workers plowing in a field were and are still relatable analogies to teach lessons. Agriculture, taxes, oppressive government and other ailments common to man then and now was the backdrop of culture in Jesus’ day. Today, we have some of the very same things but more advanced in terms of technology, industry, education, banking, government agencies etc. These tangible things as an example, can become allegories the Holy Spirit may use to speak intangible truths to us.

By nature, we want to be told or taught things in plain speech; even still, we don’t always grasp what is being said.  I used to teach elementary school and had to limit my vocabulary to a level the children would be able to understand. But I noticed when they got to about the third grade they just loved puns and plays on words. These things made them think and when they solved the riddle or the meaning was explained to them, they were delighted. It taught them valuable lessons they probably would have found offensive or boring, like “You need to pay attention in class and not let what you learn go in one ear and out the other. Here’s one: “Why do cows make more milk if the farmer talks to them? I don’t know Mrs. Wray why?” Because it goes in one ear and out the udder.” Ugh, I know. Ha ha.

Things like this are avoided in church settings because they don’t come word for word out of scripture. Well, neither did pearls, snakes, treasures and oil lamps when Jesus was teaching principles out of the Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is filled with pictorial language scholars are still trying to figure out and debate over. Samuel the prophet used a metaphor about a poor man’s sheep a rich neighbor and theft to bring David to a place of realization of the depth of his sin. It brought him to repentance. God will use what some people call, “dark speech” to get our attention in order to teach us what we need to grasp or understand at a deeper level.

A finished diamond has many facets. They are beautiful and sparkly as rays of light reflect off the chiseled surfaces. As you slowly turn the diamond under a light you see different colors and even see deeper cuts into the stone depending on how you hold it. That’s how it is with God’s word. Because the Bible is a ‘living document’ God breathed and inspired by the Holy Spirit, it continues to speak to us in a new and vibrant ways. Every time you read it, the Holy Spirit may give you a new insight, a different understanding about the same scripture you’ve been reading for years. It’s awesome. It’s like being a treasure hunter. It’s so exciting at times. Jesus never talked about cut diamonds in the New Testament, but I just used it as an illustration to teach you a spiritual principle about the living word of God. Did it add to or take away from the canon of scripture? Or, did it offer you some insight as to how the Holy Spirit teaches us?

The process of learning and discovery is meant to be enjoyable; not an unbearable chore. Jesus was all about getting people to think outside of their religious boxes. We live in a day and age where every bit of information seems to come point blank to us through various mediums. This is scary to me. There’s no room for critical thinking, constructive debate or opposite views presented on the same channel. Jesus never meant for us to check our brains out at the door of church or teachings, even the new. He wants us to search, test and prove all things. He wants us to be thoroughly familiar with scripture and surrounding contextual history and culture in order to do that. That’s why we need teachers, theologians, apologists, pastors, and the like to give us information that we could NEVER achieve on our own or in our own lifetimes.

We limit ourselves when we only view or listen to one point of view. Jesus gives ministry gift(s) to the church. One person simply cannot give us all that God wants us to learn about Jesus, the Church, life, Church History, theology etc. If you have a good pastor teacher, you are blessed, but there is more to learn if you want to. Why not experience more that Jesus has provided for us in terms of ministry gifts, spiritual gifts, knowledge and understanding all within the context of Scripture? I’ve committed myself to be a lifelong learner. There was a period of time through my hurt, disappointment and bad teaching, I stopped listening to preachers and teachers.

Instead, I pulled out my Bible and asked the Holy Spirit to teach me and He did. I saw where I believed faulty doctrines. He set me straight on so many things. He brought me back to my first love. When I was born again in 1976 I was still attending a Catholic church. But I started devouring scripture and couldn’t get enough of it. The Holy Spirit showed me things I believed from church that really weren’t Biblical. That’s what I needed to do again. Then He began to remind me that there are good ministries out there. So I asked Him to direct me to them and He did. They are not all from the same denomination. They are not all members of the same church. Some of the are theologians. Some authors have spent their entire lives studying church history and the like. I’m gleaning more and more every day. But the great thing is, I had to reacquaint myself with the REAL gospel and apostolic doctrines so I could begin to compare what is being said with what scripture teaches.

We are so easily distracted. We often jump to conclusions when someone is trying to explain something to us and can miss an important point. It’s up to us to inquire of the Lord as to what He may want to say through this type of language. When He uses these examples, they will always marry up to Scripture. If not, ignore the “message” completely. At the time, Nicodemus had no clue what Jesus meant by being Born Again. Jesus referred to some of the Pharisees as a brood of vipers. Today, the Spirit might use different terminologies to make the same points.

The disciples needed to be healed or made well in their souls so that they could heal others. So, it is the same with us. Jesus quoted a proverb in Luke 4 after reading a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah in the Synagogue, “Physician heal thyself.” Knowing their thoughts, He understood they were reluctant to believe in Him and they would say or think these words about Him. They looked at Him as just a local, a carpenter’s son, nobody special. Therefore, Jesus of Nazareth couldn’t be the Messiah they thought. This was another way of Jesus saying, “Who wants to go to a doctor that is sick if he can’t even heal Himself?” Jesus would demonstrate many healings and miracles because He Himself had no ailments whatsoever. He is the source of ALL healing. I’ve asked myself many times, “How can God use me effectively in the way He really wants to use me, if I won’t allow Him to heal my own heart first and stop allowing the Holy Spirit to continue the work of inner sanctification?”

The Apostles would never stop needing comfort, guidance and yes, sometimes even correction (see Galatians 2: 11-21) to continue to serve Him and fulfill the Great Commission by observing the Great Commandment. They had not been “glorified” yet-received their new resurrected bodies. That would happen later. They and we still live in a mortal body with a sin nature in the soul that needs to be controlled and curbed though the Fruit of the Spirit.

It is what the Apostle Paul called, “working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” We can’t save ourselves from the eternal punishment of sin-only Jesus can do that through His shed blood. But what Paul was stating here is that once we receive the free gift of salvation, we have to deal with our sin nature on a daily basis. It has to be crucified. That’s why we have to read and study the scripture, fellowship with other believers in mutual submission, community and accountability. Some refer to this as “walk the walk not just talk the talk.”  It’s not easy. In fact, it is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit within us and through the ministry gifts Christ gives us in Christian community (Ephesians 4: 1-14, Romans 12: 16, 1 Corinthians 12-14).

He knew they would always need each other for support and accountability. But without the Holy Spirit, they would fail. Now, if you and I have received Christ, He calls us to follow Him and be His disciples too. His Holy Spirit will do everything for us that Jesus did in and through His disciples while He walked the earth but NOT in an isolated fashion. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13: 8). What an amazing, wonderful promise and fact. When we receive Christ, we receive His Holy Spirit that begins to do the work of discipleship in our lives. Paul the Apostle, referred to this work as sanctification*. This is a huge part of discipleship.

Jesus knew as close as his Apostles were to Him, they were human, still had a sin nature and would need correction, accountability and guidance for the rest of their lives. The Holy Spirit’s function is multifaceted: Jesus said He would lead and guide us into all truth, comfort us in our times of mourning, empower us for service, teach us, convict us, and even chastise us.  His Spirit in us and each other will show us when we’ve erred or sinned in a spirit of peace so we will repent and change. He usually points out one thing at a time and uses various means to get our attention. Reading and knowing scripture is the main way, but He also uses messages from other ministers, conversations with friends, comments made in person or even social media by someone you may or may not know, a host of other ways.

However, I’ve learned if I ignore His correction through pride, it opens the door for Satan to heap condemnation on me. Why is this? If you look a little more closely at Romans 8: 1 you will see that Paul states the following, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.” I looked at that one day and realized, in order to stay free of condemnation from the devil I need to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit not my flesh. Galatians 5 tells us how. Scripture also says, “if today, you hear his voice, harden not your heart.” (Hebrews 3: 15-17)

That’s where the issue of condemnation can begin.  Condemnation never comes from God. He did not come into the world, to condemn the world, but through Him the world might be saved (John 3: 16-17). Condemnation comes from Satan. This begs the question, “How is Satan then able to heap condemnation on us?” Sometimes condemnation comes from shame and guilt from abuse. According the 1 Timothy 3: 6 it can come from being lifted up in pride. It can come from being wise in our own eyes and not listening to wise counsel instead. (Romans 12: 16; Proverbs 3: 7; Romans 1: 22; 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20)

We all tend to develop little “defense mechanisms” to shield ourselves from more hurt and pain. First of all, we can begin to make excuses for the wrong attitude and sins we commit. Abused people have huge trust issues. The Father knows this. But please understand, He won’t abuse and hurt you like your parents, friends, teachers, relatives, preachers, husbands, wives or anyone else in your life may have hurt you.

God understands all of this and is very long-suffering with our attitudes and wrong judgments. He knows that our spiritual vision has been skewed from pain and our pain is producing blind spots. He sees how our hearts have been wounded from crushing words and events. He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him about all of this. I tried and tried to find a counselor or pastor who would listen to my story and help me to heal. Instead, more accusations were hurled at me or, they would lay hands on me, prophecy believing that was the fix. It wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, prayer, personal prophecy and counsel has its place. But the Father is jealous over you. He will share His glory with no other. Your inner wounds that need healed are reserved for Jesus only. See Psalm 23. Only Jesus can restore your soul. God can and will use all the above to bring healing into your life IF and only IF they are led by the Holy Spirit, not what they “think” or “perceive” and IF and only if they point everything back to the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ.

If they have pride in them, they will only transfer more guilt, shame or unanswered questions. That’s why I say, PLEASE take your abuses and sins to the Cross FIRST and cry out to God. He loves you and He hears you and He will answer you! Please see Psalm 118 & 120.

Satan on the other hand is crafty and knows/ sees our weaknesses. He seizes the opportunities to trip us up through our hidden wounds and sins. He is a most vicious criminal and stalker looking for every opportunity to assault our faith.

But look at what Ephesians 4: 20-30 says about not giving place the devil “no place” through anger, unconfessed sin and evil speech.  I’ve learned the hard way that I can give Him easy access whenever I refuse to listen to correction by becoming defensive and making excuses. If and where I failed to walk in love and the fruit of the Spirit this only leads to becoming prideful and stubborn. The longer stubbornness and pride sets in, the harder it becomes to break the vicious cycle. God has had to pull the rug out from under me a few times so to speak. In other words, the things I used to find comfort in and depend on were stripped away so that He could get my undivided attention. I absolute hate this vicious cycle for that reason. He finally got through to me that I could humble myself, or he would have to humble me for me. Even still, I have blind spots. That’s where accountability and others come in.

The wonderful thing is that the Lord has been taking me through a process of deeper inner sanctification, cleansing and healing. He started years ago, but through spiritual abuse heaped over unaddressed emotional and verbal abuse I experienced in my childhood, and the church, I became ensnared by the enemy’s wily schemes. God loves us too much to leave us to ourselves. I have even felt suicidal because I wanted the vicious cycle of pain to end. Little did I know it had to start with looking to the Holy Spirit to show me the why’s behind my what’s and take me through a process of cleaning and healing.

If we fail to listen to the still voice of the Holy Spirit, Satan, will accuse us in a spirit of unrest to make us believe we’ve done everything wrong and that we are a complete mess up. He then brings condemnation if we believe those thoughts. The enemy’s purpose is to make us retreat, stunt our spiritual growth and offend us towards God and others. He wants us to doubt the love of the Father, with feelings of worthlessness and eventually sift our faith in God. We must stand strong against these negative, condemning thoughts. It’s not always easy, but that’s where the blessed Holy Spirit comes along side of us.

Our Father is merciful and gracious to those who walk humbly before Him and choose to walk in the fruit of the spirit. Condemnation can often lead us into rebellion and pride (as defense mechanisms), which can create a vicious cycle of pain and rejection. I have struggled with this my entire life. Some refer to the inner cleansing and inner healing because the results are the same as physical healing; what used to hurt doesn’t hurt anymore. What was broken is mended. What was diseased is cured.

Now, as I’ve been going through some deep healing, chastisement and deliverance, I want to help others who have struggled with some of the same things through prayer, scripture and relying on the Holy Spirit

The healing process can be long and arduous, but this is a good starting point. We must remember that we have been justified by faith not by our good works or even head knowledge. The Father sees His children as pure as the driven snow, even though we may wrestle emotionally at times and struggle against sin and bad attitudes. At the same time, we have to “armor up” daily because we are in a spiritual war for our soul while we walk with Christ daily.

The scriptures I posted below for references after the Biblical meditation, would make a good Bible study, especially if you have been the victim of any kind of abuse and struggled with guilt, shame and condemnation in the aftermath as I have. Abuse can take on many different forms and degrees in various different settings. For example; physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and spiritual abuse can take place in the home, at school, on the job, on a date, and even sadly in church and I realize this is not an exhaustive list. But Jesus is a Redeemer of it all.

*Related Verses:
Isaiah 61
Psalm 23
Psalm 32
Psalm 51
Luke 22: 31-34
John 16: 5-15
See Matthew 23: 25-29
Hebrews 12: 4-11
Hebrews 3: 15-17
Romans 7: 7-25
Romans 8: 1-2 & 31-39
Revelations 12: 10-12
1 Peter 5: 6-11
Galatians 5: 16-26
Ephesians 6: 10-18
2 Corinthians 10: 3-6
1 Thessalonians 5: 23
Philippians 2: 12-13
John 3: 16-17
Psalm 120
Ephesians 4: 1-14
Roman 12: 16
1 Corinthians 3: 18-20
Hebrews 13: 8
Luke 4: 23
Galatians 2: 11-21

*Please note that the scriptures are not necessarily listed in the same order as the comments above but make for good study and dialogue with others.

Mary Ann Wray
Shalom