Psalm 78:2
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:1-8, Matt 13:10-17
Psalm 78 was written by Asaph. Asaph was a great singer and musician during the reign of David and Solomon. We are told in 1 Chronicles 25 and 29 that Asaph was also a prophet and a “seer.” This is the longest of all the historical psalms. The overall theme is that we are to teach the next generation all the things that God has done so that history doesn’t repeat itself and lead to a generation of unbelievers.
The connection to Jesus lies in the first two verses. In his gospel, Matthew quotes verse two, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world’ (Matt 13:34-35).
The psalmist gives an incredible prophecy that Jesus would fulfill by bringing his message to earth in the form of parables. We know from experience that people remember stories better than anything else. If you tell someone a fact or a date they might remember it for a short time but they will forget it if they don’t repeat it often. However, if you tell someone a story, they will remember it for a long time and even perhaps for a lifetime.
A parable is a short story that conveys a lesson or reveals something important. Parables aren’t unique to Jesus but they were a critical part of his ministry. In our verse above from Matthew, it says, “He did not say anything to them without using a parable.” Can you imagine a preacher just telling a bunch of stories on Sunday morning with no explanation and then calling it a day? Hard to imagine but Jesus would teach this way.
The point of a parable is to take something unclear or hard to understand and make it clear and understandable. But oftentimes Jesus’ parables did just the opposite. People would often be left confused by his stories. So why would Jesus teach this way? Well that’s a good question. The disciples asked Jesus the same question:
“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand”‘” (Matt 13:10-13).
Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah pointing to another prophecy that he was fulfilling. But his answer is simply that he teaches in parables because he was revealing the hidden gems of God’s wisdom and only God’s people will be able to find the meaning. If you are opposed to God, the message will go right over your head.
In a sense, Jesus requires his followers to work for the meaning. These aren’t meant to be simple teachings. They are deep meaningful lessons that require wisdom and understanding. Matthew recorded it like this: “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matt 7:28-29).
I would also contend that Jesus’ parables weren’t simply moral stories teaching us how to live the right way. The primary focus of Jesus’ parables was to reveal what he was doing. Jesus came to earth to claim his kingdom. He was Jesus the Christ – the anointed one. He was the long awaited Messiah. He was the final King. Jesus was there to announce that God’s kingdom was arriving on earth. And his parables revealed this to those that had ears to hear. The Pharisees understood it and they crucified him for it.
So when you read one of Jesus’ parables, I would suggest not starting with the question, “How does this parable relate to me and my relationship with God?” I would instead begin with the question, “How is this parable about Jesus as King and the establishment of his kingdom?” When we start there, we will find the gems of wisdom hidden since the creation of the world.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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