"This Is the Way You Approved"

A SIMPLER EXPLANATION OF JESUS' ILLUSTRATIONS

Jesus Christ was the greatest Teacher who ever lived. He loved to use illustrations, or examples, to teach. (Matthew 13:34) Illustrations are effective because they explain difficult ideas in a simple way that can make us think and can affect our heart. Over the years, our literature has explained Jesus' illustrations in a simpler and clearer way.  For example, The Watchtower of July 15, 2008, helps us to understand more clearly Jesus' illustrations of the leaven, the mustard seed, and the dragnet. Now we can see that these illustrations refer to God's Kingdom, which has helped many people to reject his wicked world and to become disciples of Christ.

How can we understand the more detailed stories, or parables, that  Jesus told?  Some of these stories are symbolic or prophetic. Others teach  a practical lesson.  But how can we know which stories are symbolic and which are not?  Over the years, the answer has become clearer. For example, think about the way we used to explain Jesus' parable of the kind Samaritan.  (Luke 10:20-37)  In 1924, The Watchtower said that the Samaritan represented Jesus and that the road that ran downhill from Jerusalem to Jericho represented the worsening condition of humans since the rebellion in Eden. Also, the thieves on the road represented large corporations and greedy businessmen, and the priest and the Levite represented Christendom. But today, our literature uses that illustration to remind all Christians not to be prejudiced. We must help all those in need, especially by helping them to learn the truth about God.  It brings us joy to see how Jehovah makes the truth clear. 

In our next article, we will discuss Jesus' parable of the ten virgins.  (Matthew 25:1-13) How did Jesus want his followers in the last days to understand that powerful illustration? Does every person, object, or event in the illustration represent someone or something greater in the future?  Or did he want us to learn practical lessons that would help us during the last days?  Let us see.  

Next time: Will You "Keep on the Watch"? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015