Today’s reading is filled with parables. A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. The Greek word for parable literally means “a laying by the side of, or a casting along side of”, thus a comparison or likeness. In a parable something is placed alongside something else, in order that one may throw light on the other. A familiar custom or incident is used to illustrate some less familiar truth.

We can look at the surface meaning of a parable or we can dig deeper and discover a much deeper meaning. In finding the central meaning of a parable, the reader needs to discover the meaning the parable had in the time of Jesus. As an illustration, let’s look at the parable of the pencil. (Thanks to a friend who sent this to us several years ago.)

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

In the beginning the pencil maker created the pencil. “You must remember these five things,” the maker told the pencil.

1. You will do great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
2. You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time but it is required if you are to become a better pencil.
3. You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.
4. The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
5. No matter what the conditions, continue to write as you submit to the master’s hand, leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult.

If we compare ourselves to the pencil, we can do great things if we allow ourselves to be held in God’s hands and allow other people access to our many gifts. We may undergo a painful “sharpening” by various problems to make us stronger and sharper. We will be able to correct our mistakes or we might grow through them. The most important part of us is what’s inside. On every surface we walk we should leave our mark serving God in everything, following His leading, and never taking credit for authorship of the work.

If this parable had been told in Jesus’ time, would they have understood it? But if we could explain our culture and the importance of pencils and how they are used, then they might have understood the practical application of this parable of the pencil.  In understanding Jesus' parables we must keep in mind four things:
1. content
2. context
3. culture
4. customs
We must read the content within the entire context of Scripture, not only the verses before and after but the whole Bible.  We must place ourselves in Jesus' day and learn as much as we can about the culture and customs of the day.

For some thoughts on the parables, go to this link and the writing Parables to Ponder.
http://www.philandpatti.com/biblestudies

Jesus gives us the secrets to the kingdom of heaven. Are we getting just the surface meanings or are we going after the hidden treasures? How are we doing digging into his word for those secrets? Are we really working to dig out the nuggets by reading and studying the entire Bible?