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Exploring God’s Teaching Methods through Parables and Biblical Narratives

This study delves into the significance of parables and biblical narratives as essential teaching methods used by God. We explore the story of Joseph's Third Option (Matthew 1:18-25) and investigate the meaning of marriage in the biblical context. Additionally, we analyze God’s use of dramatic actions (Isaiah 20:1-6; Ezekiel 4; Jeremiah 13:1-11) and literary devices such as metaphors and similes. Ultimately, these elements illuminate deeper spiritual truths and highlight how God communicates profound lessons through relatable stories.

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Exploring God’s Teaching Methods through Parables and Biblical Narratives

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  1. RezChat

    Joseph’s Third Option (Matthew 1:18-25)
  2. Marriage… What’s the big deal? God’s Teaching Methods: Parables/Stories “Theatre” (Isaiah 20:1-6; Ezekiel 4; Jeremiah 13:1-11) Biblical “types” (Genesis 22 is the preeminent example) Figures of Speech (metaphors, similes, hyperbole, etc.) Special Case: The Marriage Relationship God seems to use the marriage relationship to teach us some of His most important, and intimate lessons:
  3. God’s View of Marriage Marriage as the “Imago Dei” “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) The Hebrew word translated “one” in this verse is “echad”.
  4. God’s View of Marriage Turning to Deuteronomy 6:4, “The Shema”, we see the exact same word echad presented again, but this time, in a description of God Himself: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Our marriage relationships somehow echo the very nature and imprint of God Himself (the Imago Dei). God is three, existing eternally, in perfect harmony, as echad. And He created you and I to become echad through a very special relationship we call marriage. Wow! (bought any flowers lately guys?)
  5. God’s View of Marriage Marriage as God’s relationship to His people: Old Testament: Isaiah 54:5; 61:10; 62:5 The entire life of the prophet Hosea was a theatrical parable comparing Hosea’s marriage to a prostitute with God’s “marriage” to His chosen people Israel. Jeremiah 3:14a: “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…” Song of Solomon? New Testament: Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13; 9:15 Romans 7:4; 2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-33; Rev. 19:7-9
  6. God’s View of Marriage What can “Marriage” teach us about Joseph? Let’s take a quick look at the customs of the ancient Jewish wedding before we look at our passage:
  7. The Ancient Jewish Wedding
  8. The Ancient Jewish Wedding
  9. The Ancient Jewish Wedding
  10. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Now read John 14:2-3. We’ve all read it before. It is such a beautiful and comforting passage, many of us probably have it committed to memory. But how many of us realized that Jesus was drawing directly on the customs and practices of the Jewish wedding ritual. He wanted His disciples to understand this and make the connection.
  11. So… who was this guy Joseph?
  12. Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
  13. How Did He Feel? Let’s try to slip Joseph’s sandals on our own feet for a moment, and try to really get an sense of what he must have been feeling… Joseph and Mary were in the “betrothal” phase. Legally bound to each other through the “ketubah” But were not to engage in sexually intimate activity When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he: Believed she had committed the most terrible, personal transgression imaginable Thought that she had rejected him; denied and broken her obligation under the ketubah; and given herself in the most intimate way possible to another man. Joseph was most likely outraged, ashamed, and heartbroken all at the same time. He was experiencing the kind of emotions that cause men to react in the most horrifying ways. So, when we are told that Joseph was a “just man”, I am frightened for Mary’s sake
  14. Justice Anyone? Do you want God to give you justice? I’ll pass. If God suddenly decided to give me the justice I deserved, I’d be a dead man; separated from my Lord and suffering for all eternity. I don’t want God’s justice; I want his “Mercy” and His “Grace”…
  15. What’s the Difference?
  16. The Man Joseph… Joseph was a “just man”. In other words, he was not able to simply “excuse” what he believed to be a horrible transgression committed by Mary. He demanded justice, so he made up his mind to write a certificate of divorce and terminate the betrothal. But in the very next words of the passage, we learn something else about Joseph. We learn that he was not only a man of justice; he was also a man of grace and mercy. He was “unwilling to put her to shame” so he “resolved to divorce her quietly”. What do you think this really means?
  17. The Man Joseph… When it says that Joseph resolved to divorce Mary quietly, I think it means that he decided not expose her pregnancy. Months later, when her “condition” became public knowledge, Joseph intended for everyone to assume that he, himself had broken the strong Jewish customs and had engaged in sexual relations with Mary (most likely against her will), and then had decided to divorce her because, through his own outrageous and shameful behavior, she was no longer a virgin and therefore no longer “pleasing” to him.
  18. The Man Joseph… Joseph knew that he would become a “lightning rod” for all of the public outrage and criticism. All of the shame and rejection would be directed away from Mary and toward himself. Through Joseph’s merciful decision, Mary would be viewed as a victim, and he would be viewed as a thuggish, despicable brute. His good reputation would be destroyed, and most likely even his ability to earn a living and maintain residence in his own hometown.
  19. The Man Joseph… To me, this is one of the most incredible displays of grace and mercy found anywhere in the Bible (at least on Joseph’s side of the cross). His decision would have come at tremendous personal cost. Joseph was a just man. He could not simply excuse Mary’s sin and sweep it under the rug. The transgression had been committed and therefore it must be “paid for”. But he was also a merciful, loving man, so he resolved to divorce her quietly, and in so doing, pay himself the penalty for her sin… Hmmmm… Does that sound familiar?
  20. God’s Choice This is the decision Joseph made. This is the type of man he was. Exactly the type of man God needed to nurture, and teach, and love His only begotten Son. I can’t wait to meet him in person…
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