ESOCS Devotional 28 September 2026 – Jesus Teaches in Parables
MEMORY VERSE: “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;” (MATTHEW 13:3 KJV).
TEXT: MATTHEW 13: 1 – 9
On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
READ OTHER ESOCS DEVOTIONAL HERE
Jesus often spoke in parables during His ministry on earth, and many of us can recall some of these powerful sayings. But as we begin our journey to study them, I believe we must address some fundamental questions. What is a parable? Why did Jesus teach in parables? What are they about, and how should we interpret them?
The word “parable” comes from the Greek word parabole, which means to place something alongside another for comparison. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus used these narratives to teach truths that could be understood by those who were truly seeking. For example, He told the parable of the sower, in which He compared spreading seeds to sharing the Word of God. People at that time understood farming, and Jesus took that relatable task and turned it into a spiritual lesson.
Jesus used parables to reveal the truth to those who wanted to understand it and to conceal the truth from those who would not receive it (Matthew 13:10-15). We must approach these passages humbly, with total dependence on the Spirit to guide us. Jesus’ task was to communicate His message in a way that would extend the invitation into God’s kingdom across cultures, eras, generations, and languages for centuries. He masterfully awakened His listeners’ imaginations and emotions through His use of parables. In other words, He engaged the ears of the heart, calling people to come alive to intangible realities of the kingdom of God. And when the heart is engaged, the listener enters the story, becoming a character themselves.
So, as we read Christ’s parables in the Gospel narratives, let us be confident that while certain of the parables can be very challenging to understand, the Holy Spirit who indwells all of God’s people will “guide [believers] . . . into all truth” (John 16:13) and God’s Word—which contains parables—is truth (John 17:17).
Indeed, we must always evaluate ourselves, and others, in light of God’s Word in order to make sure that our lack of understanding of a given parable is not a symptom of a wider rejection of spiritual truth. Jesus’ parables are a gift to us as we seek to understand intangible realities of the kingdom. They take gospel truths and create a deeper, more memorable imprint.
Challenges:
- How have you been able to compare spiritual truths with natural life with the aid of parables?
- Are you able to connect God’s word with your world through Jesus’ parables?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, grant me grace to understand the deep truths of Your Kingdom in your parables and help me live in accordance with Your will and purpose for my life in Jesus name.
FURTHER READING:
Jonah 3: 1 – end; Matthew 12: 38 – end; Jonah 4: 1 – end
ESOCS Devotional 28 September 2026
