Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 13]
parable spake he nothing unto them" (Mt 13:34), on this
occasion, we may suppose. The word parable (\parabol•\ from
\paraball•\, to place alongside for measurement or comparison
like a yardstick) is an objective illustration for spiritual or
moral truth. The word is employed in a variety of ways (a) as for
sententious sayings or proverbs (Mt 15:15; Mr 3:23; Lu 4:23;
5:36-39; 6:39), for a figure or type (Heb. 9:9; 11:19); (b) a
comparison in the form of a narrative, the common use in the
Synoptic Gospels like the Sower; (c) "A narrative illustration
not involving a comparison" (Broadus), like the Rich Fool, the
Good Samaritan, etc. "The oriental genius for picturesque speech
found expression in a multitude of such utterances" (McNeile).
There are parables in the Old Testament, in the Talmud, in
sermons in all ages. But no one has spoken such parables as these
of Jesus. They hold the mirror up to nature and, as all
illustrations should do, throw light on the truth presented. The
fable puts things as they are not in nature, Aesop's Fables, for
instance. The parable may not be actual fact, but it could be so.
It is harmony with the nature of the case. The allegory
(\all•goria\) is a speaking parable that is self-explanatory all
along like Bunyan's _Pilgrim's Progress_. All allegories are
parables, but not all parables are allegories. The Prodigal Son
is an allegory, as is the story of the Vine and Branches (Joh
15). John does not use the word parable, but only \paroimia\, a
saying by the way (Joh 10:6; 16:25,29). As a rule the parables
of Jesus illustrate one main point and the details are more or
less incidental, though sometimes Jesus himself explains these.
When he does not do so, we should be slow to interpret the minor
details. Much heresy has come from fantastic interpretations of
the parables. In the case of the Parable of the Sower (13:3-8)
we have also the careful exposition of the story by Jesus
(18-23) as well as the reason for the use of parables on this
occasion by Jesus (9-17).
{Behold, the sower went forth} (\idou •lthen ho speir•n\).
Matthew is very fond of this exclamation \idou\. It is "the
sower," not "a sower." Jesus expects one to see the man as he
stepped forth to begin scattering with his hand. The parables of
Jesus are vivid word pictures. To understand them one must see
them, with the eyes of Jesus if he can. Christ drew his parables
from familiar objects.
13:4 {As he sowed} (\en t•i speirein auton\). Literally, "in the
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