The Bible is a mysterious book full of parables and strange sayings. It is the bestseller in the world, yet no-one really understands what it is saying. There are many reasons for this, and some say that the Bible is not meant to be understood. Because of a warning in Revelation, various Christian denominations say that we should not interpret the Bible but take everything at face-value:
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
Revelation 22:18-19
Yet, as many people as there are that have read the Bible, so many interpretations of it exist. Even if we read the Bible literally, that is still a way to interpret it. In fact, the same is true with any piece of literature. When we read something, we draw conclusions about it whether we do so intentionally or not.
In the gospel of Matthew, after Jesus explains to the disciples why he uses parables, it says something interesting:
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
Matthew 13:34
This scripture states that Jesus did not say anything without using a parable. But is that really true? If so, we must take every word that Jesus spoke not literally, but as a parable. This, of course, has profound implications for how we interpret not only Jesus’ words, but the entire Bible. In this post, let’s look at some of the interesting language God and Jesus use in the Old and New Testament.
One of the things that is mentioned a lot in the Bible is nature. There are many mentions of things like trees and mountains, sometimes in strange contexts. In the New Testament, there is a weird encounter between Jesus and a fig tree.
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
Matthew 21:18-19.
The encounter of the same event is recorded slightly differently in the gospel of Mark:
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
Mark 11:12-14
This scripture is confusing for various reasons. Some might say that this was recorded in the Bible to show that Jesus wielded power over nature. Indeed, the disciples are shocked after they see this, even though the account in Mark does not record their shock:
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Matthew 21:20
But does Jesus need to make a fig tree wither in order to impress his disciples? The account in Mark says that the tree only had leaves “because it was not the season for figs”. So why should the tree be cursed and never bear fruit again simply because it was out of season? Moreover, Jesus’ rebuke even seems harsh and uncalled for; why was Jesus so upset about a fig tree without fruit?
Moving Mountains
After the disciples’ response, Jesus continues with one of the most famous scriptures in the New Testament:
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:21-22
Despite being an oft-quoted scripture, this scripture is even more confusing than the fig tree. In the history of humankind, there has not been one person that has thrown a mountain into the sea with their faith. Not even Jesus prayed and moved a mountain while he was alive. Does that mean that no-one on earth has enough faith to move a mountain? Earlier, Jesus also speaks about mountains:
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
A mustard seed is miniscule, yet no faithful person on earth has ever moved a mountain with their faith. There is no record in the Bible of prophets, Kings, or even Jesus himself, moving mountains. Still, Jesus says it can be done. If we think back to Matthew 13:34, we might find some answers. If everything Jesus said is a parable, perhaps these words are parables that we must interpret too.
In addition to images of trees and mountains, the Bible also mentions many animals. Like the scriptures about the fig tree and moving mountains, the scriptures that talk about animals can be pretty confusing too. One of the famous prophecies for the Lord’s coming in Isaiah mentions that all animals will get along.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
Isaiah 11:6-7
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
As we explored in the debate on science versus religion, this scenario seems unlikely. Another scripture in the Old Testament speaks of a hornet that will go on ahead of the Israelites and drive out the Canaanites:
28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
Exodus 23:28
The hornet is mentioned again a few books later as the Israelites enter Canaan:
20 Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
Deuteronomy 7:20
While it does seem plausible that a swarm of hornets could drive the Canaanites out of their homes, the Bible does not record such an event. Instead, the Bible speaks of Joshua and his army destroying each of Canaan’s city-kingdoms one-by-one.
The NEw Testament
Jesus also spoke about animals many times throughout his ministry. One of the most miraculous animal encounters involves Peter and a fish. When the Pharisees ask Peter if he and Jesus pay temple tax, Jesus has an interesting solution for their problem. Jesus tells Peter:
27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17:27
The story ends here and we never know if Peter found money in a fish’s mouth. Jesus also spoke about dogs and pigs in another oft-quoted scripture:
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:6
And Jesus compared King Herod to a fox:
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’
Luke 13:31-32
In some cases, such as the comparison between Herod and a fox, the type of language Jesus uses is obvious. But in other cases, such as Jesus’ confusing statement about asking Peter to look for money in a fish’s mouth, it is less clear. Even more baffling is Isaiah’s prophecy about the ideal world, and God’s statement that he will send a hornet into Canaan to drive out the locals.
In this post, we only looked at a few scriptures. But for those who have read the Bible, you will know that these only scratch the surface of confusing scriptures and parables. What these scriptures do point to, though, is a specific language that God and Jesus use. As Jesus states in Matthew 13:34, the prophet Ezekiel says something similar:
49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?’”
Ezekiel 20:49
These statements ask us to rethink the way we interpret (or refuse to interpret) scripture. People use parables and figures of speech in their language and in literature all the time, and we understand them when they do. Perhaps, with regards to the Bible too, we must open our eyes to the beautiful poetic and literary language God and Jesus use.