WHAT DO the WORDS “MYSTERY,” “PARABLE,” and “INTERPOLATE” MEAN?

The title of this book is, “The MYSTERY of PROPERLY INTERPOLATING the PARABLES REVEALED.” I will define the words “mystery,” “parable,” and “interpolate” so that we all are on the same page.  

DEFINING the WORD “MYSTERY.”

I use the word “mystery” is almost all of my writings and teachings. Why do I do that? As I use the word “mystery,” I expect you to learn and understand that it is, “Any truth unknowable except by the divine revelation of God.” I also pray that as you read and study my writings you will be asking God the Holy Spirit for the “sound mind of Christ” (1) as He opens your spiritual eyes, your spiritual mind, and your spiritual heart to His spiritual truth (2) revealing Jesus Christ, (3) His Gospel Message{/good news} (4), His teachings, (5) and His atoning death for you. (6)
(1) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) KJV
(1a) For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa 40:13.] (1 Corinthians 2:16) AMP
(2) Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word {the Bible} is Truth. (John 17:17) AMP
(2a) The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalms 19:7) AMP
(3) He {Jesus} said to them, You are from below; I am {God’s Name – Exodus 3:14 (3a)} from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be — if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins. (John 8:23-24) AMP
(3a) And Moses said to God, Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, What is His name? What shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you! (Exodus 3:13-14) AMP
(4) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.  [Hab 2:4.] (Romans 1:16-17) AMP
(5) When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching, For He was teaching as One Who had [and was] authority, and not as [did] the scribes.     (Matthew 7:28-29) AMP
(6) He {Jesus Christ} went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us). For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body, [Lev 16:6, 16; Num 19:9, 17, 18.] How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God? [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance — since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement. (Hebrews 9:12-15) AMP

I have defined the word “mystery” as “God’s plans and purposes as revealed to His People from the Scriptures.” “The biblical idea of mystery, then, reminds Christians that God holds the course of human events in his hands and has so shaped them that they work for the salvation of his people. It also demonstrates the graciousness of God in revealing his redemptive purposes to prophets and apostles and, through them, to all who are willing to hear.” (7)
(7) from Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Copyright © 1996 by Baker Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I use lots of Scriptures to authenticate and support my writing. The reason being so that the MYSTERIES of the Bible are no longer mysteries but revealed truth showing Jesus Christ’s Saints how to properly interpolate Christ’s parables revealing God’s processes of Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, and Condemnation in their lives.

DEFINING the WORD “PARABLE.”

These things all taken together Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, without a parable He said nothing to them. This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet: I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been hidden since the foundation of the world. [Ps 78:2.] (Matthew 13:34-35) AMP

Jesus always used parables when He spoke to the multitudes of people. His reason for doing this was because the multitudes including His disciples knew very little about the spiritual supernatural kingdom of God/heaven. His parables were about physical subjects that the multitudes were very familiar with, and they thought they understood what He was saying in their profane secular humanistic thinking. The parables that Jesus taught contain the mystery of God’s hidden, eternal plan of salvation as found in the Gospel Message – “Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages, (Romans 16:25) AMP (8)
(8) [It was] to this end that He called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).                         (2 Thessalonians 2:14) AMP
(8a) We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. (1 Corinthians 1:23) AMP
(8b) The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.   (Colossians 1:26-27) AMP
(8c) It is true that He {Jesus Christ} was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you. Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21) AMP

We are now going to take a look at the revealed mystery and secrets hidden since the foundation of the world. These mysteries and secrets are contained in Jesus’ parables which I believe to be some of the most exciting and important teachings found in the Bible. These mysteries reveal important eternal spiritual truths about salvation and the works of salvation that are found in the approximately 60 parables that Jesus Christ taught. His parables make up about one third of His teachings. He introduces many of them as being about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven which are interchangeable in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. (9)
(9) Some of Jesus’ parables – Matthew13:3-8, 18-23; 13:24-30; 13:31-32; 13:33; 13:44; 13:45-46; 13:47-50; 18:21-35; 20:1-16; 22:1-14; 25:1-13; 25:14-30. Mark 4:11-20; 4:26-29; 4:30-32; 10:23-27. Luke 8:9-15; 13:18-19; 13:20-21; 18:24-25.

Jesus used the terms of kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven interchangeably when describing His kingdom as a real and true place when He said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24) NIV When using Jesus’ kingdom teachings as interpolated from the parables, they are very important in bringing into proper perspective what the profane secular humanistic worldview considers to be important as compared to the revelation of what is important in and to the spiritual supernatural kingdom of God/heaven Biblical Christian Worldview.  It is my prayer that through the proper interpolation of the parables, you will more clearly understand and participate in the work of the kingdom of God/heaven rather than the work of the profane secular humanistic worldview. (10)
(10) For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10) AMP
(10a) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
(Proverbs 11:30) NKJV
(10b) And the   and those who are wise {wins souls/process of justification} shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness {teach the Bible correctly/ process of sanctification} (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever {receive their glorification}. [Matt 13:43.] (Daniel 12:3) AMP
(10c) Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing. [Dan 12:3.] (Matthew 13:43) AMP
(10d) So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). (Romans 10:17) AMP

What does Jesus mean when He says, “I will talk in parables; I will explain mysteries hidden since the beginning of time.”? (Matthew 13:34c) TLB What do these mysteries reveal as hidden eternal truths? What are these truths about? How relevant are they for today? How will He reveal them? And to whom will they be revealed? Much discussion has been given on how to teach and learn from the parables. Just how far can they be manipulated/tweaked to get the right meaning? Most commentaries state that a parable can contain only one meaning i.e. contain only one truth. I believe that a properly interpolated parable contains the Gospel Message and all or portions of the four spiritual processes – justification, sanctification, glorification, and/or condemnation – as will be revealed as we continue.   

As you can see, there are numerous questions that must be asked about the proper teaching and interpolation of the parables. Jesus’ disciples came to him and asked, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And He replied to them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.” (Matthew 13:10-13) AMP

The above text applies to “us” the Saints of Christ’s Bride Church who MUST spiritually see, spiritually hear, spiritually understand, and put into practice/live the revealed secrets and mysteries of the spiritual supernatural kingdom of God/heaven Biblical Christian Worldview as compared to the profane secular humanistic worldview that we are all too familiar with in our lives. This was revealed to our Brother Paul by the Lord Jesus in the Book of Acts. (11) Without this spiritual and supernatural Godly understanding and wisdom, too many Christians will be left behind at Christ’s Second Coming! “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].” [Ps 6:8.] (Matthew 7:21-23) AMP
(11) But arise and stand upon your feet {Saul}; for I {Jesus} have appeared to you for this purpose, that I might appoint you to serve as [My] minister and to bear witness both to what you have seen of Me and to that in which I will appear to you, Choosing you out [selecting you for Myself] and delivering you from among this [Jewish] people and the Gentiles to whom I am sending you —  [Ezek 2:1,3.] To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.  [Isa 42:7, 16.]                     (Acts 26:16-18) AMP

I believe the sin in the above text is in regard to the allegiance of the spiritual heart and spiritual mindset of the Make Believer to the world and the things of the world and can be determined from the following Scripture text. “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching{/commands}]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.” (John 14:23)  AMP John also writes, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father {for the Father – AMP} is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) NASU

The above Scripture texts share with us that our love, worship, and service to God MUST relate to the kingdom of God/heaven NOT to the kingdom of the world. Yes, we live and have jobs in the physical world but we MUST not worship/make idols, love, or do our service in the humanistic secular world. There is an old saying, “While we must live in the world, we are not to be part of the world.” (12)  
(12)  I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people–Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether! (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) AMP

Paul also gave us very clear instructions as to the mindset/worldview of the True Christian versus the mindset/worldview of the Make Believer/Unbeliever. “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him.
“But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. [Rom 8:14.] But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].
“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
“So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh. For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.” (Romans 8:5-17) AMP

The True Christian MUST be kingdom of God/heaven minded and work oriented to have eternal life with God! So just what is God’s work for us? (13) As we study the parables, we will find they contain numbers – 2, 5, 10, 30, 60, 100. These figures indicate the number of sinners with whom you shared your testimony containing the Gospel Message, and they received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. (14) We are to bear “fruit that lasts” – lost souls/sinners won to Christ, and we are to disciple them along with ourselves to stand firm in our faith until the end. (15)
(13) “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” (Ephesians 2:10) AMP
(14) The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men–he gathers and receives them for eternity]. [Matt 4:19; 1 Cor 9:19; James 5:20.] (Proverbs 11:30) AMP
(15) You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. (John 15:16) AMP
(15a) Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.     (Acts 14:22) AMP
(15b) Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength! [Ps 31:24.] (1 Corinthians 16:13) AMP
(15c) Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil {Satan}, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.            (1 Peter 5:8-10) AMP
(15d) For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.                    (Hebrews 3:14) AMP

DEFINING the WORD “INTERPOLATE.”

Where do we find this foreknown work that God predestined for us to do? (16) Do the parables share with us these works? How do we properly “interpolate” them? Instruction by parables has been in use from the earliest of times. The Greek word “parabole” from which we have the English word “parable” literally means a comparison of earthly with heavenly things, i.e. “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning,” as in the parables of our Lord. The English word that is the definition for this process of laying/comparing something spiritual alongside something physical is the word “interpolate.” In Jesus’ parables, His physical inference must be properly “interpolated” by True Believers who compare it to God’s eternal spiritual and supernatural plan and gift of salvation through our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ. As you read and properly “interpolate” the parables, you MUST take what Jesus said in the initial parable and lay alongside of it the spiritual processes of justification, sanctification, glorification, and condemnation to see how they fit and what results are produced. You will see Jesus giving us an example on how to do this in two of the parables that I use – “The Parable of the SEED and the SOWER” and “The Parable of the WHEAT and the TARES”. The Christian teacher MUST properly “interpolate” the parables to reveal their true Gospel Message of the entire process of salvation in Jesus Christ ALONE!
(16) For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10) AMP