ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tokonaki ‘Okatopa 14, 2023

To What Shall I Compare It? 

Ko e hā nai ha me‘a te u fakatatau ki ai?

PROVERBS 1:1-4

THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, SON OF DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL: TO KNOW WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION, TO UNDERSTAND WORDS OF INSIGHT, TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN WISE DEALING, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, AND EQUITY; TO GIVE PRUDENCE TO THE SIMPLE, KNOWLEDGE AND DISCRETION TO THE YOUTH.

PALOVEPI 1:1-4

1 KO E ngaahi palōvepi ‘a Solomone, Ko e ‘Alo ‘o Tēvita, ko e Tu‘i ‘Isileli, 2 Ko e me‘a ke ‘ilo poto ai mo e akonaki; Ke sivi ‘a e ngaahi lea ‘uhinga: 3 Ko e me‘a ke ma‘u ai ‘a e akonaki fakapoto, ‘A e totonu, mo e fakakonisitūtone, mo e taau: 4 Ko e me‘a ke ‘atu fakapotopoto kiate kinautolu ‘oku hehemangofua, ‘A e ‘ilo‘ilo mo e fakakaukau ki he talavou:

When Jesus says, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?" he is speaking the language of mashal (Luke 13:20). As a verb, mashal means "to speak a parable" or "to compare this to that." As a noun, mashal means "parable, proverb, wisdom saying." The Hebrew name of Proverbs is from the book's opening word, Mishley ("the proverbs of"). Jesus was a mashal rabbi, a teacher of parables. He likened God's kingdom to everything from a miniscule mustard seed to a net fat with fish. When he did so, he was taking a page from the playbook of Proverbs and the prophets. For centuries, Israelite sages had been painting the highest and holiest truths in the hues and tones of earthen simplicity.

But the Messiah's mashal was also unique, for in his topsy-turvy tales, a hated Samaritan is the good guy, dishonest stewards are commended, and latecomers to work pocket the same paycheck as early birds. His parables, then, are also illustrations of the cross and cross-shaped life, where the dead live, the last are first, and weakness is strength.

Blessed are you, O Lord Jesus, for you have hidden your saving truth in scandalous stories of grace.