Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Most of the parables begin with a phrase like “The Kingdom is like…” This puts a parable in the category of a metaphor by virtue of the structure of English. So let’s look at what a metaphor is exactly.

Merriam-Webster’s full definition of metaphor states that a metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.

Let me ask you this, if I were to compare an English word or phrase with something in Klingon wouldn’t you have to know the Klingon language and culture to render a right understanding of the metaphor? It is the same with a parable, you must be able to understand spiritual things to make the comparison or elsewise you are comparing worldly things with worldly things and missing the point.

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

If that seems unfair, then let me ask you if it is fair for the enemy to learn the secrets of our defenses? The keys to the mysteries of the Kingdom belong to the citizens of the Kingdom. If you want to learn the secrets, learn the language by becoming a citizen of the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Become a citizen and get the language tutor, then the parables will come to life for you. The only parable that Jesus explained in plain language is the parable of the sower. That is about the good news, the gospel, that which leads us to salvation and citizenship. It was made plain for all to understand.

DaHjaj ghaH [a] QaQ jaj Daq yIn

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. NASB

I was driving yesterday and listening the The Threshold of a Dream by the Moody Blues. One lyric really stuck out at me and that line was “giving without measure”. I was taken back in remembrance of this description of how love acts. “Love is” is the standard of action in my life. Do I love like this? Then it struck me that the line “love is giving without measure” isn’t listed in 1 Corinthians 13.

Loving without measure isn’t scriptural and neither is it false doctrine. Verse 8 that follows here begins with the words “Love never fails.” That is a limitless expression. Giving without measure is a limitless expression. Now we see the danger of lists, they sound limiting, as if that is all there is to it. I dare say it is not and to include everything that love is could be rather long.

John 3:34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. NASB

There is your verse for giving without measure.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. NASB

Do we  meter the output or do we just let it flow? We are not in danger of running out of this water because it is after all given without measure.

So I would encourage you not to look at 1 Corinthians 13 as an all-inclusive list but rather as a quality control check to see if the water coming out flows from The Fountain. Ref. Rev. 7:17