What are some of the truths Jesus taught without using a parable?
The Foundation for a House
“Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25)
The house represents a religious life; the rain represents divine judgment. Only the one built on the foundation of obedience to God’s Word stands. This obedience calls for repentance, rejection of salvation by works, and trust in God’s grace to save through His merciful provision.
The Rich Young Ruler
“Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So [Jesus] said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Matthew 19:16–17)
Jesus was not disclaiming His own deity but rather teaching the young man that all but God are sinners. This young man’s most serious spiritual defect was his reluctance to confess his own utter spiritual bankruptcy.
“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)
This teaching, of course, is law, not gospel. Before showing him the way to life, Jesus impressed on the young man both the high standard required by God and the absolute futility of seeking salvation by his own merit. The young man should have responded as the disciples did (Matthew 19:25) and confessed that keeping the law perfectly is impossible, but instead the young man confidently declared that he qualified for heaven under those terms: “All these things I have kept from my youth” (Matthew 19:20). The self-righteous young man would not admit his own sin.
“Go, sell what you have and give to the poor.” (Matthew 19:21)
Jesus was not setting forth terms for salvation but exposing the young man’s true heart. His refusal to obey here reveals two things: (1) he was not blameless as far as the law was concerned because he was guilty of loving himself and his possessions more than his neighbors; and (2) he lacked true faith, which involves a willingness to surrender all at Christ’s bidding. Jesus was not teaching salvation by philanthropy, but He was demanding that this young man give Him first place. The young man failed the test. Because his own love of his possessions was such a stumbling block, he had already rejected Jesus’ claim to lordship over his life.
Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
“Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
“Become as little children” is how Jesus characterized conversion. Like the Beatitudes, this verse pictures faith as the simple, helpless, trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own. Like children, they have no achievements and no accomplishments to offer or with which to commend themselves.
Count the Cost of Discipleship
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26–27)
Christ’s aim was not to gather appreciative crowds, but to make true disciples. He never adapted His message to majority preferences, but always plainly declared the high cost of discipleship. Here, He made several bold demands that would discourage the halfhearted. He was demanding total commitment from them—even unto physical death—and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others. The “hatred” called for here is actually a lesser love. Jesus was calling His disciples to cultivate such a devotion to Him that their attachment to everything else—including their own lives—would seem like hatred by comparison. The multitudes Jesus taught were positive but uncommitted. Far from making it easy for them to accept His teaching, He set the cost of discipleship as high as possible—and encouraged them to do a careful inventory before declaring their willingness to follow. Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following Him: Salvation is by grace alone, but it is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey His will and Word.
Servant Leadership
“Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” (Matthew 20:26–27)
Jesus was the supreme example of servant leadership. The King of kings and Lord of lords relinquished His privileges and gave His life as a selfless sacrifice in serving others. Christ’s substitutionary death on behalf of those who would put their faith in Him is the most glorious, blessed truth in all of Scripture. The ransom price was paid to God to satisfy His justice and holy wrath against sin. In paying it, Christ “bore our sins in His own body on the [cross]” (1 Peter 2:24).