Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
The Use Of Figurative Language
Text: John 16: 25
THE USE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Jesus used figurative language extensively. There were many good reasons why He did that.
“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.”
John 16:25
1. “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language”
a. “These things” refer to the teachings of Jesus.
b. Some of the lessons were:
i. Prophetic
ii. Profound
c. Figurative language:
i. Use of similes
ii. Use of metaphors
iii. Use of illustrations
2. The significance of figurative language
a. To make the Disciples think more deeply.
b. To challenge them to consider other levels of thought.
c. To help them remember the lessons.
d. To help them realise they must seek God humbly for wisdom to comprehend.
3. “But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language”
a. Jesus looked forward to the day when the Disciples have become more mature.
b. When they have the Spirit of God to enlighten them further.
c. Then He would not need to use figurative language.
d. But at this point of time Jesus had to use every means available to teach His Disciples to cultivate a deeper faith-relationship.
4. “But I will tell you plainly about the Father”
a. Jesus looked forward to teaching deeper things.
b. The Disciples would have a deeper understanding after Jesus has risen from the dead.
c. The lessons about the Father would then be more deeply appreciated.
d. There would be a stronger faith-relationship with the Father by then.
经文：约翰福音 16：25
运用比喻
耶稣广泛地使用比喻。祂之使用比喻是因许多很好的因素。
“这些事，我是用比喻对你们说的。时候将到，我不再用比喻对你们说，乃要将父明明地告诉你们。”
《约翰福音 16: 25》