How does Ezekiel 17:1 connect to Jesus' use of parables in the Gospels? Setting the scene in Ezekiel 17 “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 17:1) From Ezekiel’s riddles to Jesus’ parables • The very next verse: “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 17:2). • In Matthew 13:34 we read, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables; He did not tell them anything without a parable.” • The Greek word in the Septuagint for Ezekiel’s “parable” is the same root (parabolē) used in the Gospels, stitching a linguistic thread from prophet to Messiah. • Both Ezekiel and Jesus receive direct revelation (“the word of the LORD came”) and immediately clothe that revelation in story form. Shared purposes of the parables • Communication from God – authoritative, not optional. • Veiling and unveiling – truth concealed from the hard-hearted yet revealed to the humble (cf. Ezekiel 12:2; Matthew 13:10-13). • Call to repentance – Ezekiel’s eagle-vine parable indicts covenant treachery; Jesus’ parables (e.g., the Tenants, Matthew 21:33-45) expose Israel’s unfaithfulness. • Future hope – Ezekiel ends with a promise of a tender sprig becoming a majestic cedar (17:22-24); Jesus ends many parables with kingdom triumph (e.g., the Mustard Seed, Matthew 13:31-32). Echoes across Scripture • Psalm 78:2: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from of old.” Ezekiel and Jesus both fulfill this psalm. • Mark 4:2: “He taught them many things in parables.” Same pattern: divine word → story → response demanded. • Isaiah 6:9-10 ties into Jesus’ explanation of parables (Matthew 13:14-15) and mirrors Ezekiel’s ministry to a stubborn audience. Why this connection matters • Consistency of God’s method: from exile-era prophecy to Gospel proclamation, the Lord employs narrative pictures to reach hearts. • Confidence in Scripture’s unity: the prophetic voice in Ezekiel foreshadows the redemptive voice of Christ. • Invitation to listen: when we hear a parable—whether in Ezekiel 17 or Luke 15—we are hearing the unchanging “word of the LORD” calling us to faith, obedience, and hope. |
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