Compare Ezekiel's symbolic actions to Jesus' parables in teaching spiritual truths. Ezekiel’s Visual Sermon: The Brick Siege (Ezekiel 4:1 – 3) • “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it a city, Jerusalem.” (Ezekiel 4:1) • Ezekiel sketches Jerusalem, builds miniature siege works, and sets an iron pan between himself and the model—an unmistakable sign that God Himself is besieging the city. • The scene is wordless yet thunders judgment, fulfilling the prophetic mandate in Ezekiel 3:17 to be a “watchman for the house of Israel.” Other Symbolic Acts in Ezekiel • Lying on his side 390 days, then 40 (4:4-8) – portraying the years of Israel’s and Judah’s sin. • Eating rationed bread baked over dung (4:9-17) – forecasting famine conditions. • Shaving head and beard, dividing the hair three ways (5:1-4) – picturing exile, sword, and pestilence. • Packing a traveler’s bag and digging through a wall (12:1-7) – dramatizing the coming captivity of Zedekiah. Why God Chose Physical Drama • Captures attention in a hard-hearted culture (Ezekiel 3:7-9). • Translates abstract warnings into unforgettable images. • Provides a public, verifiable testimony once events unfold (33:33). Jesus’ Parables: Spoken Pictures with the Same Goal • “He told them many things in parables…” (Matthew 13:3). • Stories of everyday life—soil, seeds, coins, sons—which invite listeners to find themselves in the narrative. • Parables both reveal and conceal: “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” (Matthew 13:11). Shared Purposes: Ezekiel & Jesus • Both confront complacency and call for repentance. • Propel hearers toward a decisive response—no neutrality after seeing the brick siege or hearing of the prodigal son. • Fulfill Isaiah 6:9-10: truth presented to the willing becomes clearer; to the resistant it hardens. Distinct Approaches • Ezekiel acts, Jesus narrates—yet each medium suited its audience. – Exiles needed a stunned visual wake-up. – First-century crowds grasped story but had freedom to ponder meaning. • Ezekiel foretells imminent national judgment; Jesus unveils the in-breaking kingdom. • Both ultimately point to covenant faithfulness and God’s redemptive plan (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Luke 22:20). Scripture Echoes That Tie the Methods Together • Nathan’s parable to David (2 Samuel 12:1-7) mirrors Jesus’ style and Ezekiel’s aim—truth couched in symbol to pierce the heart. • Hebrews 1:1 – 2: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers through the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son.” The shift from enacted sign to incarnate Word finds its climax in Christ. Key Takeaways for Today • God still uses vivid images—whether dramatic testimonies or simple stories—to awaken spiritual dullness. • Symbol and parable are not entertainment; they demand repentance and faith. • The reliability of both prophetic act and parable rests on the same authority: “Thus says the LORD.” • A humble, responsive heart moves from seeing or hearing the symbol to living its truth (James 1:22-25). |
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