How does Ezekiel 17:2 connect to Jesus' use of parables? Setting the Scene in Ezekiel 17 • “Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 17:2) • God directs Ezekiel to wrap divine truth in story form—a “parable” (Hebrew mashal: comparison/parable). • The listeners are rebellious exiles; the format is meant both to intrigue and to indict. What Ezekiel’s Parable Does • Illustrates history: two great eagles (Babylon & Egypt), a transplanted vine (Judah’s kings), and a coming cedar shoot. • Confronts sin without naming names, forcing the hearer to think. • Hides and reveals: the faithful perceive God’s warning; the hard-hearted dismiss it. • Prophesies Messiah: the tender “sprig” planted on a high mountain (Ezekiel 17:22-24) anticipates the future King. Jesus Picks Up the Same Teaching Tool • “He did not tell them anything without a parable.” (Matthew 13:34) • Mark 4:2: “He taught them many things in parables.” • Jesus stands in Ezekiel’s prophetic line, using parables as God instructed centuries earlier. Shared Purposes of Old and New Covenant Parables • Revelation of God’s kingdom – Ezekiel: God rules over empires (17:24). – Jesus: “The kingdom of heaven is like…” (Matthew 13:24, 31, 33). • Concealment from the hard-hearted – Ezekiel’s audience: only the humble grasp the warning. – Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 (Mark 4:11-12), affirming the same principle. • Invitation to repentance – Ezekiel exposes Judah’s covenant breach, pleading for loyalty to the Lord. – Jesus’ parables call for faith and fruitfulness (Luke 8:15). • Prophetic hope in Messiah – The cedar shoot becomes “a majestic cedar” (Ezekiel 17:23). – Jesus identifies Himself as that promised Branch (cf. Luke 1:32-33; Zechariah 6:12; Isaiah 11:1). The Messiah Thread Running Through Ezekiel 17 • God will “take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar” (17:22)—a royal descendant of David. • “It will bear branches and bear fruit and become a magnificent cedar” (17:23)—the worldwide reign of Christ (Revelation 11:15). • “All the trees of the field will know that I, the LORD, bring low the high tree and exalt the lowly tree” (17:24)—foreshadowing Jesus’ teaching: “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Takeaways for Today • Parables are God’s chosen way to communicate deep truth to responsive hearts. • From Ezekiel to Jesus, the method is consistent: story that stirs, puzzles, and summons. • The ultimate focus is Christ, the humble shoot who becomes the sheltering cedar for all who believe. |
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