Jesus was to come with dark sayings.

“ I will open my mouth in a parable.
I will utter dark sayings of old, ”
Psa 78:2 WEB

Notice that most of the Sermon on the Mount is in figurative, symbolic language, and what does it say?

“Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,” Mtt 13:34 WEB

Should we say, Well that’s just figurative? And ignore these “parables”? Are they understandable? Yes but parts of Sermon on the mount indeed have been frequently misunderstood. All of this means that Jesus was fulfilling Psa 78:2, according to Mtt 13:35.

What should we do? Why not be study diligently? 2Tim 2:15.

Objection to figurative / symbolic language in prophecy
is a Cop-Out, double talk,
often unconsciously used because
what is said stretches beyond
what we are willing to believe
or accept, or even study.

For instance, Abraham could have found it “unbelievable” that he would have a child at age 99, Rom 4:13. He could have just said, “Oh yeah?”

Against what could be reasonably expected, Abraham believed God.

“Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” ” Rom 4:18 WEB.

Without weakening, Abraham believed God, Rom 4:19-21.

Theological liberals find almost all Scripture beyond believing, especially prophecy, and some of that leaven has through graduate schools infected many of our own.

God often stretches us beyond we find “believable,” just to see if we will believe HIM, even when it seems to us “unbelievable.”

Abraham is an example as Paul discusses in Romans 4. God often announces things we have trouble believing, and often we just reject these things out of hand. As Isaiah said, “Who has believed our message? …” Isa 53:1 WEB.

And what are some of the unbelievable things God announces in Isaiah 53? The messiah will be put to death by judicial murder, Isa 53:7-8. The Messiah? Unbelievable.

But He will prolong his days, Isa 53:10. Wait a minute. That’s a contradiction isn’t it? How can I believe that? And many didn’t believe what seemed to contradict common sense!

Beware! Unbelief, even of “figurative” prophecies, can cost you your soul. It did the Pharisees!

It could have cost Abraham his soul, if he had not believed those “unbelievable” things, and so it can us, and that is the point of Romans 4.

If we read the clear words, figurative or not, and say in our heart, “It isn’t so,” then we have made God a liar, 1Jn 5:10.

This is no drill.

Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Maybe it should. Especially if you have neglected large stretches of the Bible. It is ALL meant for our instruction, 2Tim 3:16-17, so that you will be thoroughly furnished. So that you will live forever.

Maybe we have been playing with half a deck.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901