The Interpreter's Showings

(Those symbolic things which the interpreter showed unto Christian)

Notes on Pilgrim's Progress

 

The man at the gate (by the name of Good-Will) told Christian to stop along his way (the way of the straight and narrow path) at the home of the Interpreter, that Interpreter would show him many excellent and profitable things. So Christian went and knocked upon the door to the Interpreter's house, and these are the things which the Interpreter showed unto him:

(From SparkNotes: The Interpreter instructs Christian in the art of reading religious meanings hidden in everyday objects and events...)

 

1. Portrait of the Godly Pastor

• 1 Cor. 4:15, Gal. 4:19, 2 Thess. 2:7

• The man was grave (blessed are the poor in spirit, Matt. 5:3).

• His back turned to the world, his eyes lifted up to heaven with a crown of gold over his head (the reminder of his reward of glory).

• And he stands as if pleading with men (trying to convert them, “be ye reconciled to God” 2 Cor. 5:20).

• There was a Bible (the best of books) in his hands, and the law of truth was written on his lips (he speaks the truth and gospel of God, and is anointed to do so).

• The Interpreter explains that the work of this man is to “know and unfold dark things to sinners”.

• Interpreter explains that the importance of this portrait is that "the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorised to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way;...lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.” This clearly shows the importance of taking learning and counsel from a true pastor (or man of God) rather than a false one.

• The pastor also begets spiritual children through Christ and nurses them with spiritual milk. He is authorized and anointed by God to do this.

2. The Unswept Parlor

• John 1:17; Acts 13:39; Rom 4:15, 5:20-21, 6:14-15, 7:1-4; Gal 2:16, 3:13

• The Interpreter leads Christian into a parlour that is very full of dust from having never been swept. (Note: this room is a parlour, while God says that we are to be as sanctuaries and temples, a dwelling place for him. Also note that the parlour, or sitting room, is a chief center of activity.)

• The parlour is filled with dust that has never been cleaned away (representative of the sin within the heart of an unclean sinner). As the Interpreter explains, “This parlour is the heart of a man that has never been sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: the dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man.”

• The Interpreter called for a man (representative of the law) to sweep the room.

• However, the man's sweeping only threw the dust up into the air, so that Christian was left choking upon it. As the Interpreter explains, the man Law was unable to cleanse the room, but was rather only successful in agitating the sin, discovering and forbidding it, even as the Law does not “give power to subdue” the sin. Rather, the law serves as a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24). (This is exactly what happened to Christian, who through conviction from the Word and Law of God was brought unto Christ.

• Then a damsel came in and, wetting the dust with water, washed the parlour clean. This is representative of the way in which the Blood of Christ, and the gospel of salvation, cleanses the soul, washing away all sin. Also note that, in the archaic usage, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a damsel is “a young unmarried woman of noble birth”. This would infer a virgin of noble birth, spotless and clean like the sacrificial lambs.

 

 

3. Passion and Patience

• James 5:1-11

• The Interpreter shows him two children, one named Passion and the other Patience. Passion was very restless and discontent, but Patience was calm and quiet.

• The Interpreter explains that while Patience is willing to wait for his good things, Passion is very much unwilling to wait.

• Then a man came in and poured a bag of treasure out at Passion's feet, and Passion rejoiced much. He indulged in his treasure and pleasure, laughing Patience, who still waited, to scorn. But then when Passion had spent all his treasure and was left destitute, finally the good things of Patience came and he received them, but none was left for Passion.

• The Interpreter explained to Christian that Passion represents “the men of this world,” who “will have all now...in this world” and so “are the men of this world.” “But as thous sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags, so will it be with all such men at the end of this world.”

• Patience, on the other hand, “has the best wisdom” because he “stays for the best things,” because he “will have the glory of his, when the other hath nothing but rags,” and because “the glory of the next world will never wear out”. Patience quietly waited through hardship and ridicule for the eternal glory which was to come.

• “Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have his time to come: but last gives place to nothing, for there is not another to succeed. He therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last, must have it lastingly...For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

• It is important to note that, while Christians may be mocked at the first, in the end they will be the one with the glory, and they will surely be much envied. And is not much glory for an eternity with only a short time of hardship much better than a short while of glory with an eternity of hardship and condemnation?

 

 

4. The Burning Wall

• Interpreter leads Christian to see a wall burning with fire. The wall is representative of the sin and filth within the heart of man, and shows well the way in which it acts as a wall, separating man from God. The fire, as Interpreter explains, “is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart” and is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The fire also purifies us as to pure gold (Malachi 3:3).

• But there is a man, devil, who stands casting water upon the fire, trying to put it out.

• All the while, however, the fire only continues to burn brighter and brighter, for Christ stands on the other side of the wall, continually feeding the fire with oil. Notice that Christ and the devil are on opposite sides of the wall. Also note a few Christian uses of oil—oil crosses on the forehead, oil to anoint the kings of Israel, and the oil of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25).

 

 

5. The Palace of Heaven

• Interpreter leads Christian over to a palace, on top of which were “certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold”. The beautiful palace represents Christ's glorious kingdom and the Heavenly City, while the people upon the battlement are those who have fought their way through, run the good race (1 Cor. 9:24), and achieved their heavenly reward.

• Beside the door sat a man with a book to write down the names of all those who should enter in (the Lamb's Book of Life), and there was indeed a great crowd of men standing about, wishing to enter. Also note that, in having their names written down, the pilgrim's would be making a definite commitment, clearly stating their intention of entering the palace.

• But the way in was blocked by “many men in armour” to keep the others out. These men represent the army of Satan, striving to keep men out of Heaven.

• Many of the men standing about, desiring entrance, are too fearful and uncommitted. They are unwilling to fight against the men in armour, and fearful of making a bold entrance. The fight will clearly tell the true pilgrims from the false ones.

• Then one man approached the man with the book and has him write in his name. Then the man drew his sword, put a helmet (of salvation) upon his head (Eph. 6:11-17), and rushed for the door. The armed men fought him quite fiercely, but the brave man fought back and made it in.

• It is here helpful to note that conflict is necessary in order to gain entrance into this Heavenly City; this is in keeping with Christ's teaching that he came not to bring peace, but rather division. The true pilgrim, however, will press on no matter what the cost.

• Then the people within cried out to the brave man, “Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win,” and he was clothed with golden garments just the same as them. The man was victorious.

 

 

6. The Caged Man

• Interpreter shows Christian a very sad man sitting in a very dark room, locked in an iron cage (representing despair). The man is without the light of Christ (John 1:4) and without hope. Also, the despair that binds him is literally as strong as iron.

• The man explains that he was once “a fair and flourishing professor,” surely bound for the Heavenly City. The man had been a Christian, but “left off to watch and be sober,” falling back into a wicked and worldly condition. As he explained, he crucified Christ to himself again and grieved the Spirit until it left him. “I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent...God hath denied me repentance”—in other words, this man has been turned over to a reprobate mind.

• The man also tells how all of his sins and pleasures, that he once delighted in, “now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.” Sin may bring pleasure at first, but in the end it brings much more pain—rules are there for our own wellbeing.

 

7. The Unprepared Man (with the Dream)

• Then Christian is shown a man who just had a very frightening dream. The man dreamed that he saw the Second Coming of Christ and that he was unprepared. He also “sought to hide myself, but I could not, for the Man that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye upon me: my sins also came into my mind; and my conscience did accuse me on every side.” When Christ returns we must all be ready; there is no hiding from God.

For a more detailed commentary, I would suggest the outlined commentary by Barry E. Horner http://www.bunyanministries.org/commentary_pp.htm.