Taken from The Parable Discovery (available on this site):

In the Eastern world, teaching was much more like an intellectual process, one of comparing and contrasting, of drawing the student into the cerebral work. A teacher would have been much more likely to require the comparison of an apple, a pear, and a banana, by the student, rather than a simple appraisal of an apple. By comparing the apple, pear, and banana, the student was required to come to a deeper understanding of the nature of these things by way of comparison. The charge might notice all have stems and skins and meat and vibrant colors. “Why?” the student must ask. And that they all have them must mean they are in some way more necessary. And for what common purpose? Simply examining the apple by itself leaves the student wondering what parts of the apple are necessary and what purpose the different components might serve. The comparison method offers two very important benefits. First, it draws the student into the discovery process, causing the him to compare and contrast, requiring many times the effort of the simple, singular examination. Secondly, it causes the student to probe on a deeper level for meaning, looking and searching for the Master’s reason behind the repetitive elements of design. This repetitive nature of design gives the student a guide path (certain clues) to the truth. Even a cursory examination of the teachings of Jesus reveals He chose to teach in the comparative form.

To understand Matthew as he wrote, it is imperative we fully comprehend the fact that the Hebrews were comparative teachers and learners. This also explains why they wrote in the comparative form, using riddles, aphorisms and parables to teach; all of which are forms of comparisons. It is also important that we understand that a parable, especially a Jewish one, was meant to have a 'real life target', or an actual occurrence to be compared to. Parable actually means, from the original language, to compare alongside of.

From the time of Nathan the prophet to the Kabalistic times, the Hebrews used the parable to teach. Jesus and Matthew were situated in the center of this time period. And they, like their fellow Hebrews, used the parable to teach with great success - at least to those who were devoted disciples.

Simply reading the book of Matthew is not enough. Why? Because the vast majority of us, as Westerners, are completely unaware of the ancient Hebraic teaching techniques. These methods were meant to conceal and reveal, to teach and to train by way of the comparative method. Currently, we see their teaching from a completely different vantage point - a vantage point that is at least foggy, if not incorrect. This improper understanding can greatly hinder us from achieving our stated goal... understanding the Apostle Matthew and his good news.