Do you know why Jesus spoke in parables? Do You know the purpose Jesus’ of parables? His chosen disciples (back when Jesus was on earth) wondered the same thing…. They asked him: “”Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10)
Jesus answered them alright, but the answer is not an easy one to accept, because it reveals a lot more than just His spiritual lesson; it reveals that some do not really do want to hear or see the truth about themselves or about what Jesus is saying in the parable.
Jesus answered them saying: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13)
Notice, first – that Jesus reassures the disciples that they have been picked, chosen and given the secrets of heaven; and others are not. Now, this may grate against the free will ideal you have and that I have; but since Jesus flat out says of those who answered His call to come and follow, they are special and precious and given what others are not….
Second – it may be hard to reconcile the thoughts of those who have faith and gift and grace that more will be given (grace upon grace that is) – Jesus says those who get it, understand, want to understand and ask Him for the meaning of the lessons of the parables… they will get so much they will have more and more spilling out of them; but those who do not want tog et it, think they already got it, and do not inquire of the Lord to understand the lessons He is speaking in parables – well, what little they think they’ve got gets taken away….
Third – Jesus explains the exact, no pulling punches, straightforward reason He is not being straight forward in His spiritual stories and lessons…. it is so those who care to know and those God wants to know will know; but those who do not care to really know and do not want to know God’s reasons and lessons will not know. Parables are the tool of Jesus to discern and delineate those who are really interested in God and those who are not….
Apply this to ourselves, and it makes me – well, just a bit more on the “fear of the Lord” side… if I do not get what Jesus is saying and do not inquire of Him to understand what He is saying (all we have to do is ask like the disciples did), then I am probably not the real deal disciple that I think I am and do not have what I think I have….
Parables have one intended meaning. The Lord expresses them in a way only that the Holy Spirit can reveal its intentions – to those who are given, by God, the Kingdom’s lessons and applications.
The fact that Jesus says the following: “Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown gross, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Matthew 13:14-15)… well – it reveals that some people’s hearts – spiritually speaking – intentionally by themselves are rendered calloused, stupefied, fattened, thickened…. In simple words, hardened in heart towards spiritual things.
How about you? How well do you understand the parables of Jesus? Do you hear and understand, see and perceive or do you listen and get lost, see and not sense? How hardened in your heart are you that spiritual things just do not pierce it or cannot be pumped through it?
Just remember – to understand, to sense, to get it…. when it comes to what Jesus says in parables do what the disciples did – ask; remember Jesus said:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
“Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”… 24 “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25)
Remember – God Loves You and So Do I,
Pastor Daren