Why did Jesus teach in parables?

Question

Please give references

Answer 1

this is not a question to worry over .. Jesus answered it himself for the deciples... he said it was for two reasons ... first was to teach in simply terms for the uneducated to understand and the second was to confound the so called wise who were non believers.. if you need understanding of His teachings the scripture says ask in ernest prayer and you will get understanding... so far i have found this works for real even today.. hope this helps you MATTHEW 13 10. And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?''
11. He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. also in mark 4 he explains satan tries to make you forget the word so by teaching in parable its easier to remember the purpose of the word if you cannot hold the exact word MARK 4 3. And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14. "The sower sows the word.
15. "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Answer 2

Jesus often used parables, short stories from which moral or spiritual truths are drawn. Since stories are easier to grasp and remember than abstract ideas, the parables helped to preserve Jesus’ teaching. In many parables, Jesus described his Father with vivid word pictures that could not easily be forgotten. For example, who cannot comprehend the point of the parable of the prodigal son—that when one who has gone astray shows genuine repentance, God will feel pity and tenderly accept that one back?—Luke 15:11-32.

Answer 3

The parables used common symbols so the listener could relate and, if want be, be a great deal shocked. even if the result interior the hearer, the parables required a reaction. the two the hearer replaced into to alter a habit, or a concept, or a concept, or something else. yet substitute is the reason in the back of the parables. They weren't basically thoughts. They have been residing words from the mouth of God.

Answer 4

Luke 8:10 "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, 'though seeing, they might not see; though hearing, they might not understand.'" (he quotes Isaiah 6:9)

Jesus means that through the parables, he teaches those who believe in him, but for those who do not believe, they are merely nice stories. Take, for example, the parable of the Prodigal Son (probably the best known parable, even among those who don't read the Bible). The full version is in Luke 15. My summary follows:

The tale is of a son who demands his inheritance early and promptly squanders his wealth. He returns home, ashamed of his actions and his father gladly welcomes him home (even throwing a big party for him).

The believers hear of God's love and forgiveness for a sinner who repents.
The non-believers hear about a family reconciliation (admittedly, still a nice tale).

Answer 5

certainly one of the reasons the people felt attracted to Jesus' teachings was his use of illustrations.Jesus saw what others saw,but he thought of things that never occured to them.Lilies growing in the fields,birds building their nests,men sowing grain,shepherds bringing in lost lambs,women sewing patches on old garments,children playing in the marketplace,fishermen hauling their nets - commonplace things everyone saw - were never common in the eyes of Jesus.Everywhere he looked he saw what he could use to illustrate God and his Kingdom or to make a point about human society around him.
Jesus' illustrations are based on everyday things that people have seen many times and when truths are tied to these familiair things,they are etched quickly and deeply into the minds of those listening.Such truths are not just heard,they are seen by the mind's eye and are easily recalled later.Jesus' parables were marked by simplicity,uncluttered by extraneous material that might get in the way and impede their understanding of truths.Consider, for example the parable of the neighbourly Samaritian.You see vividly what a good neighbour is(Luke 10:29-37)
No minds dozed or wandered during Jesus' animated teaching.They were kept too busy with both listening and seeing.

Answer 6

first of all it was a prophesy fulfilled..Psalms 78:2 " I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-"
and it was to let only those who were suppose to understand "hear" Jesus even told those who asked him why in Matthew 13:10-11.. "The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."

Answer 7

Jesus taught in parables so that people would listen more intently to what he was teaching about

Matthew 13

10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'[a] 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Who better to ask the question of than the teacher himself

Answer 8

So that we would not understand him, here are the verses:

Matt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given
13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
13:15 ...lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Answer 9

The more you believe and study the more you are privileged to understand.
Matthew 13: 10-14

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive;

Answer 10

Seems I remember Him saying that He couldn't tell us directly because we couldn't handle it. But I can't quote you a reference.

I always thought personally that He did it so we could get a good visual of what He's talking about.