How would you interpret this parable?

Question

Matthew 13:11
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.


This was given as an answer to a question I had about the relevance of the bible. My interpretation of the above is that the disciples were given knowledge that the public were not. The parables he gave to the public were not the knowledge mentioned. Jesus eludes to knowledge given to the desciples that were not the parables. Therefore in this case Jesus is saying that through the parables the public, you and I are not given the knowledge of the kingdome of heaven that the disciples were.

Answer 1

The way I take it is that they were given insight through the Holy Spirit--not everyone was/ will be able to understand the parables.

Answer 2

I am not a Christian. But I'll give it a try. It seems to me that Jesus openly and freely to the Disciples about the 'secrets' of heaven, however the regular population were not given the 'secrets'. They (normal people) were given some insight, but most knowledge came in the form of parables. Some of the parables were easy to interpret, others were not. So some parables gave 'man' a quick insight behind the 'secrets', while others will make a 'man' think, and come to a hard thought out interpretation of 'what does the parable mean'. I'm not sure what entails a parable or not. But I will use this example...when Mary was being stoned by the common people...Jesus spoke..."let those that have not sinned..cast the first stone"(or something like this)...that was a quick parable, so that the people will understand right away...and and result was right away. Other, more difficult parables, can mean different things to different people, based upon their interpretation, so it might be molded by that persons mind, to work toward things/issues/problems in that persons life, so that person would be able to use that parable to gain some 'insight' or find 'significance' in that parable to help him understand why certain things happen or whatever.
Another point is this...I believe that the Disciples were given knowledge of how to communicate with God...possible with meditation or the Christ Consciousness abilities, thus they had a physical teach in Jesus, and the bonus of spiritual teacher when they communicated with God or the Gnosis via meditation. That was the 'knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven', the other people, perhaps when they find that 'reflection' (or what i consider meditation) is a way to communicate with God, they too can gain insight on the 'secrets'. The parables are provided for the common man/woman/child so that he/she/it would have a physical source(bible) that teaches him/her/it how live life, and be the best human they could be...etc.

Answer 3

Not so.

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

Jesus was not about secrecy when it comes to heavenly matters. But, he spoke in parables so the lay person could grasp the concepts that were far above them. I believe what he was telling the disciples is that they had been given the gift of knowledge so that they could answer any question brought up about God. They too would follow Jesus' example and do it in a way that the lay person could understand.

We do the same thing to our children when they are young. But, when they get older they understand secrets because a foundation was set.

Answer 4

i think someone was being too rough on you

when anyone speaks in general...there will always be some people who understand and "get it" and others will not get the point

jesus meant that he spoke in parables to distinguish between those who are open to receive his word and those who aren't...in his time...he did not create mass confusion when he spoke or he woudl not have drawn the crowds he did....he was speaking to hearts that were ready....but to comprehend completely, he expected them to think about what was said,, and to seek God for the answers to any questions....

Jesus said....."if they seek, they will find...." so there would be some who would be more zealous for the truth, and really seek it out...and the rest will think he told a nice story. The parables are not that hard to understand...so he was not intentionally trying to loose anyone

remember, he did have enemies in the crowd who were very close - minded.....and would have rejected the truth when it was spoken....so to eliminate this group from the benefit and joy of understanding him...he just put things in parables so that the only the open minded person would get the point immediately...

the truth seeker would have the "secrets of the kingdom"...but the enemy would not.....

Answer 5

The knowledge of the kingdom of Heaven is right in front of our noses. It allows for the blind man to see.
Hey! Was that a parable? I could get the hang of this.

Answer 6

The way I look at it Jesus lived in dangerous times, He wasn't popular and needed to be careful. I don't think that the information He gave to His disciples was any different to what He said to outsiders. It's just that when talking to them He could be truthful and not have to dilute it because they trusted Him. When talking to others, He gave them the same messages but dressed them up as parables to make them more easily understood. I think it was a tactic to broaden His popularity and make His messages more accessible to everyone.

Tony C your answer is brilliant.

Answer 7

You should read the whole chapter.
for example =
34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

so by speaking in parables Jesus also fulfilled prophecy -

Psalm 78 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



Psalm 78
A maskil of Asaph. [a]
1 O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

Answer 8

Parables have to do with the Mind.

People in general have a lot of mis-information in their minds anyway, just from living on this Earth. (devils 24-7)

There are Things (Truths) that would Freak-Out most People if you just jumped up and Told them!!!

Parables have a way of Disclosing Information (Truths) with out Freaking-Out anybody.

When you Learn Truths, you have to Renew your Mind (Grow in the Spirit) and that Takes Time.

As a Parable to this:
A man, woman had never been to School in their life.
So, they Started out in College.
After one month they Freaked!

Now, they are being Healed in Grade Scool (Grade 1) and doing very well.

Hope this helps!
Ditto........

Answer 9

It's important to note that these words were not being written down as they were being spoken. We don't know how much of their knowledge the apostles chose to leave out of their gospel accounts. It's possible that these teachings are included in other places in the Gospels, or that they are really contained in the parables all along for those willing to study them in depth.

Answer 10

Satan and his minions aren't stupid.

If Jesus flat out told everybody that he was the Messiah, while performing all of the miracles he performed, Satan would have done everything in his power to keep Jesus alive ... instead of getting the Romans to crucify him ... and we all still might be trapped in our sins, today.

The method of our redemption had to trace a very fine line between revealing the truth to us, while keeping the truth from Satan.

It did, but perhaps that's the reason so many people fail to understand how these things actually work.