Jesus and the parables...?

Question

Luke 8:10

"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you (disciples), but to others I speak in parables, so that though seing , they may not see; though hearing they may not understand"

Jesus spoke in parables because He knew His people couldn't understand the Truth. He spoke to them as if they were children in the beginning of learning. Those people were not prepared neither ready for the Truth.

What makes you think you are?

Answer 1

I think a more pertinent question would be, do you have a burning desire for the Truth; as it is pretty much a prerequisite. I'm sure there have been a few people down through history that have had the Truth thrust on them, but they would be few and very far between indeed.

I'm ready for whatever God wants to give me, because I trust Him completely; He has said He only gives us what we can handle, so I'll let him make the decision as to what I'm ready for.

That said, I do have the prerequisite burning desire for Truth, and pray for it often.

Blessings to all.

Answer 2

They were parables because many of the Jewish people who followed and heard Jesus talk were not ready or willing to except the idea that he was the Son of God. In order to get them to listen to what he was saying and think about what he was saying showed that one had to have belief in Jesus as the Son of God. Today when you read a parable are you able to understand it and what it means? Maybe, maybe not. If one knows Jesus Christ and believes in him and what he said and did for us the parables are a lot easier to understand. One is able to grasp and understand the concepts that Jesus was teaching. The key is looking at His life and knowing who He really was. If you do not know that then the parables are just a bunch of short stories, some cute, some not so cute and many that appear to have no real meaning. It is God's was of showing and telling his believers about Him and the things he likes and dislikes, among other things.

Answer 3

Those people had not known Jesus nor believed in Him as the Son of God. Jesus had not yet gone through death and resurrection and ascencion, and the Holy Spirit had not come as the Comforter, so man was unable to receive God into his spirit.

These people, because of the time they lived in, prior to the Holy Spirit coming to man, were unable to "breathe in the Holy Spirit."

However, as to our state and time, I personally received the Holy Spirit into my human Spirit when I was 12. As a person with God living in me, I am qualified to see the mysteries of the Bible. God has a special way to enlighten me, because of the light in my heart. And I understand God's purpose and plan as they never could have.

It's wonderful to hear Jesus speak, but if there is not a corresponding "Amen!" coming from inside of you, you can't understand.

I have a study Bible that really helps me delve into the depths of Jesus' life and ministry, and that of the apostles, too. It's free, no obligation, ever. If you are interested in understanding the parables, e-mail me.

Debbie

Answer 4

He didnt teach them in parables because he knew his people couldnt understand, you are taking it completely opposite.

He taught in parables so that those that believed in him and had faith would understand them and those that were not ready or did not believe wouldnt quite grasp the deeper concept.

Disciples means followers of christ. Followers of christ would understand the meaning of the parables.

Answer 5

The question is why Jesus would let most people wonder about the meaning of His parables. The first instance of this is in His telling the parable of the seed and the soils. Before He interpreted this parable, He drew His disciples away from the crowd. They said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it" (Matthew 13:10-17).

Here Matthew seems to suggest that their own unbelief is the cause of their spiritual blindness. The same event as told by Luke, however, emphasizes God’s initiative in obscuring the truth from these unbelievers (“to the rest it is given in parables, [so] that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand’” (Luke 8:10). Both things are true, of course. Yet we are not to think that God blinds them because He somehow delights in their destruction. This judicial blinding may be viewed as an act of mercy, lest their condemnation be increased. He employed parables to obscure the truth from unbelievers while making it clearer to His disciples. For the remainder of His Galilean ministry, He did not speak to the multitudes except in parables (v. 34). Jesus’ veiling the truth from unbelievers this way was both an act of judgment and an act of mercy. It was judgment because it kept them in the darkness that they loved (John 3:19), but it was mercy because they had already rejected the light, so any exposure to more truth would only increase their condemnation.

Our Lord Jesus understood that truth is not sweet music to all ears. Simply put, there are those who have neither interest nor regard in the deep things of God. So why, then, did He speak in parables? To those with a genuine hunger for God, the parable is both an effective and memorable vehicle for the conveyance of divine truths. Our Lord’s parables contain great volumes of truth in very few words—and His parables, rich in imagery, are not easily forgotten. So, then, the parable is a blessing to those with willing ears. But to those with dull hearts and ears that are slow to hear, the parable is also an instrument of both judgment and mercy.

Recommended Resource: Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice.

Answer 6

Any good teacher applies his knowledge to everyday things that will help people to understand what they are talking about. Jesus also knew that there would be some people who just would not ever understand because they don't want to.

Answer 7

he was showing a clear difference between believers and disciples. I know many believers but few disciples. I am a disciple not a believer, and just as he revealed truths and mysteries to them he also does with his disciples today.

Answer 8

I think that if you have to search for truth it makes it better when you find it. And you just have to have faith until the Lord wants to guide you to it! If he doesn't show you, your not ready.

Answer 9

They weren't parables.

They were fables.

And I have a good one for you

"Just because people don't understand when you speak, doesn't necessarily mean that what you're saying is deep"
Talib Kweli.

Answer 10

...the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ fulfilled prophetic scripture...then came the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to understanding and wisdom...as we seek it, we grow in our understanding, knowledge and wisdom...that's how I know