The Purpose of Parables

This last Sunday I preached on the kingdom parables of Matthew 13. One thing we did not discuss was Jesus’ explanation to His disciples why He spoke in parables at all. It is true that parables are easier to remember, but the disciples also saw how they could inhibit understanding in those who did not know the proper interpretation.

Secrets of the kingdom. “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matt. 13:11). Jesus did not reveal all information about His work and even His true identity all at once. Different people were given different levels of knowledge at various times. Jesus could speak plainly to His inner circle of disciples and know that they were ready to hear those teachings. Others were given a veiled version for now until everything was revealed.

Testing of hearers. “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matt. 13:12). Those who latch on to smaller revelations will be rewarded with more information, but those who squander those opportunities to learn from Jesus in small ways will have greater truths held back.

Resistant hearers. “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. 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 dull, 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” (Matt. 13:13-15). Jesus spoke in parables because He knew how corrupted many of the people were. When He arrived on earth, the Jews were in a sad state. They are mere decades away from a fiery judgment from God that would be seen in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. The simple truth is that many of the people hearing Jesus’ teachings have already made their choice: they do not desire to follow God under any circumstances. Why should they be given anything they can use to hurt the cause of the kingdom? Truth will be revealed in greater clarity later, but for now, Jesus can offer these parables that are easy for scoffers to dismiss.

A blessing for those who seek truth. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and dd not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matt. 13:16-17). What is quickly discarded by the scoffer is treasured and carefully considered by the faithful listener. The parables contain deep truths that are a blessing to those who are looking for a path to reconciliation and fellowship with God. This is part of the fulfillment of the promise that Jesus gave earlier when He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8). The eager disciple who honestly hears the words of Jesus and is willing to accept even the hard things will find that the doors are opened and the answers are revealed.

Conclusion. As we study God’s revealed words to man, we find some hard things that are designed to turn away scoffers and self-centered alike. Paul warned the Corinthians that the message of Christ crucified was “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:23), but to those who are called, “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). Read God’s word with an open heart of faith as one who desires to mine great spiritual truths and you will be rewarded richly.