1. Jesus spoke in parables to BLOCK understanding of His message
Grace and peace to those in Christ Jesus. Why did Jesus speak in parables? Most Christians assume Jesus taught in parables to make His message as easy as possible for everyone to understand. Many pastors give this as the reason Jesus used parables. They say parables are ‘earthly stories with heavenly meaning’ designed to make the message so simple that non-believers, believers, anyone will grasp it. But this explanation directly contradicts what Jesus said. Jesus said His very purpose for speaking in parables was so that everyone will not understand his teachings. Mark 4:11-12 Jesus says, "…all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand…" Jesus did not want everyone who heard his message to understand his message. He deliberately used parables as a method to block understanding.
2. Jesus preached in parables to EVERYONE; Jesus OFTEN preached in parables
Let’s see what the Scripture says about where and when Jesus preached with parables. Matthew 13:2-3 says, "And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables…" Luke 8:4 says, "And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by parable…" The great multitudes on the seashore were gatherings of people so large and densely packed, Jesus boarded a ship to create some distance from the crowd and taught from there. He did not teach using parables to a select group of people, such as exclusively his own disciples at home, or only the Pharisees and scribes at the temple. The verses say the people that gathered came from all over, from every city. So, Jesus spoke in parables for everyone and anyone to hear.
Mark 4:1-2 says, "And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine…" Here we see Jesus used parables for teaching many different points on how we ought to live. It was not a method reserved to teach just a few special doctrine. Mark 4:33-34 says, "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them…" Just prior to this verse, Jesus has taught 4 different parables one after the other. When preaching to large crowds that may include anyone, Jesus spoke in parables as frequently as possible as his preferred way of teaching. Why did Jesus intentionally teach in a method He knew blocked understanding, even while addressing large crowds who specifically gathered for Him? What are these messages? And who are they for?
3. Parables are SECRETS kept since CREATION & are only for DISCIPLES to understand
Scripture prophesied Jesus would speak in parables regarding secrets kept since the very beginning. Jesus knew these secrets were not meant for everyone; so, he spoke in parables to everyone, but He only uncovered the hidden meanings to His disciples. Matthew 13:34-35 says, "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That 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. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable…" These verses make 3 key points. First, parables are messages that contain secrets God has kept since the foundation of the world, that is, since the very beginning of creation. Second, Jesus is fulfilling a prophecy that said he would speak these secrets in parables. That prophecy is found in Psalm 78. Third, these secret messages are only intended for disciples of Jesus to understand. After preaching parable after parable after parable, Jesus sent the crowds at the seashore away without any explanation. He and his disciples then went into a house, and in this private place without others the disciples approached Jesus to explain the parables’ hidden meanings. Let’s examine these 3 points one at a time.
4. Parables are Secrets of HEAVEN on how to INHERIT the kingdom of GOD
First point—what are the things God kept secret since the beginning of creation? Mark 4:11-12 says, "And he [Jesus] said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." The secret messages of parables are concerning the kingdom of God, that is, Heaven. More specifically, they contain secrets on how to be converted and forgiven, in order to inherit God’s kingdom. So, the parables contain what is required of us for Heaven, and what we will be judged by for eternity. God created the whole world and all the people in it, but it is not His will that all souls He created should inherit His kingdom. God has deliberately kept secret how to inherit Heaven, and God deliberately sent Jesus as man with the direction to keep those secrets by using parables.
5. Parables teach to HOPE in God’s promise of ETERNAL blessings & OBEY His commandments
This brings us to the second point—Scripture prophesied Jesus would speak the secrets of inheriting Heaven in parables. Let’s look at that prophecy. Psalm 78:2,7 says, "I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:…That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…" The hidden teaching of parables is to set your hope in God and His promise. From Genesis to Revelation, God promises to bless those who obey His commandments, and curse those who disobey His commandments. Those who believe God will hope for the blessing He promised and obey Him. This prophecy says that when Jesus spoke parables he would "utter dark sayings of old," meaning He would reveal truths that were hidden in Old Testament times. In Matthew 13:16-17 Jesus confirmed this by saying to his disciples, "But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
God’s unchanging promise is souls who choose to obey His commandments will be blessed. But the Old Testament was a shadow of things to come, and God showed His promise through the Israelites with earthly blessings and earthly curses. Although God did great miracles for the Israelites, they frequently forgot God’s great works and with rebellious hearts disobeyed His commandments. In response, God cursed the disobedient with such things as plagues, famine, and destruction by enemy people. In the New Testament, Jesus preached heavenly blessings and eternal curses with the same core message that God blesses those who keep His commandments and curses those who reject His commandments. Those who understand the parables will anchor their hope in God and His promise of Heaven for the obedient. However, just as most Israelites desired God’s miracles and blessings but did not obey God, so also, most churchgoing Christians desire God’s miracles and blessings but do not obey God. God will curse and destroy such disobedient people in the Lake of fire.
6. Jesus only UNCOVERS hidden mysteries of Heaven to His DISCIPLES
This brings us to the third point—Jesus spoke parables to block understanding, but then uncovered the hidden secrets for His disciples to understand. In Luke 8:10 Jesus said to his disciples, "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." Jesus only explained the meaning of the parables to His disciples who obeyed and followed Him. Mark 4:34 says, "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he [Jesus] expounded all things to his disciples." After preaching many parables, it was Jesus who sent the crowds away, and when alone with His disciples He privately explained the meaning of the parables.
Many churchgoing Christians claim to be disciples of Christ. Both in old and present times large crowds gather in the name of Jesus to gain benefits of the world without obeying His commandments. Jesus spoke in parables to block the understanding of such people. The gospel of Jesus is the message of what is required to inherit heaven, but before preaching his gospel Jesus first preached "Repent." Only those who obey that first instruction will receive further instructions for conversion and forgiveness. God keeps these instructions as mysteries because He does not want unrepentant evil souls in His kingdom. Matthew 13:10-13 says, "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." On the surface this seems unfair. It seems at random God takes away from those who already have little spiritual understanding and gives more to those who already have significant spiritual understanding. Why is this?
If we keep reading, we see this distribution of spiritual understanding is not random. God in His righteousness gives and takes away according to what each individual chose to do with what they initially were given. Matthew 13:14-15 Jesus says, "…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: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; 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." God gives more to those who choose to accept His instruction as evident by their obedience, and God removes from those who choose to reject His instruction as evident by their disobedience. Those with hardened hearts choose to close their eyes to God’s truth—the verse says "their eyes they have closed." This describes Christians who choose to be deceived so they may enjoy the pleasures of sin. Because they chose to be deceived, God in response blinds them further and blocks their understanding. The disobedient who reject Jesus’s first instruction to repent are rejected by God. God removes whatever little understanding they have regarding Heaven because it is not the will of God to convert, forgive and give Heaven to proud, rebellious, evil people. The obedient who accept Jesus’s instruction to repent with broken heart are accepted by God. God will uncover the very secrets of Heaven to them and open their eyes to more understanding because it is the will of God to convert, forgive and give Heaven to humble, godly people.
7. Parables BLOCK the DISOBEDIENT from understanding Secrets of inheriting Heaven
In Mark 4:11-12 Jesus says, "…all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." God does not want everyone and anyone to inherit His kingdom. So, parables are designed to hide the mysteries of Heaven. In John 10:27-28 Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life." Jesus spoke in parables so that only His obedient sheep would hear His voice. Why do you seek Jesus? Is it so you can continue to enjoy sin but still claim to have assurance of heaven? Is it so you can gain blessings and benefits in this world? God knows the intentions of your heart. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. His sheep open their eyes to understand and obey the truth. Seek Christ Jesus to obey His commandments and He will open your eyes to the secrets of God’s kingdom and give you eternal life.
SUMMARY PointsDECEPTION→ Parables used to make easy for EVERYONE to UNDERSTAND
TRUTH→ Parables used to BLOCK understandingJesus used Parables when preaching to EVERYONE & ANYONE
Jesus used Parables OFTEN when preaching to Everyone
Jesus used Parables to preach MANY DOCTRINEParables are SECRETS kept since CREATION
Jesus fulfilled PROPHECY of Speaking these Secrets as Parables
These Secrets are for DISCIPLES to UNDERSTANDSecrets are about HOW to INHERIT Kingdom of God (Heaven)
Parables contain Secrets on How to be CONVERTED, FORGIVEN and INHERIT HEAVEN
God DELIBERATELY kept these Secrets with ParablesParables teach HOPE in God’s unchanging PROMISE to bless the OBEDIENT
OLD Testament → EARTHLY Blessing & Curse
NEW Testament → HEAVENLY Blessing & CurseJesus UNCOVERS Mysteries to His DISCIPLES
If you CHOOSE Deception & Disobedience → God BLOCKS Understanding
If you CHOOSE Truth & Obedience → God Gives MORE Spiritual UnderstandingNOT Will of God → Give Heaven to Proud, EVIL souls
WILL of God → Give Heaven to Humble, GODLY soulsJesus Spoke in Parables to BLOCK Understanding of DISOBEDIENT