Anchor My Faith

Why Parables?

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-11; Mark 4:10

In this major section, which focuses on parables, we covered the parable of the sower in the previous section and lesson. In this new section, the disciples ask Jesus why he teaches in parables: ^{Mk 4:10} “And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him, ^{Mt 13:10} “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”’

Besides the twelve disciples there were a few others who had a special relationship to Jesus and were with him. These asked Jesus why he taught using parables. In his answer, Jesus indicates that there are two groups of people: those who have been given to know the secrets of the kingdom and those who have not. These secrets pertain to the mysteries of how the kingdom of heaven would operate. The parables were generally related to something physical, but there was usually another layer that related to the kingdom that made little or no sense to those that were not part of the community of people who were part of the kingdom or becoming part of the kingdom. These people have been prepared by God to receive and understand this kingdom level.

Through his teaching, Jesus is providing partial and preliminary aspects of this kingdom. As we continue to walk with Jesus through our study, we will learn more and more about this kingdom and how we are to live. As believers today we have the Bible, which provides a much more complete view of the kingdom and kingdom living, but we will not have a complete understanding until we die physically and ascend into that kingdom.

Those who are not part of this kingdom community will not be able to understand. For example, “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV). To those outside the kingdom community, the cross makes no sense and is seen as folly, but to those who believe and have been born spiritually, they receive and experience the power of God. Another example shows, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). The natural person, the one not born spiritually, is like a computer that is lacking a software application. The natural person has not been programed by God to understand.

In 1 Corinthians 13:2, Paul tells us that if we have all knowledge, but have not love, then we are nothing. That love he speaks of is God, for God is love. As believers, we are given God the Holy Spirit and it is he that given us understanding. When he comes to dwell within us, our software is upgraded, and we then can understand.

Prayer

Father, there is no question that Christianity contains mystery. How can a natural person and a spiritual person do the same work and one bear fruit and the other cannot? How can one understand and the other not? The difference is spiritual life with the presence of God. What God does and the understanding he gives through and in us, provides a distinction between the unbeliever and the believer.