Anchor My Faith

Further Understanding of Parables

Scripture: Matthew 13:13-17

In our previous lesson the question was asked about why Jesus taught using parables. We will continue that discussion in this lesson.

Jesus continue with his answer by saying, ^{Mt 13:13} “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.” Jesus is faced with a rather serious problem. He knows he must go to the cross, suffer and die to purchase our salvation, but he also knows that he must continue his teaching to lay out the gospel for future generations. The people that follow him form three groups: those who are growing in their opposition toward him and want him dead, those who believe in him and want to understand more, and those who haven’t made up their minds yet as to what side they are on. It is this first group that is growing in hostility toward him that Jesus must be careful with.

When teaching parables, Jesus is carefully choosing his words so that the natural meaning of the story can be understood, but for most they do not understand the spiritual significance. There are truths in what he is teaching that he wants his disciples to understand, which are of great importance in their ministry. If he were to clearly teach these truths, those who hated him would take his life before he had time to finish his teaching. Jesus therefore chose to state the truths so that if the hearts of, especially the Jewish leaders, had been right and if they had not been malignant and blind, they might have understood them. He stated these truths in the best possible way so that it was not his fault if they did not understand them. By taking this cautious approach, Jesus was gradually able to prepare many who opposed him, even of the Jews, to receive the truth. I believe it was entirely proper and right for Jesus to instruct his disciples with that he did not intent to teach others at that time. They would be taught later more clearly by his disciples.

This form of teaching was prophesied by Isaiah: ^{Mt 13:14} “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.” ¹⁵ 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.’”

This lack of understanding comes because of hearts that have grown dull, ears that can barely hear, and eyes that have closed to the truth. These Jewish people at the time of Jesus were like the people at the time of Isaiah and this the prophecy applies to them also. These people have had opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness (under the teaching of John the Baptist), but they continue in their sin and so in their judgment, Jesus teaches in ways they can’t understand. Their time has run out to receive God’s mercy and so he does not give them understanding to be healed from their sin.

For those whose hearts are right, God has a blessing. ^{Mt 13:16} “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” That which people in the past had longed for has come in the person of Jesus and now they, and we, are able to see and hear and understand. As the people longed for Jesus to come in the flesh, today we long for the return of Jesus and the new spiritual bodies we will receive.

Prayer

Father, even today a humble repentant heart of belief is required for spiritual birth, which allows one to gain understanding of spiritual truths. Without that birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, spiritual truths are not understood and seen as foolishness. To those the Scriptures appear as parables.