Matthew 13:11-17

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables…” Matthew 13:1-3a

Have you ever wondered why Jesus taught by parables? The disciples wondered too, and they asked Jesus about it. A parable is a story that has one main point. It usually teaches a particular spiritual truth. Wiersbe defines it this way, “It is a story, or comparison, or illustration that is put alongside something else to help make a lesson clear.” Another good definition is “a heavenly truth illustrated by an earthly story.” A parable is different from an allegory. In an allegory, like Pilgrim's Progress, almost every detail has special meaning, but a parable usually makes just one major point.

Jesus told His disciples that He taught by parables for three reasons: 

1. because it was prophesied that He would do that; 
2. because of the hard hearts of some people; and, 
3. to further the understanding of those who were receptive to His teachings. 

He also used parables for teaching because of the impact they made on His listeners and because they were easy to remember and share with others--parables are great teaching tools.

Jesus fulfilled prophecy when He taught by parables. Matthew 13:34-35 says, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’” This prophecy is from Psalm 78:2.

Jesus spoke in parables because of the hardened hearts of many of His listeners. His enemies were seeking ways to discredit Jesus with the people who were following Him and who thought He was wonderful. The Pharisees and others wanted to kill Jesus, but they didn't want to cause an uprising among Jesus’ followers. If they could trap Him into saying something that would be unpopular, it would help their cause. But those who were opposed to Jesus or indifferent to Him would not understand the parables because they had closed their hearts and minds to His teaching. Because they did not understand, they would not be able to trap Jesus with His words or use what He was saying against Him.

Matthew 13:13-15 says this about those who opposed Jesus, “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’’” No one is so blind as one who refuses to see, and no one is as deaf as one who refuses to hear.

Jesus also spoke in parables to enhance the understanding of those who were listening and open to what He had to say. He told those people how blessed were their eyes because they saw and how blessed were their ears because they heard. And then Jesus told the crowd that they had an incredible privilege of hearing and seeing what many prophets and righteous people had longed to see and hear in the past--the long awaited Messiah Himself.

Think of the incredible spiritual privileges we have today. We have the whole Bible. We know that the Messiah has come and who He is. We have many years of church history and the lives of many saints to challenge and encourage us. We have our local congregations of the church where we can meet regularly with others who are like-minded. We have the privilege of prayer at any time and any place for any need. And we have the Holy Spirit who opens our minds and hearts to God’s Word. How blessed we are!!!

Father, thank You for all the spiritual privileges you have given us. May we learn and obey Your Word and pass it on to others. Amen.