Why did Jesus teach in parables – watch, listen or read to get an insight
Introduction
Last week we began our series on Matthew chapter 13 looking at the parables of Jesus. We explored that parables were used by Jesus as a form of teaching, comparing things to portray a teaching point, and we briefly touched on the why of parables as a way of revealing the mysteries of God but explained that that is what todays passage is about.
The reason Jesus teaches in parables is connected with kingdom secrets.
I wonder if you’ve ever felt like you’re missing out on something, that there is a secret you don’t know – or that something is hidden from you. It can be like that with professional jargon – only those trained in those professions can understand what is being said and abbreviations used are understood in their context but can mean something else entirely in a different context. In schools the abbreviation TTO is used which stands for term time only – in the medical world it was a phrase used to mean medications ready for discharge. Until you know the jargon it can feel a bit like a secret language, understanding is limited and can be confusing. It is the same with learning a foreign language. To begin with nothing is understood and then slowly and surely, odd words are understood, then whole sentences and then big chunks of speech. Church life can also feel a bit like that when people first enter it can seem like there are secrets, things hidden, and as we take in God’s word, as we experience him speaking to us through his Holy Spirit, as he opens are eyes – things that we at first didn’t understand begin to make some sense.
Parable of the soils
The parable of the soils last week was told to a crowd while Jesus was sitting in a boat. He didn’t interpret it to them he just told the parable. It was only later in the chapter that Jesus then explains it to his disciples. But only his disciples. On the first telling of the parable of the soils Jesus ends it with – whoever has ears let them hear. The parable is left as a mystery with no explanation.
Last week we said that the parables were to point people to Jesus, to who he is, what he had come to do, the bringing in of God’s kingdom, and to illicit a response from his hearers. If you had just heard the parable of the soils would you have understood? The disciples weren’t really sure about why Jesus spoke in these parables – in riddles – which is one translation of this word.
Parables caused confusion
In verse 10 Jesus’ disciples ask him – why do you speak in parables?
Jesus’ response is this from v11: “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”
He goes on in v13 to say “Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” And then he quotes from Isaiah,
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 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.’
Later on in the chapter Matthew gives his opinion on why Jesus speaks in parables and quotes from Psalm 72 – he writes: Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 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.
Why does it matter that Jesus spoke in these riddles and that to many they were not explained? We need to look a little at the context of both of these Old Testament passages.
Old Testament context
Isaiah 6:9-10 is a passage in the Bible where God tells the prophet Isaiah to proclaim his word to a people who are deaf and blind to his truth. The passage is not a command, but a prediction of what will happen to Israel because of their rebellion and disobedience. The sense is, Because they had heard Gods words, been given ample opportunity, and seen Gods works, but to no purpose, and had hardened their hearts, would not learn, repent or change, their sin shall be their punishment. God will still continue in his word and works, but will withdraw his Spirit, so that they shall be as unable, as now they are unwilling, to understand. In simpler terms Many hear the sound of God’s word, but do not feel the power of it because they’ve closed themselves off and so God is allowing that to continue.
Time and time again God’s people had turned away from following God’s ways and these words are spoken as a prediction, a warning.
According to James Montgomery Boice Psalm 72 is the longest historical psalm in the bible. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. The people must never again be unbelieving.
An unbelieving life means God’s ways are not followed, life is not lived to please, glorify and honour God. How can we learn from the history of God’s people? How are the parables being used to aid this?
History Lesson
In Genesis we read that God created the world, humankind rebelled against their Creator (known as “the fall of man”), and God put a plan of redemption (salvation) into motion involving calling out a people for Himself to be a light for the nations (gentiles), and entering into a covenant relationship with them (known as the Abrahamic Covenant). He makes promises to Abraham that from him there will be a people who have a special personal relationship with the God who created all things and that people would be numerous.
In our recent series on Moses we saw the Israelites were great in number and we saw God continuing to make good on his promises and saves them from slavery for life in the promise land. They complain, they rebel, they are scared, they lack trust in God.
When they eventually get to the land generations later, the pattern of rebellion and God saving repeats through the book of Judges and then even when they ask for a king because the other nations have kings, it doesn’t stop their rebellion. Even with the few good leaders – rebellion and disobedience are a pattern.
The prophets are sent by God to warn what this rebellion will actually lead to – but God in his very nature saves and so promised that even though his people will be taken into captivity they will return to their land and there would be a promised messiah who would fulfil the role of perfect humanity living in trust and obedience to God.
In telling of these parables Jesus is pointing to who he is and the kingdom he is bringing in and just like in the old testament days when some hearts were turned against God there will be those in his day that also due to the rebellion of their hearts cannot accept and will not understand.
The disciples
In this passage though the disciples are blessed because they do understand – remember in v11 Jesus said: the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you.
Jesus has chosen them. He’s teaching them. Revealing who he is by his example and doing life together. There are glimpses when his disciples get it and others where he patiently explains again and again.
What are those secrets? Those secrets are knowing who Jesus is – the son of God – promised Messiah – who came as the perfect example of humanity living in trusting obedience to God, in an intimate relationship. Those secrets are Knowing that Jesus died, was raised to life for the forgiveness of sins – to stop the cycle of rebellion against God – and to allow us all the have a restored relationship with God if we repent of our sins and live full obedient lives in intimacy with Him. Those secrets are knowing that Jesus ascended into the heavens and rules God’s kingdom now on earth which comes about in the lives of his people and for eternity. Those secrets are knowing that Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to guide us as we read God’s word.
We are blessed with these secrets too – as followers of Jesus those secrets are also revealed to us. Through God’s word we can know the power of the cross, we can know that we are living in the kingdom of God, we can know his guidance and receive the promises God gave to his people.
Jesus spoke in parables – but for those who were of his kingdom he promised to give understanding.
Lessons for us
There are three lessons for us from this passage for us to focus on today.
Firstly, I think this passage brings great encouragement. It has shown us that those who are of his kingdom he promised to give understanding. From the example of the disciples that was a journey. Peter trusted enough to get out of the boat and walk on water but then he lost his focus on Jesus and began to sink. One time Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the One, the Messiah, the anointed one and yet denies being a friend of Jesus. Peter was one who Jesus revealed the secrets of his kingdom to, it took him time to get there, but he shared the truths of the kingdom with many other people and so I find that an encouragement for us. When we have accepted who Jesus is we are members of his kingdom and if we are listening he will show us more and more about the truth of his kingdom and who he is.
Secondly, it can help to lessen frustrations when our friends and family are not understanding our faith when it seems so obvious to us. Let’s continue to prayer that they will become open to hearing and understanding and to continue to sow the seeds of truth about who Jesus is and his kingdom.
Lastly it motivates us to continue learning more about God’s kingdom, God’s rule – who God is, why he sent Jesus and how that leads to transformations in our lives, families and cultures. Maybe you feel motivated to develop your prayer life, maybe you want to study the bible more. This can be in groups and towards the end of September there will be new groups starting again. Maybe you are better in a one-one setting and we could try and make that happen. Maybe you just want to get in a regular pattern of reading your bible at home. It might be you want to study more about the history of the bible, the Christian faith or you want to read about people’s experiences with God – there are books and podcasts we can point you too. There might be a life situation you’re going through and you want some godly wisdom. There are many ways we can continue learning the secrets of God’s kingdom.
Whoever has ears let them hear and let them respond.
Amen.
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 