Why does Jesus speak in parables?
When I was younger, I did try to read the Bible, but I don't remember getting much out of it. I was trying to be a good Protestant and read the Word of God. I even had a list of verses and passages picked out by preachers that pointed out parts of the Bible that dealt with different issues we all face like those passages that dealt with love, death, suffering, etc. But when I turned to the those pages, I read them and didn't understand. I would think, "How is this suppose to be about (this) when Jesus is telling a story about something completely different?" (I don't remember exactly what I read.) I just remember getting frustrated and closing the Bible.
I didn't understand that Jesus spoke in parables for a reason. Of course now that I'm an adult, I can try to understand more of what Jesus was really saying through these parables. I don't pretend that I understand everything, and I'm always interested in what other people get out of these stories.
During my normal "flipping through Bible" time before bed, I stumbled upon this passage:
Matthew 13:10-17 New International Version (NIV)
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of 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.’[a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
I think it's interesting that even His disciples wondered why Jesus used parables. And from His long answer, I think He wanted people to reflect on His words. If he just spoke plainly, the people wouldn't really hear what He was saying: "Through hearing, they do not hear or understand." I think what He's saying is that the "knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven" are too much for people to understand right away. But for those who think and reflect on His words, the knowledge will be available to them. So it is important to not just read the Bible, but to also reflect on it. That's what Jesus wants us to do.
I didn't understand that Jesus spoke in parables for a reason. Of course now that I'm an adult, I can try to understand more of what Jesus was really saying through these parables. I don't pretend that I understand everything, and I'm always interested in what other people get out of these stories.
During my normal "flipping through Bible" time before bed, I stumbled upon this passage:
Matthew 13:10-17 New International Version (NIV)
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of 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.’[a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
I think it's interesting that even His disciples wondered why Jesus used parables. And from His long answer, I think He wanted people to reflect on His words. If he just spoke plainly, the people wouldn't really hear what He was saying: "Through hearing, they do not hear or understand." I think what He's saying is that the "knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven" are too much for people to understand right away. But for those who think and reflect on His words, the knowledge will be available to them. So it is important to not just read the Bible, but to also reflect on it. That's what Jesus wants us to do.
Comments
Post a Comment