Parables

10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15For 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 (Matthew 13)}

Thoughts: Why doesn't Jesus just use plain talk.  Talk about God is never plain with only one simple meaning.  Just as a multifaceted diamond has many sides to it, so God does as well- though there is only one true diamond. Parables allow people to think and not just cast off the teaching.  They are more easily memorized- and in an oral culture, that is important.  The parable was a kind of semi-apocalyptic writing (a hidden wisdom that only those who believe can understand- vs 11).  Parables are more easily understood by those who wish to understand them and who do not just shrug off the deeper meaning.  It is also prophesied in Isaiah that some would not understand though they heard the teachings of Jesus.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand and apply your word to my life.