"Why Do You Speak in Parsbles?" - Matthew 13:10-17
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.’
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.
Reflection: The disciples inquire why Jesus teaches in parables. He responds by saying the secrets of the kingdom have been given to them, but to others he speaks in parables. The challenge in interpreting these verses is whether or not God purposely blinds others from hearing, or have they hardened their hearts to the truth of the Gospel. Sort of the old what came first the chicken or the egg argument. The best explanation I have heard is that those who seek the truth will find it. Those who are resistant and continually reject it can't find it because their hearts are closed to the truth. This quote sums it up, "A parable is a shell that keeps good fruit for the diligent, but keeps it from the slothful."
But in the end we know that faith is a gift from God, and knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for us is a work of the Holy Spirit. So we can't really take credit for belief but we can give thanks for it! We can also pray for those who don't believe, especially those who are near and dear to us. The thief on the cross reminds us that it is never too late for anyone, no matter what they have done, to turn to Christ for forgiveness. Before any of the great spiritual awakening and revivals in our history, there were massive efforts to rally believers in prayer. God honors those prayers because they are in keeping with His heart that not any would perish but all would come to a knowledge of the the truth in Christ Jesus.
So rather than trying to figure out the predestination/free will argument, which by the way we will never figure out. We should focus on two things. One, giving thanks for the gift of faith and living a life worthy of our calling as followers of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have all been given different gifts of the Holy Spirit to help build the body of Christ and we need to put them to use as stewards of the mysteries of God's grace. And secondly, not only pray for those who don't believe, but be ready to give an answer for the faith we have, should the Holy Spirit prompt us to share our faith with someone.
Until Jesus returns there is always an opportunity to spread the Good News of the gospel, so it can be Good News for one more person. If you have been reading this Blog each day and haven't come to faith in Christ, know Jesus loves you and proved it by dying on a cross for your sins and the rose from the dead proving He was and is the unique Son of God. To those who believe He gave them the right to become children of God and inheritors of eternal life. John 1:12 There is much joy in heaven and the angels rejoice when just one person changes their mind and comes to faith.
Jesus you call us to come to you and have life and life abundantly. We pray for those have not yet heard your call or are resisting it with proud hearts that they may turn to you and find forgiveness and healing so that it would be well with their soul. In Your name, Amen.
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.’
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.
Reflection: The disciples inquire why Jesus teaches in parables. He responds by saying the secrets of the kingdom have been given to them, but to others he speaks in parables. The challenge in interpreting these verses is whether or not God purposely blinds others from hearing, or have they hardened their hearts to the truth of the Gospel. Sort of the old what came first the chicken or the egg argument. The best explanation I have heard is that those who seek the truth will find it. Those who are resistant and continually reject it can't find it because their hearts are closed to the truth. This quote sums it up, "A parable is a shell that keeps good fruit for the diligent, but keeps it from the slothful."
But in the end we know that faith is a gift from God, and knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for us is a work of the Holy Spirit. So we can't really take credit for belief but we can give thanks for it! We can also pray for those who don't believe, especially those who are near and dear to us. The thief on the cross reminds us that it is never too late for anyone, no matter what they have done, to turn to Christ for forgiveness. Before any of the great spiritual awakening and revivals in our history, there were massive efforts to rally believers in prayer. God honors those prayers because they are in keeping with His heart that not any would perish but all would come to a knowledge of the the truth in Christ Jesus.
So rather than trying to figure out the predestination/free will argument, which by the way we will never figure out. We should focus on two things. One, giving thanks for the gift of faith and living a life worthy of our calling as followers of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have all been given different gifts of the Holy Spirit to help build the body of Christ and we need to put them to use as stewards of the mysteries of God's grace. And secondly, not only pray for those who don't believe, but be ready to give an answer for the faith we have, should the Holy Spirit prompt us to share our faith with someone.
Until Jesus returns there is always an opportunity to spread the Good News of the gospel, so it can be Good News for one more person. If you have been reading this Blog each day and haven't come to faith in Christ, know Jesus loves you and proved it by dying on a cross for your sins and the rose from the dead proving He was and is the unique Son of God. To those who believe He gave them the right to become children of God and inheritors of eternal life. John 1:12 There is much joy in heaven and the angels rejoice when just one person changes their mind and comes to faith.
Jesus you call us to come to you and have life and life abundantly. We pray for those have not yet heard your call or are resisting it with proud hearts that they may turn to you and find forgiveness and healing so that it would be well with their soul. In Your name, Amen.
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