His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it."
At first reading, this seems to be Jesus saying that He intentionally speaks in riddles so that people can't comprehend what He is saying. This, however, is not at all the case. Jesus points out that by speaking in parables the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah were being fulfilled, but then He also plainly tells us why He speaks in stories and metaphors to begin with. "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables."
Those who love Jesus and want to learn from Him will not have difficulty understanding what He is teaching. On the other hand, those who mock Jesus or are simply trying to manipulate His teachings for their own ends, will never be able to grasp the depth and importance.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul says a similar thing: "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life."
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly this: life and wisdom to those who love God and are sincerely seeking Truth -and at the same time, foolishness and death to those who refuse to hear. The choice is in the heart of the hearer: life or death / foolishness or wisdom -we actually get what we seek.
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it."
At first reading, this seems to be Jesus saying that He intentionally speaks in riddles so that people can't comprehend what He is saying. This, however, is not at all the case. Jesus points out that by speaking in parables the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah were being fulfilled, but then He also plainly tells us why He speaks in stories and metaphors to begin with. "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables."
Those who love Jesus and want to learn from Him will not have difficulty understanding what He is teaching. On the other hand, those who mock Jesus or are simply trying to manipulate His teachings for their own ends, will never be able to grasp the depth and importance.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul says a similar thing: "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life."
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly this: life and wisdom to those who love God and are sincerely seeking Truth -and at the same time, foolishness and death to those who refuse to hear. The choice is in the heart of the hearer: life or death / foolishness or wisdom -we actually get what we seek.
Interesting! Need to do some pondering on the notion of bringing death to those who are already saved. Seems to me that that's not such an easy thing to do. Sometimes the aroma can downright STINK!!! Speaking the truth in love is a difficult thing. Thanks, Steve.
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