Parables

Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

Matthew 13:10 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International
Bible Society

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

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The first verse is a prophetic reference to Jesus
and his use of parables. The second verse records
its fulfillment.

11 He replied, "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 he will have
an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he
has will be taken from him.

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 I tell you the truth, many prophets and
righteous men longed to see what you see but did
not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not
hear it.

As I read this passage, it provides a sobering
reminder that the message of scripture is not to
be taken lightly. If we so choose to ignore
Jesus and the message of scripture, we are going
to be left with an inability to accept and
respond to the message. History shows that, as a
nation, the people of Israel were scattered under
Roman rule. They were not able to heal, the
nation was left in ruin and the people scattered,
to be left homeless over the past 2000 years or
so. It's the recent recovery (1967) of that
nation that provides a clear signal to all who
will see, that the prophetic timeline is
moving forward once again. The event that we
anticipate is the return of Jesus. You have to
wonder, How many are watching and listening in
our time? It seems that some things never change.

As for the reason that scripture uses metaphors
and parables, we have Jesus to answer that
question. Some things are hidden from those who
have no desire for them. It's not that G-d does
not have the ability to communicate. It's because
we lack the ability to pay attention. And there
is a hint in his explanation that Jesus is only
able to let us in on just what we have the
capacity to understand. We are given all that we
need, but it's not the full picture.