Sometimes He does speak in parables and dark sayings, but not always.
Do you see the word “sometimes” in Mark 4:34 and Matthew 13:10–13?
Yes, let’s also include Psalm 78:2 and Ezekiel 20:49. Did you also find the word “sometimes” in these verses?
It seems that I don’t see the word “sometimes” anywhere.
Here are the verses for you to read again.
MARK 4:34
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Context is important. The surrounding verses, and indeed Mark 4:34 itself, make clear that Mark is
not saying that Jesus never spoke directly and straightforwardly. Here is that verse with some of the surrounding verses:
NKJV Mrk 4:33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.
Mrk 4:34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone,
He explained all things to His disciples.
Mrk 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."
Mrk 4:36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
Mrk 4:37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
Mrk 4:38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Mrk 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Mrk 4:40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
So when He "explained all things to His disciples", was He still speaking in parables? Of course not. When in verse 35 He said to them, , "Let us cross over to the other side." was that a parable? No, for that is exactly what they did. They got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side. When Jesus commanded the storm, "Peace, be still" in verse 39, was He telling the storm a parable? No, He said it, and there was a great calm. So verse 34 cannot mean that everything He said was a parable.
MATTHEW 13:10-13
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Again, those verses themselves make clear that not everything Jesus said was a parable. Was His answer to the question of the disciples a parable? Of course not.
PSALMS 78:2
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Again, the context shows that God does not always speak in dark sayings. The people say, as a result of verse 2:
NKJV Psa 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
They go on to say
what they would tell the generation to come, including:
Psa 78:12 Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Psa 78:13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
Was the account of the dividing of the sea a dark saying? No, it actually happened.
EZEKIEL 20:49
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
But that verse say that people complained that
Ezekiel spoke in parables. It doesn't mention God speaking in parabes.
