Why did Jesus speak in Parables? Jesus gives us the answer Himself so we have no reason to wounder or question them.
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)
10Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13This is why I speak to them in parables:
‘Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
b
14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people’s heart has grown callous;
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.’
c
16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17For truly I tell you, 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.
Parable #1
The Parable of the Sower
(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
2Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
6But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
8Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
9He who has ears,let him hear.”
Do you have an ear to hear what Jesus has to say?
A farmer: A christian, a church, ect go out to spread the word. The seed fell on the path, it is hard ground. It had not been broken up and it leaves opportunity for the devil to swoop in and steal the word away before it even has a chance to take hold.
Some of the seed that those christians sowed fell on rocky ground. These people receive the word; they get saved they joyfully except Jesus and then something happens. They don't have deep roots. The church did not prepare the ground, they did not take the time to train them, feed them, teach them how to feed themselves. The sun comes up; the trials come and they do not have the strength to with stand and they fall away, they backslide. Other seed falls in the weeds and they get chocked out. Did these people ever really get saved I am no sure, What is for sure is that again the church the body of believers that planted the seed did not do there preparation they did not help get the ground ready, they did dot help the people learn to study ect; Does that mean that every seed we plant will grow no, does that mean that in every case the people, the church ect. are at fault or did not put in the work NO! Does that mean that the people that did sprout got saved yes. Did they fall away yes. Are they still saved? NO!
Then we have the seed that fell into the good soil, the soil was ready, they were ready, as always God was ready and the church was ready. Some produced 30 fold, 60 fold, and others 100 fold. Just because one produces a 100 fold and one 30 fold does not make them unequal. It means there talents are different. What Jesus wants is each of us to live up to the gifts He has given us.
What do we learn all who call upon the name of the Lord are saved, Just because someone says I am saved and born again does not mean they are; they have to produce fruit. Not everyone that says Lord, Lord will be saves.