The reason Jesus spoke in parables was so that those who truly desired the truth would seek Him out. Many people like to stand afar off, philosophize and present their opinions about what life means. This is natural for people to do, because being opinionated is what people do, who like to think that they are someone special.
Yet death laughs at each one of us. Death says, “Fool, your life is in vain. You are a nobody, yet you thought you were someone. You are like a goldfish in the bowl; a parrot in front of a mirror.”
To the opinionated, Jesus was merely a babbler. Nothing has changed. The same as it was when the Apostle Paul was in Athens. For we read:
- Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, “What would this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)
Jesus spoke in parables, which contained truths that they did not understand. The parables contained truths that are to be found in the Old Testament if only people truly understood the message. For even today, theologians, religionists and others who toss out the Old Testament do not understand the truths of Jesus.
- All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34-35)
- Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought. (Psalms 78:1-4)
The aim was clearly to demonstrate who were genuine and who were to choke on the regurgitation of the leavened bread they ate.
- In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”(Luke 12:1)
When we understand the hypocrites were being sorted out, we realize that this is why Jesus rejoiced that the fools of the world, who had no answer for overcoming death, but were telling everyone to listen to them, were not humble enough to admit their ignorance.
- At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.” (Matthew 11:25–26).
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said, “Rabbi, we know no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with Him.” (John 3:1–2)
Nicodemus was doing what those who were genuinely interested in learning the truth do. Nicodemus decided to encounter Jesus for himself and not listen to the babble of the rabble, the hypocrites of this world, who claim they are more intelligent than others, yet they cannot overcome death, even though they like to claim they are more knowledgeable than any Creator—even the One who exists.
One has to take into account that Jesus clearly spoke of what was to happen to the hypocrites (Matthew 23). When Jesus told them that He spoke in parables least they repent, in all probability He was baiting them that they might repent. Nicodemus is evidence of this, for we read of Nicodemus
- Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:50–51)
- After this Joseph of Arimathe′a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:38–40)
Understanding that Jesus used parables to sort out the sheep from the goats is helpful when seeking to comprehend the truth of the gospel message and how God discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts while permitting us to have freewill.
The reason Jesus spoke in parables was so that those who truly desired the truth would seek Him out. Many people like to stand afar off, philosophize and present their opinions about what life means. This is natural for people to do, because being opinionated is what people do, who like to think that they are someone special.
Yet death laughs at each one of us. Death says, “Fool, your life is in vain. You are a nobody, yet you thought you were someone. You are like a goldfish in the bowl; a parrot in front of a mirror.”
To the opinionated, Jesus was merely a babbler. Nothing has changed. The same as it was when the Apostle Paul was in Athens. For we read:
Nicodemus was doing what those who were genuinely interested in learning the truth do. Nicodemus decided to encounter Jesus for himself and not listen to the babble of the rabble, the hypocrites of this world, who claim they are more intelligent than others, yet they cannot overcome death, even though they like to claim they are more knowledgeable than any Creator—even the One who exists.
One has to take into account that Jesus clearly spoke of what was to happen to the hypocrites (Matthew 23). When Jesus told them that He spoke in parables least they repent, in all probability He was baiting them that they might repent. Nicodemus is evidence of this, for we read of Nicodemus
Yet death laughs at each one of us. Death says, “Fool, your life is in vain. You are a nobody, yet you thought you were someone. You are like a goldfish in the bowl; a parrot in front of a mirror.”
To the opinionated, Jesus was merely a babbler. Nothing has changed. The same as it was when the Apostle Paul was in Athens. For we read:
- Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, “What would this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)
- All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34-35)
- Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought. (Psalms 78:1-4)
- In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”(Luke 12:1)
- At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.” (Matthew 11:25–26).
Nicodemus was doing what those who were genuinely interested in learning the truth do. Nicodemus decided to encounter Jesus for himself and not listen to the babble of the rabble, the hypocrites of this world, who claim they are more intelligent than others, yet they cannot overcome death, even though they like to claim they are more knowledgeable than any Creator—even the One who exists.
One has to take into account that Jesus clearly spoke of what was to happen to the hypocrites (Matthew 23). When Jesus told them that He spoke in parables least they repent, in all probability He was baiting them that they might repent. Nicodemus is evidence of this, for we read of Nicodemus
- Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:50–51)
- After this Joseph of Arimathe′a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:38–40)
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