LESSON 30 – JESUS TAUGHT IN PARABLES

JESUS TAUGHT IN PARABLES

Mark 4:1-34

Let’s begin by asking, what is a parable? It is a little story that demonstrates the truth. It describes something so visible that the listener can clearly imagine it in their mind as well as driving the point home verbally.

In our previous lesson, Mark deals with the danger of popularity, and we saw the problems that Jesus encountered due to the great multitudes of people that were only interested in their being healed physically, not spiritually. We also saw that Satanic opposition with the scribes and the interference that threatened Jesus’ ministry and his ability to teach the gospel.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Jesus, through the parables both reveal and conceal the mystery of his kingdom. In Chapter 4:

“On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, (Mark 4-1-2 NAB)

Chapter 3 tells us that the great multitudes came from Jerusalem, Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan from Tyre to Sidon. Versus 7-10:

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people [followed] from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. (Mark 3:7-10 NAB)

Remember that the people were looking and focusing on being healed, and he healed many, but Jesus wanted to preach the word and heal their heart and spirit. He then began to teach them in parables, and the first parable he taught was the parable of the sower.

And in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Mark 4b-9 (NAB) There are two other seeds we will cover in our next lesson.

Jesus’ disciples were a bit confused and curious as to why Jesus used parables. And Jesus explains starting in Verse 10:

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables so that ‘they may look but not perceive, and they hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:10-12NAB)

What does Jesus mean? Does he speak in parables to hide the truth so that people wouldn’t understand? Jesus points out that there are two types of hearers. Jesus’ disciples are one class of hearers, as they follow him, are obedient to him, listen to him, and accept his authority as Lord. As a result, our Lord has given them the secret and mysteries of God’s kingdom.

The second types of hearers are those who are described as “those outside.” They are everyone who is not a disciple, meaning those that are not really receptive to understanding, obeying and yielding his ownership to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. For them, the truth is hidden, and the parables will be nothing but stories with no real meaning. Jesus further clarifies that parables serve a dual purpose: The reveal the “mystery of the kingdom” with those with receptive hearts, while concealing it from those who have hardened themselves against Him. Many hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, to bring forth fruit, and the devil is very busy nurturing the careless hearers.

In Matthew 13. verses 13-15 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled:

This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them which says:

‘You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’ (Matthew 13-15 NAB)

The point is that people didn’t want the spiritual healing that Jesus wanted to give them, so they closed their eyes and ears to what he wanted to teach. All they wanted was to have their bodies healed. They wanted Jesus to cure their afflictions and diseases and move on. How many of us have prayed for Jesus to heal us from our illnesses, yet are not interested in the study of scripture and spreading the good word?

Remember that the parables teach us to be on the alert for hardening hearts. The Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus’ ministry with severe accusations and doubt, and the people did not want to be healed in the spirit and heart, as they were not interested in the things of God. They were only interested and following Jesus for healing their bodies. Therefore, the parables are intended for the disinterested who have stopped thinking and put their brains on hold.

Here Jesus gives us another reason as to why he uses parables:

He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure by which you measure will be measured out to you and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25 NAB)

Jesus compares the Kingdom (and His own identity) to a lamp. A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand, not hidden. Although the Kingdom’s glory in currently veiled or “secret,” it is destined to be fully disclosed to all. Jesus warns listeners to “pay attention” to what they hear. The “measure” (effort/sincerity) they use to listen will determine the measure of spiritual understanding they receive in return. His message is meant to illuminate the world, bringing hidden secrets into the light. In Matthew 5, believers are explicitly called “the light of the world,” urging them to live openly as followers of Christ and not conceal their faith. Jesus warns that listeners must pay close attention, as those who truly hear and act on the Word will receive more understanding, while those who do not will lose what they have.     

In proverbs 25:2:

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to fathom a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2 NAB)

Biblical wisdom frequently opposes human logic, prioritizing spiritual, eternal and humble principles. Jesus told parables both to reveal and to conceal the mystery of the kingdom. Knowing Him and understanding the word “mystery” is not considered something that can be attained by human intuition, “gut feelings,” or natural intellect alone. The Bible consistently argues that human intuition is flawed, biased, and limited by sin, necessitating divine revelation (Scripture) and the Holy Spirit for true knowledge of God, so many do not understand. So, it’s a mystery that must be revealed, and the parables makes some “get it” and others not.

The parables made a profound, transformative and lasting impact on the disciples when they understood them, but others found the parables confusing, but both serve God’s dual purpose; they both harden and soften the heart.

Also in verse 25: “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

This is a fundamental rule of life. If you do not use what you have it will be taken away. If you do not use your brain to think things through, you lose the ability. Jesus teaches us in little pieces at a time in order that we can process it, study it, etc. He gives us only what we can handle, and truth be told, if he were to give us everything at once, our brains would be shattered. It takes a long time to understand the scriptures, and many of us will spend the rest of our lives studying them and never get through.

In our next lesson, we will begin to study each parable in detail.

In closing, from Corinthians:

Love is my aim. Pursue it. That is what life is all about, to become a loving, compassionate, kind, truthful person is the reason we exist. Everything else either must minister to us to that end, or be regarded as useless and wasted time, The greatest of these is love.

Until next time, may peace, love and joy be with you always.