Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables

When Jesus started His teaching ministry, He spoke to people about the Kingdom of God using parables. A parable is a story used to illustrate a moral and spiritual lesson. More often than not, the multitude listening to Jesus speak through parables did not fully understand what He meant. For them, they were stories taken as it is, literally.

So, why did Jesus speak in parables if the multitude listening to Him did not understand what He was really saying?

Jesus’ disciples had the same question. They asked Jesus why He spoke in parables to the people. According to Matthew 13:11-15, Jesus used parables to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy when he said: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For the people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes…” Although Jesus used parables in His teachings, the people do not see, hear or understand Him.

But the disciples were given a discerning spirit that is why they understand what Jesus was saying in His parables. They were meant to understand the parables. They were allowed to know about the Kingdom of God. Jesus always explained to the disciples the meaning of the parables He spoke of. This was because the disciples were eager to know more about the Kingdom of God. The parables were meant for those who truly hungered for God and the truth. The same is true for us now. Our hunger for God makes us want to know Him more. The parables that Jesus spoke of during His time here on Earth hold the same meaning and truth today. But we must have a spirit that longs for the truth.

Those who rejected Jesus’ message – during those times and even today – were and are left in their spiritual blindness wondering about the meaning of the parable.

Compared to other stories, Jesus’ parables were considered short but full of colorful imagery and were not easy to forget; a blessing to those with willing eyes and ears.

Jesus’ parables are not easy to understand and oftentimes confusing. Even though the disciples were granted understanding, Jesus still needed to explain the meaning of the parables to them. We, too, should have a clear understanding of what a certain parable meant and how it will affect our life. We cannot just read it and take it at face value; doing so can hinder us from having a greater blessing from the Lord.