Jesus’ Parables

Everywhere Jesus went, He told stories—parables like the Sower and the Seed, the Lost Sheep, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Prodigal Son. These stories were memorable and packed with meaning. So when His disciples asked, “Why speak You unto them in parables?” (Matt. 13:10), it might seem like a no-brainer. Parables were meant to make His teachings easier to understand…right?

Not at all.

Jesus’ answer likely stunned them: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (vs. 11).

By using parables, Christ was not making His lessons clearer. He was hiding their true meaning from most people!

He continued, “For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand” (vs. 12-13).

Because your parents are in God’s Way, you are set apart as “holy” (I Cor. 7:14) and can understand the Bible’s teachings. To quote Jesus, “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven.”

Think about all of this. The Son of God, sent to preach the truth, chose to conceal it from many. This may make you wonder: Why would God hide His truths from so many people? Why would He intentionally make His message harder to grasp?

And why, of all people, would He choose to reveal those truths to you?

Part of God’s Plan

Jesus’ use of parables was not random—it fulfilled prophecy.

Continuing in Matthew, He said, “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matt. 13:14-15). This mirrors Isaiah 6:9-10.

At first, this explanation might seem harsh, but God was not condemning people forever. Isaiah 25:7 explains that the world’s lack of understanding is like a “veil” covering their eyes—a barrier that prevents them from fully grasping God’s truths.

But God promises to remove this veil when His Kingdom arrives: “He will destroy…the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isa. 25:7).

The reason for parables can be summarized like this: God is not working with everyone right now—but He is working with you!

Perfect Timing

The Bible shows that God’s ultimate desire is for everyone to receive salvation. It says He “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4) and that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Pet. 3:9).

But God’s timing is perfect. He is working with people in stages. As Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him” (John 6:44). Some were not ready to understand God’s truth during Jesus’ time, just as many are still blind today.

Far from being unfair, this shows God’s abundant mercy. Everyone will have a chance at eternal life when they are most likely to succeed. For most, that time will come in the future.

What About You?

You have the rare privilege of understanding the mysteries of God’s Kingdom today. This is an amazing gift and a big responsibility. Think about it: God has given you insight that billions of people throughout history do not yet have.

Because your heart and mind are open, now is the perfect time to lay a solid foundation in God’s Way—a foundation that will support you for the rest of your life.

Jesus’ parables can help you with spiritual basics. These stories offer colorful lessons with deep meaning, giving glimpses into God’s mind and His plan for humanity.

For example, in the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Christ explained the challenges of responding to God’s truth (Matt. 13:3-23). Some lose interest right away, while others accept it but give up when life gets hard. Then there are those who let “the cares of this world”—this could include distractions, worries or worldly desires—choke out their spiritual growth, just like thorns crowding a plant (Mark 4:19). But those who fully embrace God’s truth grow and bear much fruit (Luke 8:15).

Use this parable as a window into your own thinking. Are there any “thorns” in your life—habits, friendships or activities—that might be pulling you away from God? Taking time to think about this and making any necessary changes can help you be like the seed in the good soil and see growth in your life.

Take the Parable Challenge

Learning from Jesus’ parables is not just about understanding them—it is about applying them. Read Matthew 7:24. Here is a challenge: This week, choose one of Jesus’ parables and read it carefully.

Could you set aside 10 minutes each day to study and reflect?

In this article, we have already started looking at the Sower and the Seed, so that may be a good place to start. Jesus teaches the parable and explains its meaning in detail in three separate places in the gospels (Matt. 13:3-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15).

Once you have a parable selected, remove any distractions, ask God for understanding, read it carefully and think about how it applies to your life. Meditate on how what you are learning applies to the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

When you finish one parable, move on to another. You can do an internet search for where to find Jesus’ parables in your Bible. Your parents and your minister are great resources, too. They would love to discuss your observations. There is also plenty of Church literature and sermons that can help.

Here is how Jesus Christ concluded His parables explanation in Matthew 13. Imagine Him speaking these words directly to you: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them” (vs. 16-17).

Use this gift to prepare for the incredible future God has planned for you—and the soon-coming time when the entire world will understand the truth!