Parables: where truth and mystery walk side by side

Genesis 14; Nehemiah 3; Matthew 13; Acts 13

On December 4, 1985, the weekly newspaper in our hometown published my first article in a column called “Parables.” This continued for about seventeen years. In it, I tried to illustrate spiritual truth through life’s ordinary events, but I cannot claim to have the same wisdom or impact as the New Testament parables of Jesus. 

The word “parable” comes from two Greek words (para and ballō), which together mean “to throw alongside.” A parable, like an illustration, makes a comparison between a known truth and an unknown truth; it throws them alongside each other.

For me, thinking about life this way helped me see that faith in Christ is practical. It is not about Sunday only or whatever we might call ‘being spiritual’ but about every part of what I am and do, of what happens to me and in the world. Those seventeen years involving 800 or so articles enriched my life. It also helped me understand why Jesus used parables.

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance . . .” (Matthew 13:10–12a)

First, Jesus used these stories and illustrations to reveal truth to His disciples, truth He called “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.” This word “secrets” could also be translated “mysteries” and refers to truths not revealed in the Old Testament but which now were made known to those instructed.

“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Matthew 13:11–13)

Second, Jesus spoke in parables to hide those secrets. He would give them to His disciples but hide them from the religious leaders who rejected Him. He said that even what they had previously known would no longer be clear to them giving His parables a judgmental aspect. Those seemingly simple stories were able to separate the ‘sheep’ from the ‘goats’ by the response of those who heard them. Only those with accepting hearts were given a fuller explanation.

“Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’ For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:14–15)

Third, He spoke in parables in order to fulfill Isaiah 6:9–10. As Isaiah began his ministry, God told him that people would not comprehend his message. Jesus experienced the same kind of response. He preached the Word of God and many people saw but they did not truly perceive; they heard but did not understand. Since the leaders turned from the light they had been given, God gave them no additional light.

Spiritual blindness is more than a metaphor. It is a description of those who cannot grasp even the basic truths about God and His kingdom, about Jesus Christ and His saving work. It does not comprehend or experience the love of God nor do spiritually blind people even know that they are spiritually blind. For them, this life is all there is and their way of living it is the only way. Jesus is the light of the world and able to open blind eyes, yet as I read and understand His use of parables, I feel a great deal of sadness and a great need to pray.