From: allan-sv@algonet.se   
      
                    Why did Jesus Speak in Parables?   
      
      
   And the disciples came, and said unto him, "Why speakest thou   
   unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because   
   it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,   
   but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be   
   given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not,   
   from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Matt. 13:10-12.   
   And in Mark 4:34 it is written, "But without a parable spake he not   
   unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his   
   disciples."   
      
   Why did Jesus make such a distinction between his disciples and the   
   others? The difference was that the disciples were willing to believe   
   in Jesus, but the others did not believe in him. And this that they did   
   not believe in Jesus, just this closed their eyes and ears so that they   
   did not understand what Jesus preached. If people do not believe in   
   Jesus, they can neither understand him.   
      
   "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not;   
   and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them   
   is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall   
   hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall   
   not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears   
   are dull of hearing, and they eyes they have closed; lest at any   
   times 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 dem. But blessed are your eyes, for they see:   
   and your ears, for they hear." Matt. 13:13-16.   
      
   God is not hard-hearten, and he does not hinder people from that   
   be saved. The Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked,   
   but that the wicked turn from his way and lives. Ezekiel 33:11.   
   But it is more dangerous if we know God's will and do not obey,   
   than not at all understand God's will. If we clearly know God's   
   will and do not obey him, then God must judge us more severe   
   than if we do not know his will. Luke 12:47-48. Therefore, God   
   will not reveal his will to us before we are willing to obey him.   
      
   Of mercy , God has made it so, that those who do not believe in   
   Jesus, they can neither understand God's word. They do not accept   
   the things that come from the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 2:14. Therefore   
   Jesus spoke to them in parables, and explained everything to his   
   disciples. Of this we can understand that our own will, is very   
   important for our salvation. If we are not willing to believe in Jesus,   
   we can neither understand him.   
      
   Many ungodly people are "very interested" in the Bible, and   
   readily discuss and put questions and jeer at God's word and the   
   Christians. When they meet Christians, they demand that a   
   Christian can explain everything in the Bible, and give answers   
   on their questions. But we Christians have no duty to give answers   
   on their questions nor to explain everything that they are interested   
   in. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were also very   
   inquisitive and want to discuss and put questions to Jesus. But   
   instead of give they answer to their questions, he rebuked them   
   and gave them a counter question, or a parable.   
      
   Jesus said to his disciples, "For whosoever hath, to him shall be   
   given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not,   
   from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Perhaps you   
   think that it is unjust, but here Jesus speaks about the spiritual   
   light and ability to understand God's word. To his disciples the   
   knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven had been   
   given, because they believed in Jesus. They had already some   
   knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, and they   
   would get still more. They would get more than enough. But   
   those who did not believe in Jesus, they lost also the knowledge   
   they meant that they had.   
      
   So it is also now. If we accept God's word and follow the light   
   the Holy Spirit gives us, then we get more insight of God's word.   
   But if we don't care what the Bible says, and follow other   
   doctrines, then we lose also our ability to understand   
   God's word. Then we lose the light that we already have.   
   In Rev. 2:4 Jesus says to the Christians in Ephesus,   
   "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast   
   left thy first love." Which is the first love? The answer we find   
   in Matt. 22:37-38. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy   
   heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the   
   first and great commandment." The first love is the love to God.   
   And Jesus is the Word. If we don't love God's word, then we   
   neither love Jesus. John 14:15, 21.   
      
   Jesus says in Rev. 2:5, "Remember therefore from whence thou   
   art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come   
   unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place,   
   except thou repent." When the candlestick is removed, it becomes   
   dark. If the Assembly in Ephesus did not repent, they would lose   
   the light they had.   
      
   Many who say them are Christians, have forsaken the love to God's   
   word, and with that also the love to Jesus. And they have lost the   
   light that they once had. They do not follow God's word. Their   
   churches are more important for them than the Bible. They are   
   very busy with their own "Christian" activity in their churches, and   
   they think that the Lord is with them and will bless what they are   
   doing. Though they are miserably poor towards God, they think   
   they are rich, just as the Assembly in Laodicea. Rev. 3:14-22.   
      
      
   Allan Svensson   
      
   If you have any questions after reading of this article   
   Please, visit my Web Site   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)