Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables?
One of the notable ways in which Jesus taught His listeners was by speaking in parables. A parable is an allegorical story that uses figurative language to convey a true-to-life experience related to a specific moral or spiritual concept. The word parable (Greek, parabolē) means to place one thing beside another as a comparison or an illustration. Jewish teachers often used parables to instruct their students.
Most of Jesus’ 35 parables recorded in the Synoptic Gospels include common elements of everyday life, such as food, animals, money, people, and religious relationships. He shared parables related to business, households, social events, and religious and civil leaders.
Jesus’ parables often ended unexpectedly, leaving listeners perplexed. Some asked Him to clarify a parable’s meaning, while others walked away uninterested.
Early in His ministry, Jesus did not speak in parables; but He later used them often to teach about God’s Kingdom. Noting the change in His teaching, Jesus’ disciples asked why He spoke in parables (Mt. 13:10). He answered with three reasons:
1. To conceal the truth from those who were spiritually blind and resisted His teachings. The religious leaders had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Worse, they blasphemed Jesus, accusing Him of performing miracles by the power of the ruler of demons (12:24). So, Jesus began to use parables to conceal the truth about God’s Kingdom from them.
2. To grant the disciples knowledge of the “mysteries” (future divine revelation) of His Kingdom (13:11; cf. Mk. 4:10–12). Such revelation was not made known in the days of the Old Testament and also would be hidden from the generation of Israel that rejected Jesus. Thus, Jesus used parables to provide new revelation of God’s Kingdom, and He explained their meaning to His disciples (Mt. 13:18–52).
3. To fulfill prophecy. Jesus carried out the words of Psalm 78:2 when He said, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 13:35; cf. Mk. 4:33–34).
The same thing happened in the days of the prophet Isaiah (Mt. 13:14–15). Though the Jewish people kept hearing Isaiah’s message, they hardened their hearts, refusing to repent or come to believing faith (Isa. 6:9–10).
Even though Jesus taught in parables in a culture very different from ours, we should study their truths today. Jesus’ parables bless readers with deep and unique insight into God’s Kingdom.
