Frequently Asked Bible Questions

Why did Jesus Christ use parables?

Did Jesus deliberately speak in parables in order to conceal the truth from certain people?

The disciples asked that question directly of Jesus (Matthew 13:10). He answered that God gave the disciples spiritual understanding and that no one is able to comprehend the truth without this gift. "Therefore I speak to them in parables," He said, adding, "because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (verse 13).

That is, the parables did not make the meaning any clearer for people without this gift of spiritual insight. But the parables did not obscure their comprehension. Rather, God did not give them the ability to know the truth at that time. Because Christ chose easily recognizable illustrations and objects from everyday living for His parables, they actually helped to illustrate the truth to those God called to conversion.

Related Online Resources

Keys to Understanding the Bible from the booklet How to Understand the Bible
Curiously enough, we find that the Bible is not a book that can be readily understood by everyone. How, then, can we come to understand it?

Christ's Parables and the Kingdom from the Bible Study Course lesson What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?
In His teaching, Jesus often compared the coming Kingdom of God to common situations in people's lives. These messages are known as parables. Did Jesus expect everyone to understand His parables about the Kingdom of God?

Who Are God's 'Called, Chosen and Faithful' People? from the booklet Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion
How can we distinguish the authentic disciples of Christ who really are doing the will of the Father from those who call Jesus "Lord" but don’t really do God's will?

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