Jesus often used parables, simple stories drawn from everyday life, to reveal deep spiritual truths. At first glance, this may seem like a way to make things clearer, yet the Gospels show that parables also carried a purpose of dividing between those who were receptive and those who were hardened in heart.
Matthew explains that when the disciples asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus answered:
“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore 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)
Here Jesus revealed that parables were a form of judgment and mercy at the same time. To His disciples, parables opened the truths of the kingdom, but to the crowds who rejected Him, the same stories concealed those truths. In this way prophecy was fulfilled, just as Isaiah had declared about Israel’s hardness of heart (Isaiah 6:9–10).
Mark records the same teaching with even sharper words:
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’” (Mark 4:11–12)
Luke also shows the disciples asking for an explanation:
“Then His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘What does this parable mean?’ And He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that “Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”’” (Luke 8:9–10)
John does not include the parables as the Synoptics do, but he presents Jesus speaking in ways that required spiritual understanding. For example, when Jesus called Himself the bread of life or the living water, many misunderstood, because they were listening with natural ears rather than spiritual ones.
Thus, the parables were not simply stories to illustrate truth more clearly. They were a spiritual test. Those who had humble, seeking hearts would dig deeper and find the treasures of the kingdom. Those who were resistant would only hear stories. In this way, parables revealed who truly desired to understand and who was content to remain blind.
