Matthew 13:10-13 - Why do you speak in parables?

13:10,11

“Why do you speak to the people in parables?” It was not unknown for rabbis to use parables, either on their own, or as part of a “sermon”. Why not just tell them straight out? Giving the people the facts does not always enable them to really know the facts. The parables could be more memorable, the response they get also depends upon what is in the hearer’s heart. Jesus tells His disciples that the secrets of the kingdom had been given to them, but not to others. We will see later that this was in now commending the spiritual insight of the disciples, for they were as lacking as anyone in this department!

13:12,13

“To those who have ...” First, in this instance this is not talking about material wealth, but about spiritual understanding. Spiritual understanding keeps on growing, keeps building upon itself. Conversely, those who lack any understanding often think they have something, but in time it will be shown that they really knew nothing. Jesus quotes the words God spoke to Isaiah after his vision (Isaiah 6:9,10). There would be those who would see or hear, but actually see or hear nothing at all. We should seek to deliver messages and teachings in an effective and clear manner, but the failure of a good response is not always down to the teacher, it can be down to the slowness of the hearer.