Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He began to teach almost exclusively in parables. A parable is a simple story laid along side a life event that illustrates a moral lesson or spiritual principle that applies to that event. Someone has said, “A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning.”
Many of the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day had closed their ears to the truth that He taught, to prevent their falling from the ranks of their self-acclaimed organization of religious achievers. They believed they had a monopoly on truth, and could learn nothing from this young Rabbi, Jesus. Because they had so determined not to believe, God imposed upon them a Judicial Blindness so they would no longer be confronted with spiritual truth.
When Jesus was asked why he had resorted to parables in his teaching, He said, “…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. 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 their eyes they have closed; lest at any time 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 them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:11–16)”
What God wanted to do for them, and what He wants to do for you is offered through the medium of faith. If you want to know what God has to say, you must first be willing to obey it. Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)” Your choice not to consider what God has to say will be cause for eternal regret. …behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)