Praying Through the Parables
Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables?
Parables were a common form of teaching in Judaism. The Lord Jesus frequently taught in parables to illustrate profound truths. The simplicity of the story was intended to help the listener follow and remember it. They featured identifiable characters and rich symbolism. Before He began speaking in parables, Jesus often used recognizable analogies with common objects familiar to His followers, such as salt, bread, light, and sheep, whose meanings were clear in the context of His teaching. His parables, however, were difficult to understand and required explanation. When He finished teaching, Jesus led His disciples away from the crowd and explained the full meaning of the parable to them personally. But what prompted Jesus to change His teaching method? When His disciples asked Him this, Jesus explained. “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand…in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:11-17). From that point forward, Jesus taught exclusively in parables and explained their meaning only to His disciples. All those who mocked, scoffed, and rejected the Holy Spirit were left in their spiritual blindness and wonder at His meaning. Jesus made a clear distinction between those who had “ears to hear” and those who persisted in unbelief – “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). The disciples were given spiritual discernment to understand the things of the Spirit because they accepted the truth from Jesus. They hungered, and He gave them more and more truth. There are many in this world who have no interest nor regard for the deep truths from God. Only those with a genuine hunger for the truth will understand the meaning of the parables of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who illumines the mind of the seeker. The parables are a blessing for the seeker with willing ears. But for those whose hearts are hard; whose senses are dull; and whose ears are closed from the truth, the parables serve as instruments of judgment and mercy. Let Us Pray that you will choose today to repent of your sins, and ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to the mysteries of the Kingdom of God as told by Jesus in His parables.
Praying Through the Parables - written by Daphne Collins
the Lighthouse Keeper for
Carry the Light Ministries
Scriptures Used in This Module
Lord, Make Me Teachable
1 Corinthians 2:11-14 (ESV)
Proverbs 2:6-8 (NLT)
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
John 16:13 (NLT)
1 John 2:27 (NLT)
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV)
The Kingdom of God
Romans 14:17-19 (NLT)
Daniel 4:3 (BSB)
Isaiah 9:7 (BSB)
Daniel 7:14 (NLT)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 15:50-52 (NLT)
The Father’s Love
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)
1 John 4:16 (ESV)
Romans 5:8 (BSB)
Revelation 24:3-4 (ESV)
John 3:16-17 (ESV)
The Coming Judgment
Matthew 12:36-37 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)
Revelation 20:12-15 (ESV)
2 Peter 3:9-13 (NLT)
Repentance & Forgiveness
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
Acts 8:22 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)
Mark 11:25 (ESV)
2 Chronicles 30:9 (ESV)
Stewardship
Titus 1:7-8 (NLT)
Colossians 3:23-24 (BSB)
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NLT)
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)
Romans 13:11-14 (AMP)
Compassion for the Poor
Isaiah 58:10-11 (NLT)
Deuteronomy 15:9-11 (NLT)
Proverbs 14:31 (NIV)
Job 31:13-14 (NIV)
James 2:7-10 (NIV)
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (BSB)
Be Ready For His Return
2 Peter 3:10-12 (KJV)
Matthew 24:4-8 (NIV)
Matthew 24:42-44 (NKJV)
Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)
Revelation 3:3 (AMP)
Revelation 3:18-21 (ESV)
Lessons Learned From the Parables
