Scripture – “The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’”
Matthew 13:10-15 NIV
Observation – The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke to the people in parables versus just telling them the secrets of the kingdom of heaven directly. Jesus said that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom had been given to the disciples but not the them because, even though they heard the same things the disciples heard and saw the same miracles the disciples saw they couldn’t understand who Jesus was and what he was communicating. Why couldn’t they??? Because, as Jesus says, their hearts had become calloused. They didn’t want to hear it.
Application – When a believer shares the gospel with someone that doesn’t follow Christ there are many different reactions; genuine interest, apathy, hostility, relief, fear, disbelief, arrogance, etc. Often times people don’t want to believe because they understand the logic of acknowledging an all powerful omniscient creator. They understand that if there is a being that spoke and the universe leapt into existence, that knows all and sees all that they are under that being’s authority and they don’t like that. They believe that God will send them to Africa as a missionary or take away all their “fun”. Whey you think you are in charge it is hard to give up that power. Be patient with these people, you were like them, continue to be a good friend and pray that God would open their hearts to the truth – that God loves them and wants to forgive them and fulfill the purpose he has for their lives.
Prayer – Jesus, don’t let your followers walk around judging people who don’t know you yet, we were just like them – living in darkness, and you saved us and you want to save them. Help us to be the light of the world so that they see something in us that they desire for themselves – You.
What are you doing? Do it better 