Martin Wickens

“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

Matthew 9:10

Many a curious mind has discovered ideas, lands, and inventions that anyone could have revealed, but only the curious could see and know the as of yet unseen and unknown.

When Jesus held conversations in busy marketplaces, proclaimed truth from the shores of Israel’s seas, or taught in homes full to overflowing, anyone present could have heard, and understood. At least, if they happened to be faithful and curious.  

But for a multitude of reasons a multitude of people rejected Jesus, and so choose to not understand what He taught.

So, when the crowds began to turn against Him, Jesus turned to those closest to Him. He turned to the most sincere, teachable, faithful, and curious of His followers.

He also began to teach in parables. Not to hide the truth from anyone, but rather to present the truth in a new way that would draw even closer those who wanted to know the truth. An intriguing story, from someone you trust and love, will make you curious, and make you want to know more.

Parables, then, do not fall into the category of mystery novels, daring only the lovers of riddles to try to unravel them.

Rather, Jesus used parables to illustrate His teachings. Jesus took common, every day events such as farming, fishing, or business, to illustrate an eternal truth. Or to put it as succinctly as my pastor used to, parables are an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Those who did not seek to understand the parables, to whom it was not given to understand, were those who had already closed their minds (13).

May we be among the faithful, teachable, and curious!