UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES.

UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES.


Matthew 13.12-15
12. “Whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance, but whoever does not have, even what he has, shall be taken away from him. (Matthew 13.12, 25.29) (Mark 4.25) (Luke 8.18, 12.48, 19.26).


What actually is given? Jesus does not specify. It may be certain gifts of talents that people have and use appropriately in everyday life, so perhaps to them will be more talents (gifts) given.


But to those who do not use their GOD given gifts and idle without contributing anything to others, or those who use their GOD given gifts (talents) inappropriately, from them will be taken whatever gifts (talents) they have.


So, at first glance verse 12 does not relate to following verses, but at closer look it may does.


13. Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.


In verse 13 Jesus talking about understanding. The subject of understanding is very difficult one, because reasons for understanding and not understanding are many.


Here Jesus particularly talking about understanding of His parables. So, why majority of the people do not understand His parables?


The answer can be given in the second part of this verse 13 in which Jesus said, “because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear,”


This means that by seeing His great miracles or hearing about His great feats, some people still do not amaze and not impressed, and because of it have no faith in Him, and whatever they see or hear about Christ, they quickly forgotten, as it was with people who saw GOD’S great miracles in Egypt, but still had no faith in Him.


The last words of the same verse 13 summarize their spiritual blindness and their spiritual deafness in term of understanding.


This means that those who spiritually blind and deaf cannot understand His symbolic parables, and whatever they actually understood from the Parables and Teaching of Christ, even that will be taken from them, as indicated at the end of verse 12.


So now, the verse 12 became clearer, and may be interpreted in this way, that those who heard about miracles of Christ or seen His miracles and because of it believed in Him, to them more understanding will be given.


But those who saw or heard about miracles of GOD and did not pay attention to His great deeds and have no faith in Him, from them will be taken even what they have been understood, and they will remain completely spiritually blind and deaf, and would not understand any of the parables of GOD.


So, the following verses below supporting this notion of spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, and understanding, that to them who are spiritually blind and deaf is not given understand the parables of GOD, and all the rest of symbolism that relates to His parables.


14. And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'You will keep on hearing but will not understand, and you will keep on seeing but will not perceive.


15. The heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes so they should not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return, and I should heal them.'


*(Verses 13-15. Eyes do not see, Ears do not hear: (Deuteronomy 29.4) (Isaiah 6.9-10, 29.10, 43.8) (Ezekiel 12.2) (Matthew 13.13-16) (Mark 4.12, 8.18) (Luke 8.10) (John 12.40) (Acts 28.25-27) (Romans 11.8-10)