Until a few years ago, I had never seen the movie Star Wars. This was the cinematic equivalent of blasphemy for my in-laws, my friends, and pretty much everyone else in the world, really. Star Wars is part of our cultural lexicon, but when you’ve never seen it, most references to it go unnoticed. It’s as if fans of the film franchise speak another language when they talk about it. Sure, I had heard people say, “Luke, I am your father,” but anything more than that, and I was totally lost. I never understood the context of what I was hearing. And I certainly couldn’t contribute to the conversation.
When Jesus taught in parables, He was speaking to two audiences. Some, like His disciples, understood what He was teaching. And if they didn’t understand, they would ask Jesus to explain. Others belonged to the “you will listen and listen, but never understand” camp (Matthew 13:14). Much like being a part of a conversation about a movie you’ve never seen or a book you’ve never read, the latter audience could tune out the point of Jesus’s message.
Jesus knew that by speaking in parables, His message would get through to the right people—the people who would open their hearts to Him and who would work to see the kingdom of God flourish. He also knew that the people who were out to get Him would not understand the parables, and so to some degree, parables were a protective measure.
Reading the parable of the sower, I wonder where I land on the spectrum of listeners. As Jesus sows the seeds of His message, how receptive are my heart and mind? Do I have a hard heart and closed eyes when I read Scripture? Do I read the difficult parts with the same rigor and delight as I do the easier passages? Do I cling to the Jesus who heals and pardons and shy away from the Jesus who turns over tables and calls out sinners? Do I let the double-edged sword of Scripture do its good, sanctifying work in me?
Eugene Peterson wrote it this way in The Message: “They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.”
I know my heart is rocky and full of weeds that choke out the Word. The parable of the sower exposes my idols, holding them up to the light of Jesus’s message about the kingdom of God, about the freedom and peace He, and He alone, brings. But I am tempted to fall away when trials come, turning to my own strength instead of the Word of God. I chase the material, the next-best, and the greener grass, instead of running relentlessly after Jesus alone. My faith is weak, even when I long for it to somehow be enough.
The remedy for my fallow heart is the Word.
May we be eager listeners with hearts rich with fertile ground, eager to know His teaching and ready to do whatever He asks of us.
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32 thoughts on "Jesus Speaks in Parables"
As someone who is new to the Bible, it is refreshing to see women keep coming back to the word. It proves to me that the words are alive with lessons no matter how many times you’ve read it.
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Amen
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Amen!
So that is the beauty of the teachings of Jesus. They are not supposed to define us in one spot, but rather, in the light of its truth about the kingdom of God, keep shifting us toward it. And eventually, we will become the good soil, those who are able to understand the teachings of Jesus, people of the kingdom
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First of all I would like to say great blog! I had a quick question that I’d like
to ask if you don’t mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing.
I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.
I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the
first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying
to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Cheers!
I write a prayer and it’s structured by an older SRT prompt Address, Describe, Confess, Praise and request. It keeps me focused and the confession helps me tremendously.
Amen! Great devotional this morning!
“May we (I) be eager listeners with hearts rich with fertile ground, eager to know His teaching and ready to do whatever He asks of us (me).” I too, have sometimes struggled with the parables, today my heart was listening.
Allison an Amen
Tina ❤️ grr back
Mia continued prayers for your family.
Lifting the spoken and silent.
Jesus explains to His disciples the purpose of teaching in parables: to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom to those who seek while concealing them from those who are indifferent or hostile
examine our response to God’s Word, encourages us to seek the Kingdom with all we have, and assures us of the ultimate justice of God. It affirms that although the Kingdom may start small and seemingly insignificant, its reach is vast, and its impact is life-changing for those who embrace it.
AMEN!
As we all prepare this spring for our earthly gardens Lord prepare my heart for Your final garden! Happy Friday She’s ! Fertilizer your soil this weekend and find some rest in Jesus! ☮️❤️
They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; they screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face to face and let me heal them. WHY WHY WHY?? I want healing. How can a heart be so hardened that it doesn’t want peace from God.
I remember asking when I first started studying the Bible, “why does Jesus speak in parables?” I had a hard time understanding them back them. HRT helped that. Jesus was about calling hearts, not arguing with minds. He spoke to the ears of the heart, and if those ears could hear Him, then the heart would follow.
How receptive are my heart and mind?? When I was younger I was loving learning about God. Then a terrible thing happened in my life and I turned away. God slowly pulled me back. I don’t want to have roots in rocky soil. To turn away when something happens that is too big to comprehend. That is when I need Him most.
LAURA DIANNE – I think you could have wrote the devo!!
Yes, my heart is rocky and full of weeds.
One of the things I have realized during this journey is I put too much trust in my own strength.
And then when I get so weary, so overwhelmed, so stressed….only then do I turn back to God and plead with Him. I’m so frustrated with myself. I know better.
I do think I’m a bit angry with God.
And this study is helping me climb back out of that pit.
And He is still with me.
He still loves me.
He provides all that I need.
Praying for so many of you this morning. Mia Faith, my heart hurts for you.
Hugs to all ❤️
Matthew 13: 52 “Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.”
Isn’t it amazing that we can read and read and read a verse and never “get it”? I want to be like the owner of the house! I want to fill my “storehouse” of truth so that when I meet with girls (my husband and I both work at a university and I have lots of opportunities to disciple younger women), I am able to share with them “treasures new and old”…obviously we have the completed Bible, so no new revelations, but taking old truths and making applications that are new to them/their lives. I was also struck by the word “treasure” – “a very valuable object or collection of objects”…do I present the word of God this way? As something valuable and precious?? Thankful that God is so gracious to continue to show ME old things (this verse) made new (the clearer understanding of it)!
*RAINER* ❤ Apologies, MELANIE! I have a cracked screen and missed that.
Like MELANIE RAINIER, my extent of Star Wars knowledge is that quote! And like Melanie, I too often “… know my heart is rocky and full of weeds that choke out the Word. The parable of the sower exposes my idols, holding them up to the light of Jesus’s message about the kingdom of God, about the freedom and peace He, and He alone, brings. But I am tempted to fall away when trials come, …”
Personally, I tend to cower in conviction rather than facing it head-on. I know better! Conviction tills the soil of the heart making it more productive in the future.
Psalm 78 really stood out to me this morning. Like Jesus, we can’t stop sharing the word just because it may not be received as we would like.
4b “…but will tell a future generation
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
his might, and the wondrous works
he has performed.
God prepares the hearts and minds; our job is to share the Word.
Another great week of study and great comments! Prayers for all!
TINA – GRRR! Hope you can make it back! ❤
SEARCHING – ❤
“May we be eager listeners with hearts rich with fertile ground, eager to know His teaching and ready to do whatever He asks of us.” Yes, and Amen! …I find some comfort in the fact that the disciples had the same questions we do, one of them being – “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Jesus answer – “the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, where Paul explains that the natural (unsaved) man can not understand things of the Spirit and it is foolishness to him. It makes me so thankful to be a child of God, and to be given privileges of heaven – because of what Christ did on the cross, for me and you.
Lord, help me to be an eager listener. May my heart be rich with fertile ground and may I be eager to know Your teaching and be ready to do whatever You ask. In Jesus name, Amen.
@Mia – I am so sorry to hear your husbands body has not yet been recovered. Prayers for you and your family and that he will be found soon so that you can all have closure and move forward with arrangements.
Have a blessed Friday sisters!
I love that Jesus keeps His gourmet feast for His beloved children. I know Jesus welcomes all, but not all get the blessings until they follow Him. That makes me feel so special. Like God really does love me and is so eager to give me His special blessings. In another bible study, we’ve been talking about how much God loves us and values us and sees us as so worthy of His love. I think if some Christian circles its easy to downplay how valuable we are, we never want to “elevate” ourselves to being worthy of Christ’s love. But would He have sacrifice all for us if He didn’t see us as worth it? It’s not spiritual to downplay our value to Him. He loves us so much, and we can walk in confidence and assurance that we are truly loved and valued. He allows us to hear His voice and tells us secrets about His kingdom that others don’t get to hear (until they repent and come to Him). We are all so loved. Walk in that security and confidence this weekend. Walk in the knowledge that we are very special to the Lord our God.
I also copied down this part from HRT: Why didn’t He explain them to everyone? Why not just speak in plain language to begin with? Because Jesus was calling hearts, not arguing with minds. He spoke to the ears of the heart, and if those ears could hear Him, then the heart would follow Him.
It’s about the heart, not the mind.
It’s interesting that we today focus so much on the mind, on the intellect. As a teacher, obviously that was important to me as well. “Are you thinking about this?” “Think it through before you write your answer.”
But truthfully, even I, a lowly human teacher(and not Jesus) knew that the heart was so important. Did my students WANT to learn? Did my students keep trying? Did they desire to learn from me and others, or did they just not care? Or did they think they knew it already?
When I approach God’s Word, I want to be that eager, hungry, determined student who desires to learn more, who is willing to put in the hard work to understand, and who trusts the one who is teaching the material. Amen.
I pray my heart is good soil, ready to see and hear and understand…to give all for the Kingdom!
Jesus soften my heart to Your Word. I fail over and over again but for Your Mercy! Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless Mercy! Amen
I am a few days behind… and I still haven’t read Mathew 13 from today, but I wanted to share what I highlighted and took note of.. may each of you be BLESSED!!! Xoxo
Psalm 78:1-8 My people, hear My instruction;
listen to the words from My mouth.
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past—
3 things we have heard and known
and that our ancestors have passed down to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell a future generation
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
His might, and the wondrous works
He has performed.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which He commanded our ancestors
to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works,
but keep His commands.
8 Then they would not be like their ancestors,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
*May we listen and hear… let us not be silent or rebellious, let us understand remember, let us spread and give testimony to ALL that You have done and continue to do!! Let us put our confidence in You Lord so that others might know and put THEIR confidence in You!!! Help us to RISE UP and keep Your commands and statutes!! As You desire Lord, let it be so!!! Amen.
-15th
James 3:13-18 THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
*Amen!!! Let this scripture bring awareness into my life!! Lord check me!! Realign me!! So that I might live in the wisdom You have so mercifully provided!! Amen.
-15th
Mathew 12:6-8 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
*Wow!! This just makes me want to push INTO God even more!!! To see with eyes that He’s given..heavenly ones!!! Let me not cling to what’s familiar or to my expectations but to let go and let God!!! Let it be so Lord! Amen.
Mathew 12:25-28 Knowing their thoughts, He told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
*Nothing divided against itself can stand!! Therefore be united in Christ, in God the Father!!! Don’t walk in or participate with anything other than Him!!! Be led by the Holy Spirit, and KNOW your Father and His voice!!!
Mathew 12:30-32 Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.
*here it is right in scripture…if you’re not with/for God you’re against Him!! Also, very sobering to realize how SERIOUS this is!! Not to be forgiven in this age or the one to come!! Yikes!!! Let me never speak or be against You or the Holy Spirit!!
Mathew 12:35-37 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
*a storeroom of good and a storeroom of evil. Which one am I adding to and taking from? Another sobering reminder, this time about judgement!! May my words match my actions!! And may my actions reflect You Lord! Amen.
Mathew 12:39 He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
*FAITH, humility and repentance!! Things don’t always appear the way we think they should..and when that happens our first instinct shouldn’t be to ask for a sign, it should be to see with the eyes God wants us to!!
Mathew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.
*very humbling and such an honor to be called God’s family!! May I always choose You and to do Your will!! Amen.
-14th
John 15:4-11 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
CHRISTLIKE LOVE
9 “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.
11 “I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
*Remain in God. Don’t let anything distract you from remaining in Him!! He is our contentment and our joy, we are made complete by following Him and bearing His fruit!!
-13th
Psalm 23:1-6 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.
*God gives us everything we need!!! And He is with us always!!! This familiar Psalm is something more than what I thought…it is deep and utter dependence on God n matter the circumstance, it is seeking and finding His rest amongst turmoil, and not letting turmoil have any effect on me, because I am dwelling with Him in higher places!!! Lord, let this Psalm become LIVING in me!!! Amen.
-13th
Mathew 11:25-28 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. 27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
-13th
Thank you, KELLY (NEO), for sharing from HRT this am. I know that Jesus speaking in parables fulfills scripture. But He uses so many, and I think to myself sometimes… “Why doesn’t He just speak plainly?” That helped clarify for me… calling hearts versus arguing minds, so that we can hear with our hearts and follow Him.
Let us hear and follow with our hearts, sweet sisters.
“The remedy for my fallow heart is the Word.” Keep on strengthening and changing me, Lord. Turn the garbage and the remnants into fertilizer for You ❤️
Too often I am in the rocks and weeds. Holy Spirit lead me and keep me in fertile ground, bearing the fruit of faith, being a light to all. Amen.
From HRT today:
“Why didn’t [Jesus] explain [the parables] to everyone? Why not just speak in plain language to begin with? Because Jesus was calling hearts, not arguing with minds. He spoke to the ears of the heart, and if those ears could hear Him, then the heart would follow Him. . .
“So often we read Scripture and see the words of Jesus. We hear sermons and lessons. We read books and receive teaching. Our minds absorb it and parse it out. Our intellects are stimulated as we put together ideas and arguments. But are we good soil? Is the seed of the Word planted and bearing the fruit of faith? We hear, but do we listen? For that is how we truly know Jesus and enter into His kingdom.”
May I be the “disciple in the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew 13:52 who is bringing new gems of truth as well as old out of the storehouse of my heart so that others may know and understand who Jesus is.
Praying for your requests ❤️
Praying into all requests.
MIA FAITH holding you and yours close.
Much love to ALL.
Might try and come back later on this evening.❤️
I have just lost everything I wrote, by pressing the wrong button! Grrrr!
All I can say on what little time I have left before leaving for work is..
BUT GOD..
He knows, and I guess this was a note between us, Him and I!
Blessings dear hearts, covered in love from across the pond!❤️