Teaching in the Savior's Way Christ's Use of Parables to Teach the Word of God

Christ's Use of Parables to Teach the Word of God

When His disciples asked "Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Why this distinction between His disciples and them? He explains by telling His disciples that "whosoever hath, to him shall be given...and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand" (Matt. 13:10-13 emphasis added). 

He further tells His disciples that "in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed" (Matt. 13:14-15). 

Are we them?

When Isaiah was given his mission as recorded in Isaiah 6, the Lord said to Isaiah: "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes..." (Isaiah 6:10 emphasis added).

The people referred to as them and this people reflect both ancient and latter-day Israel (Mormon/Ephramite Gentiles) who rejected their covenant relationship with Jehovah, otherwise He would have used the term my people. When they grow alienated, they see things their way not his (Isaiah 55:8-9). Hence the words, "Go on hearing, but not understanding; Go on seeing but not perceiving." As Jehovah forewarns, a wayward people's typical response when a prophet appeals to them to repent is to harden their hearts and dull their senses. 

But there also exists a redeeming side to Isaiah's, as well as Christ's, words. "Seeing" with the eyes, "hearing" with the ears, "understanding" in the heart, and "repenting," at the same time, constitutes the Savior's formula for "healing" or salvation. Some people do repent and become the "holy offspring." Typifying them are Christ's disciples, who do hear, see, understand and repent, while at the same time others harden their hearts and do not repent.

Even though He spoke only parables to this second group, He spoke His parables to all, but purposely did not expound upon them except to His disciples. But in His parables He taught His Father's words and doctrine. "And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them his doctrine" (Mark 4:2 emphasis added). "And with so many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone he expounded all things to his disciples" (Mark 4:33-34 emphasis added). He emphasizes that He uses parables to teach God's words when He asks concerning the parable of the sower. "Know ye not this parable?" And if not "How then will ye know all parables?" (Mark 4:13).

His parables then are not just stories used to illustrate a point, but are His word and His doctrine, given to all of us as we are able to hear them. We may hear the parable, but we may not hear His word, His doctrine or of things to come, and therefore will not understand the parable. Why? Because we have hardened our heart against the word, do not know His word, have not received His words and do not desire to. 

He answers the question "Why?" with a question: "Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word" (John 8:43 emphasis added). They that have, will hear, and they that do not have, will not hear. "And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they (His words) are they which testify of me" (John 5:38-39). 

Those for whom it is given to know the mysteries of God are those who receive the word of God and desire more of the word of God, and to those who harden their hearts against the word are those who will not receive more and will lose even that which they have. (Alma 12:9-10; 3 Nephi 26:9-11; cf. Mark 4:11) His words are not to be trifled with, but as King Benjamin reminds us we must hearken unto the voice of God and open our ears that we may hear, and our minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to our view. (Mosiah 2:9)

There is another reason the Lord speaks in parables which is of vital importance to Latter-day Saints. It is a test for us--to try our faith. If every thing was clearly spelled out, there would be no test of faith, and this would destroy the purposes of the Lord. The Lord purposely withholds things, speaks in part, or in allegory, so that only those who diligently seek the truth will find it. At the same time, the scriptures contain enough ambiguity so as to satisfy some of us who may be content with what we have. 

When this pattern--of some continuing to learn and others not--is perpetuated for a while, especially as to the prophecies of Isaiah and those contained in the Book of Mormon, and then the Lord suddenly reveals something new, those in the act of seeking the truth will gladly receive it, having already gained some understanding of it, and being now desirous to receive more. Those not seeking the truth, on the other hand, will reject it, being unprepared to deal with many new things at once. The Lord knew that many would reject the words of Isaiah as well as reject the words of His Father which He had been commanded to teach during his mortal ministry. And He knew that the same would happen in His last dispensation, and that many of us would fail the test of our faith.

Nephi made this clear in 3 Nephi 26:6-11, when he said that "there cannot be written in this book even a hundreth part of the things (the words ) which Jesus did truly teach unto his people," and the things which he wrote were but a lesser part of the things which Jesus did teach the people. He did this "to try their faith, and if it shall be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation." (emphasis added) Nephi wanted, however, to write them all "but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people." 

Even though the Book of Mormon contains the plainest writing found in any scripture on such subjects as the atonement, gospel ordinances, repentance and events of the last days, and, even though the Book of Mormon contains so many "plain and precious parts" as to constitute "the fulness of the gospel" (1 Nephi 19:3; D&C 20:8-9), it represents but the "lesser part" of what Jesus taught the Nephites (3 Nephi 26:8-11; cf. Mormon 8:12). Also not included are the things Nephi, Mormon and Moroni were "forbidden" to write (1 Nephi 14:28; 3 Nephi 26:11; Ether 13:13).

Considering that there exist even more "plain and precious parts" of the word of God than are presently in our possession, we might ask, what have we done with what we have, so that some day, hopefully soon, we will receive more? Do we look forward to receiving yet "other books" that are now withheld so that we might feast upon additional words of Christ? In fact, the Book of Mormon itself responds to these questions: "Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show you the greater things, the knowledge of which is hid up because of unbelief" (Ether 4:13; cf. 1 Nephi 13:40).

Do we suppose the Holy Ghost would confirm Isaiah's words to our understanding if we had not first kept Jesus' commandment to search them diligently?

In view of the abundance of scriptural evidence about additional records which we have not yet received, which of these two latter-day events would more fully correspond to the Mormon Gentiles' response, "A Bible! A Bible!"? Of the two ways which we can interpret this prophecy, do we accept what the Book of Mormon is actually telling us or do we subscribe to the current popular opinion? (It is other Christians who say this!) Our answer to this question will impact immensely which category we belong to--those who hear and desire more, or those who do not hear, and will lose what they have.

To those who asked Jesus about a parable, He asked:  "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive?