Why did Jesus teach in parables?

Answer 1

• It is reported that Jesus spoke in riddles some of the time and in ways that could also be misunderstood by some. Maybe there was a lot of hidden meanings there too... some of the parables are excellent philosophy to be used in normal everyday life like taking life one day at a time, only be concerned for the troubles of that day and let tomorrow be concerned for itself. It is also written in the scriptures that "it is not for man to understand God"

• Jesus spoke in parables to illustrate spiritual principles in much the same way parables and analogies are still used. When directed at believers, parables were sometimes used, hence the reason why those who had already refused to believed could not understand them. They had chosen to harden their hearts and had forfeited understanding. This is clear from the quote in Matthew 13: 10-17: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, 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. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but 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. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, 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; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
• It is easy to make the average people to understand his spiritual mission through small stories called parables.
• Many of the parables attributed to Jesus are to be found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and are believed to have been copied by both authors from the hypothetical 'Q' sayings document. 'Q' is only a list of sayings attributed to Jesus and does not tell us when he spoke those sayings or in what context, so the easiest way to insert them into the gospel story was to do so in the form of parables.

Answer 2

Make you think, reach a wide audience and easier to remember if there was an illustration. Jesus spoke in simple parables so anyone could understand. You didn't need to be smart or a genius to understand what he was saying but those who did not believe no matter how smart they were they could not understand what he was telling them - Jesus once praised the father for doing it this way.

Answer 3

Jesus spoke in parables so that ordinary people would not understand, because by understanding, their sins would have been forgiven. In Mark 4:11-12, Jesus explained to the disciples:
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Answer 4

Additional Answer:

In Luke 8:10 we read, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that (now quoting Isaiah 6:9) 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.' "

We humans are a rebellious lot who refuse to have a higher authority telling us what is right and wrong at all times. We like to think of ourselves as 'superior.' We go through the course of history rehashing this refusal for divine guidance at the expense of suffering and death to many, even ourselves at times.

When we stand in the Judgement Process, we will all probably, very quickly say in our defense, we did not know of the correct course or we never knew that. These writings from God will serve as a judgement against our stubbornness or being stiff necked, refusing to listen or read the Scriptures for the truth.

We each can knock and the door is promised to be opened. We may ask in humble supplications and prayer for understanding and it will be given. We must search if we are to find the truth and the Way. It is totally up to each individual and no one else. Most can be understood in this lifetime if we diligently pray and approach the Scripture in complete humbleness and study daily.