It’s no secret that Jesus likes to teach with parables. Why, we may wonder, is that? What’s the purpose behind this kind of teaching?

In the 13th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ disciples ask Him just that – and the response they get is even more bewildering than the parables themselves!

“To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given,” Jesus says. “For to those who have more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away” (Matt 13:11-12).

This is disturbing, to say the least! Are we really to believe (as the Calvinists do) that God has predestined some to receive the truth and be saved, and leaves others to perish in ignorance and sin? This hardly seems like something a loving God would do.

And yet, I know from experience that there’s some truth to this. There are people who spend their whole lives searching for God, and never seem to find Him; and then there are others who are soaked in God’s love – and haven’t done anything much to deserve it.

As much as I don’t like this, I have to admit that life is often like this – though I think it would be folly to extrapolate into eternity based on our experiences here and now.

Still, I’ve often wondered why God reveals the truth to some, and keeps it hidden from others. It seems pretty arbitrary and unfair.

I got a measure of clarity on this point recently, after reading Brian McLaren’s book The Secret Message of Jesus.

“Why did Jesus speak in parables?” McLaren writes. “Why was he subtle, indirect, and secretive? Because his message wasn’t merely aimed at conveying information. It sought to precipitate something more important: the spiritual transformation of the hearers. A parable renders its hearers not as experts, not as know-it-alls, not as scholars, but as children” (The Secret Message of Jesus, 46).

After reflecting on this, I came to see that the difference between the masses and Jesus’ inner ring of disciples is largely one of pride.

Those who are prideful, who believe they have all the answers, will not be helped by a straightforward presentation of spiritual truth.

They will very likely dismiss it, thinking they know better. But parables have the power to confound such people – to break down their walls and force them to think.

With this in mind, I render the problematic verses this way: “To you who are humble, it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to the prideful it has not been given. For to those who have wonder and humility, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing (except for their foolish pride), even this will be taken away.”

Sometimes people have to suffer a loss before they can gain true spiritual insight. Sometimes people have to be blinded before they can see the light.

As Jesus says in another context, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind” (John 9:39).

Nothing kills spiritual growth more quickly than certainty.

To those who already have all the answers, nothing Jesus (or anyone else) says will make much difference. But thankfully, God hasn’t given up on the prideful. Indeed, God will do whatever needs to be done to break down our resistance to the truth.

Jesus also tells us that those who have received an abundance of spiritual blessings have a responsibility to share this with others.

What starts out as a hidden message is ultimately meant for the benefit of all. Indeed, the gospel of Matthew closes with these words:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the ages” (Matt 28:19-20).

If Jesus is always with us, the plan cannot fail. Knowing this, we can share the gospel with confidence.

To those who know Jesus, it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven – and these mysteries are meant to be shared.