Last Sunday in our exploration of all the nature imagery in Mark 4, we didn’t take time to delve into 4:11-12. In between Jesus’ Parable of the Four Soils and his explanation of it, he says to the disciples: To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”
Pastor Sam Storms gives helpful input here: Jesus taught in parables for three reasons depending on his audience—whether there was a genuine interest, a real readiness to hear and follow … or not!
First, Jesus “often taught in parables to conceal his teaching from those outside who were hostile to him: the Sadducees, Pharisees, scribes, Roman authorities, etc.” Second, Jesus “also taught in parables to disarm his listeners…” and get under the skin of any hesitation or defensiveness—as was true of Nathan’s parable to King David (2 Samuel 12). Third, “He taught in parables to confirm the rebellious state” of hardened hearts, of entrenched rebel souls (not unlike the idea in Romans 1:24, 26, 28, “God gave them up…”).
Does this mean Jesus didn’t want people to repent? No. He invites all to come, repent, believe! Storms goes on, “We are certainly not to envision a situation in which these crowds have experienced the conviction of sin, are repentant, and now desire to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, but Jesus, knowing this, speaks to them in parables to prevent them from being saved. That is simply false. It is not as if these multitudes are crying out for salvation from Jesus but he hardens their hearts and refuses to receive them.… anyone who comes to Christ will be received; no one shall be turned away or cast [out] (John 6:37-38). Rather, the people from whom Jesus conceals the truth by speaking in parables have already become hard of heart and dull of mind through willful … rejection of his message.”
And this parable—a puzzle, a riddle—allows him to do this. Just think of it: same story for all who listen; same Gospel to all who hear it … but the hearts of people respond so differently! So I’d say: Let’s pray! Ask God to soften hard hearts—to help indifferent souls to wake up, have ears to hear the Word, and turn to Jesus for life!
