Jesus often spoke in parables, using everyday examples and illustrations to explain deep spiritual concepts. They convey eternal truths and offer glimpses into who God is and what it looks like to follow Him. He often spoke in parables to a mixed crowd, both believers and unbelievers.
For those in the crowd that didn’t know Jesus, these parables would fall on deaf ears. They would be confused and wouldn’t understand what Jesus was saying. I can imagine it would be easy to dismiss it and not truly try to gain some understanding if they weren’t following Jesus and had that desire to press in. In comparison, the disciples would listen, contemplate, and then ask questions when they didn’t understand. They had a desire to really know who Jesus was and how they could look more like Him, which is reflected by their questioning and leaning into the harder-to-grasp concepts.
What do we do?
Let us follow the example of the disciples, who, after hearing a parable, approached Jesus for its meaning. As we meditate on His words, the Holy Spirit will help us understand the deep meaning behind each story. As we seek to understand, Jesus will reveal the truths within these parables to us. He will guide us in applying these lessons to our lives, empowering us to live as citizens of His kingdom and share His truth with others!