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Parables

He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ (Luke 8:10).

For many years I thought that Jesus taught the parables so that the people could understand a heavenly meaning by hearing an earthly illustration. That is what I'd been taught in junior church. My understanding was way off the mark. 

Jesus began to speak in parables to confound the unbelievers. Those who had rejected him as Messiah would be left scratching their head in confusion. As illustrated in the parable of the soils, even his followers didn't get what he was saying. 

It's the same way today. Many people read or hear the Word and it doesn't make sense to them. It might be in simple English, or whatever their language, but they can't understand the meaning or the application.

This fact shouldn't discourage our evangelistic work, it should help us to understand that our efforts are not in vain. Confusion or rejection should teach us to realize that the results of our labors are in God's hands. He brings the harvest. What we do is merely a part of the process. 

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