Riddles and parables....

Riddles and parables...

I was watching a cute video of a child asking her father a riddle over and over again, until at last he just gave up, frustrated not understanding the riddle...she was giggling the whole way through at his half hearted tries the get it....

“Stacey’s mom had four children. The first was named April, the second was named May, the third one was named June...what was the fourth ones name?”

It made me wonder if people walked away from Jesus’ parables frustrated, shaking their heads, wondering what in the world was this guy talking about...

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17 

How Jesus must have rejoiced when he saw “lightbulbs” of understanding in people who understood what he was teaching with his various parables....and on the other hand was saddened by hardened hearts of those who refused to listen  or take heart in what he was teaching...

When His ultimate desire was that none should perish but have everlasting life...

Thank YOU....help us seek your face...wisdom that comes from You...understanding of Your Word...that we don’t walk away, giving up on living/learning your Word...