After Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, His disciples asked Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10).
When Jesus answered them, He divided the audience into two groups. People who were devoted followers of God’s purpose were given insight into the parables, but the apathetic and the opponents of God’s kingship remained in the dark.
“He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
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.’” (Matthew 13:11-12).
A Similar Mission
All four Gospels record Jesus quoting the message God gave Isaiah during his call into service. To understand God’s message to the prophet and the Savior, we need to put it into context.
Isaiah 5 contains a parable of sorts, commonly called “The Song of the Vineyard.” Matthew 13 begins with Jesus telling the Parable of the Sower. Both of these stories have something in common: what was planted was expected to produce a good crop.
The song in Isaiah 5 reveals the hard work of the vinegrower and the poor crop of unusable grapes. The Parable of the Sower speaks of three ways the crop ends in failure. Jesus’ quote from Isaiah reveals God’s actions toward people who are expected to produce fruit but who fail to do so.
A Harsh Prophecy
The vineyard of the Lord in Isaiah failed to produce good fruit because the people chose to live autonomously and distant from Yahweh. Jesus’ opponents refused His authority because they wanted self-determination. In doing so, they fell under God’s judgment.
“The reason I speak to them in parables is that seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand. With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
You will indeed listen but never understand,
and you will indeed look but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:13-15).
Anyone who reads Isaiah 5 will discover attitudes and actions that were current in Jesus’ day and remain so in ours. For example: the rich acquired more at the expense of the poor. People pursued entertainment and pleasure, but not the knowledge of God. Justice was denied by exchanging the truth for a lie and honest judgments for bribes.
When our actions ignore God and actively oppose Him, we cannot expect to be able to understand the parables.
Good News
People who are devoted to Jesus and God’s purposes through Him are in a different category. They are the field in the Parable of the Sower that produces a good crop. As such, Jesus helps them understand the parables.
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16).
There is another good news aspect to this story. This section of Jesus’ message is contained in a book called a “Gospel” or good news. The end of the story contains the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.
I expect we all can relate to portions of troubling passages in Matthew or Isaiah, but praise God for His grace. As we turn to Him in repentance and faith, He forgives us and opens our eyes to how to live the best life possible.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 