Answer: Jesus related simple stories using figurative language to show literal happenings. He is the great Master in the use of parables to illustrate spiritual truths.

His disciples observed His way of speaking with the large groups of people who came to hear him, so they asked Him (Matthew 13: 10-16): “Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”

We live in an age in which faith is essential. The understanding of God’s Word is only for those who have an ear to hear, and who have enough of the qualities necessary for spiritual understanding, such as humility, meekness, and a hunger and thirst for the Truth. Those who lack these qualities tend toward becoming self-willed and to prefer one’s own opinions rather than those of others. The majority of our Lord’s audience lacked the necessary qualities, so it was merciful on His part that He did not speak plainly to them; for that would have undervalued the Truth and done damage to the hearers by making them more responsible for hearing the Truth and then rejecting it (Romans 11: 32).

Of course, He would always explain the interpretation to His disciples privately. For them it was part of the “profitable teaching” needed for their development (2 Timothy 3: 16). Blessed are those who fully reverence Him, for to such only is “the secret of the LORD” revealed (Psalm 25: 14).

What a wonderful prospect lies ahead for those who do not have eyes to see or ears to hear at the present time, for after the development of God’s faith classes are completed and His earthly Kingdom is fully ushered in, His Word says that “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped” (Isaiah 35: 5).

‍