Why did Jesus speak in parables? (Jesus Christ, moral, disciples, bible)

[(Q)]

He gave us prophets to understand Him

You know, I see these "prophets" everywhere standing on street corners and in parks. They all say something different from the other. Who am I to believe?

[Corban]

"That may be true however in the unlikely event the Bible was written by men alone, the same men who were proclaimed to be prophets, the same men who probably established the church and sent other men out to continue more of the same.
I find it amazing that you don't even bother to consider all these things were made by men and men alone."

I have considered that, it is necessary to consider something is false if one is really trying to find out if it is true. and in this process i decided to accept it as true. now it must be pointed out, i do not have a perfect knowledge of this, but i do believe in the things i have learned i believe in the feelings i have had and the experiences i have had, and i choose to continue following them and continuing to grow in that belief


"Yet, sets me up for immediate and everlasting failure by not agreeing with him. In other words, he quite literally puts a gun to my head.[/quote]

no, the gun can only be to your head if God exists and His teachings are true, if they are false then you have nothing to worry about. and if God exists the gun only exists if we reject true principles, because then you would have to be subject to the consequence of disobeying. So find out if God lives, if He does, follow Him, if not you have nothing to worry about

[Corban]

Originally Posted by (Q)

He gave us prophets to understand Him

You know, I see these "prophets" everywhere standing on street corners and in parks. They all say something different from the other. Who am I to believe?

excellent question, if they say different things they can not all be true. Use that intellegence you have and start to sift through, also pray to God to help you sift. if you find one you feel good about, logically and also have good feelings about then listen more and study more, start to apply those teachings and see if they are good.

[Lightkeeper]

Please get back on topic. The question was why did Jesus explain the parables only to his disciples and not to the general public.

[(Q)]

I have considered that, it is necessary to consider something is false if one is really trying to find out if it is true. and in this process i decided to accept it as true.

So, irregardless of the inconsistencies, contradictions and fabrications, you still accepted the Bible as truth? Sorry, but I see no process in that.

you have nothing to worry about

... except for those who believe in imaginary gods, of course.

if you find one you feel good about

Unfortunately, after listening awhile, one quickly realizes they are all raving lunatics.

[Ronald]

Originally Posted by harold e. rice

Lu 8:10

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to

others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Doesn’t make much sense to me.

IT DOES TO ME!

Seek first.
God could make you, Whatever, but he doesn't make you do anything.
Made paths, made the way, made the maps, made the compass, he leaves the doing up to you! Shabbat Shalom.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Ronald

IT DOES TO ME!

Seek first. ... Shabbat Shalom.

A strange response from someone who demonstrates such little understanding of the Tanach and Midrash. Had you known half of what you pretend to know you would have noted, at the very least, that Luke 8:9 is a reference to Isaiah 6:9.

Be that as it may, and no matter what the providence of the parables, I see no reason to attribute the appended reference to Jesus. It sounds very much like Luke up to his gonads in the transition from Jerusalem-based Jewish sect to Rome-based gentile cult, replete with a gnostic tinge that would become far more apparent in John. It reads as early 2nd century propaganda, as does the rest of Luke's absurd anti-Pharisiac pericopes.

Shabbat Shalom

[Surrealgurl]

Mark 4:10-12
But, when he was in private...the twelve asked him the meaning of the parable. And he said, "You are permitted to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to those outside, these things are said in parables, so that they may see but not perceive, and may hear but not understand. Otherwise, they would be converted, and their sins would be forgiven"

Here Jesus is admitting that he uses parables to intentionally disguise his messages in order to deceive some people so they would not be saved!

[linwood]

"But my question was why did he only want his disciples to understand? Why didn't he want everyone to understand?"

Because if they truly understood they wouldn`t believe.


"Lu 8:10

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to

others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Doesn’t make much sense to me."

It makes perfect sense if you`re promoting a sham.

[dan]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Please get back on topic. The question was why did Jesus explain the parables only to his disciples and not to the general public.

Knowledge of a principle of the Gospel means responsibility to live up to that principle. If you do not know that it is wrong to have pre-marital sex then you are not responsible for obeying that law. Once you understand it, however, you become liable to it. Christ knew that certain people were incapable of living up to the standards He was setting, so He masked them in parables to protect them in their ignorance. The spiritually mature would understand and live up to the principles being taught. This is one of the reasons.

Another is the fact that so many different levels of comprehension of certain principles can be obtaiend through the use of parables. Christ taught people of all levels of understanding with very few parables. The Gospel is simple enough for the most simple-minded, and deep enough for the most intellectual. His parables crossed the spectrum of complexity; from the most general to the most sublimely intricate.

Another reason is the simple fact that Oriental peoples tended to speak with much more flavor and imagery in that time. We, as occidental people, are used to an analytical and jejune vernacular, but they communicated through stories, pictures and anecdotes. You can still talk to someone from an eastern culture and feel like they're painting you an elaborate picture in your mind especially for you.