Mark 4:10-12 - The Purpose of Parables

Mark 4:10-12
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”

Message: The Purpose of Parables

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

I loved that first message in Mark 4:1-9 and maybe its true that the Gospel of John doesn't have many teachings, but rather presents Jesus in all his wanderings and dealings with people, but I love texts about teaching and uncovering truths.

Here now, Jesus has just taught a large crowd, going out on a boat, possibly to project his voice better, possibly also because of the size of the crowd. He shared the parable of the sower and now He will speak of the purpose of the parable and take time to explain it.

Verse 10 begins - As soon as he was alone - as if, once again, after speaking to a large group, Jesus desires to be alone -- to take a moment and pray possibly, to rest, to go to the Father. This seems consistent, like in 1:35 it speaks of him going to a lonely place in the dark. Many are around Jesus but he also needs time to be alone or just be with his disciples. 

His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. This is interesting as we know there were 12 disciples/apostles called by Jesus and following him, but here there are also followers mentioned that seems different from the very great multitude mentioned in verse 1 that Jesus is speaking to. Again, he is speaking of being alone so alone meant followers as well as His apostles.  Thus, there is some sort of an inner circle that isn't just made up of the 12, but also includes others. While there is an inner group, there are others that simply keep following Jesus around. It is to these individuals that Jesus is speaking directly to and that are asking him about the parables.

And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”

First of all, to his followers and twelve, he says - to you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God. In other words, you have been given the unveiling of the gospel of truth and you have been called. Jesus is distinguishing 2 groups of people -- the group that heard the parables was the 'great multitude', but this is different from his 'followers and disciples.' I think he is explaining that those who seek after Him, who are not just there to listen and perhaps only seek a healing touch, to that group - his followers - they have been given access unto the mystery of the kingdom of God. The text says that the mystery has been given. Mystery seems also to be a way of saying the gospel or salvation or saving knowledge has been given. To have this knowledge of God and who He is obviously requires a passing down, a grafting in, of this knowledge by God to man. 

But those who are outside get everything in parables. The KJV says but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. Are the parables there to prick the ears of the crowd? Each set grouping -- the multitude and the followers -- receive the same message, but to the followers it is given, and to the multitude it is done or presented. I think this is a distinction. They obviously have a familiar reading to them, a story, and yet they also have a deeper meaning. As this one says, we need to seed on good soil. That has multiple applications to it, but for the followers of Christ, it has a more specific meaning.

Second, Jesus further clarifies the meaning of the parables. After speaking the parable to everyone and  perhaps more chiefly the great multitude that have come to Jesus for many different reasons - some true, some not -- Jesus now quotes from Isaiah, which is the most quoted book in the New Testament. The context of the quote is the calling of Isaiah and his commission. Here is the full text of Isaiah 6:8-10:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’ “Make the heart of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

This is a rather interesting passage that I heard preached last Sunday in service. The Lord calls Isaiah and Isaiah responds. And then the message that the Lord gives Isaiah to preach is perhaps a little shocking because the Lord lets Isaiah know that his ministry will not be met with a lot of positive response. At first it sounds sarcastic: the people will listen, but not understand. Their ears will be dull from your preaching and their eyes dim. Otherwise they might see and hear and understand and be healed. I like Matthew Henry's comments on this passage:

God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.

So bringing it back to this text, Jesus seems to acknowledge that many will be around him. They may see, but not perceive. They may hear, but not understand.

There is a sober reality that the preaching of the Word does not always merit converts. Man is born a natural man, with a sin nature and bent towards things not of God. Throughout life, the ruler of this world puts forth his message of tolerance, conformity, indoctrination, selfishness, always questioning the events of life, dissatisfied, that life is about complete freedom from trouble, danger, risk and each persons path is to live long with little trials, and that we each create our own destiny. These messages are everywhere in our world and they really contradict the message of God. Some will be given the mystery, but many will just hear messages.

Promise: God calls people to himself. Man is called to preach the gospel. Some will listen and receive. Some will just listen.

Prayer: Lord, how can it be that you have saved me. How can it be. Keep me humble and gentle toward others. Help me to have sympathy. Thank you for the wonderful treat it is to be able to experience the fullness of joy from reading your word and hearing you speak to me throughout my life. Life is full of meaning because you are in me, speaking, directing. Forgive me for ignoring you all too often. Forgive me for too often committing adultery and not choosing my marriage with You, but rather being a friend to the world. Lord, I am a sinner. There is no changing that here on earth. I have a sin nature. And I am a filthy rag. But, you are holy and you have chosen to live inside of me and take up residence and breath holiness in me. Lord, if I had it my way, all would know you. But, I am not here God to ask you 'why' as the clay does not ask the potter 'why have you made me this way.' But rather I am here to trust you and believe that your authority over me is right and true. To have the peace that I have is a wonderful thing. Once again, keep me humble. I thank you and praise you God.