Bible Study Devotional – Day 189 – Commentary Luke 8:9-10 – Why would Jesus not want us to understand His parables?

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.” (Luke 8:9-10)

Through research, psychologist John Gottman established the perfect praise to criticism ratio of 5:1 in marriage. It’s also true in the workplace or among family and friends. Humans are offended by negative comments unless they’re given in love.

Be honest. Have you ever noticed the above scripture in quotes before? If your answer is, “No,” Jesus didn’t want you to understand the parable’s deeper meaning. Without digging deeper, we think the parable of the soils is about  receiving God’s love to become good soil. Then we grow a good crop by passing on God’s love to others. He wants us to take in this positive message first.

God wants us to see only the depth of His love when we are children or new believers; it’s all we’re ready for. When we want to become disciples, we dig into the word to discover its deeper meaning. The parable of the soils also has the stinging message we have rocks and thorns embedded in our hearts we need to expel. We need to change to become disciples.

Dearest Father in Heaven, thank you for giving me love so great You sacrificed Your only Son. Help me change to be the best possible disciple. Continue to spread seed on me so I can flourish for you. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Bible Study Devotional – Day 189 – Commentary Luke 8:9-10 – Why would Jesus not want us to understand His parables?

5 thoughts on “Bible Study Devotional – Day 189 – Commentary Luke 8:9-10 – Why would Jesus not want us to understand His parables?

  1. No, I have not seen the above scripture in quotes before. Am I understanding this correctly, a parable is always criticism? Therefore, if you do not understand the parable you do not know the depth of God’s love? I thought a parable was a story that shows a moral or a lesson.

    1. A parable does show a moral or lesson. The parable of the soils is a lesson that most Christians are familiar with, but we skip over the parts that don’t make sense like “though seeing, they do not see.” We have to dig to see its deeper meaning. Without digging deeper, we think the parable of the soils is about loving, being good soil, so we can be fruitful for God. God wants us only to see the depth of His love when we are children or new believers; it’s all we’re ready for. When we want to become disciples, we begin digging into the word and discover its deeper meaning — that we have rocks and thorns embedded in our hearts we need to get rid of. Anyway, this devotion needs a rewrite. Once again I did not make it clear. Thanks for your help!

  2. The re-write makes a lot more sense to me. Thanks for clearing it up and now I understand about the deeper meaning. The parable of the seed is complicated! Thanks for helping me understand it better.

    1. Thanks for letting me know my message wasn’t clear. I’m glad I was able to explain it better. I shouldn’t expect my readers to be mind readers.

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