One of the most awesome aspects of Jesus’ preaching is His common use of parables — simple, everyday stories that carried profound spiritual truths.

From farmers sowing seeds to lost sheep and prodigal sons, Jesus used these illustrations to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

But why parables? Why not just say things plainly?

Jesus answered this question in Matthew: “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” (Mat 13:10-11, NASB) This answer may seem puzzling at first. Was Jesus trying to hide the truth? In a way, yes — but not to keep it hidden forever.

He used parables to sift hearts. For those with faith, hunger, and humility, the parables drew them in, causing curiosity and prompting reflection. For the others — those with hardened hearts or only slight interest — the stories remained just stories.

Jesus quotes Isaiah in Matthew 13:14-15, saying: “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’” So, us being from the great “Show-Me” state, do we really want to see?

Think about the Parable of the Sower. Jesus describes four kinds of soil — each representing different responses to the Word of God. Listen up farmers, this story isn’t just about agriculture; it’s about us.

Which kind of soil are we? The parable challenges us to evaluate our openness to God’s Word Parables also allowed Jesus to speak truth in a way that was both intense but yet disarming. Religious leaders found themselves convicted by His stories before they even realized they were the targets of the stories.

For example, the Parable of the Good Samaritan exposed the hypocrisy of those who claimed to love God but ignored their neighbors who were in need. The Parable of the Prodigal Son reveals God’s grace — and yet exposes the self-righteousness of those who resented it as his brother did.

But parables weren’t just clever ways of teaching; they were expressions of grace. Jesus wanted to touch the hearts of His listeners, not just their intellects. Stories have a unique way of sticking with us.

You may forget my sermon’s three points, but you’ll remember a story about my wife’s glare at me, my kids’ messy rooms or my motherin- law’s lotions and potions that will trigger you to remember a more important subject.

Jesus told stories that lingered, stories that, over time, could break through hard hearts and lead people to truth.

So, when Jesus spoke in parables, He wasn’t hiding truth to keep people away. He was inviting them to seek, to see to listen so they would draw close to Him.

The next time you read one of Jesus’ parables, ask yourself, “What is Jesus revealing here — not just to the crowd, but to me?”

Don’t just glance but lean in. Listen. Let the story search your heart.

To those who are willing to hear, the secrets of the Kingdom are still being revealed

Scott Mitchell is the pastor at Solid Rock Baptist Church, located at 13704 Farm Road 1040 in Exeter. He may be reached at 417-846-6619.