Luke 8:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, I do not force anyone; I regard as worthy of enlightenment only those who, through their own free will and desire, endeavor to embrace the salvation I offer. ‘Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened’ (Luke 11:10). Yet, in My boundless compassion, I reach out even to those who lack these virtues of spirit. While My words to them may not carry the same clarity I offer to you, My intention is to inspire and guide them toward a longing for understanding, encouraging them to seek and fulfill the teachings they have received. Through this pursuit, they too will gain insight into the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But you, who diligently inquire of Me in private, are granted the privilege of understanding these truths, so that you may act upon your knowledge. For knowledge alone is not sufficient; it holds value only when it is applied, embodying the essence of what it represents. ‘For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified’ (Rom. 2:13). Do you not see, beloved, that our own apathy and carelessness are the reasons we struggle to grasp and appreciate the sacred teachings? I share this with you in love, as one appointed by divine providence to teach among you: if anyone finds the full meaning of my teachings in the church elusive, I invite them to ask me privately for further clarity, so they may embody what they have heard, with the help of God, who grants me wisdom ‘at the opening of my mouth,’ and also in response to their earnest seeking.

Yet, if we examine the Gospel of Matthew, the obscurity becomes clearer, and the confusion dissipates. It is noted by the venerable Matthew that when they approached Him, they inquired, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables" (Matthew 13:10)? This reveals that the disciples posed two questions. The first, presented by Matthew, was: "Why do you speak to them in parables?" The second, which Matthew did not include, was: "What is this parable?" Jesus responded to the first inquiry by saying, "I speak in parables, for to you who believe in Me, it has been granted by God to understand the mysteries; but to those who do not believe in Me, this gift has not been bestowed due to their lack of faith." He further stated, "It is given to you to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given" (Matthew 13:11). He pointed out that He speaks in parables because those who witness miracles with their physical senses do not perceive them with their spiritual understanding, and those who hear these words with their ears fail to grasp their meaning with their hearts. Therefore, He speaks in parables so that those who see do not truly see, and those who hear do not genuinely hear or comprehend; lest they, in their own understanding, explain away what should remain a mystery, as some prefer to remain unaware without the use of parables. The esteemed Matthew, having recounted the disciples' initial inquiry, addressed the obscurity by stating, "As it is given to you," while also solving the confusion with the phrase, "so that those who see do not see." In this manner, the Lord first addressed the question of why He teaches in parables. Subsequently, He addressed the second question: what this parable signifies, thereby elucidating its original meaning.

However, to ensure that the Pharisees and the broader populace were not completely lacking in inspiration and guidance, the Lord wished to provide them with fundamental moral teachings. Despite the numerous teachers available among the people of Judah, such instruction was often scarce, overshadowed by the intricate studies of rabbinical tradition. Out of love, the Lord did not choose to conceal His profound secrets entirely but devised another method, through parables, that would make these teachings more accessible to the people. Indeed, the parables of the Lord serve as a beautiful fabric crafted from His love and wisdom, designed in part to veil the truth until the appropriate time, to prevent overwhelming the weak, and in part to draw attention to the deeper meanings hidden beneath this mysterious exterior. This form of teaching would also greatly benefit the Lord's disciples as they received clarity on the parables from Him. High spiritual truths, expressed through the imagery of the natural world or human experiences, became easier to grasp, more firmly embedded in memory, frequently recalled, and more vividly resonated in the imagination and heart after such explanations. This mode of instruction not only reflected the inherent duality in human nature, words, and actions, but also aligned with the overarching structure of the Old Testament: which seemed to serve as a grand parable foreshadowing the New. The Jewish people, like many other Eastern cultures, had a particular fondness and appreciation for parables. Furthermore, the Lord Himself had often employed parables to convey His teachings, as seen in the Sermon on the Mount and in His confrontations with the Pharisees (Mt 11:16; Lk 7:36; Mk 3:23). Consequently, the Lord, as He commenced the private instruction of His Apostles, resolved to convey the mysteries of His kingdom exclusively through parables. Here, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven refer to the divine plans regarding the structure and purpose of the New Testament Church. At times, moral truths were also presented in the form of parables (Mt 12:44, 45).

The Gospel of Mark indicates that this inquiry arose when only the twelve and a few intimate followers were near the Lord (Mk. 10), while Matthew does not specify this detail (10), leading one to initially believe that the subsequent answer along with three additional parables were given openly to the entire crowd, until after the fourth parable, when Jesus withdrew to a house (36) and clarified the meaning of the parable concerning the tares in a more private setting with His disciples, eventually sharing three more parables with them alone.

The first part of the Lord's answer to the disciples' question on why He used parables for His teachings indicates that this response was intended solely for the disciples. If one accepts the notion that at this moment, Christ delivered all the parables recorded by Matthew and that this very parable was included, one can envision both the twelve and the Lord's closest companions situated in the boat, allowing for His response to the question to be heard exclusively by them. Following this, He would then share additional parables with the multitude.

The objective of Christ’s parables is primarily to illustrate truths more vividly and clearly using imagery drawn from the visible world or human experiences. In this way, abstract spiritual truths are made perceptible to physical senses and accessible through understanding. The human mind, often preoccupied with earthly concerns and consequently unable to simply ascend to the purely spiritual domain, is gradually guided to a higher understanding through the familiar imagery of parables, as though ascending steps of a ladder. However, Christ's parables serve another purpose, which stands in stark contrast to the first: to obscure truths from those who are unworthy and unable to appreciate or grasp them. Jesus articulated both of these aims regarding His parables. To the disciples’ question about why He spoke to the people in parables, He responded: “To you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Mt. 11). For to them, externally, everything is expressed in parables” (Mk. 11 cf. Lk. 10). He then elucidated why the disciples were afforded the knowledge of the kingdom’s mysteries while the general populace was not, saying: “For whoever has, to him will be given and he will have an abundance, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him” (Mt. 12 cf. Lk. 18). In essence, whoever possesses a genuine longing and capacity to grasp the mysteries of God’s kingdom will find these truths revealed through parables (it will be given), and ultimately, he will receive direct instruction and interpretation (it will be multiplied). Conversely, those lacking this earnest desire, who approach Christ out of mere curiosity or with ulterior motives seeking to twist His teachings, will lose even the semblance of understanding they might think they possess: listening but failing to comprehend the spiritual significance, their knowledge will remain ineffectual, void of impact on their hearts and minds, as mere information without deeper meaning.

To express this insight, Christ referenced a prepositional construct closely related to the circumstances of the rich man and the poor man, applying it to His listeners: “Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see” (Mt. 13). The rationale for Jesus teaching the crowds in parables lies within the audience itself, in their spiritual blindness, which prevents them from recognizing and understanding His works and teachings in their true essence. Furthermore, citing the prophecy of Isaiah (6:9-10 LXX), Jesus illustrates that this prophecy, while applicable to Isaiah's contemporaries, is wholly realized (ἀναπληροδτα, distinct from κληρούχοι) in the spiritual blindness of His present audience; it also emphasizes that this blindness is self-imposed, as they willingly shut their eyes to God’s works around them. In contrast to these spiritually blind individuals, Christ calls His disciples blessed, affirming that they, with their discerning insight, see and comprehend the reality surrounding them (Mt. 16-17).

The prophecy of Isaiah applies to them, stating: "You will hear with your ears, and will not understand, and you will look with your eyes, and will not see; for the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn so that I should heal them" (Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10). The moral decay of many is so profound that they willingly choose to be deaf to the truth and shut their eyes to the profound signs around them, fearing that otherwise they might turn to God and receive salvation. Nevertheless, Christ does not shun them; he continues to impart his teachings about the kingdom of heaven, but he does so in a symbolic manner that requires them to seek the interpretations of the parables for themselves if they choose to do so. Those who genuinely wish to grasp the meaning of the parable and Christ’s teachings will receive understanding, which will deepen within them; conversely, those lacking such a desire will remain impervious to Christ's messages, even if these were presented in a straightforward manner; even the innate knowledge of God that exists within every individual, regardless of their spiritual maturity, will not be of aid to them; it will slip away like something taken from them (Matthew 13:12). For the apostles, who abandoned all earthly attachments to follow Christ and thus found true faith and a heartfelt desire to adhere to his teachings, the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven became available to them; they possess the insight that eludes those who lack faith and yearning, rendering them unable to hear or see and comprehend.

To reiterate, the opportunity to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven is granted to some while being withheld from others. This provision emanates from God; He offers comprehension of the mysteries Christ has revealed to certain individuals while keeping it from others. It would be erroneous to view God as unjustly allocating these essential gifts. Humanity is created in God's image and likeness, which allows all to grasp the mysteries revealed by Christ. These mysteries are not complex; rather, they are straightforward and accessible, if not through the intellect, then through the heart. Belief in Him who has disclosed these mysteries is essential (John 6:28-29). One must either trust or seek to be convinced of Christ’s divinity, in which case this opportunity lies with each individual. Those who engage with the Gospel openly, free from the constraints of false teachings, will find themselves in a position to comprehend the mysteries disclosed by the Lord. Should one be so deeply entranced by misleading doctrines that the revelations of Christ become beyond reach, it is ultimately their own actions that render understanding unattainable. Typically, when confronting failure, it is wise to first examine oneself: have I contributed to the difficulty experienced? Such self-reflection often reveals that one is indeed at fault. Therefore, Christ's statement—that it has been given to the apostles to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven while it is not given to those who have hardened their hearts—should be interpreted in this light: those who have renounced worldly ties and fully followed Him have thereby been granted the privilege to understand the revelations He brings. In contrast, those who are consumed by self-interest and have darkened their minds through erroneous teaching have effectively barred themselves from grasping these truths. The circumstances individuals create for themselves ultimately dictate their capacity to comprehend divine mysteries. Anyone who conditions themselves favorably for such understanding, cultivating the essential elements for discerning the truth, will be granted that insight, which will grow within them. Conversely, those who position themselves unfavorably for spiritual knowledge, thereby diminishing any innate longing for God and understanding of Him, will find themselves deprived of even the most basic yearnings shared by all humanity.

Let these visible symbols be etched in the minds of individuals, so that in a more receptive state, they may guide them toward a deeper understanding that is currently beyond their grasp. Only the chosen disciples are granted the understanding of “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,” to whom the Saviour could reveal the meanings behind the outward symbols of the parable as their messengers.