QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: In Matthew 13:10-11, it says that Jesus spoke to the crowds that followed Him in parables so that they would not understand. Why wouldn’t He want them to understand?

Answer: If one did not know God’s complete plan, this scripture would be disconcerting. In the context, it shows that the prophet Isaiah in verses 14 and 15 foretold of this very thing. If this Gospel age was the only time that anyone had an opportunity to believe in Jesus, this would seem quite unjust and unloving It would be especially so, since those who heard the parables were excluded at the time Jesus explained their meanings, enlightening only His disciples and leaving the others in the dark. However, it is important to realize that God is sovereign and what seems unjust to us is really quite just.

In John 6:44, Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” This implies that, not all people are drawn to Jesus by the Father. During this Gospel age, God has told us in Acts 15:14-18, that He is “taking out a people for His Name.” It is a time of a special calling, a heavenly calling. The Apostle Paul speaks of this in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” The purpose of this special calling is to find a bride for His Son. (See Rev. 19:7). These are referred to in other terms such as the “church of the first born” (Heb. 12:22-23) and the “body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). Those who are called during this Gospel Age are to be joint-heirs with Jesus in His coming Kingdom (Rom. 8:17). They are also called the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29). The promise to Abraham was that his seed would bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:2-3). This will be their privilege when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom. At that time, resurrected mankind will be instructed in the ways of righteousness without the hindrance of Satan (Rev. 20:1-3). The prophet Isaiah tells us “when God’s judgments are the earth, the inhabitants will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). This is the time for which all Christians have prayed, “Thy Kingdom, Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven” (Matt. 6:9-13). At this time, the prophet Isaiah says the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD and no one will cause harm to anyone (Isaiah 11:9). There are many prophecies of an earthly kingdom promised by the prophets of old. God’s ways are true and just. He has not left anyone out, His Son paid a ransom for “all men, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5).

E. Weeks