Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” There are actually several instances in the Scripture when something very similar takes place. The prophet Habakkuk declares to Israel that God was going to raise up the dreadfully violent Chaldeans to plunder the land. But his explanation included, “…for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Habakkuk 1:5).

We learn from Matthew 13:3 that the Lord Jesus “…spake many things unto them in parables.” A parable is a similitude or comparison, but the root word means something thrown alongside. At this point in our Lord’s ministry, it was apparent the nation of Israel was largely rejecting Him as their Messiah and King. Therefore, going forward, except when speaking to His apostles, He nearly always addresses the masses in parables. In effect, He was walking away from aggressive ministry to the nation to focus His time and attention on preparing the “little flock” of believers for future ministry after His departure. But, as He walks away from Israel as a whole, He throws alongside those who would not respond to Him in faith, a number of parables. We do well to fully understand these parables were NOT to reveal spiritual truths or make them easier to understand. It was to conceal spiritual truths and make it more difficult for His enemies to mount further attacks against Him. Matthew 13:13-15 makes this abundantly clear when Christ explains to His disciples why He now spoke in parables, “because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand… For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed….”

It is always a serious and dangerous thing to have the privilege of being exposed to spiritual truth, and then refuse to respond as the Lord would have us respond. God’s divine purpose in giving divine truth is that it might change us, or transform us for the better. This is true for the lost that need to respond to the gospel and be saved from eternal punishment through faith. But it is equally true for believers who are to allow God’s Word to change their daily walk. Are there any areas in your life where the Lord has shown you His will and you have remained unchanged? Right now is the time to surrender to His Will.