““The Purpose The Purpose of the of the

Parables”Parables”

““And when he was alone, those around And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the him with the twelve asked him about the

parables. And he said to them, ‘To you parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed

hear but not understand, lest they hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”’” should turn and be forgiven.”’”

(Mark 4:10–12, ESV)(Mark 4:10–12, ESV)

The SettingThe Setting

The SignificanceThe Significance““And he said to them, ‘To you has And he said to them, ‘To you has

been given the secret of the been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those kingdom of God, but for those

outside everything is in parables, outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but so that “they may indeed see but

not perceive, and may indeed hear not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they but not understand, lest they

should turn and be forgiven.”’”should turn and be forgiven.”’”(Mark 4:11–12, ESV)(Mark 4:11–12, ESV)

The SignificanceThe Significance

“…“…I will open my mouth in I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden parables, I will utter things hidden

since the creation of the world.” since the creation of the world.” (MT 13:35)(MT 13:35)

The SignificanceThe Significance

““No one can come to me unless the No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. Father who sent me draws him.

And I will raise him up on the last And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44, ESV)day.” (John 6:44, ESV)

The SignificanceThe Significance

““You will seek me and find me, You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your when you seek me with all your

heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)

The SecretThe Secret““And he said to them, ‘To you has And he said to them, ‘To you has

been given the secret of the been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those kingdom of God, but for those

outside everything is in parables,’” outside everything is in parables,’” (Mark 4:11, ESV)(Mark 4:11, ESV)

The SecretThe Secret““For the kingdom of God is not a For the kingdom of God is not a

matter of eating and drinking, but matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in of righteousness, peace and joy in

the Holy Spirit,”the Holy Spirit,”(RO 14:17)(RO 14:17)

The SecretThe Secret

For he has rescued us from the For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he us into the kingdom of the Son he

loves, (COL 1:13)loves, (COL 1:13)

ImplicationsImplications1.1. Have Faith in JesusHave Faith in Jesus2.2. Spend Time with JesusSpend Time with Jesus