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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
fastened his words in their minds as nothing else could have done.
The existing state of things led Jesus to give the parable of the
sower. The people who followed Christ had been disappointed that he
did not set up a new kingdom. Long had they looked for a Messiah
who would exalt and glorify them as a nation, and now that their
expectations were not realized, they refused to receive him as their
Redeemer. Even his chosen disciples were becoming impatient that he
did not assume temporal authority, and his relatives were disappointed
in him and rejected him. They had addressed him in these words:
“Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples may see the works
that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and
he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show
thyself to the world.”
His followers were mortified that the learned and wealthy were not
the most willing to accept Jesus as their Saviour. They felt the stigma
that attached to their Master, because it was the poor, the afflicted,
and the humbler class generally, who became his disciples. Why, they
asked themselves, did not the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers in the
schools of the prophets, acknowledge that he was the long-looked-for
Messiah? It was to meet this doubt and discontent that Jesus spoke this
parable. When the multitude had departed, the twelve with the other
believers gathered about him, and asked him to explain it to them.
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of
the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things
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are done in parables; that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and
hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should
be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said
unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all
parables?” In these words he explained that his illustrations were to
awaken thought in the minds of his hearers. If they desired a fuller
explanation of his words they could ask it of him, as the disciples had
done, and receive it.
The Pharisees understood the parable, but affected not to perceive
its meaning. They closed their eyes lest they should see and their
ears lest they should hear; therefore their hearts could not be reached.
They were to suffer retribution for their willful ignorance and self-
imposed blindness. One reason why he taught so much in parables
was that the spies of the Jews were ever watching to find cause for