Difficult Sayings

Difficult Sayings
Words of Faith 11-16-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 4
[10] When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. [11] He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"

Jesus pulled away alone with the Twelve and the others who were followers. They were wondering about His teaching style, not just the parable of the sower. They wanted to know why Jesus taught in parables. The response that follows is considered to be a "hard saying."
In the clearest form, Jesus answers that parables are told so that some will not be able to understand and be forgiven. If you are shocked, just know that you are not the only one. Scholars have tried and tried to soften up the saying. The parallels in other Gospels are not even as blunt. But it is difficult to make this say anything else, so we must try to understand.
First, we must understand that Jesus was speaking about a manner in which Scripture was being fulfilled. In Isaiah 6:9‑10, it is prophesied that Messiah would teach in parables and those around Him would be ever seeing but never perceiving, ever hearing but never understanding. Sadly, the description is quite appropriate for our age, time, and culture.
Second, it may well have been important for Jesus to speak in a way that concealed the truth of who He was from "outsiders," or those who were persistent unbelievers. The point was not that God did not want them to be forgiven, only that because of their hardness of heart they would not be forgiven. Jesus was not yet ready to surrender to the violence that would be His final sacrifice so He had to be careful. This may be why His teaching was guarded and in the form of parables.
Third, we just need to accept that sometimes Jesus says hard things that we don't understand. Why is this so difficult for us? Does everything have to make sense in our rational examination?
We so quickly forget the word of the Lord, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The hard sayings of Jesus in the Scripture serve as a poignant reminder for us to refrain from judging from our subjective opinion of Jesus. We are often quick to judge the leading of the Lord saying: "Oh Jesus would never say something like that!" We should be careful.
The hard sayings of Jesus remind us that sometimes Jesus said and says things that are uncomfortable and difficult. There are times when the sayings of Jesus are not just something to wrestle with, but they wrestle with us. We do not always read the Word, but the Word reads us.

Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Reveal to me the mysteries I can bear. Give me faith to trust You with the rest. Give me courage to receive Your Word even if it is hard. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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