Mark 16:14-20 - Is it a parable?
An examination of the Revivalist understanding
By Drew Dixon

Part 2 - Parables & the disciples

In these verses from Mark 16, Jesus was only speaking to the eleven disciples, (see verse 14). Parables were not generally given to keep spiritual truths from this group of people (though the RCI article seems to disagree). If the disciples did not understand, Jesus often explained the parable to them when they were alone. This can be seen in the following verses:-.

Matthew 13:10-17

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Mark 4:11

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 are done in parables:

Mark 4:33-34

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

The above scriptures bear strong testimony that Jesus would not have been speaking in parables to his disciples as they were alone at this time and his goal was not generally to hide things from them, particularly post resurrection - (see the next article).

The Voice Of Revival article is really only quoting half the scripture when making the appeal to Matthew 13:34-35. This article then makes some odd statements and Scripture linking to try and prove their point. It goes on to say that Jesus said the disciples would be 'without understanding until they were converted' (this of course bringing Pentecost & tongues into the picture) I have included the complete quote here for clarity:-

June 1999 VOR "Jesus spoke in parables" quotes the following Scripture:-

Matthew 13:34-35

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

It then it goes on immediately to state:-

"The disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables and He explained that they would be without understanding until they were converted. We read how he admonished the erring Peter with these words: 'But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when though art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' (Luke 22:32). Peter and his associates were converted on the Day of Pentecost and the meaning of the parables became clear to them. (Acts 3:12-26)"

The Scriptures quoted in the above text (Luke 22:32 and Acts 3:12-26) simply do not support what the article says they do. As mentioned, it seems Jesus generally went out of his way to explain the meanings of the parables to the disciples. The RCI scriptures quoted have nothing to do with the current context of the discussion. Indeed if the article had continued to quote the verses in Matthew 13, it would have shown that in verse 36, when they were alone, Jesus again explained it all to them, as he often did, because he wanted his disciples to understand. We then read after his explanation and some further parables, the following verse:-

Matthew 13:51

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Parables it would seem, were not generally used to hide meaning from the disciples. Indeed they were used so the disciples may understand the deeper principles. Of course there would have been things they did not fully comprehend prior to Pentecost that did become clearer after, but the implication and general direction of the RCI article is very biased and quite out of context, all for the sake of their Mark 16 argument.

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