And He had another reason for teaching in parables. Among the multitudes that gathered about Him, there were priests and rabbis, scribes and elders, Herodians and rulers, world-loving, bigoted, ambitious men, who desired above all things to find some accusation against Him. Their spies followed His steps day after day, to catch from His lips something that would cause His condemnation, and forever silence the One who seemed to draw the world after Him. The Saviour understood the character of these men, and He presented truth in such a way that they could find nothing by which to bring His case before the Sanhedrim. In parables He rebuked the hypocrisy and wicked works of those who occupied high positions, and in figurative language clothed truth of so cutting a character that had it been spoken in direct denunciation, they would not have listened to His words, and would speedily have put an end to His ministry. But while He evaded the spies, He made truth so clear that error was manifested, and the honest in heart were profited by His lessons. Divine wisdom, infinite grace, were made plain by the things of God's creation. Through nature and the experiences of life, men were taught of God. "The invisible things of Him since the creation of the world," were "perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity." Rom. 1:20, R. V.

Han havde endnu en grund til at tale til dem i lignelser. Blandt de skarer som flokkedes omkring ham, var der præster og rabbinere, skriftkloge og ældste, herodianere og rådsherrer verdslige, fordomsfulde, ærgerrige mænd, der frem for alt ønskede at finde noget at anklage ham for. Deres spioner fulgte ham dag for dag for at fange et eller andet ord fra hans læber der kunne bruges til at fordømme ham og for bestandigt bringe den til tavshed, der syntes at drage hele verden efter sig. Frelseren kendte disse mænds karakter og han fremholdt sandheden på en sådan måde, at de ikke kunne finde noget at anklage ham for, for rådet. I lignelser irettesatte han det hykleri og de onde handlinger som øvedes af dem, der sad inde med høje stillinger og i billedsprog iklædte han sandheder der var så rammende, at hvis de var blevet udtalt som en direkte fordømmelse, ville de ikke have lyttet til hans ord, men hurtigt have gjort en ende på hans gerning. Men medens han undgik spionerne, fremstillede han sandheden så tydeligt, at vildfarelser blev åbenbaret, og de, der var ærlige og oprigtige, fik gavn af hans undervisning. Guddommelig visdom og nåde blev forklaret ved hjælp af de ting, Gud havde skabt. Gennem naturen og erfaringer i livet fik menneskene undervisning af Gud. "Hans usynlige væsen, både hans evige kraft og hans guddommelighed, har kunnet ses fra verdens skabelse af, idet det forstås af hans gerninger"