34All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
In verses 34 and 35, Matthew indicates that Jesus’ speaking in parables was fulfillment of prophecy. These two verses reinforce Jesus’ use of parables (verses 10-17).
13:34
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables;
With this verse Jesus formally concluded the first half of His present kingdom discourse with four parables. Jesus spoke in parables to withhold truth about the kingdom.
and without a parable He did not speak to them,
For His remaining ministry in Galilee Jesus spoke in parables.
13:35
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Fulfilled” here is application of type fulfillment. Asaph prophesied that the Messiah would speak in parables (Ps 78:2).
“I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
A parable is an enigmatic statement. Asaph spoke in parables to reveal what is not immediately apparent. Jesus’ use of parables functioned to conceal truth to those with negative volition. God withheld these truths from the creation of the world.
PRINCIPLE:
God hides truth from people with negative volition.
APPLICATION:
God hides truth from those without Christ. On the other hand, He does reveal truth to those with positive volition. He will show Himself to believers who have a hunger for God’s Word.
God also reveals His purpose to principalities and powers in heavenly places through what He is doing in the church:
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, Eph 3:10
