Does it not seem difficult to accept that, over three years, Jesus spoke to thousands, performed miracles, healed the sick and warned of the teaching of Pharisees, just in order to show that the people for whom he did all these things were entirely reprobate? That he did all these things for just eleven men? We are told that Jesus was amazed by the faith of a centurion, that a woman loved him so much as to pour precious perfume on his feet, that the faith of those who came for healing had saved them. We read that he loved faithful Lazarus, Martha and Mary, that in Nazareth he performed few miracles because of lack of faith- which means that, elsewhere, there was faith. We read that the gospel was to go out of Israel to all people, everywhere, because God commands all people, everywhere, to repent and turn to him.
So when Jesus referred to hard hearts and deaf ears, quoting Isaiah, he must have been referring to a majority, not to the whole. That explanation was sufficient for the disciples, to explain why they were given the plain truth, because they had been chosen for their faith. Parables were needed to sort the wheat from the chaff- even those who refused Jesus could understand them, but they were not blatantly confronted with the truth by parables. The wheat, the elect, like the true Israelite Nathanael, like loyal Joseph of Arimathea, were given the plain truth, after they had responded favourably to parables and miracles. This is because God grants grace to those who welcome the gospel, and hardens those who react adversely to it.
First I never said anything about only eleven men. This is something that you yourself must have drawn from your reading of the Scripture.
Christ came to speak to all His sheep and they know His voice.
Here is another verse to go along with Matthew 13 and John 6:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!" And Jesus responded,
"Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. Now Peter had been with Christ from the get-go, and we know that others knew that Jesus was the Christ, so you can conclude that all those others who had come to the same conclusion as Peter were also led and taught by the Father.
Parables were needed to sort the wheat from the chaff- even those who refused Jesus could understand them, but they were not blatantly confronted with the truth by parables.
But that is not what Christ said and it is not what was prophesied.
Your argument is with the Scriptures not with me Calluna. You say the verses the limited the receivers of the knowledge to the eleven and then you say it can't be true.
There is no question that Christ was adamant that the knowledge of His truth had to taught by the Father not by man. Many have heard the gospel but few have been taught by God.
