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Clear, but not too clear

When I wrote my book, Teach Like Jesus, there is something I left out. Jesus’ teaching was clear but not too clear. Jesus’ teaching was intentionally vague at times. It was intentionally confusing at times. People are still arguing over what Jesus meant. It is my conviction that Jesus did this on purpose. He could have made it clearer. He could have made it plainer. He could have made it where no one would ever be confused. He didn’t. Teach like Jesus.

Jesus disciples actually complained about this. In Matthew 13:10, we read, “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’” Matthew 13:10 (NIV) The sense of it is, “We don’t understand these parables.” Jesus’ answer is even more puzzling:

He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’—Matthew 13:11-15 (NIV)

Taken at face value, here is what Jesus is saying: if I didn’t use parables, everyone might readily understand. If they understood, they might repent. Then, I would have to forgive them. I want to do that. So, I speak in parables.

There are some, I suppose, who are Calvinistic enough to think this is exactly what Jesus meant. But for many of the rest of us we are not sure. As one of my kids would say, “that just doesn’t sound very ‘Jesus-ical’ to me.” Indeed.

It is beyond the scope of this book to go into the depths of this passage. I simply want to point out that it is not all that clear. I believe Jesus was intentionally unclear. Teach like Jesus.

Effective Bible Teachers are clear, but not too clear. They intentionally leave some tension. They intentionally leave people arguing. Jesus did it all the time. In fact, they are still arguing.

There are not enough arguments in our Bible study groups. Do you disagree with me? Do you want to argue with me? Do you feel a certain energy in your soul that wants to speak up?