Prophecies of His Ministry
Teaching in Parables
Dark Sayings of Old
Description
The Psalmist prophesied that Messiah would open His mouth in parables, uttering dark sayings from of old. Matthew explicitly cites this as fulfilled in Jesus' parabolic teaching. Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables, revealing mysteries hidden from the foundation of the world to His disciples while concealing truth from the hard-hearted. The parables were not merely illustrations but vehicles of revelation and judgment—revealing the secrets of the kingdom to some while hardening others in their unbelief.
Key Verses
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.
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.
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.
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.